Spoilers are ahead for Amazon Prime Video's Fallout adaptation.

Summary

• The Brotherhood of Steel is closely associated with Fallout's iconic Power Armor — something that gives a technological advantage in the Wasteland.
• The faction's origins stem from a desire to preserve advanced technology and regulate its use.
• The Fallout show introduces Maximus, a conflicted member of the Brotherhood of Steel who becomes a squire.

One of the games' notable factions, the Brotherhood of Steel plays a crucial role in Amazon Prime Video's Fallout's world and timeline are brimming with organizations — both good and bad — that want to stake a claim in the post-apocalyptic Wasteland. Thanks to the Brotherhood of Steel's iconic Power Suit, it's easily one of the franchise's most recognizable factions too. Across all 8 episodes of the show, the Brotherhood remains intriguing.

In Fallout season 1, episode 1, the series introduces viewers to the show's three point-of-view characters. Ella Purnell (Yellowjackets) plays Lucy, Fallout's more typical sort of protagonist who goes from Vault Dweller to Wasteland roamer, while Walton Goggins (Justified) takes on the role of Cooper Howard — a gunslinger whose exposure to radiation has turned him into The Ghoul. The third of Fallout's key characters is Maximus (newcomer Aaron Moten), a conflicted member of the Brotherhood of Steel who eventually becomes one of Lucy's few allies in the Wasteland.

The Brotherhood Of Steel Is A Military Order In Fallout

The Brotherhood Of Steel Aims To Restore Order In The Wasteland

Created by Captain Roger Maxson shortly after Fallout's Great War — that is, a devastating nuclear exchange between America and China — the Brotherhood of Steel's main goal in the game series is to maintain, preserve, and regulate the use of advanced technology. In Prime Video's Fallout TV show, the Brotherhood of Steel remains suspect of humanity: its believe people can't be trusted with technology capable of destroying civilization, as proven by the post-apocalyptic state of the world. A quasi-religious, technocratic, and militaristic faction, the Brotherhood of Steel's initial goals are irable, but its methods are not.

One of the Brotherhood of Steel's greatest technological advancements is Fallout's iconic Power Armor.

Whether bolstered by their misguided sense of justice, their Power Armor's impressive feats, or a combination of the two, many of the Brotherhood of Steel are depicted throughout the video games as authoritarian figures who rely heavily on intimidation tactics to get others to fall in line. This can be seen in early episodes of Fallout: As a kid, Maximus was saved by the Brotherhood. In the present, he wants to wear the Power Armor — to feel unstoppable. Even so, the Brotherhood of Steel's higher-ups manipulate and beat down their soldiers.

The Brotherhood Of Steel's Knights & Squires Explained

Maximus Becomes A Squire In Fallout Season 1, Episode 1

Since the Fallout show is part of the games' canon, it's safe to assume that the Brotherhood of Steel depicted in the series is a splinter group of the larger organization. Regardless of the group's fragmentation, its various chapters follow a set chain of command. In the first episode of Fallout, viewers get acquainted with Maximus and the other Initiates. From performing hard labor to undergoing intense training, these Initiates learn to put the Brotherhood of Steel's values above all else. The goal for squires like Maximus is to achieve the rank of Knight and don the Power Armor.

In a harsh place like the Wasteland, the Power Armor is incredibly empowering for soldiers like Maximus.

The Brotherhood Of Steel's Power Armor Explained

Fallout's Power Armor Can Withstand The Rigors Of The Wasteland

Designed by the Brotherhood, the Power Armor is a remarkable infantry combat technology that was developed before the events of the Great War. While the tech has appeared in every Fallout game, different models of the suit have their own unique abilities. The same is true of the Fallout show's Power Armor, which differs from other iterations, but still boasts a distinct, metallic appearance. Not only is it intimidating looking, but the Brotherhood of Steel's armor enhances the wearer's strength, durability, and mobility. In a harsh place like the Wasteland, the Power Armor is incredibly empowering for soldiers like Maximus.

In episode 2, Maximus gets to stomp around in the T-60 Power Armor...

As a newly minted squire, Maximus is the underling to a Power Armor-wearing Knight named Titus. At first, Maximus is tasked with maintaining the suit of armor, which only adds to its mystique. In the Wasteland, everything is torn up or cobbled together, but the Power Armor is a shining example of something whole and formidable. After Titus bites the dust in episode 2, Maximus gets to stomp around in the T-60 Power Armor, which comes complete with a game-like heads-up display, and proves its dominance by taking on Walton Goggins' Ghoul.

What's Next For The Brotherhood Of Steel & Knight Maximus In Fallout

Fallout Season 2 Sets A Compelling Stage For Maximus

Unlike other post-apocalyptic fare, Fallout captures the moral ambiguity of a lawless, war-torn Wasteland. While many of the Vault Dwellers live cheerfully with their technology and resources, surface dwellers band into factions to survive the harsh Wasteland. No matter how noble its initial intentions were, the Brotherhood of Steel is no exception. The faction goes from saving fellow Wastelanders to being less-than-virtuous. In Fallout season 1, Maximus grapples with this harsh truth about the Knights he has looked up to for years. Undoubtedly, these conflicts and moral quandaries will continue to unfold in Fallout season 2.

All 8 episodes of Fallout season 1 are now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.