Is THAT Fallout Character Really Dead? How 1 Game Concept Could Bring Her Back

Spoilers are ahead for Fallout season 1.

Summary

• Lee Moldaver’s apparent death in the
  Fallout
  season 1 finale leaves many questions unanswered, hinting at a potential return in season 2.
• The introduction of Synths in
  Fallout
  opens up possibilities for Moldaver’s revival, tying up loose ends in her mysterious backstory.
• Fallout
  season 1’s finale sets the stage for a potentially shocking twist regarding Moldaver’s fate, promising a complete character arc in season 2.

Fallout season 1 embraced its video game roots, incorporating everything from the franchise’s healing mechanics to the iconic Pip Boy device. In its finale, Fallout seemingly kills off Lee Moldaver (Sarita Choudhury), the leader of a New California Republic (NCR) military division. While the series’ 8-episode outing revealed some elements of Moldaver’s past, from her connection to the devious Vault-Tec employee Hank MacLean (Kyle MacLachlan) to her rebellious nature, there’s still a lot that viewers don’t know about her. Despite her apparent death beside Lucy’s (Ella Purnell) ghoulified mother, Moldaver could return for Fallout season 2.

In Fallout season 1’s ending, Lucy confronts the truth about her father, Hank. One of Vault-Tec’s most devoted employees in 2077, Hank was cryogenically frozen in Vault 31 to one day carry on the company’s vision for the future. Vaults 33 and 32, meanwhile, were used as breeding pools for Vault-Tec’s hand-selected Vault Dwellers. Moldaver reveals that Lucy’s mother ventured outside Vault 33, hoping to settle with her kids in Fallout‘s Shady Sands — the town that fostered the NCR. After taking his kids back to the Vault, Hank ordered the destruction of Shady Sands.

Fallout’s Synth Concept Could Undo Moldaver’s “Death”

After revealing the truth about Hank, who flees toward Fallout‘s New Vegas skyline, Moldaver seemingly bleeds out. Maximus (Aaron Moten), the Brotherhood of Steel‘s newest squire, is on the receiving end of Moldaver’s apparent last words. Clearly, the NCR military leader has garnered a ton of wisdom while navigating the Wasteland’s moral gray areas. As Lee Moldaver points out, sometimes the best someone can do is try to stand up for what’s right. Barring any miraculous Stimpak, there is one significant way that Moldaver could be revived in a sophomore outing: Moldaver could be one of Fallout‘s Synths.

Synths are robotic and biomechanical beings in the Fallout universe…

Fallout‘s version of androids, Synths (a.k.a. synthetic humanoids) are robotic and biomechanical beings that are manufactured by the Institute, a scientific faction that appears throughout Fallout 4. While the first few generations of Synths are very clearly mechanical, AI-driven beings, the Institute’s Generation 3 Synths are nearly indistinguishable from humans. Not only does this make them great spies, but it also opens up some pretty remarkable narrative doors for Fallout season 2. Not to mention, if Moldaver was a Synth (or even returned in Synth form), it would allow the show to complete her unfinished story.

Fallout Season 1 Doesn’t Explain How Moldaver Survived The Last 219 Years

While Fallout shows Moldaver chatting with characters like Cooper Howard (Walton Goggins) in 2077, it doesn’t go to any lengths to explain how she survived not only the bombing of the United States, but for a staggering 219 years after the Great War. The show certainly presents a variety of options: Goggins’ Ghoul survived, despite being disfigured by prolonged exposure to radiation, while Hank and the other members of Vault 33 had the help of cryo tech. In the peculiar world of Fallout, it’s totally plausible that Moldaver found a way to survive or extend her life.

Moldaver seemingly stays the same age for the most part…

As it stands now, the details are a loose thread that should be wrapped up in Fallout season 2. If Moldaver is a Synth, it would not only explain her apparent survival, but her youthful appearance. Unlike Hank or other characters who are shown in flashback, Moldaver seemingly stays the same age for the most part. The show de-ages MacLachlan’s Hank for his 2077 sequence, but doesn’t try to manipulate Moldaver’s appearance in the past, aside from some wardrobe choices. Whether or not a Synth reveal is the answer, Moldaver’s backstory needs to be addressed.

Moldaver’s Unfinished Story Could Be Resolved In Fallout Season 2

Aside from Moldaver, Fallout‘s season 1 finale didn’t boast any shocking death scenes. Even Lee’s felt a little low-key, especially given how much sway Fallout‘s so-called Flame Mother holds. On one hand, Moldaver’s death could inspire even more rebellion. But, at the same time, there are too many unfinished plot threads to see the character depart after just eight episodes. The second season of the Amazon Prime Video series has the opportunity to not only reveal a truly shocking twist regarding Moldaver, but, more importantly, it can do the Fallout character justice by presenting a complete arc.

All 8 episodes of

Fallout

season 1 are now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.