The Target (Fallout)

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"The Target"
Fallout episode
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 2
Directed by	Jonathan Nolan
Written by	Geneva Robertson-Dworet Graham Wagner
Cinematography by	Stuart Dryburgh
Editing by	Stuart Dryburgh
Original air date	April 10, 2024 (2024-04-10)
Running time	75 minutes
Guest appearances
Michael Emerson as Dr. Siggi Wilzig Michael Rapaport as Knight Titus Michael Abbott Jr. as Farmer Jon Daly as Snake Oil Salesman Jake Garber as Chicken Collector Dale Dickey as Ma June Edythe Jason as Barv

"The Target" is the second episode of the American post-apocalyptic drama television series Fallout, based on the role-playing video game franchise created by Interplay Entertainment and now owned by Bethesda Softworks. The episode was written by series developers Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner and directed by executive producer Jonathan Nolan. It was released on Amazon Prime Video on April 10, 2024, alongside the rest of the season.

The series depicts the aftermath of an apocalyptic nuclear exchange in an alternate history of Earth where advances in nuclear technology after World War II led to the emergence of a retrofuturistic society and a subsequent resource war. The survivors took refuge in fallout bunkers known as Vaults, built to preserve humanity in the event of nuclear annihilation. The episode follows Lucy, a Vault Dweller from Vault 33, on her search for her father, Maximus, a Brotherhood of Steel Scribe tasked with locating a dangerous scientist, and the Ghoul, a mutated gunslinger on the hunt for a bounty.

Plot

Dr. Siggi Wilzig is a scientist working at an Enclave facility, performing behaviour experiments on dogs. He takes pity on one of the new puppies, CX404, after it fails its weight test, saving it from incineration. Soon after, Wilzig rescues the dog from further experimentation, and raises CX404 in secret. Wilzig develops a mysterious glowing pill, which he injects into his neck. CX404 is discovered in his lab by an Enclave scientist; the scientist quickly raises the alarm and attacks Wilzig, but is killed by CX404. Both soon flee the facility.

Lucy MacLean explores the coastal ruins near Vault 33, and finds a bottle of 'Plan D', a Vault-Tec suicide poison that was ingested by a deceased family. As she spends her first night in the Wasteland, her fire attracts the attention of Wilzig and CX404. Wilzig cautions her to return to Vault 33, and warns her that she will otherwise have to adapt to the harshness of the surface world. The next day, Lucy seeks information about her father's whereabouts, and is given directions to the nearly settlement of Filly. Wilzig later stops at a hazardous waste dumping site for a short rest. He is alarmed to find bones and human remains at the site, and quickly leaves.

Maximus travels with Knight Titus and his escort on the mission to hunt down Wilzig, and struggles with Titus' callous attitude. Titus and Maximus travel on foot, locating the waste site as well as evidence of Wilzig's recent presence. While investigating the site, a mutated bear appears and attacks them. Titus flees from the bear, and is soon brutally mauled before Maximus kills the creature. Titus demands that Maximus heal his injuries, threatening that he will be punished for letting him get injured. In response, Maximus tells Titus that he does not deserve to be a Knight, allowing him to succumb to his injuries. Maximus acquires Titus' T-60 Power Armor, and uses it to handle a dispute between two surface dwellers.

Lucy locates the town of Filly, and asks shopkeeper Ma June about Lee Moldaver, the leader of the raiders that kidnapped her father. Ma June warns her to return to her vault, expressing hatred for those who were fortunate to be in the Vaults when the bombs fell. Wilzig and CX404 arrive in Filly, looking to speak to Ma June, and once again warn Lucy to return home. Wilzig also demonstrates a thorough understanding of Vault 33's design, to Lucy's confusion. Suddenly, the Ghoul reveals himself and declares that he is here for Wilzig's bounty. A firefight erupts in the town, and Wilzig loses a foot. The Ghoul wounds CX404 after it tries to defend Wilzig, and Lucy attempts to neutralize the Ghoul. Maximus soon appears, and gains the upper hand against the Ghoul.

Ma June reveals to Lucy that she was paid by Moldaver to transport Wilzig to the raider's location. At Wilzig's insistence, Ma June asks Lucy to take him to Moldaver, as a way to find her father. Maximus is beaten by the Ghoul, due to his inexperience with Power Armor, and is abruptly flown out of Filly. The Ghoul later heals CX404 to help him locate Wilzig. Travelling towards Los Angeles, Wilzig struggles with his injuries. He informs Lucy that he has taken a Vault-Tec 'Plan D' suicide pill, and tasks her with removing his head and taking it to Moldaver, promising that it will 'change the future'.

Production

Like the series premiere, the second episode was directed by showrunner Jonathan Nolan. Much of the wasteland scenes for this episode, including the ruined homes and ship, were filmed in Namibia's Skeleton Coast.

The episode also features songs used from soundtracks from the Fallout videogame franchise. These include "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall" and "I Don't Want to Set The World on Fire" by The Ink Spots, "It's A Man" by Betty Hutton, and "Don't Fence Me In", performed by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Singers.

Release

The episode, along with the rest of the season, premiered on April 10, 2024.

Critical reception

"The Target" received positive reviews from critics. Jack King of Vulture gave the episode 4 out of 5 stars, praising Purnell's performance as Lucy as she navigates her hostile new environment. He wrote, "A central question of postapocalyptic media...will always center on how we deal with the threat of other human beings after civilization has rotted away. With resources stretched so thin and the lion’s share of those left around relying on their basal survival instincts to get by, everyone becomes a potential risk."

Lucy Mangan of The Guardian also praised Purnell's performance, writing, "As a wide-eyed believer in the Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto you), she is wildly unprepared for the array of delights surface-dwelling holds. It’s not like she can disguise herself effectively either."

External Links

"The Target" at IMDb