Fallout Season 1 introduced three protagonists on a collision course: a Vault dweller who believes in goodness, a Ghoul who abandoned it centuries ago, and a soldier looking for purpose. Their journeys across the Los Angeles wasteland revealed truths about Vault-Tec, family, and survival.
Full spoilers ahead.
Lucy's Story
Life in Vault 33: Lucy MacLean lived a sheltered life in Vault 33, believing her Vault was humanity's hope for the future. Her father Hank was the Overseer.
The Inciting Incident: Raiders from the surface—including someone claiming to be from Vault 32—attacked during a unity celebration. Lucy's father was kidnapped.
Emergence: Lucy left the Vault to rescue her father, armed with optimism and naivety. The Wasteland quickly tested both.
- Met and was captured by The Ghoul
- Discovered the truth about Vault-Tec
- Lost her optimism gradually but not completely
- Confronted her father about his past
The Ghoul's Story
Past Life: Cooper Howard was a pre-war movie star married to a Vault-Tec executive. Through flashbacks, we learn he discovered Vault-Tec's apocalyptic plans too late.
Present Day: Two hundred years later, Cooper is The Ghoul—a bounty hunter who captures targets for money and medicine. He's hunting Lucy's father for personal reasons.
- Captured Lucy but developed complicated feelings
- Revealed his pre-war life gradually
- Confronted memories of his wife's betrayal
- Headed toward New Vegas for final answers
Maximus's Story
Brotherhood Aspirant: Maximus was a squire in the Brotherhood of Steel, seeking to become a knight and find purpose.
Opportunity and Deception: When his knight was killed, Maximus took the power armor and assumed his identity. His mission: retrieve a Vault-Tec scientist.
- Met and fell for Lucy
- Struggled with Brotherhood ideology
- Made moral choices that separated him from his faction
- Chose Lucy over his mission
The Big Revelations
Vault-Tec Started the War: The show confirmed that Vault-Tec deliberately triggered nuclear war to ensure their plans proceeded. They bet on the end of the world—and rigged the game.
Vault 31's Secret: Vault 31 contained cryogenically frozen Vault-Tec executives, designed to repopulate the world with their "superior" genetics.
Hank MacLean's Past: Lucy's father was not a lifelong Vault dweller—he was a pre-war Vault-Tec employee. He may have been involved in Shady Sands' destruction.
Lucy's Mother: Lucy's mother didn't die in a surface mission—she discovered the truth and tried to escape. Hank stopped her.
The Season Finale
Vault 33 Collapse: The Vault's illusions shattered. Lucy exposed the truth to remaining residents.
Hank's Escape: Hank fled in power armor toward New Vegas, taking cold fusion technology with him.
Lucy's Choice: Lucy chose to pursue her father, abandoning Vault life completely.
The Ghoul's Path: The Ghoul also headed to Vegas, his two-century hunt continuing.
Maximus's Decision: Maximus returned to the Brotherhood with partial success, but his loyalties are now divided.
Final Image: New Vegas glittering on the horizon. Season 2 awaits.