Among cult vault dwellers, the Brotherhood of Steel, and all manner of wasteland wanderers, Amazon Prime Video Drop introduced a fan favorite group: the Ghouls.
It received very strong reviews and public acclaim upon its release, DropOriginally created by Bethesda, the film captivated viewers with its impeccable world-building and cheeky wit.
And while the show has an all-star cast including Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten and Dave Register, one performer has been a consistent scene-stealer: Walton Goggins’ mysterious Ghoul.
But what is a Ghoul? Here’s everything you need to know about the irradiated beings who were once human.
What are Ghouls in Fallout?
Warning – The rest of this article contains spoilers Drop.
Ghouls are humans who have undergone mutation through the process of ghoulification.
The result is a human with damaged skin, bare muscles, split hair (if any) and a distinctly missing nose.
While some, such as Cooper Howard’s Ghoul, are capable of regular speech and actions like a normal human, many Ghouls have since lost their minds and succumbed to zombie-like states.
Ghouls are also able to handle irradiated materials much better than normal humans, such as Walton Goggins’ character casually sipping water with radiation.
How do ghosts become ghosts?
Ghoulification, the process by which people turn into ghouls, is caused by exposure to constant radiation. In Episode 4, Cooper Howard’s Ghoul hints to Lucy that she will soon become a Ghoul if she stays in the wasteland.
It is not known how long this process takes in the universe of the series, but in the games, ghoulification can take place from a few hours to several weeks.
If left unchecked, Ghouls can turn into feral ghouls over time. These ghosts have become increasingly hostile towards others and have lost almost all sanity.
Roger and Martha become wild ghosts Dropthe fourth episode. The two desperately repeat their name to themselves, seeming to hold on to whatever remains they can.
Yellow vials can temporarily slow decay and prevent the descent into a feral Ghoul.
Drop also seems to hint that other man-made chemicals can cause ghosting, as seen with Thaddeus when the serum he takes to heal his leg slowly turns him into a Ghoul. However, this could be misleading, possibly hinting that he can instead turn into a Super Mutant, a similar but separate mutated human with increased strength from the games.
How Long Do Ghouls Live?
Despite their sinister appearance, one benefit of becoming a Ghoul is the creatures’ longer lifespans. This can effectively make Ghouls immortal as long as they still consume the appropriate food like normal humans.
in the TV series, it has been shown that Cooper Howard’s Ghoul is the oldest of them all, having survived for over 200 years. This has been given to him by his knack for earning money to buy vials and keep from turning feral.
This means that many Ghouls could survive as long as Cooper, but they don’t because they give in to their wild side after a while, presumably leading to their death.
The ghouls’ extended lifespan is likely facilitated by their resistance to radiation, as it already spreads through their bodies.
Although Cooper Howard’s backstory has been fleshed out throughout DropIn the first episodes, how he himself turned into a Ghoul is still unknown. Maybe that’s a question for Season 2, if that happens, which the show’s producers are hoping for.
Read more about Fallout below:
Fallout Episode 1 actors, characters and Actors (photos)
Who is Cameron Cowperthwaite? 5 things you need to know about the Fallout actor
Michael Rapaport’s Controversial Fallout Role Explained – Who Is Knight Titus?
Who is Xelia Mendes-Jones? 5 things you need to know about the Fallout actor
