Fallout Creator Discusses ‘Blurring Lines Between Comedy and Drama’

Fallout’s showrunner, Graham Wagner, has highlighted the distinctive tone of their show, which successfully blends humorous and dramatic elements. In a conversation with Deadline, Wagner shared insights on the show’s unique nature, balancing drama with plenty of comedic touches.

During an interview, Wagner described the “blurring of the lines between comedy and drama” in Fallout. This conversation followed the show’s impressive achievement of securing 16 Emmy nominations. Wagner mentioned how breaking the traditional barriers between genres has allowed for a more organic and unexpected infusion of humor and drama.

“I don’t know what was nominated for half-hour categories, but I’m sure there were some pretty serious half-hours and some relatively goofy hour-longs. I’m just grateful for this breakdown of barriers,” said Wagner. He humorously added, “I’m not one to tell the Academy what to do, especially in the moment I’m in right now.” Nonetheless, Wagner emphasized how labeling a show as a comedy could sometimes make the humor feel expected, suggesting that creative freedom should guide the show’s direction without being constrained by categories.

Fallout’s blend of comedy and drama has certainly resonated with audiences. Reports from THR indicate it became the second-biggest series worldwide within just 16 days of its release. In the U.S., it topped the charts with 2.9 billion minutes of viewing over its first five days.

According to Wagner, the show’s humor is enhanced by its dramatic gravitas. The collaboration between comedy and drama experts on the show has fostered a balanced and dynamic narrative. “We had comedy people working on the show, and series creator Geneva Robertson-Dworet brought in a bunch of drama people. Both camps fed one another in a really helpful way,” he explained.

A major highlight of the series is Walton Goggins, who received a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Cooper Howard, also known as The Ghoul. “There’s no one who can deliver a more dramatic monologue and say it in a more unexpected way, but there’s also no one funnier,” commented Robertson-Dworet, underscoring Goggins’ unique contribution to the show’s success.

Looking forward to Season 2, details remain mostly under wraps. However, Robertson-Dworet expressed excitement about the future: “The crazy thing about making Season 1 is that you have eight hours to adapt a franchise with thousands of hours of gameplay to draw from, and it just means that you have to leave so many of your favorite pieces of the mythology behind. So we’re honestly just excited to dive deeper into it and show audiences more of this incredible world.”

If you haven’t caught up yet, Fallout is streaming now on Max, showcasing its blend of dramatic depth and refreshing humor that has captivated viewers worldwide.

Source: Deadline, THR