Fallout Season 2’s New Episode Hints at a Canon New Vegas Ending

It seems that the showrunners of the Fallout series may have shifted their stance regarding the canon of the Prime Video adaptation, as the second season appears to embrace a New Vegas ending choice.

Spoilers for Fallout season 2, episode 7 ahead.

In the final moments of the latest episode, Walton Goggins’ Ghoul ascends to the top floor of the Lucky 38. There, he inserts the cold fusion diode into House’s dormant machine, only to uncover something far more ominous.

As the screens flicker to life, a familiar figure appears: Robert House, portrayed by Justin Theroux.

“Well hello, old chum,” House greets the Ghoul, setting the stage for a surprising twist.

Viewers are likely to share the Ghoul’s astonishment, considering that House meets his end in nearly every route of Fallout: New Vegas, unless the player chooses to align with Caesar’s Legion, the New California Republic, or establish an independent state with Yes Man.

So, what does this mean? In the ending path from New Vegas’ ‘The House Always Wins’ quest line, House survives and, importantly, takes full control of New Vegas, either eliminating rival factions or compelling them to vacate the Strip.

For context, co-showrunner Geneva Robertson-Dworet previously stated that the series would “outright avoid” designating any major ending as canon to preserve the integrity of players’ experiences with the classic Obsidian RPG.

“The discussions among Todd [Howard], [executive producer Jonathan Nolan], and [co-showrunner Graham Wagner] revolved around not making one specific ending the definitive choice from any of the games,” Robertson-Dworet explained.

She further noted, “We aimed to suggest that any player’s experiences and choices could have occurred leading up to the show, though there may be moments that contradict that.”

Perhaps the hints were always present. As we’ve seen, the Legion and New California Republic are not exactly thriving 15 years after the events of Fallout: New Vegas, while House likely preferred to remain the enigmatic puppet master, staying off the Enclave’s radar.

However, there are still some inconsistencies and ambiguous plot points that leave room for a mix of ending choices to influence Fallout season 2. House, despite his apparent demise, could have a contingency plan ready in case of betrayal. His algorithm provides him with insights, and the casino mogul is well-versed in clever tactics to maintain his edge.

As the Fallout season 2 finale approaches, it raises several questions, including whether it has officially made one of the more captivating Fallout: New Vegas endings the canon choice.