The much-anticipated transition of the beloved post-apocalyptic video game series to television screens has captivated fans with Prime's rendition of Bethesda's Fallout . Unlike past video game adaptations that fell short, recent successes like Super Mario Bros. and The Last of Us set a new standard.
Vaults play a crucial role in the Fallout universe, with almost every protagonist hailing from one. While Fallout: New Vegas deviated by starting above ground, it still featured intriguing vault explorations uncovering Vault-Tec's dark experiments. The debut of Prime Video's Fallout series excited fans, particularly with the lifelike portrayal of vaults, notably Vaults 31, 32, and 33.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Fallout season 1
The Interconnected Vaults: 32 and 33
Viewers of Prime's Fallout series were introduced to Vault 33, Lucy MacLean's former home, before her wasteland quest to rescue her father. Vault 33 appears normal, with residents living mundane lives, cultivating crops, enjoying jello cake, and fulfilling designated roles. However, a unique twist lies in its connection to Vault 32, where residents also lead seemingly ordinary lives in various positions like educators, engineers, and guards.
The intriguing dynamic between Vaults 32 and 33 involves regular goods trading and inter-vault marriages. Residents from each vault marry individuals from the other, preventing inbreeding and fostering community cohesion. Notably, members from Vault 31 occasionally join these unions, always assuming the role of Overseer. Dwellers of 32 and 33 perceive 31 residents as superior, hinting at a predetermined hierarchy.
This hierarchy is meticulously engineered, evident in everything from promotional slogans to culinary preferences like jello cake, all serving Vault 31's agenda.
Unraveling Vault 31's Mystery
Vaults 32 and 33 constitute two-thirds of Prime's Fallout vault trio, with Vault 31 completing the enigmatic triangle, housing characters like Betty, Stephanie, and Lucy's father. A startling revelation surfaces when Norm and Cousin Chet unveil a long-standing pattern: every Overseer in Vault 33 originates from Vault 31. Despite attempts to elect a new Overseer internally, Vault 33 consistently appoints individuals from 31.
Following a tumultuous event in Vault 32, Stephanie from Vault 31 ascends as Overseer. While Chet refrains from exploring further, Norm delves deeper, uncovering a recurring trend where all Overseers have ties to Vault 31. Norm's investigative journey leads to a surprising revelation about Vault 31's cryogenic residents and their peculiar Overseer – a brain in a glass case on a Roomba, revealing the sinister schemes of Bud Askins, a senior Vault-Tec executive.
Bud discloses that Vaults 31, 32, and 33 were part of an elaborate experiment to breed loyal Vault-Tec followers, known as Bud's-Buds. Vault 31 housed pre-apocalypse Vault-Tec staff, while 32 and 33 accommodated genetically favorable residents. The ultimate plan involved resurfacing these loyalists post-apocalypse to reshape the world as per Vault-Tec's vision, unveiling the dark intentions behind Hank Maclean's actions.