Fallout: New Vegas director Josh Sawyer called Prime Video’s Fallout “one of the best” video game adaptations he’s seen, while also saying his remaining critiques are personal plot and character choices rather than technical flaws.
By the time the first alarms started ringing in 2025, Prime Video already had a clear front-runner: season 2 of Fallout. For months. the show kept dominating attention—no other series on the platform came close to matching its pull. with the program’s popularity tied to breakout icons like Lucy (Ella Purnell) and the Ghoul (Walton Goggins).
Fallout’s season 2 performance landed it as the second most-watched returning Prime Video series of all time, trailing only Alan Ritchson’s Reacher. And season 1 and season 2 are now also being described as two of the four biggest seasons ever launched by Prime Video.
The praise doesn’t stop at viewers. Fallout has been recognized by award bodies as well, with its first season earning a nomination total of 17 Primetime Emmys. Those included Outstanding Drama Series, along with nods for writing and for Goggins’ lead performance.
So when the show’s approval came from someone who understands the source material from the inside, it carried extra weight. In a new video interview with The 41st Precinct, Fallout: New Vegas director Josh Sawyer was asked for his opinion on Prime Video’s Fallout. He didn’t hedge.
“I think it’s an amazing adaptation. Like, honestly. I know that the bar is not always very high for TV or film adaptations of video games, but I think it’s one of the best that I’ve seen, certainly.”
Even so. Sawyer’s support came with a human footnote—one that will sound familiar to anyone who’s ever loved an original story and then watched someone else try to translate it. In the same interview, he addressed what still didn’t fully click for him. He said his concerns aren’t technical problems with the series. Instead, he framed them as personal choices about where the story went.
“I guess I would say that there are sort of critiques or like personal things where I would say. ‘I don’t know if I would have taken the plot in that direction. ’ or. ‘I don’t know if I would have done that with that character. ’ but that’s like. any writer is going to look at something and be like. ‘I don’t know if I’d do that.’ I don’t think they’re like real criticisms. ” Sawyer said.
That combination—unqualified admiration paired with writerly reservations—captures the tension that still surrounds big video game adaptations. Fallout can be a standout. a breakout hit. and an awards-season presence. while still leaving room for the original creator’s “I might’ve done it differently” moments.
The show. currently rolling after its early success. is set up by the creative team behind it: showrunners Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan. with directors including Frederick E. O. Toye, Wayne Che Yip, Stephen Williams, Liz Friedlander, Jonathan Nolan, Daniel Gray Longino, and Clare Kilner. Its writers are also Joy and Nolan.
Fallout premiered on April 10, 2024, on Amazon Prime Video, and it has now run through the momentum of its first two seasons into what feels like a defining era for the franchise on television.
And for Sawyer—someone whose own work helped define what fans expect from a Fallout world—the most striking takeaway is simple: he sees the adaptation’s ambition and execution clearly enough to call it among the best he’s watched, even while admitting he would still make certain choices his own way.
Fallout Prime Video Josh Sawyer Ella Purnell Walton Goggins Reacher Alan Ritchson Lisa Joy Jonathan Nolan 17 Primetime Emmys The 41st Precinct Fallout: New Vegas
So they’re saying it’s good… but why does every Fallout thing still look like it’s made in a microwave?
I mean I’m glad he liked it, but “personal plot choices” is like PR talk for “I didn’t like it but whatever.” Also Reacher beating it?? prime numbers confuse me.
Wait Sawyer from New Vegas said it’s one of the best adaptations… so basically they fixed all the bugs and technical stuff? Because when I watched season 1 it felt janky, like the action scenes weren’t synced? maybe I’m thinking of something else.
17 Emmy nominations is wild. I swear these shows always get nominated for stuff people didn’t even notice. And Walton Goggins better be winning something bc that man is basically the only reason I kept watching. Also the article says season 2 was the second most watched returning Prime series, trailing Reacher… so Reacher’s gonna be the “best” forever now? feels rigged.