Summary
WhenGame of Thronesfirst premiered back in 2011, fans were thrilled to see George R.R. Martin’sA Song of Fire and Iceseries brought to life on the small screen. Most, however, were surprised as it quickly became apparent no character was safe — even those played by big-name actors. It’s a tactic still used today by a lot of shows. However, most use it simply to shock audiences rather than move the narrative forward. Luckily for Prime Video’sFalloutadaptation, that isn’t the case for its first season.
Fallout, based on the hit video game franchise of the same name, takes place after a nuclear bomb leaves the surface of Earth destroyed and full of radiation. Those who were lucky found safety within one of the vaultsdesigned by Vault-Tec. Meanwhile, the others were left to fend for themselves on the surface — like scientist, Siggi Wilzig (Michael Emerson), for example. This character in particular seems to have plenty in common withSean Bean’s character, Ned Stark, inGame of Thrones. After all, they both end up losing their heads.
No One is Safe in Game of Thrones or Fallout
Before the show lost its way with fans,Game of Throneswas one of the most popular titles on television. It captured the interest of general audiences as well as book readers. With an actor like Sean Bean in what was the leading role, it was safe to presume no one expected the events of the episode “Baelor” — at least, not nine episodes into the show’s first season. Ned Stark’s beheading was one of the most shocking episodes of television in recent memory. The episode showed audiences that there would be risks and consequences in this show, and no one was safe from death. It prepares viewers for a sense of constant danger and threats. The series proudly recreated Stark’s death from the books, even going as far as to showcase his severed head on a spike.
EnterFallout. Introduced in the second episode,Michael Emerson’s character Siggi Wilzigis showcased as a mysterious scientist who is working with dogs (including Dogmeat), and soon finds himself on the run. Early on, it becomes clear that he’s important to the story, and that he’s trying to hide something from the higher ups. With a bounty on his head, he seeks refuge in Philly, where he runs into Lucy. After she helps him escape the wrath of the Ghoul and Maximus, she tries to help him make it tothe mysterious Lee Moldaver, only to find he had taken a cyanide pill, a Vault-Tec approved method of suicide. He informs her that she will need to cut his head off and deliver it to Moldaver alone. WhileFalloutdoesn’t show the act onscreen, we do see Lucy carrying around the severed head as she tries to make her way to Moldaver, where she hopes to rescue her father.
How Uncertainty Makes for More Impactful Stories
When it comes to shows likeGame of ThronesandFallout, there’s bound to be plenty of death given the worlds in which they take place. So, it’s not necessarily that death itself serves as a poignant story tool. In fact, audiences are expecting there to be risks. What they’re not expecting, though, is to see a big name actor — or even a popular character from source material — die early on. Allowing for that uncertainty not only keeps fans glued to their seats, but also proves that the writers understand how to deliverstakes in their storytelling.
In the case of Ned Stark, the character was killed off in the ninth episode of the first season. Siggi Wilzig is killed off in the second episode of Fallout’s first season. Both moments are important in moving along the stories being told, and while their deaths are shocking, that isn’t the primary reason these characters died.
Even more impressive, however, is how quickly both shows introduce compelling characters just to kill them. InGame of Thrones, “The Rains of Castamere” serves as another important, yet shocking episode, thanks to the infamous Red Wedding that results in the deaths ofRobb Stark and his pregnant wife, among others. In the first episode ofFallout, we’re introduced to Lucy on what is meant to be her wedding day: she is meant to marry a stranger from another vault, as is customary. But the other vault members end up being people from the surface, and war breaks out, leaving a number of people in Vault 33 dead. Both these events are reminders of the imminent threats that these characters are endure daily.
Fantasy worlds and worlds left in ruins by nuclear bombs are never meant to be safe, and bothGame of ThronesandFalloutmake sure viewers don’t forget that. There’s always a lingering threat, always something terrifying lingering around the corner. Death is always waiting.
For those eager to revisit the world ofGame of Thrones, all seasons of the series are streaming on Max, along with the spinoff series,House of the Dragon. Fans ofFalloutcancurrently stream the first seasonexclusively on Prime Video.
