Summary
Falloutprovided Ella Purnell the biggest role of her career so far, but her future in season 2 is even more important after one of her other popular franchises was canceled.Purnell already delivered some great performances before being cast inFallout, but her role as Lucy MacLean is arguably her best so far, and it’s easily her most recognizable. Seeing Lucy adapt to the brutalworld ofFalloutdespite being an innocent, good-hearted vault dweller was a fascinating watch, but the character wouldn’t have become a fan favorite without Purnell’s lovable underdog spirit.
The actress was able to capture Lucy’s sheltered personality expertly, which made her tentatively adjusting to her new environment even more compelling. Alongside her talented costars, Purnell helpedFalloutbecome one of2024’s best shows, proving how strong the series can be going forward. In addition,Falloutseason 2’s release update makes the future more excitingas the show looks like it could return sooner than expected, which is great news for Purnell. She may have a promising career ahead of her, but with one of her biggest franchises being canceled,Falloutseason 2 is more crucial than ever.
BeforeFallout, Purnell had a key role in another post-apocalyptic franchise,Army of the Dead, but her return is now unlikely. Despite her character being the sole survivor, Purnell seemingly won’t get the chance to reprise her role as Kate Ward afterNetflix quietly canceled Zack Snyder’sArmy of the Dead. The zombie film’s overall reception left a little to be desired, but its audience scores were still more positive than negative. The project also boasted strong viewership numbers on Netflix and introduced a unique take on the undead, as the protagonists attempted a heist in Las Vegas' quarantine zone.
Ella Purnell’s New Show Sounds Like The Complete Opposite Of Her Fallout Role (But In A Good Way)
Refusing to be typecast, Ella Purnell’s Fallout follow-up role sounds completely opposite of Lucy MacLean — in the best possible way for the actor.
Rather than the zombie virus spreading worldwide, it was contained to Vegas with the rest of the world functioning normally for the most part. Therefore,the voluntary decision to enter this hostile area is what madeArmy of the Deadso original, and the location helped create some fun action sequences alongside intense drama. Unfortunately, the franchise’s spinoff movie didn’t perform nearly as well, which may have contributed to Netflix losing faith in Snyder’s universe. With the franchise seemingly axed for good, it leaves Purnell without one of her most high-profile roles, butFalloutthankfully offers the perfect replacement.
Fallout Gives Ella Purnell An Even Bigger Post-Apocalyptic Franchise
Fallout’s 2024 Success Proves It Has Huge Franchise Potential
DespiteArmy of the Deadfinding moderate success,Falloutis by far a bigger post-apocalyptic franchise for Ella Purnell. The video game series is incredibly popular and has a massive following, which helped make the TV adaptation an instant hit for Prime Video.TheFalloutshow’s viewership numbersshow just how big the IP is, with over 65 million people watching it in just over a fortnight. These figures made it the second-best start any series has ever had on the streaming platform and the reviews were overwhelmingly positive, emphasizing how much potentialFallouthas going forward.
Falloutseason 2 has been confirmed and is currently in the works.
With Purnell set to return for season 2, she can continue cementing Lucy as one of the central characters, making it a pivotal role for years to come. The show could also go on for several seasons and, as long as the story remains interesting, there is clearly a dedicated audience who will be desperate for more. While anArmy of the Deadsequel would have been a fun project for Purnell, the franchise had far less longevity or mainstream appeal thanFallout; therefore, her Prime Video show is a better option and will help continue her impressive career trajectory.
Fallout Is A Better Post-Apocalyptic Story Than Army Of The Dead
AlongsideFalloutbeing the bigger post-apocalyptic franchise, it is also better than Zack Snyder’sArmy of the Dead. Reviews across the board helped demonstrateFallout’s quality, with audiences and critics giving the show plenty of praise and high scores. In comparison,Army of the Deadwas much more subjective and split opinions, as some people enjoyed the zombie movie, whereas others found it underwhelming. Both projects did a great job of bringing humor to their brutal and violent environments, butFallouthad a more authentic charm about it while giving Purnell a bigger and more memorable role.
IMDb - 8.4
IMDb - 5.8
Metacritic (Audience) - 7.5
Metacritic (Audience) - 5.9
Lucy MacLean’s story was fascinating as she started the show completely innocent since she only ever knew what life was like in the vaults. Therefore, seeing her interact with the horrors of the Wasteland and having to learn how to protect herself was much more compelling than Purnell’s part as Kate inArmy of the Dead. Kate Ward was still an interesting character, but the large cast meant she would often disappear from the story at various points and only felt like the main character towards the end of the movie, making her less iconic thanFallout’s Lucy.
Ella Purnell’s Emmy snub forFalloutwas a genuine surprise, showing how great her performance was in the show and how strong the writing was. Both franchises offered the actress some of her highest-profile outings so far, butFallout’s more mysterious and gripping story eclipses that ofArmy of the Deadand provides a better post-apocalyptic narrative.
What Fallout’s Future Holds For Ella Purnell’s Lucy
Lucy May Lose Even More Of Her Innocence & Good Nature In Fallout Season 2
Although Lucy was one of the purest characters at the beginning ofFallout, the events of the show changed her, and she may have a very complex future ahead of her.Falloutseason 1’s endingrevealed that Lucy’s father was actually responsible for her mother’s death and was a part of Valut-Tec before the bombs were dropped. Hank MacLean’s betrayal left Lucy devastated and confused, leading to her leaving with The Ghoul in search of more answers. This set up a very different arc for Purnell’s character in season 2, who had already begun adapting to life outside the vaults.
Can’t Wait For Fallout Season 2? Watch Ella Purnell’s Underrated Sci-Fi Show With 94% On Rotten Tomatoes
Ella Purnell has been one of the breakout stars of Fallout season 1, with another cult show providing a further great example of her talent.
Showrunner, Geneva Robertson-Dworet even teased a slightly darker road ahead, as she mentionedLucy being further transformed by the wasteland inFalloutseason 2. Robertson-Dwoert said the show will raise questions about whether she can remain the same person she was before leaving the vaults, setting up a potential shift in character for Lucy. However,Purnell herself mentioned that she thinks Lucy is truly a good person and hopes she can become her own person, meaning the character will have a compelling journey ahead that tests her mental toughness and humanity as she continues to search for the truth.
Fallout
Set 200 years after an apocalypse, Fallout follows residents of luxury shelters as they re-enter a post-nuclear world. Confronted with a bizarre and violent landscape, the series explores the stark contrasts between their sheltered existence and the harsh realities of the outside universe.
