Fallout has a problem with heads. They are cut off, squished and riddled with holes, and everyone runs after the severed head of a scientist in season 1. I really don’t mind gore and a few trucks full of fake blood, but this At some point, deliberately sensual mutilation got on my nerves.
However, ten brilliant minutes in the 7th episode strike a completely different tone and are exceptionally sweet and touching – and extremely important for Lucy and Maximus.
Break from murder and manslaughter: There is one last good place in Fallout
Of course, my ten favorite minutes in the series require preparatory work: One of the main stories in the Fallout series revolves around the two naives Lucy (Ella Purnell) and Maximus (Aaron Moten). Lucy grew up sheltered as part of an experiment in Vault 32, while Maximus also grew up isolated from reality in the Brotherhood. Both have one very simple idea of how things work.
When they are released into the post-apocalypse at the beginning of the series, they literally no longer understand the world.
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Fallout: Lucy’s world was still in order back then
Lucy becomes more and more dull on the surface and learns to distrust, while Maximus gradually realizes that brotherhood and revenge are not salvation. But instead of continuing to torture and humiliate the characters, Fallout does something very clever in episode 7: A mirror is held up to them that there are people even more innocent than themselves.
During their mission, Lucy and Maximus accidentally end up in the underground bunker through a trap door Vault 4. They are warmly welcomed, but they distrust the obviously genetically modified people who go about their everyday lives with two noses or three ears. While Maximus puts his feet up in front of the television for the first time in his life, Lucy believes she is on the trail of a big conspiracy.
She finds pregnant women pickled in large tanks and other victims of experiments. Lucy then attacks the vault residents – but as it turns out, they are innocent. The experiments were perpetrated by their ancestors and today’s Vault 4 people are trying to make amends for these atrocities and live a peaceful life.
The 10 best minutes of Fallout will still be important for Season 2
My 10 favorite minutes in Fallout begin here:
After her attack, Lucy is captured and put on trial. But instead of being robbed of her head, as expected, she is released. Your maximum punishment is banishment to the surface. Elsewhere her seat flesh would have already been “removed” for food processing, but in Vault 4 she is carried to the exit with a fizzy soda provisions for two full weeks.
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Fallout: Vault 4 Overseer Benjamin is suspiciously nice and accommodating
This is extremely important for the further course of the story. The forgiving setting in Vault 4 also turns Lucy and Maximus’ heads, but in a good way. Thanks to their experiences with the trusting people, the two also become emotionally closer. When this is all over, they want to leave revenge and experiments behind and live together in peace – a development that is likely to be very important in season 2.
When the two decide to do this, they have tears in their eyes in this very honest and unexpectedly touching moment – a rarity in the Fallout world. A tear rolled down my face too. And the most touching moment is yet to come.
Vault 4 fights against mass destruction with kindness – and wins
At the end of the ten exceptional minutes, Lucy and Maximus even decide to return the extremely important energy core that was stolen from Vault 4. It is simply the right thing to do. Without it, Vault 4 couldn’t survive. Afterwards, we and the two of them will be released back into the harsh post-apocalypse. The ten healing minutes are over.
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Before the bitter end, Fallout rewards us with a kiss between Lucy and Maximus
Vault 4 therefore contradicts everything we have previously learned in Fallout. The sci-fi series world is actually deeply cynical at its core. Humanity is constantly destroying itself out of greed for profit. A human life is only worth what you get for your organs and social benefits are only available in return for vile experiments.
But the weapons of Vault 4 are kindness and understanding, and in fact they ensure their survival. Without their cooperation, Lucy and Maximus would not have returned the energy core.
I can only tolerate cynicism in series and films to a certain extent. If he gains the upper hand, it bores me. There needs to be a balance to hopelessness and arrogance, otherwise I see no point in rooting for the characters. Vault 4 gave Fallout exactly that. With these 10 minutes, the first season did itself a big favor, and all without losing its head.
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