S1E1: Fallout Breakdown: “The End”

Hi, folks! Welcome back to I Will Go Down With This Ship. This is our very first official episode, and we are beyond excited to dive right in. So, let’s get started!

Meet the Hosts

Heather and Chelsea

Hey there, I’m Heather.

And I’m Chelsea.

Today, we are talking about the show Fallout, focusing on Episode 1: "The End."

Episode Titles: A Side Note

I just love how they titled these episodes from The End to the Beginning. It gives such a unique twist, don’t you think? And it totally gives me hope for our Ghoulcy crackship’s potential.

Diving In: First Impressions

Alright, Chelsea, why don’t you kick us off? You seem to have a ton of notes, so let's hear them!

Chelsea’s Take

Sure thing! First, let's talk about the opening. We see Cooper Howard pre-nuke. Like, who doesn’t love seeing Cooper Howard, though?

Seriously, that man makes me so thirsty.

Walton Goggins Appreciation

Let’s be real. We need a whole 30 seconds of silence for Walton Goggins. Take a moment.

A is for Alimony

The opening scene really fascinated me because people tend to forget that Cooper and Barb are already split up. He’s out there, making appearances at kids' parties to pay alimony. And let's be grateful they are split up because, yes, that means he's single and available for shipping!

Character Dynamics

Did Barb Know…?

At first blush, it’s messed up that Barb potentially knows Janie is with Cooper at that birthday party when the bombs are dropping. Imagine being the architect of the world's end while knowing your daughter is not safely tucked away in a vault! THAT, my friends, is what really made us stop and think.

Theories and Speculations

A lot of theories suggest the bombs might have dropped earlier than planned. If Barb genuinely loved Cooper and Janie at the very least, there’s no way she'd allow nukes to drop knowing they’re out there. Maybe someone with higher rank in Vault-Tec overruled her, or it was an enemy attack? Was it, perhaps, the person that @greyjedireylo mentions in the following tweet who overruled Barb and dropped the bombs before she could make sure Janie was safe?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I just noticed that although there are other people's silhouettes on an open balcony in the Vault-Tec meeting, when Barb gets orders on her pip-boy they're from just ONE guy even higher up and more hidden she looks up at 👀 <a href="https://t.co/IbTUJa2TuW">pic.twitter.com/IbTUJa2TuW</a></p>— rachel🦋 (@greyjedireylo) <a href="https://twitter.com/greyjedireylo/status/1803662963007693191?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cooper Howard’s Custodial Rights

If Cooper still had custodial rights over Janie, Barb would’ve made sure she's safe, if she was able to. These unanswered questions make the plot so intriguing, making us question every character's motivation.

Character Fears: Reconciliation

Potential Reconciliation

God, I hope Cooper and Barb don’t reconcile. It would ruin everything.

The Fear of Crack Shippers

For those who aren’t into crack ships, we’ve had our hearts shattered so many times by writers who don’t get it. Writers often want to send a message or shove a “moral of the story” down our throats that ruins the character we love, like Cooper.

Change and Humanity

There’s a fear that Lucy will change him, which is good, but might make him too politically correct or morally upright. The magic of Cooper Howard/The Ghoul lies in his complex, morally gray nature.

The Martyrdom Fear

There’s another concern: that Cooper might be martyred. Whether to protect Lucy, Janie, or even Barb, martyrdom would ruin his arc. We want him to prevail, to be seen as the perfect antihero he is. We want him to continue existing and reach a satisfying conclusion of his arc in his own perfectly flawed way.

Real Situations, Real Characters

We crave characters that are morally gray but don't get the short end of the stick. Real life isn't black and white.

The Parallel to Marvel's The Punisher

Frank Castle

Frank Castle from Marvel’s The Punisher remains morally gray and compelling. We want Cooper to remain complex, without losing his edge for the sake of humanity or love.

Cooper’s Humanity

We do not want Cooper to completely change. He should stay morally gray, and this could balance perfectly with Lucy’s innate goodness. They have the potential to coexist in a deeply beautiful and balanced way, respecting each other's essence, making them incredible together.

Romance and Power Dynamics

Lucy needs an edge, while Cooper needs some humanity. But neither should be entirely redefined or completely changed. Their balance of light and darkness is why we love them.

Lucy’s Naivety and Strength

Lucy, the sheltered vault girl, still pulls the trigger when necessary. She’s naive but capable.

“Even though she's naive, she’s a capable protagonist.”

Power Dynamics in Relationships

Lucy’s innocence doesn’t mean she isn’t a viable ship option for Cooper or other strong characters. She’s of sound mind to choose her own partner.

Unrealistic Moral Judgments

We shouldn't impose our world’s moral judgments on a world like the Wasteland, which is post-apocalyptic and built on different rules than the world as we know it right now.

Age in the Wasteland

Age and consent might have a different context in this world. Lucy, being the protagonist, should have the space to explore her choices without undue criticism, and especially without people constantly trying to infantilize her.

Cooper and Lucy: The Ship We Need

Their chemistry is undeniable. Cooper, even before he knows who Lucy is and who her father is, shows signs of being intrigued by her—he even refrains from killing her during their initial meeting, despite having ample opportunity to do so and ending several other people’s lives that day—creating the perfect setup for a potential romantic arc between the two.

Lucy’s Resilience

Despite the harsh realities of the wasteland, Lucy’s core belief in humanity’s essential goodness remains. She isn't jaded, adding depth to her character.

Complex Antagonists

Characters like Barb, Moldaver, and Hank show that even antagonists can be complex and layered. Hank loves Lucy, offering a glimpse into his humanity despite his nefarious actions.

The Intricacies of Maximus

Max’s Potential as a Villain

Max has the potential to become a truly compelling and charismatic villain.

Selfish Choices

Max’s choices are incredibly selfish, and understandably so in many cases, making him a fascinating character to watch.

Predictions and Concerns

Character Evolution

Cooper’s redemption will hopefully be nuanced, keeping his essential swagger. He’s straightforward and honest, unlike Max who hides behind lies.

Protective Nature

Cooper is deeply multi-dimensional and straightforward about who he is as a person. His complexity and honesty make him the character we root for.

Enemies to Lovers

We love the enemies-to-lovers vibe. Lucy and Cooper’s dynamic provides rich, layered storytelling.

The Need for Fan Service

Amazon Prime, please give us the fan service we crave, but ONLY if you can make it make sense in the context of the story world and plot! Don’t force it, just follow the chemistry you’ve been gifted with between Walton Goggins and Ella Purnell. Don’t deliver a rushed romance, give us development. And for the love of all that’s holy, don’t destroy or contradict what you’ve created in Cooper Howard’s character to make it happen. (We’re looking at you, Justified season 5, episode 4. You did Boyd Crowder’s character so dirty, but we’ll talk more about that another time.)

Final Thoughts

Recap and Future Episodes

We’ve covered everything from Barb’s questionable decisions (and the possibility that someone pulled rank on her) to Lucy and Cooper's potential relationship. This episode sets up compelling storylines and characters we are rooting for.

Your Ships

Let us know who you ship and why. We'll dive deeper into Episode 2 in our next blog post. Stay tuned!

Conclusion

Thanks for sticking with us through this deep dive into Fallout Episode 1, “The End”. We're excited to hear your thoughts and ships! Feel free to leave comments below.

Heather & Chelsea, signing off. See you next week!