This Subtle Fallout Line Explains Why the NCR Fell Just Like America Before It

Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers for Fallout Season 1.

Prime Video ’s Fallout TV show expanded the franchise’s lore in many ways, but the apparent fall of the NCR is among the most major ones. Some OG fans didn’t like this decision, but seeing that the series is officially canon, there’s little to nothing we can do — except for resenting how we weren’t told the reasons for the NCR’s fall.

Except that we were… Just in a really subtle and unexpected way.

Charlie Longkife Explained America’s Downfall

The Ghoul’s flashbacks to the pre-war days when he was still known as Cooper Howard beautifully explain many plot points in the story and give context for the new audience. However, they also answer some damning questions in the most sneaky and unobvious ways. For instance, the talk between Cooper and his old friend Charlie Longkife in Season 1 Episode 6 seemingly saw the latter predict the USA’s fall.

As Charlie tried to convince Coop to come to his meeting, he asked him a simple question, “What happens when the cattle ranchers have more power than the Sheriff?” They both knew the answer to this riddle: “The whole town burns down.”

Charlie was, of course, talking about the overwhelming power Vault-Tec and over corporations held in America at the time, predicting the state’s upcoming fall. Not only was he right in that case, but he also predicted another major state’s fate.

Charlie Longkife’s Words Explain the NCR’s Fall

Charlie’s metaphor for America and Vault-Tec also extended, unbeknownst to him, to the New California Republic over two centuries later. To give some context to the new fans, the town of Shady Sands destroyed by Hank MacLean was once the capital of NCR located near the area included in Fallout: New Vegas, the Mojave Wasteland.

In New Vegas, we saw the so-called brahmin barons controlled large portions of Mojave. Even if the NCR defeated its enemies, the Legion and Mr. House, it didn’t have the right to touch the barons — and those held a lot of power, cash flow, and lands in the region… Just like the corporations did before the war.

It’s more than likely that just like in the case of America and Vault-Tec, the brahmin barons became the downfall of the NCR. Because what happens when the cattle ranchers have more power than the Sheriff? The whole town burns down.

Or gets obliterated in a nuclear blast and falls into countless lawless territories.