Fallout series defies expectations with its (relatively) scarless shooters

inside fall out In-universe, ghouls are the tragic byproduct of radiation exposure. While some retained their humanity, many succumbed to their feral state, driven mad by the same radiation that gave them extended lifespans and a horrific, ravaged appearance.

However, not all is lost. Certain ghouls possess unique resistance to radiation and have even found it to have mild restorative effects.

In Prime’s Fallout series, the mysterious ghoul played by Walton Goggins (The Wire) was once a handsome pre-war actor named Cooper Howard. He is best known for starring roles in Western movies that retained a gunslinger style even in the wilderness. A signature cowboy hat and preference for canine companions hint at his past life, which is shown in flashbacks throughout the first season. Howard comes across as a good guy who loves his family and his Australian Shepherd, and has a strong sense of right and wrong – something he seems to have lost in the Badlands…or is he?

While being a ghoul isn’t exactly what you’d hope for, and there are many ways a person can become a ghoul, Howard isn’t as bad as others of his ilk, who seem to have drawn the last straw A straw. Sure, his nose is missing, but when you look at the other ghouls on the show, you’ll notice they’re pretty weird compared to the former Hollywood star, according to the show’s associate costume designer There is a reason.

“I think the only reason he’s been toned down as more eccentric is because he still has his wit,” Amy Westcott said in an interview with Polygon. “When you see those really, really disgusting ghouls, they’ve really lost their minds. So I think making Walton a central character – in terms of him still being with us, so to speak —Have to see him in a ghoul phase, not disappear completely, you know, he can’t be feral.”

Westcott said Groggins’ character also looks different due to the passage of time, as 270 years have passed since the bomb was dropped and the ferocious ghouls “are disappearing.”

“They don’t mean anything anymore,” Westcott said. “We have to get them to a deeper level. So I worked with my textile department to get not just the ghouls right, but the wild ones as well, and so far the ghouls’ Aging far beyond normal ghoul age.

“It was an optimistic time. So really, I think it was [sets] Let’s separate a little bit. You’ll see the person’s skin is peeling off, but they’re wearing a bow tie, or they’re wearing saddle shoes or a poodle skirt. But they were already in ruins. So we’re trying to show some optimism on that front as well. “

It also shows the true colors of ghouls: people affected by radiation trying to preserve their last remaining remnants of humanity. Howard, for his part, may be considered the biggest bad guy in the wasteland, but fragments of his former self sometimes surface.

“I think it’s really important for us to keep the ghouls human because they were once human, and that’s important to remember,” Westcott said.

Now that Fallout Season 1 is over, there’s no telling what will happen next for our favorite ghouls and other major characters, but personally, we’d love to see more of Howard’s softer side ( like a dog) – but not at the expense of his bad deeds.

You can watch the entire first season of Fallout on Prime Video.