MovieChat Forums > Fallout (2024) Discussion > How could the story be this stupid? Isn'...

How could the story be this stupid? Isn't it based on a well established game? (spoilers)

posted 7 months ago by fc31 (5365)
91 replies | jump to latest

I mean like all Amazon big budget shows you can see excellent production value, but stories are just so stupid.

I mean a corporation destroyed the world, so they can stop making money and their lives to get worse, not just for everyone else, but for themselves too, so all of them can live in caves for the rest of their lives?!

And those managers were put in cryopreservation, and once they were waken up, they would just continue to do their jobs, for what? What is in it for them?

Capitalism works on self interest and incentives, what are the incentives? For any of these?

I never played the game so I have to ask, is the background story of the game this stupid too?

Anyway it looks like a show for people don't want to think too much, and willing to ignore all the logic and plot problems. I mean I don't think that is even suspension of disbelief.

Also the pink river monster is lame, I mean who came up with that? So cartoonish.

The same with big roaches, kind of pedestrian for these kinds of shows.

The organ harvesting robot using that big an electric saw, are you kidding me? Unless they wanted the organs for barbecue.

And the brain in jar robot, yeah, they have the technology for fancy robots with electric saws, but they do that to themselves?

Also brain in jar is not going to last, because brain cells have limited lifespan too, which is about 100 years, that thing is certainly not going to survive for 200 years.

Also we were told the vault 32 was run by meritocracy, but it wasn't, it had elections, which means it was a liberal democracy. I think those 2 are mutually exclusive.

But the big armour suits are cool, some sort of cheap iron man suits, also have a fusion core. That is not pre-war technology, that is sci-fi/Marvel technology.

The ghoul's gun and bullets remind me of hawkeye's arrows, that is interesting too. But where did he get the fancy bullets in the nuclear waste land? Where these is a brotherhood actively try to extinguish any use of technologies.

[–] Skavau (15993) 7 months ago

It's Atompunk.

It is supposed to be absurd.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

Well, I never get steampunk either.

[–] Skavau (15993) 7 months ago

Yeah, it's not supposed to be hyper-realistic.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

Still, this is TV-MA, not meant for kids.

But I suppose you have to be a fan of the genre to accept it.

[–] Skavau (15993) 7 months ago

MA has no relevance to the realism of a series necessarily. It's gorey and violent, hence the MA

[–] EmperorOfDragons (297) 7 months ago

A little bit of Raygun Gothic too

[–] UncleRuckis (2627) 7 months ago

Can't tell if this is trolling or if you actually think these are valid complaints?

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

If you know me, then you know this is not trolling.

I was genuinely shocked.

I haven't even started on the behaviours of the main characters, but I think those are pale in comparison to the main story.

[–] SickSpazmoid (843) 7 months ago

To your first question - yeah, it was kinda lame and unconvincing. They wanted to restart civilization, because the current was bad. But they were defense contractors, so it was good for their business. This was not originally in the game. It is a new addition to the lore. Originally a war between China and USA escalated to nuclear without any mention of conspiracy. There are many other details omitted, like that at some point USA annexed Canada and so on. They are kinda obfuscating this in the show to avoid censorship in China and at the same time being in tune with the current left anti-corporate agenda. Win-win from their perspective.

Everything else in your comment is pure Fallout. Fallout is often cartoonish with a lot of dark humor and inspiration from b-movies. Big cockroaches make perfect sense and everybody loves robobrains, as they call them.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

No, I don't think that kind of plot would have been censored in China, because it is anti-war.

But anyway they could have at least written it as a corporation on the brink of bankruptcy, so they did something desperate, that would have been a good motivation.

[–] SickSpazmoid (843) 7 months ago

Nope. I think that it wouldn't fly in China. They will consider it Western anti-Chinese propaganda (because Chinese people are peace loving), especially in the light of current relations. These days creative people are put in a bad situation. They want to sell in China and at the same time nobody would buy the Russians as serious baddies anymore. I guess, in future fiction USA army and intelligence services would have to fight mostly aliens and robots. Duh.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

As @Skavau has pointed out Amazon video is not operating in China anyway, so I doubt your theory was their motivation.

Also what is your opinion on the plot I purposed?

[–] SickSpazmoid (843) 7 months ago

Conspiracies are rarely convincing and I prefer simple escalation of a conventional war. Maybe some crazed cult of billionaires scheming to restart civilization would be more convincing, but I prefer to keep it simple.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

Yeah, war escalation would have been better.

[–] Skavau (15993) 7 months ago

Pretty sure Amazon Prime (TV) is blocked in China

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

A quick search show:

Prime Video is available worldwide (except for Mainland China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Russia, Belarus, Syria and Vietnam).

I think it is less about being blocked, more about they don't have a media license to operate in those countries.

[–] Skavau (15993) 7 months ago

All of the streamers are inaccessible in China. Pretty sure this is just Chinese law.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

All streaming services require media licenses, I don't think they want foreign controlled media.

Just like in US if you want to own mass media you have to be an American.

I think that is why Murdoch became an American citizen, he was Australian before.

[–] SickSpazmoid (843) 7 months ago

I don't know how it works with streaming, but in traditional TV if the producers have no local presence, as it is often the case, the rights are sold to a local TV station or you could at least buy the DVD.

[–] SickSpazmoid (843) 7 months ago

I don't know about this. but it is too obvious that they didn't point the finger at China and were talking about some communist and even showed a crashed space probe from USSR, but USSR it is not part of the lore, although it existed. When they originally conceived the game in the 90s, China was rising while USSR ceased to exists and Russia was a shithole, so they decided that nobody would buy the USSR-USA war trope.

They are either planning some kind of release in China or trying to avoid current political climate affecting the show in some way.

Trying to avoid Chinese censorship in fiction is sometimes too obvious. Like the movie "Gravity" where the Russians caused the disaster by testing an anti-satellite weapon. In real real life a few years before the release of the movie the Chinese tested such a weapon that produces debris and were widely criticized.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

You are like a dog with a bone, aren't you?

[–] SickSpazmoid (843) 7 months ago

Yes, I'm. For another example take Call of Duty, where the Russians invaded USA. I mean, Russia doesn't even have aircraft carriers. But China invading USA? No way, the Chinese are peace loving people and little Chinese kids can't shoot at PRC soldiers. The Russians, on the other hand, are used to be the baddies and due peculiarities of their psyche, they really enjoy when Russia is portrayed as a strong and badass country.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

Movies, maybe, even games. But TV shows, they are much less profitable, at least when you don't have local distribution.

And TV shows with a lot of blood and gore, I doubt it is going to be that popular in Asia.

This is basically a sci-fi western show, I think mostly focused on domestic audience.

[–] moviechatterer (15583) 7 months ago

"I mean a corporation destroyed the world, so they can stop making money and their lives to get worse, not just for everyone else, but for themselves too, so all of them can live in caves for the rest of their lives?!"

the bomb was gonna get dropped one way or another , so they did it their way.
happy?

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

No, there is no indication of that in anyway.

And if bombs are going to be dropped anyway, why even bother to do it?

Even if they were going to do it and if I were them, I would have dropped just one or just a few, to drive up the stock price. Certainly not creating an extinction level event.

Judging by the soundness of your mind, you are not one of the writers, are you?

[–] moviechatterer (15583) 7 months ago

In that world it was just a matter of time , it wasn't far of that in this world during the cold war.
The dialog in the last episode explicitly showed they were doing it on their terms .

also villains have crazy plots - look at any bond film
often high flying execs cant see beyond profit and winning

If you're expecting 100% documentary realims and rationality form a show based on a tongue in cheek video game ..... maybe its not for you , but its not a reason for others not to enjoy it.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

The dialog in the last episode explicitly showed they were doing it on their terms .

For what reason?

Shouldn't that be the question?

And nobody at the table even asked that, that is just insanity.

This show basically treated us like idiots, maybe Amazon is not all that wrong in doing so.

[–] Towelie_Towel (1773) 7 months ago

No...

They literally said that peace conversations were going well and, at this rate, their companies were at risk of losing some money because WAR MAY NOT EVEN START.

And that is the whole reason that they decided to drop the first bomb themselves.

[–] sonans (1543) 7 months ago

[deleted]

[–] sonans (1543) 7 months ago

I didn't watch the show yet, but I played few Fallout games: 3, 4, New Vegas, Shelter.

Nothing is serious in Fallout, everything is tongue in cheek dark humor. I can give you a example: a side quest in Fallout 3 was you got kidnap by aliens.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

But this show is serious, it is not tongue in cheek or laughing at itself.

[–] moviechatterer (15583) 7 months ago

pure trolling

that or you have zero sense of humour and missed it

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

So you seriously think this is a comedy.

I don't even know what to say.

[–] moviechatterer (15583) 7 months ago

dont worry , it goes without saying

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

LIKE STARSHIP TROOPERS...FALLOUT IS ABSOLUTELY COMEDY.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

What is wrong with you? I thought you were sane at least before.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

FALLOUT IS SATIRE...AND I QUITE ENJOYED IT...WATCHED THE WHOLE SEASON ONE NIGHT INSTEAD OF SLEEPING.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

Satire of what exactly?

Starship Troopers was called satire, because it has to be. It portrayed a functioning democracy where wealthy people have to earn their rights to participate in politics, instead of just using money to buy politicians. Now that is just not right, at least to the rich people, so the billionaire owned media called it satire, and Amazon owned IMDB introduced the movie as happening in a fascist society.

Coming from media like Amazon, which is owned by one of the richest in the world, I can understand why they call it like that.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

I FELL ASLEEP A BIT THERE...IT'S SATIRE...SORRY IF YOU DON'T AGREE.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

I wondered if you were ever awake.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

19 TO 22 HOURS A DAY...I HAVE SEVERE SLEEP ISSUES.

[–] sonans (1543) 7 months ago

You didn't pay attention to Starship Troopers: rich people have to join military to earn the rights to participate in politic.

Do you know why all the main characters in the movie are rich? Because in the end it reveal the movie was a propaganda to entice people join military. Why would a propaganda film uses poor people as the protagonists? The only way for poor people to become wealthy and respect citizens is join military, they have no choice. But rich people have choice, that is why the propaganda uses rich people as the protagonists: Look! Even rich people want to join military! Military is awesome! Even rich people can't resist it!

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

That is the book, not the movie. Most people argued it was satire citing the book, but the movie is very different from the book.

[–] sonans (1543) 7 months ago

I didn't read the book, actually... even the director of Starship Troopers didn't read the book. All of the texts I typed are from the movie.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

Then how do you know all the main characters in the movie were rich? No part of the movie was saying that.

Johnny was rich, that was it.

The only way for poor people to become wealthy and respect citizens is join military, they have no choice.

That is not in the movie either. The movie merely said that was the easiest way, because it guarantees citizenship, so there were other ways.

[–] sonans (1543) 7 months ago

Isn't Johnny the reason you said: "wealthy people have to earn their rights to participate in politics."

Or you were talking the book?

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

How is that not aligning with what I said before?

I did say Johnny was rich, right?

What I said was all in the movie.

[–] sonans (1543) 7 months ago

I didn't watch the movie for many years, where did you get the message: "wealthy people have to earn their rights to participate in politics."

I thought you were talking about rich people(Johnny) join military to have the rights.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

In the movie, it was said Johnny was a rich kid (he was called that few times), who told his father he wanted to be a citizen, that was the reason he joined military, and in the movie a girl (one of the new military recruits) in the shower scene said only citizens could participate in politics.

And clearly his parents were not citizens, otherwise they would have mentioned it in the argument with their son.

[–] sonans (1543) 7 months ago

Did the movie mention only citizens can participate in politics? I can't remember it.

Even the movie mention it, it's quiet realistic, I can give you one example: South Korea. It's a unwritten law: any man, even rich, dares to not service in military can't participate in politic or entertainment business, the society will cancel him.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

And in US it was said you couldn't get elected to govern dogshit unless you were a Christian and acted like you were very devoted.

But it is not about conventions, in the movie that was the law. Normal people are civilians, if you want to be a part of politics you have to be a citizen.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

NO...THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS IN THE MOVIE.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

Then tell me which part of the movie said that exactly.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

CLASSROOM SCENE WITH MICHAEL IRONSIDE...IT ALSO HINTED AT AND SHOWN NOT TOLD NUMEROUS OTHER TIMES...I SAW STARSHIP TROOPERS IN THEATERS...I HAVE OWNED THE VHS,DVD AND NOW BLU-RAY...IT IS ONE OF MY TOP 100 ALL TIME FAVORITE FILMS.

I HAVE ALSO READ THE BOOK.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

The points were 2:
1) All the main characters were rich.
2) "The only way for poor people to become wealthy and respect citizens is join military, they have no choice."

Where in the movie said that?

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

THE RICH PART IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE FILM...YOU ARE CORRECT THERE....YOU CAN BE A RICH LAZY SLUG BUT THE REST IS IN THE MOVIE...NO MILITARY SERVICE...NO VOTING..NO PROCREATING...NO RESPECT...AS THE EARTH'S GOVERNMENT WAS FOUNDED BY VETERANS.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

The movie did not say that.

It was said in the movie military service provides tuition to college, and it is an easier way to get license to have children, clearly not the only way.

Johnny's parents were not citizens, but they were rich and they had a son.

You can start a business and get rich. And there are jobs paid well without college degrees, in our world there are drug sale reps, tradies, and actors, etc.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

I HAVE SEEN IT AT LEAST 25 TIMES OVER THE YEARS...JUST WATCHED IT WITH ALI LIKE A MONTH AGO...

EVERY WORD I TYPED IT DIRECT FROM THE FILM.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

Tell me the exact lines and at what time marks.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

CLASSROOM SCENES EARLY IN THE FILM...I DON'T KNOW THE TIME MARKS...YOU ARE THE ONE WHO IS SERIOUSLY CONFUSED...YOU CLEARLY NEED TO REWATCH THE FILM MORE THAN I DO.

YOU'RE SUCH A XANDER.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

You can't, can you?

Lying is not a good colour on you.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

SO YOU KNOW TIMECODES FOR FILMS OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD?

DUDE...I HAVE WATCHED STARSHIP TROOPERS DOZENS OF TIMES...IT IS A PERSONAL FAVORITE OF MINE...ONE OF TWO PAUL VERHOEVEN FILMS TO MAKE MY ALL TIME TOP 100 FLICKS LIST.

THAT INFORMATION IS PART OF THE FILM.

GO WATCH IT...QUIT EMBARRASSING YOURSELF BY BEING ABSOLUTELY WRONG AND TELLING OTHERS TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK FOR YOU😂

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

I check.

Didn't you say:"I HAVE OWNED THE VHS,DVD AND NOW BLU-RAY"?

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

I CURRENTLY OWN ALL THREE ACTUALLY.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

And?

I am waiting.

Or you don't want to, because that exposes the fact you were lying?

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

BASED ON ME NOT WANTING TO GO DIG MY PHYSICAL MEDIA OUT OF A BOX,PUT IT ON AND GET TIME CODES OR YOU...THAT EXPOSES A LIE?...LMAO

DUDE...YOU ARE WRONG HERE...DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK...BUT...YOU SHOULD DROP IT...

I REMEMBERED ANOTHER BIT THOUGH...DURING THE COED SHOWER SCENE KATRINA SAYS SHE ENLISTED SO SHE COULD HAVE BABIES.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

I checked, what you said was not true.

You are the one need to prove what you said is true.

But you can't, can you?

You are quite clearly a shameless liar.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

100% TRUTH...YOU CHECKED NOTHING....SERIOUSLY DUDE...ANYONE WHO HAS SEEN THE MOVIE THAT READS THIS WILL INSTANTLY KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING IS CORRECT.

[–] 4Freedom (183) 7 months ago

Starship Troopers, the movie, was satirical. The book however, was definitely not. Both were good in their own ways.

Similarly, Fallout TV show tries to be funny, but the game was definitely not. The show dulls the edge of the game to almost pointlessness.

[–] sonans (1543) 7 months ago

When I heard Nolan will adapt Fallout, my first reaction was: can he do comedy?

All his works were dead serious, not a single work was comedy. The problem with Fallout is: it has to be a comedy. Because everything is absurd: Big wrist computers (who would wear that?), Big CRT single color computers, Big cockroaches, Big monsters...

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

Yeah, comedy would probably have worked better, or they should have changed a lot of things I mentioned.

If you haven't watched it yet, this show is about as funny as westworld.

[–] sonans (1543) 7 months ago

I will try to watch it ASAP, because I like Fallout games (not love, just like), but I don't have faith in Jonathan Nolan, all his TV shows were boring: Westworld(I lasted two episodes), Person of Interest (I can't finished Season one).

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

Yeah, I did not like those 2 either.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

I DON'T GAME..AT ALL...I LOVED FALLOUT...WATCHED THE WHOLE SEASON IN A ROW...VERY ENTERTAINING....AND I DID NOT LIKE THOSE OTHER TWO SHOWS YOU MENTIONED VERY MUCH.

[–] Towelie_Towel (1773) 7 months ago

That's not entirely true.

I wouldn't consider this a comedy, but it had many lighthearted moments.

Jerry from Rick & Morty was pure comic relief.
Thadeus was also comic relief.
Max and Lucy did many nonsense things and dialogues.

The robo-brain trying to inject the kid was also humorous... Many moments were purely silly.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

The robo-brain trying to inject the kid was also humorous

That is the only place I find remotely funny.

The other places I think are about their naivety, which is more sad than funny.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

[deleted]

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

Lucy was way too serious.

Max could have been the comic relief, the character had that potential, similar to Finn in the new star wars, but they weren't going in that direction.

[–] LetoAtreides (559) 7 months ago

In the games, Vault-Tec didn't destroy the world. I agree this is stupid and pretty much the same BS they did with Umbrella in the shitty Resident Evil movies.

"We'll destroy the whole planet and then, profits!"

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

Good to know at least the game made sense.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

NO...YOU WIPE THE SURFACE CLEAN...LEAVING AN EMPTY LANDSCAPE FOR YOUR COMPANY TO MAKE ALL THE RULES AND CALL ALL THE SHOTS...FOREVER.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

So you live in caves for the rest of your life, or do you really trust your employees enough to put yourself in cryopreservation for hundreds of years?

Not a good plan.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

I NEVER SAID I THINK IT IS A GOOD PLAN...ALTHOUGH...THE IDEA OF TAKING A NAP AND WAKING UP MANAGER OF EARTH IS FAIRLY COOL.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

But like what I said in the beginning of this post, it is just stupid.

Either they are or they think we are.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

THIS IS WHERE WE DISAGREE...I THINK IT WAS THE CORPORATE FOLKS IN THE FILM WHO WERE BEING STUPID...CALCULATED,COLD,AND SHORT SIDED DUMB WHILE CONSIDERING LONG TERM PLANS....SETTING UP THE SATIRICAL WORLD THE SHOW TAKES PLACE IN...A SHOW I QUITE ENJOYED.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

If they were really that stupid they would have never been where they were.

Except some insane or retarded people none is really that stupid.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

IT ISN'T AN INTELLECT BASED STUPID...IT'S AN EGOTISTICAL,OBSESSED KIND OF STUPID.

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

This conversation is no longer intelligent, that is for sure.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

YOU ARE EXTREMELY RUDE AND ONE-SIDED IN YOUR THINKING....I GENUINELY HAVE NOTHING AGAINST YOU...I ENJOYED THE SHOW AND ENJOY POSTING ABOUT IT...WHY DOES THIS HAVE TO BE A SNIPE CONTEST CONSTANTLY THREATENING TO TURN INTO FULL BLOWN ANTAGONISM?

[–] fc31 (5365) 7 months ago

And like I said before in this post you are a shameless liar, you really got that shamelessness thing down.

And I hate shamelessness and lying.

And I suspect you are working as a shill now.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 7 months ago

I AM SHAMELESS...THIS IS TRUE...I AM NO LIAR THOUGH...THAT IS A LIE....A LIE ABOUT ME LYING...WEIRD...WE REALLY NEED TO DROP THIS CRAP AND BE BUDS.