DISCLAIMER: This recap of Fallout Season 1 Episode 6, “The Trap,” contains spoilers. Proceed at your peril.
Fallout‘s “The Trap” blesses us with more context for Cooper Howard/The Ghoul’s story and fills in the blanks regarding the enigmatic Moldaver. Lucy discovers that Vault 4’s into some weird sh*t while Maximus delights in the lap of vault-dwelling luxury. “The Trap” is a compelling, flat-out fun outing that propels the narrative.
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I love the almost meandering quality of this season because it allows us to fully immerse ourselves in this intricate, gleefully violent world. Sure, we might be left with tons of questions by the season finale, but thankfully, Season 2 seems to be a done deal.
Episode 6 — Vault-Tec Presents … The Trap
We open with Cooper Howard (Walton Goggins) filming a black-and-white commercial for Vault-Tec to promote the vaults. He gives viewers a tour of Vault 4, where we meet Lloyd and Cassandra Hawthorne (Eric Berryman and Angel Desai). They are scientists who live and work in the vault. After wrapping, Cooper runs into Bud Askins (Michael Esper), who originally worked for West Tek, a defense contractor.
Coop admits he’s familiar with West Tek because they’re responsible for the T-45 power armor. The significant design flaws almost lost them Alaska during the war. More importantly, said flaws resulted in major casualties. Bud changes the subject, revealing he’s more focused on making “time” the ultimate weapon and “management” humanity’s saving grace. However, Coop’s clearly checked out of the conversation at this point.
Wrap Party
Next, Barb (Frances Turner) informs Cooper that they’re hosting the wrap party at their home. That evening, Coop spends time with the family dog, Roosevelt, before heading downstairs to socialize with his guests. The newspaper he reads boasts the headline “Reds Losing Territory! More Troops Deployed to Far East.”
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After mingling with some folks indoors, Coop heads outside to the pool area, where Sebastian Leslie (Matt Berry) sits alone. Sebastian tried to woo the female staff but struck out. I’m still picturing Berry as Steven Toast, although this version of Steven detests Hollywood. Well, it’s an amalgam of Steven and Laszlo Cravensworth. We learn Sebastian signed on to become the voice of “that spinning robot they sell to housewives and perverts.” Well, he’ll be pleased to know his voice is still used 200-some years later.
Cooper reveals he lost a movie because of the Vault-Tec ads he filmed. Sebastian condemns the “radicalism” sweeping the nation, particularly Hollywood. He claims Hollywood is the past, and the future is products. “The end of the world is a product,” he says. They toast to the future.
Take Him to the Govermint
Then, The Ghoul (Goggins) wakes up following his serum-binging in the Super Duper Mart. Snip Snip (Berry), who’s malfunctioning on the ground, states he’s “Bartholomew Codsworth” and he’s “ever ready to serve.” A handful of law enforcers barge into the empty store. Sheriff Troy (Russell Ewing) “arrests” The Ghoul for trashing the place, with plans to bring him to the “Govermint.”
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Meanwhile, a Vault 4 doctor dresses Maximus’s (Aaron Moten) bullet wound. Lucy (Ella Purnell) chats with Birdie (Cherien Dabis), who welcomes them to stay for a few days before continuing their journey. Maximus doesn’t like staying still while Dr. Wilzig’s head is in Thaddeus’s bag. Lucy learns Birdie was a surface dweller. She’s adjusted quite well to vault life. Birdie asks them to remain in quarantine for a few more hours to ensure they can’t spread anything.
Next, once they’re alone, Lucy asks Maximus point-blank if he wants to have sex. He seems to consider it until he reminds her he’s a knight. Knights in the Brotherhood of Steel can’t have sex. Maximus also mentions this thing that happens to penises (not his, of course) where they “pop.” Lucy tells him that’s supposed to happen. This conversation cracks me up.
Vault 4 Surface Dwellers
Then, the pair eat among the other Vault 4 denizens. Lucy chows down on some mac ‘n cheese. Maximus is on alert. Birdie introduces them to Overseer Benjamin (Chris Parnell), who has one eye. Lucy can’t stop staring at it. Maximus tries to suppress his laughter. Benjamin urges them to steer clear of Level 12. As they leave the “outdoor” cafeteria, Lucy remarks that the vault dwellers look strange. As it turns out, most of them are surface dwellers. Some have a few extra body parts or, well, not enough. Vault 4 takes them in.
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Later, we see Sheriff Troy escorting The Ghoul to the Govermint. They’re traversing the windswept, dry landscape of the vast Wasteland. Another flashback shows Coop and Barb cozying up in the hot tub in their backyard. Janey (Teagan Meredith) plays with Roosevelt. Coop mentions his dream of leaving Hollywood and purchasing a ranch in Bakersfield. He urges Barb to consider resigning from her position at Vault-Tec.
However, Barb is fighting to secure them a cushy, high-end vault for when the inevitable apocalypse strikes. That evening, Coop meets his friend Charles Whiteknife (Dallas Goldtooth) at a bar. Charles is part of the Communist Party.
He urges Coop to attend a meeting with him, at least to sit back and observe. He gives Coop a card for the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Companies like Vault-Tec can stop the war in its tracks. But war is immensely profitable, especially the apocalypse. That’s why it’ll never end, even after the bombs drop. Coop appears to genuinely consider Charles’ words.
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No Dogs Allowed
Next, we see the couple sit down for dinner one evening. Coop receives a call from Barb’s Vault-Tec coworker, telling him she doesn’t accept calls after work hours. Cooper remarks at the dinner table that Janey will be heartbroken because they can’t take Roosevelt with them into the vault. No dogs are allowed in the vaults. He asks Barb who created that rule.
The conversation erupts into an argument when she can’t answer the question. Barb reminds him who stayed home while he was fighting in the war. She’s fighting tooth and nail to protect the family when things go nuclear. Coop apologizes, embracing his wife.
Goosy MacLean
In the present, Lucy meets with Overseer Benjamin in the latter’s office. Benjamin calls her “Goosy MacLean.” She corrects him, but he claims her name is spelled like that on his document. Benjamin reveals he was born and raised in Vault 4—five generations of his family. He complains about all the surface dwellers in his vault. Lucy understands, right? So, Benjamin’s a bit of a classist. Lucy asks Benajmin about Level 12. What’s on Level 12, and why can’t they go there? Benjamin spits out his coffee before ordering her to leave his office.
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Maximus stares at his power armor, which Vault 4 kindly retrieved for him. Thaddeus stole its power core before he left, so Maximus asks one vault dweller where they get their power. Birdie catches Maximus trying to steal their fusion core. However, she doesn’t acknowledge it. Instead, she gives him keys to his new digs. She understands how challenging it can be for a surface dweller to finally feel safe.
The Lap of Luxury
Later, Maximus sees his new home, complete with a welcome basket full of snacks and champagne. His neighbors smile broadly at him. What transpires next is a montage of Maximus reveling in the comforts of vault life. He takes a shower, watches TV, eats caviar and dons a plush robe and matching slippers. Moten is such a great comedic actor. He cracks me up in this scene while making me feel for Maximus.
Meanwhile, Lucy explores the vault’s classroom. She spies the timeline of Shady Sands and the New California Republic (created in 2189) and discovers that Shady Sands fell in 2277. Lucy also notices that the flag in the classroom boasts the New California Republic state symbol—a two-headed bear. Then, she follows a crowd as they congregate for a “surface dweller tradition.”
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Then, upon his arrival at the Govermint, The Ghoul reunites with Sorrel Booker (Glenn Fleshler). Booker removes the ropes around The Ghoul’s wrists. He claims he doesn’t know how The Ghoul keeps going after 200 years in the Wasteland. Perhaps he loves the feeling of the sun on his wrinkly skin. Or maybe he’s still looking for “her.” Hmm. While The Ghoul sews his finger back on (the one Lucy bit off), he remarks about all the chatter he’s heard about Moldaver. Booker claims they call her “The Flame Mother.”
Not How He Remembers Her
Additionally, Booker tells The Ghoul that the men running the Super Duper Mart were under his care. It wouldn’t reflect well on him if he let The Ghoul go. After some verbal sparring with Sheriff Troy and his associate, The Ghoul kills them both in front of Booker. Next, The Ghoul spies a “Wanted” poster featuring Moldaver. He inspects it, realizing that’s not how he remembers Moldaver.
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In another flashback, Cooper arrives at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for the Communist Party meeting. Meanwhile, Lucy attends the Vault 4 ceremony spearheaded by Birdie. We jump between both scenes as Coop chats with Charles and the Vault 4 denizens start chanting in front of an altar. Then, they remove their clothes, much to Lucy’s surprise. Birdie leads them in a prayer. They’re trying to revive Shady Sands. To do this, “blood must spill,” and they must cover themselves in the ashes of the fallen.
Suddenly, she unveils a flag of none other than Moldaver. The Vault 4 residents worship her. In the past, Charles introduces Cooper to, you guessed it, Moldaver (Sarita Choudhury). She tells him she’s a big fan of his work.
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Level 12
Lucy flees, deciding to chat with Maximus about leaving. However, Maximus is now Team Vault 4. He wants to stay. He asks Lucy if she wants to have sex now. Lucy insists they must leave. Vault 4 dwellers are avid fans of Moldaver, the warlord who kidnapped her father. Lucy orders Maximus to stay put. She’ll find evidence to persuade him to hightail it out of there.
We see her travel to Level 12. There, she finds horrifying lab experiments with faces and other body parts in jars. Then, Lucy watches jaw-dropping video footage on the TV. It’s of a woman giving birth to a plethora of fish, which then proceed to eat her. A shocked Lucy turns off the TV.
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Next, she wanders into a room where multiple women are in stasis in giant capsules. A scientist switches on the lights, causing Lucy to hide. He observes one of the women, revealing he thought she might’ve escaped when he saw the door was open. Lucy tries to flee silently. Unfortunately, the man hears her. He turns on an alarm before grabbing what looks like a harpoon gun.
Lucy fights him off, along with the other Vault 4 dwellers who attack her. They overwhelm her, though. While two of them grab her by the arms, Birdie arrives on the scene. Lucy vehemently states that they’re all crazy. At the same time, Maximus watches TV in his bunker, munching on popcorn in his comfy robe. He’s very content.
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What will Birdie and the others do with Lucy? Can Maximus save her in time? Will The Ghoul venture out to Moldaver’s neck of the woods to reunite with her? Only time (and two more episodes) will tell.
Fallout Season 1 is now streaming on Prime Video.
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