Fallout Season 1 Review - 10 Ups & 2 Downs
7. Up: The Enveloping Worldbuilding & Set Pieces
Almost every aspect of Fallout's drama rests of the shoulders of its world. Not just the look of it, but also the feel of it, the political turmoil and encroaching sense of doom it's constantly soaking in. And what a sight and feel it is.
From the very first scene, Fallout's debut explores an alternate version of earth's history with commendable skill, balancing not just its stunning attention to detail - authentic news reports, gorgeous, sun-soaked scenery - but an intense and often timely assessment of political strife that noticeably mirrors our own world's past and present.
In the dystopia left behind by nuclear devastation, Fallout again works magic. The set pieces of Los Angeles (and beyond), left baron and decimated, are grimy and unsettling, whilst the various settlements and survivors the show's characters encounter feel lived-in, true.
From the claustrophobic Vaults to the hopeless camps scattered like glitter on black card throughout the country, Fallout's vision is horrible yet beautiful, detailed with striking Easter eggs and, despite the fantasy, is impressively believable at every turn.