One Walton Goggins Moment in Fallout Proves Why the Series is Iconic

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The series could have easily been a poor adaptation, like many video game adaptations such as Mortal Kombat: Annihilation and Far Cry. Thankfully, it turned out to be excellent, rivaling the quality of Netflix’s Arcane. A lot of the show’s success comes down to its three main characters: Lucy MacLean, played by Ella Purnell; Maximus, played by Aaron Moten; and The Ghoul, played by Walton Goggins.

Cooper Howard, as played by Goggins, doesn’t quite have the same powerful impact as his character from the Wasteland flashbacks. However, this is probably because The Ghoul was introduced so brilliantly at the start of the series. Fallout has a lot of great character introductions, but none have felt as strong since the very first episode.

Walton Goggins Highlights the Two Faces of Fallout

The Fallout TV series begins by introducing us to Cooper Howard. He’s a former Marine who’s now an actor, and we first meet him while he’s performing at a birthday party in Los Angeles. Through conversations around him, we learn he’s divorced, likely raising a child on his own, and is rumored to be a communist sympathizer – labeled with the old-fashioned insult, ‘pinko.’ Later, it’s revealed he unknowingly became the public image of something much larger.

After his performance, Howard was asked to give a thumbs-up, which made him feel awkward. Fans of the video game Fallout instantly understood the reference, as the game’s mascot, Vault Boy, is famous for that pose. Howard later explained the joke to his daughter, clarifying that a nuclear explosion would have to be larger than your outstretched thumb to be dangerous.

Everyone anticipated something terrible happening, particularly because Howard seemed so content with his daughter. His transformation into the Ghoul meant losing all that joy, and Season 2 revealed he’d been searching for his family for a long time, making it clear where his loyalties truly lie.

When nuclear bombs hit Los Angeles, Cooper Howard immediately rescued his daughter, mounting a horse and escaping the destruction. He held onto his cowboy identity until the very end, a fact dramatically confirmed when he shockingly reappeared as The Ghoul in the first episode of Fallout, becoming the show’s terrifying, decaying symbol.

The Ghoul’s Debut in Fallout Says a Lot About the Character

Cooper Howard’s daring escape on horseback leads directly to a glimpse of the far future, focusing on Lucy and Maximus. When Cooper returns, it’s obvious the years haven’t treated him well. Fans of the Fallout series are familiar with mutated creatures, but no character quite compares to the Ghoul. Almost 220 years after Los Angeles was destroyed, a team of bounty hunters frees the Ghoul from a harsh imprisonment.

The Ghoul, a man who was forcibly put in a coffin and buried alive for three decades, was paying for a past conflict that hasn’t been explained yet. Bounty hunters, aware of his fearsome reputation in the desolate Wasteland, ask him to help them find a missing scientist. The encounter happens at night, with flickering fires and moonlight adding to the growing sense of danger.

Even though bounty hunters are known for being dangerous themselves, they fear the Wasteland. When the Ghoul rises from his coffin, he seems almost human in the flickering light – like someone with a severe skin condition or burns. But then, the darkness reveals the gaping hole where his nose should be, exposing his true, horrifying nature.

Though changed and distorted by his transformation, traces of Cooper Howard’s original personality still appear in the Ghoul. It’s hard to recognize him, even when the Ghoul speaks with surprising humanity.

He’s lost all trace of his former self. Now, he coldly kills anyone who pursues him, even adopting their motivations with the chilling statement, “I do this for the thrill of it.” The man who once cherished his daughter above everything has endured her death for over two hundred years, suggesting he’s been driven by a raw, almost primal need to simply survive.

The show Fallout delivered a truly devastating downfall for its character Cooper Howard in just one episode. He lost everything – his family and even his face – and faced increasing hardship. Instead of breaking, he became hardened and vengeful, culminating in his transformation into the ruthless Ghoul. This reveal was shocking and highlighted the series’ unique storytelling ability. Most importantly, it created a fascinating character that viewers are eager to follow week after week, and his story continues to captivate.

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2026-01-07 02:36