Kyle MacLachlan is using a childhood hobby to bring a chilling edge to his character in Fallout Season 2. The actor performs all of his character Hank MacLean’s yo-yo tricks himself, drawing on skills he mastered as a kid to show a playful yet calculating side of the vault overseer. MacLachlan shared details about bringing this personal talent to the post-apocalyptic series, his character’s dark journey to New Vegas, and his dynamic with co-star Ella Purnell.
From Twin Peaks to the Wasteland: MacLachlan’s Unexpected Skill Set
When the show’s creators told Kyle MacLachlan his character would be using a yo-yo in Season 2, they asked if he needed practice. His confident reply was, “I got it. Don’t you worry”. This wasn’t just actor bravado. MacLachlan grew up during the yo-yo’s popular peak, citing the Smothers Brothers and Duncan yo-yos as major influences.
“I was a big Duncan yo-yos guy and I was a big yo-yo kid when I was younger, so it was pretty easy to get it going,” MacLachlan said.
This lifelong familiarity meant he performed every yo-yo moment on screen without relying on special effects or a stunt double. The actor even joked about the props struggling to survive the wasteland, noting, “The yo-yos that we had kept breaking though. In true Fallout condition, they would come apart”.
Hank MacLean’s Sinister Scheme
Fallout Season 2, which premiered on Prime Video on December 16, 2025, continues Hank’s story shortly after the end of the first season. Having fled Vault 33, Hank is now making his way toward the ruins of New Vegas with a clear, secretive mission.
“He is hatching a scheme that we learn as the series progresses,” MacLachlan teased. “And as things play out in the first few episodes, it involves a yo-yo”.
The yo-yo becomes a key part of showing Hank’s personality. While he settles back into a routine of lab experiments and wearing suits, the toy adds a layer of playful control. MacLachlan explained that the contrast is intentional, saying, “It’s just the juxtaposition of what I’m doing, which is pretty disturbing, compared with kind of how I’m physicalizing it with this yo-yo”.
Working with Ella Purnell
Although Hank and his daughter Lucy are on separate paths this season, MacLachlan had high praise for his co-star Ella Purnell. He called her “really a joy” and admired her work ethic and ability to stay upbeat while filming demanding scenes.
“She’s hardworking, serious with a great sense of humor. There’s a lot of laughter between takes. I admire her so much,” MacLachlan said of Purnell.
For MacLachlan, playing Hank is a welcome challenge because of the character’s complexity. He describes Hank as having “a sense of glee and fun and joy, and yet, he’s got a dark side and kind of an angry side. And, of course, he’s got love for his daughter”. He credits his experience working with director David Lynch on projects like Twin Peaks for preparing him to balance this mix of dark themes and absurd, offbeat humor. The actor confirmed he has more screen time in this season to explore these different sides of Hank.
New episodes of Fallout Season 2 are available to stream on Prime Video.
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