The second season of Amazon’s Fallout series, continuing to expand the universe established by the beloved video game franchise, concluded with a particularly gruesome scene – a swarm of bloatflies dispatching a group of Vault-Tec executives. The introduction of these creatures, described as “eternally disgusting” by SlashFilm, marks another step in the show’s adaptation of iconic elements from the games.
The finale centers on Moisés Arias’ character, Norm MacLean, who finds himself in a precarious situation after escaping Vault 31. Having awakened the Vault-Tec executives from cryo-sleep, he quickly becomes a target. Just as his fate appears sealed, with the executives preparing to prosecute and execute him, a swarm of bloatflies descends from an elevator shaft, turning the tables in a violent and unexpected manner.
The choice to have bloatflies deliver the final blow to the executives isn’t accidental, according to SlashFilm. Bloatflies, while a common nuisance in the Fallout games, are typically portrayed as relatively weak enemies. Their deployment in this instance serves as a commentary on the ineptitude of the Vault-Tec executives, highlighting their inability to survive even against a seemingly minor threat in the post-apocalyptic wasteland.
This approach aligns with a broader trend in the television adaptation of Fallout: a willingness to portray even seemingly harmless creatures as genuinely dangerous. The series has already demonstrated this with radroaches – the giant, irradiated cockroaches – which were presented as a significant threat in the first season, capable of breaching even power armor. This contrasts with their typically less intimidating depiction in the video games.
The bloatflies in the show, aren’t simply a faithful recreation of their game counterparts. They are presented as considerably more formidable, and their attack on the confined space occupied by the executives is depicted with a level of horror that underscores the pervasive dangers of the Wasteland. This reinforces the show’s message that safety is an illusion in this environment.
The introduction of bloatflies adds another layer to the already complex world-building of Fallout season 2. The season has already introduced the fearsome Deathclaws and the notorious Caesar’s Legion, while simultaneously setting up the Enclave as the overarching antagonists. The bloatflies, while less imposing than these other threats, represent the constant, low-level dangers that inhabitants of the Wasteland must contend with daily.
The success of Fallout season 2, streaming on Prime Video, lies in its ability to balance faithfulness to the source material with creative liberties that enhance the narrative and thematic depth. The bloatfly scene, while seemingly minor, exemplifies this approach. It’s a nod to fans of the games, but also a clever piece of storytelling that reinforces the show’s bleak and unforgiving vision of the post-apocalyptic future.
As of , the series continues to garner attention for its adaptation of the popular video game franchise, and the inclusion of these iconic creatures is a testament to the showrunners’ commitment to bringing the world of Fallout to life on screen.
