The Ghoul of Fallout TV: How They Crafted the Perfect Character for Fallout Fans
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- Опубликовано: 24 апр 2024
- Let's explore the fascinating character of The Ghoul from the Fallout TV series, portrayed by Walton Goggins. In this video, we explore why this character resonates so strongly with both new and long-time Fallout fans, examining his background, his role in the series, and what makes him so captivating. From his archetypal significance to his impact on the series' narrative, discover what makes The Ghoul a standout character.
⚠️Warning: This video contains spoilers for the TV show and potentially for the games. ⚠️
Whether you're a veteran fan or new to the Fallout universe, this video is for you!
The Naive, The Fool, and The Salty.
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
Maximus will get bad. I think in season 2, the easily manipulated, gullible, weak character will be seduced into the dark side. Lucy's influence is missing.
And with that, we get the Western that the show has been alluding to all along.
@@TomTomson81 I am inclined to disagree. The Elder said something very poignant: Everyone around him suffers from misfortune in some way in the BoS. I think he is going to kill the Elder and attempt to move the BoS towards the kind in Fallout 3. I think Lucy is going to be the Bad. Coop I think is going to sacrifice himself.
@@sashmiel6566 I could see Lucy going bad. She did just have her whole world destroyed. I don't think she will but I could see it happening.
"My Echo, My Shadow, and meeeee"
Lucy might sacrifice herself. Don’t rule it out.
The reason the Ghoul cut off her finger is because she was constantly saying “do unto others as you would have them do unto you (golden rule)”
She took his finger so he did the same to her. Hence the “this is the most honest exchange we’ve had so far”
I legitimately don’t think it was ment to be more. But hey, that’s the fun of examining it.
I agree with this assessment, that being said she still won that argument. Cooper respected her so much when he had his back to her and she cocked her gun he didn't even turn around (finale). I think he just trusted her to be absolutely who she is and not him. I'm so looking forward to season 2, this show is awesome. Make a Elder Scrolls too amazon, while we endlessly wait for 6.
@@joelcarver8932 late to this party but I love how you connected this with that knock out ending!
Totally late to this but yeah I TOTALLY should have tied this more strongly with the golden rule thing that was totally an oversight.
10:48 Ghoul: “scientists used to do studies before the war and they said torture don’t work, and I agree…”
. Lucy: “why are you torturing me then?”
Ghoul: “I’m not I’m using you as bait”
**drop**
I've heard people say that the ghoul saved dogmeat because it was a remnant of his pre-trauma good guy-ness. I've also heard it said he only revived the dog because he could use him to track the target. I think it was a combo. He used the practicality as a justification within his grey moral code to still be a "good person." Because he has no reason to be good within his current framework.
To me, he revived dogmeat to track at first and realized how much he missed his dog. Since caring about him doesn't fit his image he insists the dog is only there to lead the way.
Also a bit of the "vampire problem" since he can live for an ungodly amount of time he'll undoubtedly watch anyone and anything he gets close to die.
I think he wouldn't even bother trying to mentally justify the choice. The way the character reads to me is that he's so beyond things like image that he'd happily revive the dog, travel w it, relive that part of his life, but if the situation warranted, kill it himself.
He'd feel bad, but it wouldn't stop him.
@@blackc1479 You know, valid. You may be right. Maybe I'm projecting, wanting desperately to see something of his former self in there still. But I feel as though, narratively, what is the point of him having been a good guy originally if he's not going to rekindle that eventually? And that wouldn't make sense if we didn't have hints like this one sprinkled in there.
@renlyspeach7622 there's absolutely some of him still in there. And yeah, I think he's ultimately going to be a classic antihero.
His memory is kind of all he has, but he's also a killer, even back then. He's ultimately pragmatic, but still remembers who he was. If he didn't he wouldn't still be looking for his family 200 years later. (Though I'd guess most of it is looking for his kid, with a side of anger at his wife for what she helped happen.)
@@blackc1479he still wants to find his family after all
I've been talking about this with my wife, and I think the Ghoul really personifies one of my favorite George Carlin quotes: "If you scratch a pessimist you'll find there's a jaded optimist underneath."
The cosmic alignment of him encountering the dog, Lucy, and finally getting a lead on finding his family is bringing more of the old Cooper Howard to the fore, even though he's built up this sort of protective caricature personality of the Ghoul in order to protect himself and survive the Wasteland for the last 200 years.
I love this character so much.
Yes, exactly this.
He's a curmudgeon--and I have a massive soft spot for curmudgeons, because they're the most romantic among us. (Not in the sense of love-romance, but in the sense of a view of the world.)
As a disenfranchised former conservative veteran Cooper Howard resonates with me and a bunch of my military buddies sooooo damn much. Not in the we want to be him sorta way, more in the we know that character development because we went through a version of it. We witnessed what we believe in evaporate because it was smoke and mirrors all along
Thanks for sharing! I was kind of walking a delicate line in this video - I was hoping people with experiences like yours would feel like I was shining a light on that experience without “speaking for” it, and it sounds like I struck the right tone. I’m glad you seem to have gotten the intended vibe 😂
@@lindsaysfallout definitely, you nailed it. Keep it up. You got my subscribe.
@@lindsaysfalloutyes you did a great job
Likewise. So very very much. Thank you.
You nailed it! Thank you Lindsay.
Can you imagine the horror and pain he felt while he was transitioning? His insides and outsides mutating and/or sloughing off as part of his flashback would be harsh, but a lot of people don't seem to understand what the Ghouls have been through, and the stuff they're made of to remain functional.
Ooooh I hope that the show goes into that.
@@lindsaysfallout I fully expect us to get that for season 2, I also expect we'll get him being denied entry to a vault after delivering his daughter.
@@lindsaysfalloutthe games do if you ever decide to play them. But the process is different with every Ghoul
He’s a pretty ghoul cause not many of them look as good as he does.
Also how long was he buried underground. That would be maddening and we just kinda gloss over it.
What I love about the Ghoul is there's no question he's Bad Karma, but every act has a point and a purpose. He's not cruel for fun.
Reminds me of the lone wanderer
@@johncrowley3322 Pretty sure we all blew up Megaton just for the shits and giggles in at least one play through 🤣
@@breakingboundaries3950
Same reason i never join the legion... i cant bring myself to do it.
I do either join house, stay independent or join ncr.
The Ghoul might also be truly the KINDEST character in the entire show. Good puppers.
He's not the Nicest. But he has it in him to be kind and genuine.
The Enclave throws a newborn puppy into an incinerator with everyone watching. The Ghoul stimpaks the dog after everyone leaves. 💖💖
@@lindsaysfallout That scene really helped solidify how cold and evil the Enclave can be.
To clarify my comment (in case any reader is confused) - "nice" comes from nescius (ignorant) from nescire (to not know.) Originally it was foolishly concerned with trivial details, and then became dainty, foppish, eventually coming to the surface level of seeming.
Kind shares the same root word as kin and kindred, going back to the PIE root kunjam*-, meaning family. It's to treat someone else as if they were family.
It's "nice" to let someone drink poison without interrupting them and risking hurting their feelings.
It's "kind" to slap that glass out of their hand even if it causes offense.
With the care you show in your word choice I figure you knew what I meant and your reply shows it, I'm just clarifying for anyone else who might not.
When he shoots his fellow ghoul and longtime friend, I immediately said “Wow, that was... that was really kind of him. He didn’t have to show such compassion, but he did.” Then Lucy starts screaming about how cruel he is. Like, yes, he is cruel, but that wasn’t an example of his cruelty. That was mercy. He gave his friend a happy memory and a quick/painless end instead of leaving the poor guy to needlessly suffer as he loses his mind.
@@MiraBoo and was even kind enough to treat him to dinner!
No!
With the finger scene, she was talking about the golden rule before that, "do unto others as you would have done to you", in my opinion, he was showing her the reality of what she had just said. She took away a finger and he did to another what was done to him
But he also uses the finger later to sew onto his own hand, so there is a practicality to it as well.
Maybe, just maybe he can later use the mclean dna/ fingerprint in that finger for something, that would be real cool
Huh I thought he just put his finger back on.
I had a friend ask why didn’t Lucy get her old one back. He mainly asked that after seeing the drawer, and his own experience with finger surgery lol.
God I was horrified
As a traumatized person with anxiety and CPTSD, I really appreciated the scene that showed Cooper's reaction to finding out about his wife. It felt like I was watching a real man going into that hell spiral of mind, the room spinning, fuzzy vision, can't focus or speak, dry mouth. Goggins is a master class in respectfully portraying trauma.
YES! Awesome observation and awesome comment.
This channel is making me crazy, I can't make content as quickly as I want to talk to all of you. Maybe I should make shorts?
Another vibe I got from the scene where The Ghoul cut Lucy's finger off was that he was very intentionally juxtapositioning the way she bit his finger off like a savage (what she thinks he is at that point) vs him pulling out his knife and meticulously cutting off her finger to further rub in that the two of them are not so different.
I love this too!
Also, doesn't he later sew her finger onto his hand to replace the one she bit off?
@aprilknight9240 he sews on a finger to his hand and she gets a finger sewed on by the Mr handy
Just fyi I’ve heard that the s word is considered a slur
@@eileenconway2966sew?
This show nails the tone. I'm starting to realize that simply looking at tone separates a lot of the bad live-action adaptations from the good ones.
tone is everything
That finger scene was the first time he had respect for her. Up until that point she was putting up a mask to him, then she got angry and fought back. She showed her real fighting self to him- and he can respect that. Its not much respect. but its better than before.
I interpreted the cutting fingers scene as a confrontation of moral beliefs: Lucy is the naive optimist who views people as innately good (at this moment in the story anyway) and the Ghoul, after all the shit he has witnessed, believes people are truly wicked. It would make sense for him to call it an “honest exchange” as he believes that he triggered Lucy’s primal instincts.
Come to think of it, Lucy’s arc is a lot like Ralph’s in Lord Of The Flies
Also he's basically applying Lucy's golden rule as she obviously showed him she wanted to have her finger removed when she bit off his finger.
I said this elsewhere, but Walton Goggins (the actor) made sure to state that nothing the Ghoul does (at least, in the current season) is ever out of Malice. Take that as you will.
I would like to point out that it was naive of her to think that people living in the worst conditions imaginable would be nice people. Not that people who haven't been taught otherwise would be nice naturally.
Just a clarification, since it has been proven, that for the average human being, you have to teach them to horrible. 😅
@@jullianpalmer4994 I guess it all comes to that nature vs nurture argument
Prolly the thing i like most about cooper that no one talks about is how he plays a Hollywood cowboy in his prewar life, but is such a spaghetti western archetype post war.
Its a really fun contrast that i never see talked about
I saw the Lucy/Cooper dynamic described as "Level 1 Lone Wanderer and Max Level Courier" and that really works for me. Such a good show!
Fallout is Woke, Wokest show in a long Time, so why do people like it so much? Heh
@@chasx7062 prove it
@@SturkGaming Are you blind? The lead is female, more than one interracial couple, plenty of Girl Bosses, even evil ahahah black evil girlboss seeking alimony from her deadbeat hubbie?? hahahaha
Fallout is delightfully woke, with such rousing commentary as: the corporations are evil, the military's iron grip over the soul of humanity is a danger to our development, the vaults being an iconic example of class disparity even between the comtrol vaults & experimental vaults. Everything is there if you look for it.
@@SturkGaming That chas dude is a troll, I just haven't learned how to block him yet. In the meantime it's actually pretty interesting to look at his comments, I think he's regulating his emotions by picking fights.
Most of the reason the Ghoul works so well is the casting. Walton Goggins had always killed everything he's been in and has still been slept on somehow. I remember him most from The Shield and Justified.
Ghoul: “It’s not my dog.”
He can make that claim; but it's a safe bet that if anything happens to that doggo in season 2, he's the first one that will go ballistic on the fool dumb enough to hurt said doggo.
Well Coop is a father and we all know what happens when a father says 'we're not keeping this dog'
@@madamefluffy4788 No, he meant it, that's not his dog. His dog was Roosevelt. But that's what makes it more impactful. He's shown all his kindness to Not His Dog. Dogmeat is as much a stranger to the Ghoul as every other person on screen. But Dogmeat is genuinely friendly with him, and the Ghoul is the same in return. It's a shame these two don't get more screentime together. Dogmeat is the most honest and unpresumptuous person the Ghoul knows... because Dogmeat is a dog. But that is why the Ghoul can be Coop with him, instead of being the Ghoul.
There is also something Walton Goggins says about the Ghoul that ties in to this. He does nothing out of Malice. Outside of what he must do to survive, he just treats others as they treat him.
I love that she came back from retirement for this show
Who did?
@@lindsaysfallout i would assume the shopkeeper because she's the oldest but idk
@@lindsaysfallout I think they're talking about you.
@@buzzard4535 OH! haha
14:21 he also needed a new trigger finger after she bit his off he sews her finger onto his hand later while talking to the president of the governmint and then immediately uses it to shoot his way out of the situation.
I am a FNV fan and I love the TV show, especially during the Norm, Coop / The Ghoul scenes + Lucy's last episode scenes. I think it's because I like stories about people discovering and realizing that the things they think are alright are not actually alright. The deliveries by the actors are top notch!
My take on the finger scene was that she finally showed a spark of the ruthlessness that he believes is needed to survive on the surface, and taking her finger was just to drive the lesson home that yeah, you have to hit, but you also have to be able to take a hit.
The honesty angle is that he is basically stripped to the bone of all artifice, image, expectations, trust, etc. Everythings gone except will.
Lucy was the poster child of all those things.
It was a kind of "now your getting it" moment, he was actually proud of her.
You could even say it was the first time they both spoke the language of violence to each other.
I can't wait to see what you have in store for us. Also, yes please a video about Norm would be amazing! He ended up being my favorite character of the season.
I loved that Coopers tipping point was Roosevelt not being allowed into the vault.
I have two dogs... I see where he was coming from lol.
Yeah, when I saw that scene, I went 'oh they fucked up. he's gonna go rogue for that dog.' honestly, Coop is just Fallout's John Wick.
I video on Norm would be great. The great transition for Cooper Howard occurred when he was listening to his wife at the meeting, imho. When he left her he left his old naïveté.
i thought it was interesting, that when cooper was caught in the super duper mart and blamed for lucy laying waste to it, he immediately claimed guilt. i don't know if it was to protect lucy. or he knows its useless. or if it because he was high. or if he just flat out doesn't care, and knows he'll take it as it comes. but i thought it was interesting.
Yes! Someone else brought this to my attention and it's definitely worth shining a light on.
I just think he doesn't bother to explain.
Or he knew who the govermint was run by and wanted a way to get in front of him without having to shoot all his goons first (ok so he just did it after...but that's kinda their fault).
Also maybe all the chems boosted his regeneration enough to attach Lucy's finger?
@@marcoliver625 maybe. but he was surprised to see who the president was. and he was surprised to see moldavers picture on the wall. i realize that i brought it up. but i really feel like, he was just wanting as much information as he could get before he reacted to the situation. waiting for the perfect opportunity. until he had the upper hand. but i digress. like i said, that scene in particular stood out to me as an interesting one.
He is a very well written character. I honestly like him a lot, and I don't think I'm a bad person for feeling that way.
He started out as a wonderful man. Kind and loving husband and father, charismatic actor. But through the flashbacks you see what he went through and lost. There are 200+ years after that that we don't even see.
All that trauma and he's still alive and only mortally grey?! That's probably better then I would end up being.
So parts of the Fandom telling me that I'm some kind of psycho for understanding his character, and empathizing with him are just outright wrong.
Anyway that's my take on the whole thing.
Thanks for another excellent video!
Anyone who has been through a truly horrifying divorce can empathize with the Ghoul
Maximus is "Idiot Savant", Brotherhood edition :)
Nice video - "Norm" video please!!! (The irony of his name is just too perfect...)
Aye, high endurance and low intel with idiot savant perk.
When he first missed all his shots and went in swinging I expected to see maximus go full melee
@@-user_redacted- I honestly hope he does for season 2. I wanna see the equivalent of House getting the 9 Iron
Don’t think I ever came across a video that described to me exactly why I’ve loved this franchise so much via psychology. Great content, please give us more
For me he totally carried the show. He and watching his story unfold were just the most interesting for me.
For me, the finger scene was then getting even at each other. I never thought it was sexist. Just showing its a dog eat dog world out on the wastelands
This is my first introduction to your channel.
It sounds like we have some things in common.
The interchange between the ghoul snd Lucy in my mind, was a demonstration that the ghoul was gaining respect for Lucy.
He could have killed her, at any point up to now.
Instead, he cut off her finger as a teaching moment. He was letting her know that he'd return to her, anything she gave to him.
That came across to me as a show of respect. And an invitation to be a proper wastelander.
Cool perspective! I love the idea of seeing it that way, as like a rite of passage.
Did anybody else catch that the finger he sewed back on was Lucy's - when he could probably have used one from any old corpse - maybe he sees something in her that he values...
Bummed to realize you didn’t have more videos, stoked to watch your channel grow. Glad the series brought you back to making them. 🎉
My imagination is exploding! More coming!
Just echoing this comment! Great work!
Hes is also just great because his story is so compelling, Like that last Episode Was amazing.
One thing I haven't seen many talking about is Ma's words to Lucy about how she has nice hair, teeth, and all ten fingers. Lucy loses a finger, Maximus sells one of his teeth, and Cooler lost his hair in his Ghoulification.
Also interestingly, the Ghoul keeps Lucy's finger and sews it onto his hand in the scene where he is inadvertently protecting Lucy by not telling th Govermint that she destroyed the lab instead of him.
I always smile when I find a channel that reminds me that there are others in this world as hopelessly addicted to Fallout as I am. Great video!
The ghoul is a fantastic character, but it helps a lot that they cast Walt Goggins.
I just saw a meme that put a picture of his face next to Welding Goggles and that will live rent free in my head forever
everyone is fucked up in the wastes, you have to be to survive in the wasteland.
Just randomly stumbled on the channel.... awesome breakdown of the franchise and did appreciate the comparison and detailed analysis of the fallout universe to reality.... liked and subscribed 👍👍👍👍😁
Pursuit of happiness literally just means owning property IE owning a house and owning property but exactly that is being taken from us by corporations who work with the corrupt government
this is genuinely the best interpretation Ive heard of the show so far. Its nice to hear actual in-depth opinions for once.
Thanks! I'm noticing in the Fallout community, there are times we want in-depth social analysis, and times we want to just disappear into the fantasy world and get a break from the real world for a bit, and over time I want project a vibe that while I'm indeed a spot for the in-depth social analysis vibe, it's totally valid if that's not what someone's looking for. (I'm hoping if I accomplish this, I'll be yelled at less? 🤣)
Wow! I really wondered why I resonated with the Ghoul so much and you explained it perfectly. Thank you
Thanks!
Norman and Chet vid wpuld go hard
Definitely, totally thinking a lot about Chet’s “they’re crazy” reaction to Vault 4
Also Norm's "We're all cowards." When he's far from it.
@marblemunkey I am really excited to see what Norm does in Season 2. Faced with that choice, I feel like he's going to pull a third option. Especially given that option might be playing mind games, something he demonstrated an instinct for.
@@johnmccarron7066 I am calling it, he is gonna sabotage the pods as that 2rd option
So as someone who is very attracted and down bad for the ghoul, I honestly saw the finger scene as very weirdly intimate and made me actually root for the Ghoul and Lucy to end up together. Unfortunately she’s ending up with Maximus u_u
Not gonna lie, I am at the very least rooting for some filthy fanfic 🤣🤣
... wtf?
@@afriendlycampfire260 are you new to the Internet? We have all kinds. 😂
@@afriendlycampfire260 I have no shame but also I’m not the only one who thinks the way I do!
@@lindsaysfallout no I'm not new but I can't even understand this comment
Less than a minute into the video and I’m already vibin with your content, immediately subscribed lol
Great video! I love all the show commentary up on YT now but this character breakdown especially was really insightful and interesting
Amazing video! I immediately subscribed. I have been watching a lot of videos analyzing the series and the characters and this one is one of the best I've seen!
I would love to hear your thoughts on the resolution of episode 4. Nearly the whole episode we watch the Ghoul take every opportunity to show Lucy no mercy, to show her what the wasteland is about and why he is who he is. I think of the exchange:
Lucy: "What are you?"
The Ghoul: "I'm you, you just give it a little time."
There it seems like he's trying to say that he is the way he is because he has to be, that the wasteland makes people like this or they die. And he wants to prove that to himself by giving Lucy the same harshness and cruelty he received she also succumbs to the cruelty of the wasteland because if she does, then it proves him right. That it's not his fault he has become this way, that he's not a monster, that it would happen to anyone, that it was reality.
But when Lucy comes up to him and gives him the drugs he needs since he's have intense withdrawals, she tells him "I will never be like you," and that proves him wrong. How can she suffer the evils of the wasteland and retain her morality, her humanity and he not? Perhaps he's the problem?
I don't think it's an accident we then see at the end of the episode, what Cooper Howard ended up deciding to do with that movie (kill he outlaw or show mercy). Cooper wanted to show mercy but he was berated by the director and told he HAD to kill the outlaw. Cooper was obviously not okay with it. So when The Ghoul sits down and watches his old self succumb to the powers around him, fall in line, and abandon his morals and convictions.
Sorry for the long comment, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on that decision in the tape and The Ghoul sitting there watching it, seeing that on some level he's always been this way (able to be controlled by society/authority) because in some weird way, by being who he is now (a reflection of the cruelty and lawlessness of the wasteland), he's still that while Lucy refuses to be.
This comment is such a perfect encapsulation of that scene for me. Thank you for putting it into words perfectly. Lucy returning with those vials is this fantastic moment of her reaching out and connecting with the man underneath the trauma, and bringing him closer to the surface by showing him he can still stand by his ideals while surviving in the wasteland.
Great 👍 conversation! It's incredibly refreshing to hear truth vs versions of reality. You present these ideas well. Thank you.
While I haven’t finished the fallout series yet, my favorite scene so far of the Ghouls is the scene where he meets and then kills the other Ghoul, the one whose lying on the floor, slowly going feral. Because on the one hand it’s a scene that shows us that The Ghoul values his own life first and foremost and will do whatever it takes to preserve it, even if he has to watch those he might have cared about hurt, but also shows us that he is not heartless. He goes out of his way to try and bring the other ghoul a sense of peace and comfort before he kills him, even though he doesn’t have to, and does his best to make sure the half feral ghoul’s death is a quick as possible, both to insure that he doesn’t go fully feral and potentially hurt or kill others, and so he doesn’t have to suffer any longer then he has. It’s a really good scene to show that while the Ghoul is not necessarily a good person, he is not heartless, and he will help where and when he can.
I really appreciated how we get maximus talking about how everyone wants to save the world we just disagree with how, juxtaposed with the Ghoul "somewhere behind the chaos is someone leading this charge". Maximus is hopeful that people want to save the world, the Ghoul knows there are people in charge and this chaos is what they wanted, a cynical realism.
I'd personally love a video about Norm! :D
I would love to hear your thoughts on Maximus and Dane and the brotherhood as a stand in for the expectations of maculinity
YESSSS omg I already have so many notes for this - definitely gonna do it!
@@lindsaysfallout Well, no matter how hard you struggle against it, gender is predetermined. Sorry.
@@hatchetmouth8211 Biological sex is predetermined, but people who read books know that 'gender' and 'sex' are different things. Also, some people are born who aren't XY or XX either. So what are *they*?
@@hatchetmouth8211 I assure you, between the two of us, someone is definitely struggling with a reality, and it is not me. ❤️
@@lindsaysfallout Don't be too hard on him. It can be difficult to understand how very hard pronouns can be, especially when you've been using the wrong one for someone you deeply care for a very long time.
12:50 I absolutely agree with you…
Guy prisoner bites off female ghoul’s finger, she cuts off his finger…
Really does have the same feel to it…
This was an awesome video. Learned a little bit about myself lmao
Thank you.
_Subbed._
Thanks! I take this as a huge compliment. The internet is scary so if someone trusts me enough to take in my ideas like that, I don’t take that lightly. Thank you for trusting me enough to invite me into your introspection ❤️
The actor is just that great 🤣he plays the same character in “the hateful 8” basically and its amazing
I actually thought Maximus' story was really interesting regarding the fact his education was primarily through the lense of brotherhood zealots. So when he is confused when lucy asked about sex and his lack of understanding on the topic it kinda related with my experiences of having a giant gap in my understanding of sex and relationships as a young man. Definitely one of those "if I had known then what I know now" situations.
Wow I'm so happy I found your channel today. Great video ❤
I thought he meant that she’s been acting as if she was perfect and wouldn’t hurt anyone and she showed she’s a human with capabilities of hurting others when she bit of the finger
Agree. It was a good scene (the honest exchange). I didn't consider it misogynistic at all. It was more of tit for tat to me, then when he says the honest exchange line, I was like WOW. It was so well-directed and written, and even acted. The Ghoul is my fav character. I didn't think trauma-bonding with the Ghoul (not in traditional sense, but vibing with him because of traumatic past) is why I really enjoy this character. When you talked about your mom, I felt that down to my toes. Relating that to the Ghoul, you do see yourself and how you are now in relation to where he is (especially as the show goes on and you see his back story). I'll have to check out your other channel.
You're doing good work. Loving the content. And yeah, there is just so, so much to analyze in that season. I watched it 3 times in the first 5 days it was out and I still can't stop thinking about it. The more I think about it, the more pieces I put together. I was thinking about Lucy's dad and a specific shot in the first episode, and the masterful multilayered foreshadowing. Her dad standing there during the vault raid, the shot with the film-burn effect spreading across the "sky" behind him and later the reveal of his complicity in the nukes. So in a way, he was complicit in the original nukes and the "nuking" of the vault and its way of life which doubles back to the "things have to burn to build anew" point which is being applied as well. You should talk about this if you're interested, as I suspect you may build on it in even more ways that I, personally, would enjoy.
I really get the ghoul. I'm in a weird midway space between community and lonerdom. I see the value of community, I advocate for its importance, but I want little to do with it. It's not a hypocrisy thing. I joined the marines at 20 years old 2 years into the Iraq war and ended up staging an escape from Paris Island and once caught I lied about the reasons (claimed self-harm and gayness) and was treated as a gay person which is to say VERY not well, and then got senators involved which contributed to ending DADT. Was homeless after that, did a lot of hitchhiking across the country, lived on a commune in which I did plenty of banging and threesomes, was independent to a fault despite that, got into boxing, went to Portland and joined an anarchist punk band... and now I've realized I'm asexual and was forcing it the whole time, was only out and about in public because I didn't have a choice, have difficulty trusting anyone, lean toward a more brutal mindset than I ever had before, despise social media, am kneecapped by MS and completely dependant as a result, don't care about anyone's opinion of me no matter how negative and mostly want to live as if I don't exist. And yet, I advocate all the time for leftist community-based values. So I really don't know how to exist in the world anymore or belong to anything. I am where The Ghoul is in life. But you know, it's as they say... we take it as it comes.
Due to stuff like the halo show and rings of power i was super skeptical but im 4 episodes in and fallout is a great ahow so far!
Yeah! Fallout, Last of Us, and Arcane did not less us down
I absolutely love this character. Cooper Howard being the actor that becomes the Vault Boy, who is the face of Vault Tec and Fallout in general, but also being a ghoul after the bombs fell is genius. You see the world from two completely different perspectives but still through his eyes. He acts as the narrative bridge between past and present. He perfectly represents pre war America and post war America. As Cooper, he was a renowned actor living the American Dream, he mingled in high society. As The Ghoul, he’s a ruthless bounty hunter who is forced to do horrible things to survive like eat people. The dichotomy of this character is that he encapsulates the false promises that Vault Tec sold people and the terrible outcome of their schemes to play God with people’s lives. Cooper was deceived just like the rest of the world, and unknowingly became the official spokesperson for a secretly corrupt organization in the eyes of the public. And now, over 200 years later, he’s on a path of vengeance. Brilliantly written character and amazing performance as always by Walton Goggins. This might be my favorite role of his, it’s a toss up between The Ghoul and Boyd Crowder from Justified. Definitely looking forward to seeing more of him in Season 2.
My dad’s only complaint about The Ghoul when we were watching was that he seemed so overpowered compared to everyone else, but honestly that’s something I really loved for him. Like, he’s been alive 200+ years. I’d be more mad if he *didn’t* have the skills to show for it. Meanwhile my only issue was I thought he looked a lil too moisturized for 200 years as a ghoul…
I don't think they needed to imply gender rolls outside the vault, there is definitely sexism in the games, but it comes from the chaotic anarchy that is the wastes, you're gunna run into raiders talking calling you sugar while saying they're gunna gut you, you got people like Benny who, when confronted, tries to display his charm to get out of his trouble with you, and some people do react differently with different gendered characters, you can get perks for a male character to have an upper hand on females, and vice versa, they have one for ladies having an upper hand on other ladies, but that's appart of the land and the lore, everyone is in this chaos (outside the vault dwellers in good vaults) and they are living chaotically
Really enjoyed your breakdown of the Ghoul! Earned my sub. Loving this show and can’t wait for more!
I was apprehensive about a Fallout TV show.
Then they announced Walton Goggins casting, and I became super excited.
I kinda hope they add him into the game somehow.
As a cisgender man, there have been occasions when someone on the Left has attacked me, even though I was arguing against anti-Trans people rhetoric.
People online don't know my long history of fighting for equality for everyone.
Some of these kids only recently got into this fight, meanwhile I've been fighting for the LGBTQ+ community, women's right, Civil Rights since I was a teen in the mid 1990's.
I usually let it roll off my back because they don't know me IRL and are probably having a bad day and lashing out.
Though sometimes I do reply in kind and put them in their place.
Long story short, I've been in some form of physical, mental or emotional pain since I was born.
When I accidentally cut off my finger almost 20yrs ago, it didn't phase me much.
The doctors were able to reattach it for the most part.
My best friend dubbed me Bennie of the 9 Fingers a la The Lord of the Rings.
Thank you for sharing ❤ So many people have been hurt so much, and are so afraid of being hurt more, they inadvertently protect themselves from the very people who are there to help ❤️ I’m sorry your love has been pushed away ❤️ at least it’s welcome here, Bennie of the Nine Fingers 😂
Tbh, the only complaint I have about this show is the way they handled the NCR lore, and how despite being a functional nation with law and order and ostensibly the Fallout world's largest factional superpower with pretty good territorial control over most of the East Coast, the NCR seems to have nearly totally collapsed in the span of only 15 years. Even if they lost the 2nd Battle of Hoover Dam, and Shady Sands was destroyed, the nation is big enough and advanced enough that it should have been able to retake their territory and reestablish law and order, or at least fight back more evenly against the Brotherhood.
However, I think the quality of the story is good enough for me to be willing to bear with the showrunners and see where they take this story.
Do ALL the videos!!! All the goul moments! OMG Im so happy I found this channel
This is the very first of your videos that I have ever seen, and you have my attention for the fact that you acknowledge one crucial thought that so many others seem to refuse to see or admit. That is, what if the shoe was on the other foot. Thank you.
Loved this breakdown! So glad I found your channel. Just subscribed and I'm excited to watch more of your content!
Would having Timothy Olyphant cameo as a "picture on the wall" Courier in Season 2 be too on the nose?
Lucy and Cooper would become a real team, learning from each other. In the end of all this series she may even become a ghoul.
I'd like Maximus to reluctantly accept that he is the DeFacto leader of the Brotherhood.
This is some great analysis and commentary, and I'm certainly interested in future projects along this line. I am curious about that video about norms you mentioned.
Holy shit I'm so subscribing this channel. Really great analysis
Thank you!!
i like how you framed that scene with the finger biting thing. i was so focused with lucy reacting so much to it that i kind of didn't register as much that the ghoul must've that thought that hurt as much and the thing being not a sexist problem but a trauma problem especially how discussion around it is being said
Just found your channel and holy cow, this stuff is good!! Keep it up, it's nice to hear someone smart speaking for a change
I just wanted to say that I came in here and saw this video had 69 likes and you had 69 subscribers and it hurt me a little to ruin that and be the 70th for both. I am deeply immature. Anyway, this video was fantastic! And I would LOVE a Norm video! He's such an interesting character. :D
This quirky perfectionism put a smile on my face ❤️
I really enjoy this. I mean I'm watching many videos on the fallout show but the way you're explaining not only the story, the game, and the ghoul... kinda I think I enjoy your Passion on this. Thank you for this ❤
Thank you! I make these videos to find the people like you who will appreciate them ❤️
@@lindsaysfallout it worked 😂 also come onnnnnn season 2
RUclips just recommended this video to me, and you've got a new subscriber! Great job! 🎉❤
I think it is also like the Scene where she tries to trank him. It is a small drop of ether drugs or pain in a long bucket of drugs or pain.
Found out about your channel with this video, I love it!
I just started watching this channel and it is fireeeee. I love your perspectives. Please keep up the great work!
Just brilliant, thank you for an excellent, well-spoken perspective. Keep on keepin on!
When my partner saw the de-fingering scene she turned and asked, “is this gunna be an enemies to lovers?” Everyone can take that scene very differently.
Wow this was a fantastic video. Points were well expressed and really really entertaining.
Subbed :D
The ghoul is basically the player character after you finished every main and side quest and youre just looking for something to do
I'm new to the channel and love this video, what a wonderful analysis. Cooper/the ghoul is definitely the most interesting and my favored character so far in the show. Also I have to ask, where did you get the shirt? I love it! Joshua is my favorite fallout character. lol
Just found you on here yesterday. Kick ass videos.
Great video I'm excited for more! Fallout is my favorite games/show hands down!
I love this video! Thank u for making it :3
Great video, I hope to see your Channel grow :)
The worst pain you’ve ever felt is the worst pain there is. That’s why people like us that have been abused our entire life, it doesn’t matter when someone turns out to be a bad friend or shitty partner. Like my own mom tried to choke me to death when I was 9 so my boyfriend cheating on me is like “meh”. I’ve also had 2 of my fingers cut off, so getting tattooed and pierced ain’t shit to me. But if the worst pain you’ve ever felt is a migraine you’ll literally think you’ll die from the agony of it. I’m almost glad I dealt with such severe pain my entire life, emotionally and physically. Getting punched in the face barely does shit to me now. However that emo trauma will eventually break your brain causing you to wanna or try to hurt yourself. Like cutting yourself is pain you get to control. And that control is addicting
This was some real shit. Thanks for sharing. And yes, this is dead on - wisdom comes from contrast. If you haven’t experienced worse you can’t imagine worse. 💯
What a great topic, thank you for exploring with us! I think given what feels like an absence of some trad gender roles (eg Lucys open sexuality, women in executive roles) I don’t interpret this scene or the ghoul as misogynistic. I don’t want to say the world lacks the influences of the patriarchy because i believe it’s so engrained I probably don’t recognize it (and just showing woman in leadership positions doesn’t mean equality exists) but I love your take that what’s being shown is a very different dynamic. Sometimes the greatest gift can be those that take the time to educate you and while this is an extreme example the wasteland is an extreme time. It seemed like almost an act of humanity trying to get Lucy to see what survival actually takes outside the vault
Lucy is playing a Fallout 3 campaign, Maximus is playing Fallout 4, and The Ghoul is playing New Vegas.
No wonder everybody loves The Ghoul the most.
I think it is important that they hit a very specific, narrow kind of naivety for Lucy, but also Maximus. Lucy acts idealistic, Maximus overwhelmed and stupid, but none is stuck with that beyond their capacity of self preservation. Lucy identifies the vault is under attack, she realizes who her betrothed is and she fights back. When the Goul captures her she takes the first chance to run away. Maxmimus gets beaten up, but gets back up.
I think that is also important to make that naivety to not come across as detached from the world. Lucy may be a vault dweller but while vault dwellers are soft, idealists to surface dwellers it is quickly apparent they are alot more capable to adjust to violence or taking harsh measures than we would today.
Hi, first Video I see from you. I love the ghoul and Im happy for lucy and ghoul teamup for the second season.
and yes more videos about the ghoul! And for Norm
I though The Ghoul was going to kill Lucy for destroying his chems. He saw it as his essentials for life. So when he deprives her of water its his way of settling the score. When she takes his finger he instantly removes hers to further take out his rage at having things taken from him. I loved that scene. It was also great that when lucy got her finger back the ghoul also got his chems back. That seemed to be the turning point in their relationship. She can now provide for herself and another because she is strong enough now. It was a really cool moment.
"One question, young Henry! Where's my fucking systemic entanglements?"
“When the chips are down These civilized people, they’ll eat each other.”
“I’m not crazy, I’m just ahead of the curve”
-Ghoul
Amazing video!!
The irony of Amazon making a FallOut series is so on the nose that it could be in FallOut.
I really love your take on Cooper. At first, I was wondering where his character was going, arc wise, but still liked him for some reason, and I didn't know why, but by the end of the season, I was like, oh yeah, THAT'S why I like him so much, because I can relate to him on several levels. Even though he was pretty brutal to Lucy in the beginning, I couldn't get it out of my head that there was something about him that I couldn't put my finger on that made me like him.
And speaking of his actions toward Lucy in the beginning, while I thought at first he was being too harsh, it turned out that that was kind of the shock she needed to break her of her naivete. I don't think it was sexist at all.
By the way, I just discovered your channel, and you are criminally undersubscribed. I enjoy your perspective on Fallout, and the different themes it offers, and I've definitely subbed!