Fallout TV Show ... not vibing with eps 1,2 ... what am I missing?

Submitted ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨maegul@lemmy.ml⁩ to ⁨movies@lemm.ee⁩

Yes, I’m slow, sorry!

Now this may very well be excessive expectations. I had heard a few people say it’s this year’s Andor. IE, you should just watch it even if it’s not the sort of thing you think you’d be into. Also, I’ve never played the games

I’ve just finished the first 2 episodes, and, for me, it’s not bad, it’s a kinda interesting world … but there’s a distinctly empty feeling and awkwardness to the show for me. Sometimes scenes feel like they’re either filling time or still trying to find their rhythm. I’m not sure any of the dialogue has caught my ear (at all). I’m not sure I’ve picked up on any interesting stakes or mysteries. And I’ve often wondered about the directing (where I can’t help but wonder if Jonathan Nolan’s directing is more about trying to compete with his brother).

The soft tipping point for me was the Knight’s fight with the Ghoul (episode 2) … it just felt pointless and childish. The whole scene seemed to strangely lack any gravity or impetus. And I find myself ~2.5 hrs in and not caring about anything that’s happening. It’s a post nuclear apocalypse world, with some mutants, a naive bunker person, and a manipulative corporation or two doing sneaky shit …

… dunno … what am I missing? Should I just keep watching?

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njm1314@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
By the end of episode 2 if you’re not into it that I don’t think you’re going to get into it. I mean the big draw about the show really is how well they did with the look and the feel of everything. It just sounds like you don’t appreciate the premise, which is fine not all shows are for everybody.

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- maegul@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  
  It just sounds like you don’t appreciate the premise, which is fine not all shows are for everybody.
  
  Thing is, I think I’m rather fond of the general premise, at least as I understand it. I really liked Silo for instance.
  
  I suspect it’s more that I’m completely disconnected from the video game adaptation aspect of it and probably not even into the aesthetic and vibe of a video game adaptation.
  
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  - Spuddlesv2@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    “I loved Brokeback Mountain but find these John Wayne movies not to my taste”
    
    Sounds like you like the setting - post apocalyptic - not necessarily the premise. Fallout is about the offbeat humour and violence. Silo is completely different (I loved Silo too).
    
    I know pllllllllenty of people who don’t like Andor. They found it either “too Star Wars-y” or “not Star Wars-y enough”.
    
    The world would be a boring place if we all liked the same things.
    
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  - Reddfugee42@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    SILO FUCKIN REPRESENT
    
    ok I’ll shut up now
    
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  - P00ptart@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    The big thing about the show, and the games is the moral ambiguity of it. It’s captured in a line that maximus says in episode 2? Or 3? Where he says “everyone wants to save the world. They just disagree how to do it.” It’s an important line because everyone has their own way of dealing with the wasteland, which isn’t inherently wrong all the time. And if you watch the ghoul, you’ll see there’s a lot more depth to him than being a comedic psychopath. Give it a little more time and you’ll connect with the characters more. Less so with Lucy, but I think she’s there more as a blank slate, to show how the world can change an otherwise good person.
    
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HelixDab2@lemm.ee ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
There’s a lot of world-building going on in the first 2-3 episodes, and story lines start slowly drawing together after that point. It doesn’t really come together until the final episode, and that is something that’s clearly leaving a lot of room for a second season.

Yes, it helps if you understand the context that it’s all taking place in; playing the games (particularly 3, New Vegas, and 4) is very helpful to knowing some of the context that isn’t stated explicitly, but not strictly necessary.

Despite having a ton of action and violence, the plot is a fairly slow burn, and takes a while to get to the critical parts where everything really comes together. Things seem straightforward, until you realize that they aren’t.

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- BearOfaTime@lemm.ee ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Thing is, I’ve played most of the games, and I feel no connection to the characters, feel no reason to continue even after the first episode and I could barely get through that.
  
  It’s all melodrama, nothing more, sadly.
  
  I don’t see how someone who’s never played the games would find even the first episode intruiging enough to watch more.
  
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  - Scary_le_Poo@beehaw.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    You should watch till like the 4th episode I’d say. There is a lot happening that doesn’t have context until a bit later one. It’s an excellent story, but it is a slow burn.
    
    I’ve never played any of the games
    
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- maegul@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  
  Things seem straightforward, until you realize that they aren’t.
  
  Cheers! This makes sense.
  
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  - Don_Dickle@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Why is this in movies shouldn’t it be in television?
    
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swordgeek@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I’ve played the games, and really enjoyed the show; but I’ll admit it took a bit of time to find its path.

The thing about Fallout is that it’s deadpan tongue-in-cheek, which is hard to pull off. They got there in time.

And if you don’t start to get into it after a few more episodes, don’t sweat it.

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- maegul@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Cheers! This makes sense and what I was wondering! It had real “finding its feet” vibes, where I can see it tightening up.
  
  I do wonder if Jon Nolan’s directing is a factor here (he directed the first 3 eps).
  
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bionicjoey@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Everyone I know who enjoyed it also played the games and was onboard by like halfway through the first episode. You probably just don’t get it without the added context of the aesthetics and humor of the games.

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- xor@infosec.pub ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  i loved the show and didn’t play the games….
  well, i played the free vault overseer mobile one…
  
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BigTrout75@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I watched 3 episodes and thought it felt oddly lopsided. I really liked the scenery and environments but the writing just bad.

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- maegul@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Yea, this is where I was at. Not vibing with something happens. But once I thought about the writing, I realised something may have been objectively off here.
  
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dirtybeerglass@hexbear.net ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Nah. It’s not that good. It’s novel, but I don’t think quite nails it.

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chickenf622@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I would say give episode 3 a fair shot. I was in a similar mindset to you, but came around to the show. There are some dumb decisions made by the show in my opinion, but don’t want to spoil anything for you.

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- maegul@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Cheers! I was thinking of giving ep 3 a shot too. Least I can do.
  
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Boolean@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Ya there’s a fair amount of spectacle involved. People who played the games dig it more I think and it’s honestly made with a lot of love, but don’t feel bad if it don’t grab you. I felt similarly to the way you describe, finished it nevetheless.

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- maegul@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Thanks!
  
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gencha@lemm.ee ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I agree on the emptiness. I also felt like they were trying too hard with a lot of scenes, and I had a hard time relating to the characters. However, it got more interesting as the story and the world open up more.

Having played the games, and having liked them, the series was a welcome and fitting extension of the existing narrative. It fits so well into the universe, that you will happily forgive any shortcomings, just to get this pleasant enrichment to prior experiences. Watching the show is almost like you’re back in the wasteland yourself, discovering it all over again.

It does not feel like a cheap abuse of a brand you associate with a good time. That alone is worth a lot.

I also felt like the HDR video and Atmos audio are well done and contribute to the impact of the show, as available of course.

There were twists in the story I did not anticipate. Maybe it’s just my interpretation, but the way the series tells its story felt overly video game like. You always follow the protagonists closely on their linear progress through their active quest, and the breaks in that progress feel so clearly like side quests. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I felt that was well done.

After all, it is a series that builds on existing material, which is video games. The way they implemented it is highly consistent with your prior experience and people appreciate that greatly.

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dynasty@hexbear.net ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Show does pick up in the second half of the season imo

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Visstix@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I think there will be some nice twists and mystery for you later on. If it’s not your thing, it’s not your thing of course.

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sevan@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I love the games (haven’t played 76, but the rest are great). I watched the first 3 episodes and thought they connected well with the games thematically, but I never cared enough to continue. Every now and then I think I should get back to it, but I always have something that interests me more, including just scrolling Lemmy. To be fair, I don’t really enjoy watching TV or movies that much though.

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