The Fallout TV show has sparked a number of fan theories. There’s speculation about the Snake Oil Salesman’s mysterious serum, for example. Some believe the Brotherhood of Steel’s airship confirms one of two Fallout 4 endings as canon. And let’s not forget the theory that the Fallout TV show’s biggest bombshell may in fact be a misdirection.
As the speculation about what’s in store for fans with the already confirmed Fallout Season 2, as well as its impact on Fallout canon, a fresh debate has emerged: which of the main characters are synths?
Warning: spoilers for Fallout Season 1 and Fallout 4 follow.
Fans of the Fallout video games have noticed the Fallout TV show fails to include a number of iconic creatures, characters, and factions from the series. That’s understandable, given the showrunners had a lot of world-building to do for newcomers in Season 1 and only so much time to do it in. Adding to this absent mix are the synths from Fallout 4, which takes place nine years earlier than Season 1, in 2287.
Synths are synthetic humanoids built by the Institute, one of Fallout 4’s main factions. Newer models are almost indistinguishable from humans, and, in Fallout 4, replace residents of the Commonwealth as part of espionage tactics. While Fallout 4 is set in what’s left of the city of Boston and the surrounding Massachusetts region following the nuclear war of 2077, it’s conceivable that synths made their way to the west coast of the United States, although it’s a long journey across the wasteland.
If so, we may be seeing synths hidden in plain sight during Fallout Season 1. Indeed, some believe that Moldaver, the mysterious (and apparently deceased) leader of this part of the wasteland's New California Republic, who has somehow survived the nuclear apocalypse and for 200 years afterward despite displaying no signs of ghoulish behavior, is a synth.
“Mark this post, it will either be revealed that the one that passed of her was just a clone/synth copy not the original or maybe she is a type of ghoul and was slowly healing pretending she had passed,” X / Twitter user @fatedwanderer84 said.
Indeed, Sarita Choudhury, who portrays Lee Moldaver in Fallout, has teased the character’s return in Season 2 despite her apparent death at the end of Season 1. In a recent interview with Nerdist, Choudhury was asked to explain how Moldaver survived. She replied: "I can’t, but I like your predictions, and you can figure stuff out, I think. But again, it’s in line with the fact that she’s a scientist. The fact that she created cold fusion makes me think she can figure out how to live."
That tease is in-line with the theory that Moldaver is a synth or clone of Miss Williams, the pre-war name of the character depicted in flashback scenes. But some believe other characters could be a synth, too, including Hank, Maximus, and even Lucy.
Which character from amazons Fallout series is most likely to be revealed as a Synth? #FalloutOnPrime pic.twitter.com/oE9LpAbOis
— ☢️Fallout Films (@FilmsFallout) April 22, 2024
The idea of synths and / or the Institute being around during the events of the Fallout TV show sparks further lore questions. Fans are already wondering which Fallout 4 ending the show considers to be canon, given it looks like the Brotherhood of Steel airship we see on-screen is the Prydwen from Fallout 4. Does The Institute still exist by the time the Fallout TV show starts? The showrunners and Bethesda development chief Todd Howard have confirmed all previous Fallout games are canon, as is the show, but none of the canon endings from the games are necessarily taken on board. Fallout Season 2 will, of course, answer some of these questions and no doubt pose more.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
