Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for Fallout Season 2 Episode 3.The first two weeks of Fallout Season 2 have been devoted to catching viewers up with where all the characters are while setting up the pieces for what’s to come. But in the third and best episode of the season so far, “The Profligate,” Fallout returns to its three main characters: Lucy (Ella Purnell), The Ghoul (Walton Goggins), and Maximus (Aaron Moten). In doing this, “The Profligate” shows us the limitations of Lucy’s kindness, while the Ghoul moves a bit closer to Lucy’s point of view, and Maximus becomes more than just a cog in the machine. The episode also features a reminder on multiple fronts that war never changes, mixing the absurdity and horrors of this world in equal measure.
Episode 3 begins with a character we haven’t seen in Season 2 until now: Thaddeus (Johnny Pemberton), who is clearly turning into a ghoul after the events of last season. He’s running a warehouse of child workers on a 22-hour shift, gathering bottle caps — the currency of The Wasteland. Some of these kids are ghouls, and others aren’t, but Thaddeus is surprisingly optimistic about his circumstances, especially since he doesn’t have to be in the Brotherhood of Steel anymore. He’s also kind of a good boss of child laborers — although their motto, “Most kids are dead by this age,” could probably use some work.
Lucy Drops Into The Legion’s Civil War in ‘Fallout’ Season 2 Episode 3
Lucy has found herself in the wild, savage community of the Legion, where people in dated Roman Empire-looking armor force her through an area where others are being whipped and having their teeth pulled out, amongst other atrocities. Lucy and the woman she was transporting are led into a tent with a masked man, who mentions to the woman that she lost her legionary. Without a second’s thought, her throat is slit, making Lucy’s journey all for nothing.
Lacerta Legate (Macaulay Culkin) brings Lucy before a man who goes by Caesar, and she quickly discovers that their ways aren’t exactly consistent or even very Roman, as they mispronounce “Caesar” and try to negotiate for Lucy’s prima noctis. After addressing her concerns and mentioning she’s not a virgin, Lucy’s taken away. Legate mentions that the Legion is essentially at war with everyone, but primarily, the unrepentant members of Caesar’s legion. The founder of this empire died, and the two sides have been at war over who should be his heir. The original Caesar wrote down who should be the heir and left it in his pocket, but every time they try to retrieve it, the “false Caesar” and his followers shoot at the other side.
Lucy thinks she can help, and in typical fashion, it only gets her in more trouble, resulting in her being tied to a crucifix. Lucy argues with Legate that if they think everyone else is the bad guy, chances are they’re the bad guy. Considering the state of the world, however, he aptly replies that “good is not a meaningful vector in history; only strength.”
Cooper Howard Meets a Mysterious Man in ‘Fallout’ Season 2 Episode 3
Image via Prime Video
Back at the hospital where Lucy left the Ghoul, we find him struggling and in pain, but at least he’s got Dogmeat by his side as he grossly cuts out his greenish radscorpion wound. As he does this, he mentions the Ship of Theseus paradox, which poses the question that if you replace the parts one by one, does the ship remain the same? Once the Ghoul is done digging around, he reveals a rare sign of compassion to Dogmeat, saying it’s been a long time since he’s had someone worthwhile to talk to.
In a flashback to the Ghoul’s life as Cooper Howard, his wife Barb (Frances Turner) is putting together a box marked “Keepsakes” for their eventual time in the Vault. She’s crying about how she doesn’t want to have to leave anything behind, but Cooper reassures her that maybe they won’t have to, as both know fully well that the bombs are coming soon. Cooper heads to a fundraiser at an American Legion post, where he asks his friend Charles (Dallas Goldtooth) what he knows about Robert House, and learns that House is building a weapons system in Vegas. Cooper mentions that Moldaver (Sarita Choudhury) wants him to kill House, but there has to be another way. Yet Charlie states that most of the men in this room have killed someone, and House is just one man.
Representative Welch (Martha Kelly), a congresswoman for the district of Glendale, gets up to give a speech, mentioning that she refuses corporate funding and that Washington can’t afford more influence from corporations. When Welch fumbles her speech, Cooper heads to the bathroom, where he finds the man from Episode 1 who looks suspiciously like Robert House (Justin Theroux). When the man asks Cooper if he’s receiving any awards, Cooper replies that he’s just there to support his friend Charlie. Apparently, rumor has it that Charlie is a “pinko,” but Cooper says he wouldn’t know, before the man asks about Cooper’s own affiliations. Cooper sees through the man’s intentions while he talks about sympathizing with pinkos, their exhaustion with institutions, and the “solution to the problem.” If you back one person into a corner, they’ll try anything, but if you back billions into a corner…
The Ghoul Finds What’s Left of the New California Republic in ‘Fallout’ Season 2 Episode 3
Later on, the Ghoul, feeling much better, has tracked Lucy to the Legion’s headquarters, but once he sees the two “Caesars,” he realizes this is a group in civil war. Soon after, the Ghoul and Dogmeat go to a country club, and the Ghoul tells his dog that while he doesn’t like Lucy, he’ll need her down the line, so this is the best place to get help to take on the Legion. Inside the building, there are signs for the New California Republic, but it looks abandoned, except for a cowboy robot the Ghoul calls Victor, who says his memory is all scrambled.
The robot mentions that the Legion used to fight the NCR, but now, the Legion is just fighting the Legion. The Ghoul also asks Victor what happened to his creator, Robert House, but Victor says he’s gone, and that even though he had all the money in the world, all he wanted was to live forever. Robert House had plans but needed cold fusion from before the war. Victor mentions that Ghoul had something to do with all that back in the day. As the Ghoul starts to walk away, Victor states there’s no one around to keep him company anymore except for Rangers in the hills.
The Ghoul goes to the hills where he finds what remains of NCR. There are only two soldiers left: Rodriguez (Barbara Eve Harris) and Biff (Jon Gries). Rodriguez points out that NCR and Ghoul have a long history together. These two soldiers have been cut off from reinforcements for more than a decade with Biff clearly losing his mind. Rodriguez states that Legion has them boxed in and asks Ghoul for help letting their battalion know they’re still out there. The Ghoul shows rare optimism saying he thought good guys would win but with NCR’s state it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. Rodriguez says Ghoul used to believe in what NCR stands for as they ask him for help. As he walks away Ghoul says if something is dead it usually deserved it. Meanwhile Lucy is still hanging on crucifix thinking she sees Ghoul before passing out. It turns out it is Ghoul who claims information for Caesar. He says if Legion gives him something he wants he’ll give them last holdouts of New California Republic.
The episode flashes back again to Cooper at American Legion where Charlie gives speech about Cooper’s courageous activities during war. Over Charlie’s words about stories we tell about hope stakes of war betting on right side Lucy is cut down from cross. As Ghoul carries Lucy away while Legion celebrates taking out NCR Ghoul notes huge cache dynamite at their headquarters. When Charlie wraps up speech about bad things done for right reasons it’s clear he’s speaking directly at Cooper inspiring him take out Robert House. Before leaving stage Charlie gets lighter commemorating accomplishments which he hands off Cooper saying was given lighter saving man not killing three men it took do it. In present day Ghoul still keeps lighter questioning if made mistake. But then,dynamite explodes kicking Legion’s civil war into high gear, showing there might still be some good in Ghoul after all.
Maximus and Xander Go Hunting in ‘Fallout’ Season 2 Episode 3
At Area 51 new headquarters for Brotherhood Steel rebellion led by Elder Cleric Quintus (Micheal Cristofer)) seems falling apart arrival Paladin Xander Harkness (Kumail Nanjiani)) Commonwealth.Quintus reminds group Commonwealth began act rebellion. Before war ordinary captain Roger Maxson sent research center California when saw experiments going human subjects asked himself served God government — chose God.He shot scientists everyone tried stop defied government saved found Commonwealth.
This speech doesn’t move group as one heads tells give cold fusion Commonwealth.Maximus comes solution what if killed Xander? Quintus counters telling team behold dimness sword.Maximus tries point work cause righteous using Quintus’ words against him — Quintus tells Maximus leave meeting clearly frustrates Maximus.As leaves runs into Harkness talks chapter sucks clerics run everything.Harkness points out Quintus about make huge mistake Brotherhood believes fights chaos forming rebellion sounds lot like chaos.Back east Harkness says people like him Maximus ones bleed cause leaders.Maximus agrees talk Harkness who says isn’t first time Brotherhood almost fallen civil war this time cooler heads could prevail.
