The conclusion of The Fallout is especially heart-wrenching, as the movie delves into the emotional aftermath of a school shooting. It centers around Vada (Jenna Ortega), a survivor, and her journey to heal from the trauma.
The Fallout, written and directed by Megan Park, serves as a poignant reminder that the emotional wounds caused by acts of mass violence can never truly be healed. The film has received critical acclaim for its powerful writing, direction, and the exceptional performances of its talented young cast, with Ortega leading the way.
1. What happens in the Fallout ending?
Despite the challenges faced in The Fallout, Vada ultimately finds herself at a hopeful ending by the conclusion of the story.
During The Fallout, Vada begins to process her trauma in a more positive manner. She makes amends with her family, choosing to be open and honest with them and expressing her gratitude for their presence in her life. She and Mia reaffirm their friendship, and Jenna Ortega skillfully captures each facet of Vada’s intricate and emotionally charged journey.
Despite appearing to have reached a hopeful conclusion by the end of The Fallout, Vada soon realizes the immense challenges of moving on from violent trauma. What follows serves as a poignant reminder of the difficult journey she must face.
As The Fallout comes to a close, Vada is seen texting her friend Mia, seemingly filled with happiness. However, her moment of joy is quickly overshadowed by a news alert reporting yet another tragic school shooting, this time in Ohio.
This news triggers Vada’s trauma, causing her to be overwhelmed by emotional pain as the movie concludes. The sounds over a black screen suggest that she is experiencing a panic attack.
Finding the Root of Vada’s Actions Through Trauma
Vada’s behavior throughout the movie reflects her attempts to downplay or deny the impact of the shooting in the Fallout ending. She consistently labels herself as “calm”or “unassuming”and rejects her mother’s efforts to help her confront her emotions.
Despite this, Vada’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic as the movie unfolds. She engages in sexual acts with Mia and Quinton, driven more by feelings of confusion rather than genuine love. Additionally, Vada delves into the world of drug experimentation, transitioning from marijuana to ecstasy.
Despite appearing to be quite reserved and serious, Vada’s recent actions have displayed a side of her that is out of character. Trauma is a multifaceted psychological phenomenon that cannot be easily explained. The traumatic event of the shooting has significantly influenced the changes in Vada’s behavior.
Just like her classmates, she also attempts to make sense of the tragedy and comprehend the reason behind her survival. Although stories about trauma are commonly portrayed in films and television, only a handful possess the nuance and depth of The Fallout.
Aside from her desire for emotional connections, Vada’s pursuit of Mia and Quinton, who she sought refuge with during the shooting, may also be an effort to incorporate the tragic event into a narrative that culminates in a romantic relationship. This would provide some sense of purpose to the senseless violence and its impact on her life.
Vada’s drug use may also be an effort to evade the trauma or numb the pain.
Why The Fallout’s Ending is So Devastating
Despite the progress Vada makes in healing from her interpersonal trauma, the ending of Fallout serves as a reminder that the impact of her traumatic memories will always remain a vulnerability for her.
The reason for this is the concerning frequency of mass shootings in the United States, as evidenced by over 1,000 reported school shootings in the last 50 years (based on data from Sandy Hook Promise).
Despite efforts to address and prevent them, school shootings remain a tragic and ingrained aspect of our culture, depicted in various forms of media such as the intense drama Mass and the sensationalized American Horror Story. For individuals like Vada, avoiding exposure to news reports and portrayals of these heartbreaking incidents is nearly impossible, potentially triggering constant distress.
The Fallout can be interpreted as a call to action, advocating for stricter gun control laws in the United States. These laws have been frequently criticized for being too lenient.
Vada’s friend Nick has taken on the role of an activist, using his platform on television to urge individuals to take tangible actions in order to prevent mass shootings from becoming a common and accepted event.
The Fallout’s concluding scenes are particularly impactful as they acknowledge that Vada’s experience, although tragic, is not uncommon among thousands of Americans. As long as mass shootings continue to happen, it is unlikely that she will ever fully heal.
4. The True Meaning of The Fallout
The conclusion of Fallout is more than just addressing legal adjustments. Although Nick strongly advocates for gun control in the film, it also implies that his involvement in political movements is motivated by his personal trauma, a way to comprehend why he survived while others did not.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivors exhibited this same drive for action through their real-life activism.
Instead of conveying a political agenda, HBO’s The Fallout discreetly explores the nuances of trauma and the often difficult and incomplete journey towards recovery. Vada struggles with uncertainty about her emotions and her future actions.
Despite moments that may appear to indicate progress, such as her reenrollment in school or her sessions with therapist Anna (portrayed by Shailene Woodley), they are still approached with conflicting emotions.
5. When does the Fallout TV show take place on the series timeline?
The narrative of The Fallout TV show alternates between two distinct eras. The main setting is 2296, a post-apocalyptic world that takes place 135 years after the original Fallout game.
This is the point at which Vault 33 is introduced and the main plot develops, as we follow Lucy on her journey to find her father, Hank, who has been abducted from the vault.
The secondary timeline takes place in 2077, during a time of heightened tensions between the US and its rival nations.
This retrospective period offers a deeper understanding of the origins of the beloved Vault-Boy character, his recognizable thumbs-up symbol, and the malicious intentions of Vault-Tec to instigate a worldwide nuclear conflict. Furthermore, we are given glimpses into Cooper’s past prior to his transformation into a Ghoul, a survivor who has braved the last two centuries.
The Fallout TV show is set nine years after the events of Fallout 4, maintaining its context in the California region near Los Angeles. By staying within the Fallout timeline, the series stays true to the established canon while also venturing into new storylines.
Is Fallout Season 2 happening?
Further fueling the speculation is the fact that the series has already received a tax credit for shooting in California.
Despite this, Prime Video has still not made any official announcement, leaving us in the dark until they do so.
About Fallout
Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet created Fallout, an American post-apocalyptic drama television series for Amazon Prime Video. It is based on the popular role-playing video game franchise by Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky and features an all-star cast including Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Kyle MacLachlan, Moisés Arias, Xelia Mendes-Jones, and Walton Goggins.
In 2020, Amazon acquired the rights to create a live-action project and announced the show in July. Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy’s Kilter Films teamed up with Bethesda Game Studios to produce the show, with Nolan directing the initial three episodes.
In January 2022, showrunners Robertson-Dworet and Wagner were hired to lead the series, with executive producer Todd Howard from Bethesda Game Studios, who had previously directed several games in the series. Shortly after, in February and March, Goggins and Purnell were cast for roles in the show.
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