‘Fallout’ Season 2 Might Be Heading Towards This Specific ‘New Vegas’ Ending

One of the best aspects of the Fallout series is how it expands the franchise timeline to its furthest point, but now, it seems to also be interested in settling years-old debates about the past. In this week's episode, "The Handoff," The Ghoul (Walton Goggins) finally makes it to the Lucky 38 in New Vegas, where Robert House (Justin Theroux) has been waiting for over a decade for someone to come along. It's a perfect setup for the season finale, but it also begs the question: if Mr. House is still alive, does that mean he won the battle for the city in Fallout: New Vegas? This possibility has been pondered for 15 years among fans, and, now, they believe it may have finally been answered.

Mr. House Survives in Only One of the ‘Fallout: New Vegas’ Endings

New Vegas is one of the best entries in the Fallout franchise, with its four possible endings keeping fans talking even 15 years after the game's release. It's up to the player (known as the Courier) to decide who they want to control the city: themselves, Mr. House, the New California Republic, or the Legion. The thing is, Mr. House only survives in "The House Always Wins" ending, with him winning the Second Battle of the Hoover Dam and remaining in control of New Vegas. In all others, he dies.

The first hints of this possibility appear in Episode 3, "The Profligate," when the Ghoul meets Victor (Jesse Burch), one of House's former Securitrons. Victor mentions that the NCR and the Legion are still squabbling and that Mr. House is gone, but the Ghoul counters that both of them know better than to think House wouldn't have prepared for every possible outcome. Indeed, Mr. House doesn't like unknown variables, so, despite the game's multiple endings, fans have been pondering whether House's victory is the canon ending in New Vegas.

The Ghoul being able to "boot" Mr. House is what points to the latter having won, that wouldn't have been possible. What is seen on the screens isn't the real House, of course, but a digital avatar; his actual body is frail and decayed, kept in a secret survival chamber that can't be opened, lest he die. In "The House Always Wins" ending, the Courier makes sure Mr. House acquires the Platinum Chip, upgrading New Vegas' defenses and allowing him to continue ruling over the Mojave. But without cold fusion, that couldn't go on indefinitely.

If Mr. House Wins in ‘Fallout: New Vegas’, Then What Happens Afterward?

Back in December, Fallout co-showrunner Geneva Robertson-Dworet mentioned that Season 2 wanted to avoid picking a canon ending for New Vegas, even though it may feel like they actually did pick one, after all. Speaking to EW, however, Robertson-Dworet clarified that the Mr. House in the series may not be the same one from the game, but "a version of himself powered by cold fusion" as "the ultimate possible incarnation of Robert House." This doesn't really clarify things, however — is the entity that greets the Ghoul in "The Handoff" like a back-up of House's conscience, then?

The Fallout series is set around 15 years after New Vegas, which is also plenty of time for new developments. The Ghoul himself was likely already buried in the cemetery from Season 1 and missed the events of the game, but it seems like a lot more has happened in the interim. There are Deathclaws wandering around the Strip and Mr. House's headquarters are a mess, possibly implying that someone else got involved after the events of New Vegas. House himself admitted in the past that there was "another player" in the race for cold fusion, so, even if he retained control of the city in the game, he could have lost it afterward, too.

The possibility that Mr. House in the series is a cold fusion-powered back-up raises more questions than answers, then. For example, if it takes cold fusion to boot it, shouldn't cold fusion be required to save it in the first place, too? This may be answered in the upcoming season finale, but it's a valid question, since the whole series revolves around this innovative energy source. Also, is the series' version the "latest" version of Mr. House? If he did win in New Vegas, does that mean his body died in the 15 years between the game and the series? We can only hope the finale is enough to answer all this.

What Does This Reveal Mean for Those Who Played ‘New Vegas’?

The multiple endings are among the most fun aspects of New Vegas, often prompting multiple playthroughs to see what happens in each. And, since the Fallout games are usually standalone entries, it doesn't matter for the overall franchise continuity which one you pick; it's all just good fun. Now, however, the possibility of "The House Always Wins" actually being canon has some fans worried this makes the Courier's efforts pointless. After all, if the status quo is kept at the end and Mr. House is still in power, then it's all for naught, right?

Not necessarily, especially considering Robertson-Dworet's explanation. Mr. House really is the kind of person who prepares for every scenario, including one where he could be outsmarted, and the series significantly expands on his character in that sense. If he worries about "another player" at the table, the events of New Vegas certainly wouldn't catch him by surprise, even if he loses. The House always wins, after all, and having a backup of himself seems the best way to ensure it. As many questions as that raises, it doesn't really take away the fun of playing New Vegas, whatever the canon ending may be.

Fallout is available to stream on Prime Video.