The latest trailer for Prime Video's Fallout TV series has fans focusing on the details, specifically the uniforms worn by the New California Republic (NCR) and the Brotherhood of Steel (BoS).
Prime Video gave prospective viewers of Fallout, Prime Video's upcoming series adaptation of the Bethesda video game franchise, their best look yet at what's in store with the first full trailer, including glimpses of the NCR, a group heavily featured in Fallout: New Vegas, and the long-standing military faction known as the BoS.
Since the show is set in Los Angeles and takes place 219 years after the bombs drop, fans have long wondered how it might incorporate the NCR into the story. Up to now, its role in the show hasn't been clear, leading many to fear that the NCR might take a backseat so Amazon can prominently feature the BoS instead.
However, the latest trailer sees one troop from the BoS on the battlefield, duking it out against a group of soldiers that many recognize as the NCR. Fans quickly identified the two warring factions and even pointed out a couple of NCR Easter eggs for anyone concerned that the series might exclude this part of the games.
Just a friendly meetup in the Wasteland, nothing else to see here! pic.twitter.com/I8F6GWZiZy
— FALLOUT⚡️ (@falloutonprime) March 7, 2024
Brotherhood of Steel and the NCR meet once again pic.twitter.com/MrCaL6KBxg
— MJ (@MJ__Hernandez) March 7, 2024
— adi² (@notlostvegas) March 7, 2024
those who get it will just get it >:) pic.twitter.com/Xj0bW8Rfvf
— ace⚡️princess ?? (@acecrisis) March 7, 2024
The new Fallout trailer confirmed that we’re going to Shady Sands - which is the capital of the NCR from Interplay’s FIRST Fallout. pic.twitter.com/nihhC4gQc3
— Emily Rose ✨ (@Frankly_Emily) March 7, 2024
First glimpse of NCR in amazons new fallout trailer! Man this thing is packed with Easter eggs! pic.twitter.com/OSzsJVebqR
— ☢️Fallout Films (@FilmsFallout) March 7, 2024
While most fans breathed a sigh of relief to see the NCR in the trailer, others were curious about the group's status in the series. One person on Reddit suggested the NCR might be "weakened" because their battle gear "looks so ragtag and varied" despite having "standard issue weapons and equipment" in Fallout: New Vegas.
One person suggested the shot could be a flashback from the NCR's early years, while another thought the outfits might have had a redesign for the series to "sell the 'apocolypse' image." A popular theory also emerged that the NCR's apparent new look could indicate the group collapsed and now only has a few members.
"The NCR is gone," Reddit user Kris_Winters speculated. "Overreaching during New Vegas, the NCR won the Battle of the Dam, and they overreached even further. Stretched to the breaking point, the NCR collapsed. Once it collapsed the various parts of it turned on each other and destroyed themselves. These people aren't NCR, they're what was once NCR trying to keep the dream alive."
The NCR's wardrobe choices were not the only design decision up for debate, as people also drew attention to the suits worn by the BoS. The trailer offered a more detailed look at the Brotherhood's Power Armor, but some fans on X/Twitter took issue with the helmet having a visor that lifts up to show the character's face.
"But how will the viewers know the emotion of the person behind the helmet without looking at his face?" pic.twitter.com/eWjeTyHrGi
— DreddSnail (@DreddSnail) March 7, 2024
They could’ve done like a Fallout version of the Iron Man HUD shots from the MCU movies. They could’ve even made it a fun thing for Fallout fans by having the HUD look the HUDs in the games. pic.twitter.com/7Oo7FbQkNN
— Jack Rigney ?? (@jc3rigney) March 7, 2024
Overall, the Fallout show trailer looked fine to me but... This moment really bothered me, that has never been a feature, and even the "well they wanna show the actor's face" I don't feel is valid because we see plenty of named BOS soldiers walk around without helmets. https://t.co/mGpOFJHLn6
— crazycat690? (@crazycat690) March 7, 2024
I hate this style so much. I grew up with these guys and they still managed to always give them personalities and show emotions with their helmets on. pic.twitter.com/uySPRUFk1U
— ?? Ram Gilamar ?????? (@ram_gilamar) March 8, 2024
What's with the obsession about seeing characters' faces at all times? Do the writers not know how to express emotions without staring blankly into someone's eyes?
— Powdered Toast Man (@arvay61) March 7, 2024
While the original post on X/Twitter gained support from other users agreeing that the face hatch was an unnecessary addition to the helmet, those on Reddit presented an opposing argument, with many praising the redesign and crediting the creators for coming up with a "fitting" and "practical" suit for the BoS.
One person wrote: "I really like this 'retcon' to the design of power armor, very realistic and practical," as another added: "They managed to make it look very fitting and without changing or ruining the overall look of the helmet when it's closed up." A third person chimed in to offer their opinion, writing: "It's a practical way of being able to partially remove the helmet without taking the whole thing off."
Fans previously unbottled their feelings about the show's Nuka-Cola drenched character posters, and, as one of the biggest shows coming out in 2024, there will likely be many more debates and discussions about Prime Video's Fallout series once the first season has premiered. All episodes will be available to stream on April 11.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X/Twitter @AdeleAnkers.
