STACK #260 June 2026

MOVIE FEATURE

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Inset: Kyle MacLachlan Below: Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins

GENRE: Action RUN TIME: Series

WHAT A BLAST! FALLOUT: SEASON 2 One of the most anticipatedTV returns in recent memory, Season 2 of Fallout maintains all the weirdness of this fantastical retro-futuristic world viewers have grown to love.

W hat could have easily been another forgettable video game adaptation instead turned into one of the smartest, strangest, and most entertaining sci-fi shows around. If Season One managed to balance brutal violence, dark comedy, emotional storytelling, and weird post-apocalyptic charm in a way that felt completely unique, Season Two faced the challenge of expanding that world without losing what made it special in the first place. Set two centuries after the Great War of 2077 – in which society has collapsed following a nuclear holocaust - the first season ended with several major revelations and a massive shift in direction, especially for Ella Purnell’s Lucy, whose journey from sheltered Vault resident to hardened wasteland survivor

became the emotional backbone of the show. By the finale, the series pulled back the curtain on some of the deeper corruption behind the Vault system and hinted at much bigger conflicts ahead, as well as teasing one of the most iconic locations from the games: New Vegas – now showcased in Season Two. That tease alone sent longtime Fallout fans into overdrive, given how this city from the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas has almost mythical status among gamers. And they weren’t disappointed, as Season Two dives right back into more political chaos, morally questionable factions, bizarre desert characters, and the kind of twisted humour the franchise thrives on. Another big reason for the show’s success is the chemistry between the cast. White

Lotus star Walton Goggins absolutely steals scenes as The Ghoul, delivering a performance that is equal parts terrifying and charismatic. His backstory turned out to be far more tragic than expected, with Season Two exploring even more of his past before the apocalypse destroyed the world. What really makes Fallout work, though, is that underneath the monsters, explosions, and bizarreness, it’s a show about human

nature. The apocalypse didn’t magically make people honest or noble – it just amplified greed, desperation, and survival instincts. That mix of satire and sincerity is what gives Fallout its edge, cementing it as one of the defining sci-fi series of the decade. Gill Pringle

• Fallout: Season 2 is out Jun 3

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The Last of Us, Halo, The Stand, 12 Monkeys

GENRE: Drama RUN TIME: Series

GAME OF KNIGHTS Fans of Game ofThrones can return to Westeros in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms , a new prequel series based on author George R.R. Martin’s series of novellas.

Knight of the Seven Kingdoms explores a quieter, but no

less consequential, chapter of Westeros history. Gone are the sprawling wars and

• A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is out Jun 17

dragonfire spectacles, replaced by a grounded, character-driven tale that leans into chivalry, loyalty, and the myth-making of knights. The series centres on Dunk, a hedge knight of humble origins, and Egg, a young squire with more to his story than first appears. Their travels across Westeros offer a different perspective on the realm, one that trades palace intrigue for dusty roads, tourneys, and small-scale conflicts that quietly shape the future of the Seven Kingdoms. Developed for television by George R.R. Martin alongside writer and producer Ira Parker, the series has been praised for its lighter tone and strong character focus, with early reception highlighting its accessibility for newcomers while still rewarding longtime fans. It’s a deliberate shift in scale, but one that enriches the wider mythology rather than simply repeating past glories. Glenn Cochrane

G ame of Thrones was such a juggernaut that a follow-up series was inevitable. And in making lighter work for its creators, George R.R. Martin already had a collection of prequel stories published between 1998 and 2010. Under the title Tales of Dunk and Egg , three novellas occupy the same world as his A Song of Ice and Fire saga (aka Game of Thrones ), taking

place around 90 years earlier. Plans for the new series began long before Game of Thrones concluded, with Martin initially envisioning the stories as feature films. Instead, HBO opted to expand the universe for television, first with House of the Dragon , before turning its attention

to the more intimate adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall and his unlikely companion, Egg. Set roughly a century before Game of Thrones – and nearly a hundred years after the events of House of the Dragon - A

Fun fact: George R.R. Martin has called the Dunk and Egg tales his favourite to write, with plans for more stories still in mind.

Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell

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The complete series of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon are also available on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD.

16 JUNE 2026

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