Having had an incredible debut in 2024,Falloutappears to be repeating the show’s strongest element, as evidenced by season 2’s first images. Although a trailer is yet to be released, we finally got a glimpse of what to expect when the series returns in December through a catalog of new photos, and the early signs are extremely promising.
Falloutseason 2 has continuously teased its New Vegassetting, and while we are yet to see exactly what this will look like, the show just provided an insight into some other upcoming storylines. The latest images hint at Norm being released from his cryogenic sleep and depict Maximus back with the Brotherhood of Steel, proving some major drama lies ahead.
While it will undoubtedly be exciting to see what these characters get up to, I’m even more interested in what’s next for the Ghoul.Walton Goggins had a stand-out performance inFalloutseason1 as the Ghoul, and his upcoming journey just got even more intriguing after season 2’s photos confirmed a returning feature that made the character so special.
Fallout Season 2’s “First Look” Images Suggest The Show Will Continue Exploring The Ghoul’s Backstory
Based onFalloutseason 2’s latest reveal, it seems inevitable that the show will once again focus on the Ghoul’s backstory. The official first look images of season 2 showcase Cooper Howard before his transformation into the Ghoul, with one photo picturing him looking at a casino, while the other features him talking to his wife inside a fancy building.
Both instances are almost certainly flashbacks based on the fact that his skin hasn’t been impacted by radiation exposure in either photo, meaning the video game adaptation will continue digging into his backstory. While Lucy learning about the world outside the vault was undoubtedly a compelling part of season 1, Cooper’s backstory was by far the most fascinating aspect.
Fallouthas been renewed for season 3 on Prime Video.
Considering he is a merciless bounty hunter when we first meet him, seeing what he used to be like before the bombs were dropped is a compelling yet devastating contrast. However, with large parts of his history established in the first outing, it wasn’t clear if the show would continue exploring his past, but thankfully, we have our answer.
Learning more about his attempts to expose Vault-Tec and how Cooper’s divorce impacted his daughter could be interesting storylines to focus on whenFalloutseason 2 releases in the near future, but regardless of what the show does with the character, just getting to see more of his past will be a treat if season 1 is anything to go by.
Walton Goggins’ The Ghoul Is Easily Fallout’s Best Character
Getting a deeper insight into the Ghoul’s past will continue to put the spotlight on what is alreadyFallout’s best character. In the present day, he comes across as morally gray, as he is more than willing to take on bounties regardless of the target’s guilt, and he certainly prioritizes his own goals over helping out others.
His expert gun skills and survival expertise further highlight just how entertaining he is to watch, but despite how ruthless and cruel some of his actions may seem, there is another side to him. The flashbacks go a long way in proving that Cooper Howard was a genuinely good man who chose to oppose Vault-Tec despite being a potential beneficiary of their technology.
Cooper’s wife was a high-ranking member of the company, but he wasn’t willing to benefit from Vault-Tec’s immoral exploitation, subsequently divorcing his wife and becoming a children’s entertainer, rather than benefiting from corporate greed. Even as the Ghoul, Cooper takes care of an injured dog and eventually befriends Lucy, opting to accompany her to New Vegas in the season 1 finale.
He may be far from perfect, but the Ghoul’s complex nature and connection to Vault-Tec make him the show’s most interesting character by far, andWalton Goggins' performance in Prime Video’sFalloutreally helps sell just how tragic yet flawed Cooper really is.
Assuming his alliance with Lucy lasts in season 2, it will be even more compelling to see how the two get along and if the Ghoul really is willing to help her, or if he’s simply using the vault dweller for his own goal of finding his family. Either way, I’m sure his role will be unmissable.
Why The Ghoul’s Backstory Is So Critical To Fallout Season 2
With the Ghoul’s primary goal in season 2 being to find his wife and daughter, his backstory will undeniably be crucial to the upcoming narrative. While we know his relationship with Barbara eventually soured, seeing some of their interactions in and around their divorce will help explain a lot about both characters, especially if they do cross paths in the current timeline.
Likewise, seeing more flashbacks of Cooper and his daughter would be wholesome and could lead to a more powerful reunion. Some of season 2’s flashback scenes also seem like they will take place in Las Vegas, which could introduce Robert House and establish some sort of connection between him and the Ghoul, leading to some fascinating encounters.
Knowing that Cooper’s search for his family will be a massive plot point when the show returns make his history more important than ever, and with plenty ofbold predictions surfacing ahead ofFalloutseason 2, there is no telling just how important the Ghoul’s previous life could be to the overall story.
