Previously on Fallout, Lucy’s penchant for performing good deeds in the post-apocalyptic world once again gets her in trouble. Elsewhere, Maximus and his Brotherhood of Steel chapter plot a civil war against the main Commonwealth chapter. However, they and their potential co-conspirators are surprised by a visit from a Commonwealth envoy. “The Profligate” picks up where we last left off.
Before we find out what happens to our main characters, it’s always fun times when we run into Thaddeus. Johnny Pemberton is always good for some comic relief, and it’s nice to see Thaddeus thriving now that he is a ghoul. He has his own operation that is very welcoming and genuinely cares for his employees. But it can’t be Fallout without a dark little twist with his work involving child labor. Other than that, it seems like a swell place that is wholesome in its own way.
Unfortunately, a good portion of “The Profligate” falls into a rut as it provides setup for events in the episode, and possibly beyond. There are these different factions at war against each other, and the build makes the narrative feel slow during these times. It’s necessary but seems like going through the motions.
At least the ending redeems everything. It is well executed going back and forth between Cooper Howard’s backstory and the present day. The speech, delivered with great gravitas by Dallas Goldtooth, provides some uncertainty behind the Ghoul’s motivations as he tries to save Lucy. In the end, we receive a better understanding behind the code of our antihero. The dialog is so impactful with the speech and the final words from Goldtooth’s Charles Whiteknife as he gives Cooper a present. There is an irony and moral grey area in life, and it existed long before nuclear bombs went off in Fallout.
Whiteknife’s words also resonate with Maximus’s subplot. This season we have seen him become desensitized the more he becomes indoctrinated into the Brotherhood of Steel. It looks like a very convincing experience as he heads out with Paladin Xander Harkness.
Their action scenes early on are cheesy with the practical effects of the power armor accompanied by a musical version of the “Star Spangled Banner” playing. It doesn’t look as polished and high tech as the other special effects of the series, but there is a certain charm. The tone of the hedonistic violence takes a drastic turn due to a surprise discovery. It’s a sobering moment but we discover there is still a line Maximus won’t cross. There is still something inside worth redeeming, even if he might face some dramatic repercussions.
A good portion of the episode moves slowly to build to an impactful and moving conclusion reminding us there is still good people in the wasteland even though they do bad things.
New episodes of Fallout release Wednesdays on Prime Video.
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