The highly anticipated second season of the Fallout TV series launched on Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, in the UK, but the critical reception has proven to be anything but unified. Following a widely praised first season, the return to the post-apocalyptic wasteland has sparked a fierce debate among reviewers, leaving fans to decide for themselves if the show remains on target.
Praise for Depth and Performances
Several major publications found much to admire in the new episodes. The Playlist hailed the season as an "exciting second quest," acknowledging a slow start but praising showrunners Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet for seamlessly taking over from Jonathan Nolan and expanding the complex lore. They noted the show's impressive depth, drawing from the rich library of Fallout game titles.
The Daily Beast concurred, stating the series successfully built upon its "wild, weird and badass" foundation. When it came to the cast, USA Today critic Kelly Lawler offered significant praise. She highlighted that leads Ella Purnell and Aaron Moten had settled comfortably into their roles, with Moten's portrayal of the buttoned-up Maximus feeling more natural. The "natural weirdness" of co-stars Walton Goggins, Kyle MacLachlan, and Justin Theroux was also singled out as a perfect fit for the show's unique ambiance.
Criticism of Pacing and Plot
However, not all reviews were glowing. A common thread of criticism focused on the season's handling of its numerous subplots. The Telegraph's Ed Power pointed out that the show "loses the thread" in side stories only loosely connected to Lucy's (Ella Purnell) central mission to find her father, Hank (Kyle MacLachlan). This was seen as an unwanted distraction from the otherwise engrossing main narrative.
IGN enjoyed the bulk of the season, particularly the first six episodes, but expressed disappointment with the ending. Meanwhile, RogerEbert.com critic Brian Tallerico delivered a more scathing assessment, accusing the series of lacking true direction, especially in its sixth episode. The comparison to the convoluted later seasons of Westworld was also raised, with fears the story was becoming too dense.
The Verdict: Silly or Authentic?
The most negative reviews came from outlets like IndieWire and What's Alan Watching?. Ben Travers described watching as an "arduous" experience, while Alan Sepinwall worried that parts of the show had become "too silly to care about at all." This stands in direct contrast to other reviewers who celebrated its "admirably authentic adaptation" of the Fallout: New Vegas game's distinct tone.
The divisive reaction follows an earlier controversy where an AI-generated recap of the first season, released just days before the Season 2 premiere, was found to be riddled with errors. This incident had initially fuelled scepticism about the new season's quality. Ultimately, the consensus is absent, and the final judgement rests with the viewers. The first episode of Fallout Season 2 is available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video, with subsequent episodes released weekly.
