Ella Purnell has warned fans that a surprising and violent moment is coming for her character, Lucy MacLean, in the final episodes of Fallout Season 2. The actress confirmed Lucy’s shocking act of betrayal in the fifth episode is just the beginning of a major change for the character. Purnell promises an even bigger twist that will “blow people’s minds” before the season ends.
This warning follows Lucy’s dramatic actions in Season 2, Episode 5, titled “The Wrangler.” After learning that her traveling companion, the Ghoul (Walton Goggins), brought her to New Vegas to trade her to her father, Lucy reacts with sudden violence. Using a Power Fist weapon, she punches him through a hotel window, leaving him impaled on a pole in the street below. Purnell explains this was not a calculated move but a raw, instinctual response from a deeply hurt person.
Lucy MacLean’s Season 2 Evolution and Betrayal
Lucy’s journey in Season 2 has been defined by a steady erosion of her Vault-Tec principles. The once optimistic and rule-abiding vault dweller is becoming someone new, shaped by the brutality of the wasteland. Her attack on the Ghoul is a pivotal moment that fulfills a warning he gave her back in Season 1. He told her, “You are me, sweetie, just give it time”.
Ella Purnell told TV Insider, “It’s Lucy acting on instinct alone. It’s showing you the ways that she’s changed. She’s no longer thinking before she acts and applying intellect and caution. She’s hurt and wants to hurt this person as much as they hurt them”.
The episode revealed the Ghoul’s true motive for traveling with Lucy. He was not helping her find her father, Hank MacLean (Kyle MacLachlan), for justice. Instead, he planned to hand her over to Hank in exchange for information about the fate of his own pre-war wife and daughter. This deep betrayal triggered Lucy’s violent reaction. Walton Goggins, who plays the Ghoul, shared that his character’s actions were filled with conflict, saying the betrayal “pains him greatly”.
The Upcoming Twist That Will Shock Fans
While the betrayal is a major turning point, Ella Purnell says it is not the biggest shock for Lucy this season. She has teased that another major moment is still to come in one of the final three episodes.
Purnell hinted, “There is another moment coming that I think is going to blow people’s minds when you see it. It’s very violent and not at all what you would expect from Lucy”.
The actress did not give specific details, leaving fans to speculate about what this violent twist could involve. It may connect to her reunion with her father, Hank, who finds her at the end of Episode 5. Lucy has insisted on bringing Hank to fair justice rather than killing him, but her new propensity for violence could change that plan. The twist could also involve Maximus (Aaron Moten), who now has the cold fusion device. Lucy and Maximus have not yet shared a scene in Season 2, and he is unaware of how much she has changed.
Lucy’s Descent Began With a Drug Trip
The path to Lucy’s betrayal was paved in the previous episode, “The Demon in the Snow.” After being tortured and nearly killed, Lucy was revived by the New California Republic using an IV drip of the performance-enhancing drug Buffout. Under the influence and suffering from withdrawal, Lucy experienced a drug trip that unlocked a fearless, deadly side of her personality. She went on a killing spree, gunning down ghouls outside New Vegas with a shocking lack of concern.
Purnell called this drug-induced sequence her “favorite part of Season 2” and admitted playing it felt “scandalous” because it was so different from Lucy’s core nature.
“I felt so scandalous,” Purnell said. “Coming from any other character, you’d be like, ‘Yeah, it’s just Fallout,’ but just something about it being Lucy, it feels scandalous… Very fun to see that side of her”.
This event marked a significant departure, proving Lucy’s moral compass could be compromised. It set the stage for her to act on pure emotion and instinct when the Ghoul betrayed her, rather than relying on her former caution and intellect.
The Fate of the Ghoul and Fan Theories
The immediate consequence of Lucy’s attack is the Ghoul left impaled on a street pole. According to the lore of the Fallout games, this kind of injury alone is unlikely to kill a ghoul. However, fans have theorized that the real danger is not death, but the risk of him turning feral.
Throughout the series, the Ghoul has depended on a special serum to prevent himself from losing his mind and becoming a feral ghoul. Being trapped and incapacitated could interrupt this treatment, risking the last remnants of his human identity as Cooper Howard. Online, fans are debating his survival. Some point out that ghouls in the games can regenerate from severe injuries with enough radiation.
One fan speculated, “I expect that someone will tear down the post and pull the Ghoul out of it. Or it out of the Ghoul, to be precise. Then a stimpak and some radiation and he’s fine”.
Walton Goggins confirmed the relationship between Lucy and the Ghoul will evolve after this event, stating, “Afterwards, it’s a definite shift. Their entire journey, that is not the period on it, but it changes and evolves”.
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Fallout Season 2’s Success and Remaining Episodes
Fallout Season 2 has been a major success for Prime Video. It holds a “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes with a 97% critics’ score and a 96% audience score. The show is currently leading streaming charts worldwide.
The season consists of eight episodes released weekly. With Episode 5 now available, three episodes remain leading up to the finale scheduled for February 4, 2026. The coming episodes will resolve the cliffhangers, including the Ghoul’s fate, Norm’s investigation into the FEV virus in Vault 31, and the major twist for Lucy that Ella Purnell has promised.
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