Fallout Season 2: Moises Arias on Norm’s Icy Choice

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Fallout Season 2 Episode 1. Buckle up! So, the first season of Amazon’s Fallout left us all hanging like a half-eaten sandwich! Our cheerful hero Lucy MacLean (shoutout to Ella Purnell) is left feeling not-so-cheerful after discovering her dad, Hank (played by the stellar Kyle MacLachlan), has been the ultimate villain all along. Meanwhile, the anosmic Ghoul, brilliantly portrayed by Walton Goggins, keeps wandering around searching for his lost family, and our dear young squire Maximus (Aaron Moten) finds himself back in the Brotherhood of Steel’s good graces, albeit without his trusty sidekicks. But let’s dive into the fate of Lucy’s little bro, Norm (played by Moises Arias). This guy has been on the case of a mega conspiracy involving Vault-Tec and their underground bunkers. Then bam! He stumbles into Vault 31 and discovers something shocking. What does he find? A bunch of cryogenic chambers housing the frozen assets of Vault-Tec’s junior executives from before the big boom! These frozen folks, known as “Bud’s Buds” (yes, you heard that right), are periodically thawed out to become leaders and bring their fancy pre-apocalypse DNA into the mix. But here’s the kicker: Norm’s reward for being curious? Death by starvation! Not cool, right? Bud, whose brain is living in what looks like a futuristic Roomba, gleefully informs Norm that there’s no escaping Vault 31 without his help. Spoiler alert: Bud isn’t in the mood to lend a hand either. As the season wraps up, it looks like Norm’s only option (or so it seemed) is to take a long, cold snooze in one of those sleep pods until Season 2 rolls around. But hold your horses! Episode 1 shows Norm pulling a fast one: instead of joining the frozen folks, he’s plotting to wake them up! Time to put on your thinking cap, Norm! This twist is bound to get the fans buzzing with excitement, especially those eager to delve deeper into the Vault 31 story. But guess what? Even Moises Arias was surprised by Norm’s bold move! “Of course, [not being in season 2] crossed my mind, but I was secretly hoping to avoid that horror when I opened that first script,” Arias admitted. “I was so delighted to discover Norm’s new mission because I had questions too! How on earth would he survive Vault 31? I’m on the edge of my seat over here!” So, now that Norm has shaken off the frost, it’s time to face the most terrifying challenge this universe has to offer: middle management! How’s he going to charm “Bud’s Buds” into following his lead? That’s going to be one of the biggest hurdles of Season 2. “I think he balances leadership and sneakiness very well,” Arias explains. “It’s the only way Norm can convince these mega-managers that he’s the biological superhero they’ve all been waiting for. Spoiler alert: he’s learning as he goes!” With Lucy, the idealist; Hank, the dastardly villain; and Norm, the clever survivor, the MacLean family continues to steer the narrative boat in Fallout Season 2. Even though they’re filming in sunny California now (hello, New Vegas vibes!), creating those family bonds might be a little tougher. Arias reflects, “The first season was in New York, where we could meet up more easily since most of us weren’t locals. But now, it’s a bit more of a challenge to get together, especially with California being so vast. When we do meet up, it’s not all work talk. We’re just buzzing about what we’ve read!” So, should Norm and the gang manage to escape Vault 31 in one piece, a rather awkward family reunion is definitely on the horizon. But for now, Bud’s Buds will have to become Norm’s Network! And by the way, the first episode of Fallout Season 2 is already streaming on Prime Video! New episodes drop every Wednesday, leading us to the grand finale on February 4. Don’t miss it!