Season 2 Episode 1 – Every dollar spent is a vote cast.
Please note, our reviews are based on likes and dislikes. These contain significant spoilers. If you haven’t already watched the episode, we recommend that you click off the article and come back once you have watched the episode. Enjoy!
What I Liked
1. It doesn’t take long before Fallout goes over the top. I’m so happy this series is back. We get our first proper look at Mr. House pre-war. He’s so sadistic that he essentially mind controls a random guy into killing his friends with a baseball bat before the chip fails. Could it be an early use of the Platinum Chip seen in the New Vegas games? It’ll be interesting if so. A wonderful start. This version of House feels colder and more dangerous than anything we’ve seen before, which instantly raises the stakes for what’s to come.
2. We knew Dinky the T. rex would be in the game, but honestly, seeing everything in live-action is nostalgic. New Vegas is a game with so many memories; even something as small as this is a great throwback. It’s a reminder of just how much care the show puts into honoring the games, even through the smallest details.
3. I love the completely different types of characters. As Lucy begins shooting from Dinky the T. rex as the Ghoul is hanging, she’s attempting to shoot non-lethally, whereas the Ghoul just goes as brutally as possible. It’s such an interesting dynamic. It’s kind of like how you can somewhat play the games as well.
4. When we see Cooper after he hears Barb suggest that the US drop the nukes themselves, he grabs his daughter and attempts to leave. What’s interesting is that we see a test air raid siren go off, which results in the citizens panicking. It felt like a throwback to Fallout 4. The Vault-Tec van, the salesman, the street, and even the layout. Moments like this really sell the tragedy of the Fallout world. Knowing what’s about to happen makes it even more unsettling to watch.
5. It’s back to the vaults now. Steph’s running Vault 32 and seemingly a little unhinged. 33 is still running the same, but they’re working on fixing the water chip. Norm is still imprisoned in 31. He’s barely hanging on, running out of food and water, with the option to get in his dad’s cryo pod. I’ve always loved the story behind the vaults in the games; the show’s no different. I’m curious to see how it all pans out.
6. Norm is given 2 options. Die, or get in his father’s pod. He instead opts for a third option: chaos. He decided to awaken everyone from their cryo pods and seemingly enjoys the power. Personally, I would’ve caved and gotten in the pods hours before, so well played to Norm here…
7. A sense of mystery happens at the end of the episode as Hank heads to seemingly the Vault-Tec HQ. He talks into a microphone about the vault experiments and his promotions, but it’s never clarified who he’s speaking to. The HQ looked empty as well. It leaves you with far more questions than answers, which is exactly how a season premiere should end.
What I Disliked
Nothing to report this week.
Favorite Moment
Lucy and Ghoul stumble across Vault 24. This is a vault that was supposed to be in the New Vegas game, but it was seemingly cut from the released version. We do come to learn through Lucy and Ghoul’s exploration that the vault was used to brainwash its residents into believing they were Communists. For me, that wasn’t even the creepiest moment. It was the slight jump scare of a man, telling Lucy to go home. He’d been brainwashed using the same chip we saw Robert House use at the beginning. It’s classic Fallout horror, subtle, disturbing, and far more effective than outright violence.
Standout Character
Ghoul / Cooper stood out the most. Both pre-war and post-war. We got to see the difficult situation he’s in, especially after hearing his wife suggest that Vault-Tec drop the bombs first. We then also see him trying to figure out what’s happened in the post-war world as he and Lucy hunt for Hank. His arc has strengthened as we’ve progressed through this incredible journey. I loved the Ghoul even more in this episode. Walton Goggins continues to carry this role effortlessly, bringing both depth and unpredictability to the character.
Verdict
A perfect episode. It feels like the showrunners never missed a step. I was worried after an amazing first season that they may struggle to continue that momentum, but they’ve smashed it yet again. The opening episode had the perfect balance of everything. It was action-packed, the story progressed well, the characters were great, and the nostalgic throwbacks were a solid touch as always. I’m so excited for the rest of this season.
Rating 10/10
The Review
Story - 10
Action - 10
Characters - 10
Entertainment - 10
Quality - 10
10
PERFECT!
A perfect episode. It feels like the showrunners never missed a step. I was worried after an amazing first season that they may struggle to continue that momentum, but they've smashed it yet again. The opening episode had the perfect balance of everything. It was action-packed, the story progressed well, the characters were great, and the nostalgic throwbacks were a solid touch as always. I'm so excited for the rest of this season.
