'Fallout' ending explained: The finale hints at who started the apocalypse and teases a return to a fan-favorite location

Lucy leaving Vault 73 in “Fallout.” Amazon Prime Video

• Amazon’s ‘”Fallout” takes place after a nuclear war has ravaged the world. 
• The show might finally answer how the apocalypse starts.
• The end of “Fallout” also teases a return to a fan-favorite game in the series. 

If you have played “Fallout” you may have wondered how the nuclear war that forces everyone to seek shelter in underground vaults all started — and we may finally find out if season two is approved.

The show, produced by Jonathan Nolan, is the latest video game to be given the live-action treatment, following the likes of the hugely popular “The Last of Us,” and the moderately successful “Mortal Kombat” and “Sonic the Hedgehog.”

Set in the same world as the games by Bethesda SoftWorks and Interplay, it follows Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell) as she leaves the nuclear bunker where she grew up to rescue her father after he’s kidnapped by invaders from postapocalyptic America.

As the show unfolds, actor Cooper Howard (Walton Goggins) starts to suspect that his wife, Barb Howard (Frances Turner), is involved with some shady goings-on at her workplace, Vault-Tec.

Frances Turner as Barb Howard in “Fallout.” Amazon Prime Video

After being given a listening device by Lee Moldaver, a rebellious communist (Sarita Choudhury), Cooper spies on an important meeting at the Vault-Tec offices between the Vault-Tec executives, including his wife, and other companies it has partnerships with, like robot and weapons manufacturer RobCo Industries.

In the meeting, Barb explains that with nuclear war on the horizon, Vault-Tec is exploring its options to stay viable as a company if the worst happens.

As Barb herself explains: “A nuclear event would be a tragedy, but also an opportunity. Perhaps the greatest opportunity in history because when we are the only ones left, there will be no one to fight; a true monopoly.”

Although the games made it clear that companies like Vault-Tec, Robco, and Nuka-Cola profited from the war, the twist that Vault-Tec appeared to have used its influence to ensure the bombs dropped is a new revelation. But it’s fitting since the “Fallout” games satirize consumerism and capitalism.

The finale also reveals that Lucy’s father, Hank MacLean (Kyle MacLachlan), is secretly a Vault-Tec executive who is still working for the company. And in the final few moments of the episode he’s seen stomping toward a key location from a fan-favorite game: New Vegas.

New Vegas in Amazon’s “Fallout.” Amazon Prime Video

Yes, it seems like Amazon is teasing that “Fallout” season two will touch on 2010’s “Fallout: New Vegas,” one of the franchises’ most beloved games.

Given that New Vegas is run by RobCo founder Mr. House (Rafi Silver), it makes sense that Hank is heading to the isolated city now that his true allegiance to Vault-Tec has been revealed. He needs an ally to keep working toward Vault-Tec’s goals, and who better than the head of the company’s main partner?

Regardless of what lies ahead for Hank in the “Fallout” series, seeing the futuristic version of Sin City is a tantalizing possibility.

If you enjoyed this story, be sure to follow Business Insider on Microsoft Start.