In the post-apocalyptic world of “Fallout,” the surface is far from idyllic, filled with monstrous creatures and strange characters. One such character is The Ghoul, a gunslinger portrayed by Walton Goggins. Surviving for two centuries after the bombs fell, The Ghoul is a bounty hunter with many secrets that tie him to Lucy’s storyline as well as the overall world of “Fallout.” He serves as a thematic lynchpin, much like the Man in Black in “Westworld.” Another key character is Maximus, a soldier in the Brotherhood of Steel who finds himself in a hero role for which he is not prepared, contrasting with Lucy’s street-smart nature.
The show pays homage to the “Fallout” games, capturing their tone and unpredictability. The early episodes emulate the terror of an open-world game, with the potential for nightmare-inducing encounters at any moment. While the series includes the games’ combat system and slo-mo shots, it avoids relying too heavily on these mechanics. There is a Wild West shootout that echoes the game, but the series does not repeat this formula in every episode, keeping viewers on their toes.
However, as the season progresses, the show stumbles when two protagonists embark on a sidequest, slightly disrupting the momentum and making the season feel longer than it is. It takes a while for performances beyond Goggins’ portrayal of The Ghoul to make an impact, although by
