Fallout reminds us that high-priced special effects aren't needed to create an exciting, involving story. The hallmark of Fallout is how these four plan and plot against each other. The scene has shifted from the corporate boardroom to a dirty, poorly-lit basement, and the stakes are much higher, but too much water has flowed under the bridge for there to be any level of trust. Even though Will keeps appealing for a truce, neither Dan nor Joseph believes him. Palumbo pays careful attention to fine detail.
Cigarettes become expensive and water is more precious than gold.
Of course, with the realization that there may be no rescue, the rules of civilization are stripped away, leaving behind four naked, barbarian souls. One of Fallout 's few failings is a too-facile ending. Another is the lack of character depth. While we get an excellent snapshot of all four executives in the shelter, we learn little about their lives outside. In some cases, it's possible to infer the answers, but Palumbo doesn't seem especially concerned about three- dimensionality.