The Ghoul featured in Prime Video’s Fallout series deviates from the usual monstrous depictions, and a specific reason underlies this visual presentation.
In the Fallout universe, ghouls are a tragic byproduct of radiation exposure. While some retain their humanity, many succumb to a feral state, driven mad by the same radiation that grants them extended lifespans and a horrifying, ravaged appearance.
However, not all is lost. Certain ghouls possess a unique resilience to radiation, even finding it mildly restorative.
In Prime’s Fallout series, the enigmatic ghoul, played by Walton Goggins (Justified), was once a handsome pre-war actor named Cooper Howard. Known for his starring role in Western films, he retains his gunslinger style even in the wasteland. A trademark cowboy hat and a preference for canine companions hint at his past life, shown in flashbacks throughout season one. Howard comes off as a good guy who loves his family and his Australian Shepherd, and has a strong sense of right and wrong — something that seems to have been lost upon him in the Wasteland… or has it?
While being a ghoul is nothing you would wish upon yourself, and there are many ways someone can become a ghoul, Howard isn’t as bad off as others of his kind, who seem to have drawn the short straw.
