Fallout Season 2 review: Viva New Vegas — crass, clever, and surprisingly strong
Fallout Season 2 returns December 16 on Prime Video and shifts its setting to the irradiated neon of New Vegas. Early episodes (reviewed: first six of eight) show the series leaning into darker humor, coarse charm and the chemistry between Lucy and The Ghoul — a pairing that continues to drive the show.
The season follows Lucy’s quest for her father while branching into multiple storylines: existential crises inside vaults, expanded Brotherhood of Steel politics, and new factions that enrich the world without slowing pacing. The journey to New Vegas doesn’t feel like filler — the show keeps the momentum so the delayed arrival in episode four still plays well.
What works
- Character chemistry: Ella Purnell’s Lucy and Walton Goggins’ The Ghoul remain a magnetic duo, balancing naïveté and hard‑earned pragmatism.
- Faithful worldbuilding: The show piles on game easter eggs and faction lore (Legion, NCR) in ways that delight fans without alienating newcomers.
- Pacing & tone: Season 2 keeps things lively, merging episodic side paths with a central quest and enough dark comedy to keep the series distinctive.
What could improve
Some arcs — notably Maximus’ — feel driven more by circumstance than personal agency, making certain character beats less compelling. Still, performances (including Moises Arias and Annabel O’Hagan) lift the material and maintain engagement across plot threads.
Verdict
Where many video‑game adaptations falter on a second run, Fallout Season 2 bucks the trend: it grows louder, grosser and more entertaining while respecting the source material. If the final two episodes stick the landing, this may be one of the best game‑to‑TV transitions yet.
Read the full review for more detailed thoughts and examples: Engadget — Fallout Season 2 review.
Discussion: Are you excited for Fallout Season 2 — will you binge straight through or savor it weekly? What part of the Fallout universe would you like the show to explore next?