[Spoiler Alert] So in Fallout Season 2, Episode 3’s ending, Maximus did not only what was expected of him, but also what was righteous. He followed the example of the legendary hero, Roger Maxson, the founder of the Brotherhood of Steel, and swung the hammer in his hand to punish the very evil who believed in hurting the weak just to feel a little stronger. And in doing so, Maximus has forged the path towards a new future and has started a rebellion that’s going to push the Wasteland into another civil war. Now, I am not sure whether Kumail Nanjiani’s character, Xander Harkness, is really dead or not. I mean, I know the headgear of his armor looked pretty smashed up, but you never know. He could survive that attack because characters in the Fallout universe have survived worse. This means only the fourth episode of the season can confirm his death, but in my opinion, it doesn’t really matter whether he survives or not. Because you see, if he dies from the impact and the Commonwealth doesn’t hear from their liaison, they are just going to assume that Elder Cleric Quintus got their Paladin killed because he didn’t want to hand over the cold fusion relic to them. However, if Xander somehow survives the attack, then he’ll immediately report back to his federation, informing them how a knight attacked another knight just to protect some abominations in the desert. And I guess you might already be aware that attacking another knight is a crime punishable by death, and the Commonwealth will likely hold Quintus and his entire sect responsible for this offense. So whatever happens to Xander, Maximus has indeed started a war with the Commonwealth. But trust me when I say this, Maximus doesn’t care. He has killed a knight before. Well, not exactly killed, but he had let a knight die in front of him when he could have saved his life, so you get the gist, I suppose.
Nevertheless, in this case, we all know that Maximus didn’t do anything wrong, because even though the ghouls don’t exactly look human, they are still humans inside. They have a soul, a consciousness, and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, and that’s all you need to be a human being, right? What I am trying to say here is they are not monsters, despite what people like Xander believe. The third episode already showed us the hidden side of the most hated ghoul in the Wasteland. Underneath that wrinkled skin, he is still a kind man. And those ghoul kids, they haven’t done anything wrong. They didn’t kill or attack anyone. They were merely trying to survive and stay out of trouble. Is that a crime? I don’t think so. And no matter the color or condition of their skin, they don’t deserve to be called abominations and die at the hands of a war machine. I think you get the reference here.
And our hero, Maximus, who has witnessed death so up-close and lost both his parents to hatred, knows how it feels when someone tries to steal away your childhood and your right to live from you. For a person who’s been through a lot already, Maximus won’t let the past repeat itself, not in front of his eyes. This was the reason he swung that hammer into Xander’s head, because he had realized a very simple fact: the Brotherhood of Steel may have rules, but all of those rules were rusted from within. They no longer align with the current conditions of the Wasteland. These lands are not the sole property of any particular species, or a federation, or a government. It belongs to each and every creature who lived in it. And only by promoting peace and harmony can order finally be restored.
I think Maximus knew this fact from the moment Xander arrived at the base, but the tale of Roger Maxson gave him more clarity and courage to express himself. This was why he suggested to Quintus that they should get rid of Xander, because that’s what Roger Maxson had done before the war. He had to make a choice between God and his government, and Roger chose God, because he knew his government was wrong. It defied his god, his principles, and his morals, leaving Maxson no other choice but to shoot down his own people to stop them from carrying out depraved experiments on innocent human subjects. And that’s what Maximus has done in the present. He defied the rules of the Brotherhood to protect what humanity was left in the Wasteland, and I think when he’s questioned in the episode, he’ll tell Quintus the same thing: If Roger Maxson wasn’t punished for doing what was right, then why him? The Brotherhood, over the centuries, had become corrupt with rigid rules, practices, and hatred for the creatures of the Wasteland, and it was time to create a new order; it was time for another Roger Maxson to step in and lead the rebellion. But you may ask, how is he going to do that? Well, if the Commonwealth is in such dire need of the Cold Fusion relic that they sent a liaison to retrieve it, you can likely understand how important it is for them. And that’s what Maximus and Quintus are going to use against them. It won’t be easy, but their cause is noble, so they’ll find help on their way towards the impossible. Also, the way Xander mentioned that he and Maximus are going to be on the frontline shooting at each other did foreshadow the impending battle between them, and if Xander survives this attack, then it is Maximus who’s going to finish him in the upcoming battle with the Commonwealth. But what’s Lucy and Cooper’s role going to be in this ruckus? Well, I haven’t played the games, so I think I’ll just wait for the next episodes to find out more. However, if I am to theorize, then I believe the Cold Fusion relic is going to play an important role in stopping the big bad of this season, that is, Robert Edwin House, because as suggested by episode 3, this relic originally belonged to him but was stolen before Robert could execute his grand plan. So in the present timeline, Robert or one of his minions will most likely try to get this relic back, and I won’t be surprised if the Commonwealth is in bed with Robert, which will bring our three heroes, Lucy, Cooper, and Maximum, together to face a common enemy. Well, these are just my theories, but I would love to hear your thoughts about what we can expect in the next episode.
