“Fallout” distinguishes itself as one of the finest video game adaptations thus far, primarily due to its portrayal of the main characters as fully developed individuals. Lucy MacLean and Cooper Howard — portrayed by Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins, respectively — bear much of the emotional burden of the narrative. Even as other significant story arcs unfold concurrently, the series consistently revisits their odyssey through the Wasteland.
That contrast propels their partnership. Lucy, having spent her entire life within a Vault, emerges as sheltered and innocent, whereas Cooper functions as a jaded bounty hunter molded by radiation and hard-won survival instincts. Their push-and-pull interaction forms a captivating duo, and that chemistry sparked the popular “Ghoulcy” couple name, with numerous fans aspiring for a romantic twist in future seasons of Fallout.
Viewers have persistently speculated on the potential evolution of Lucy and the Ghoul in season 2 and beyond, particularly if new discoveries reveal more about each character’s history. Nevertheless, recent remarks from Ella Purnell provide a sharper viewpoint on what that transformation will (and will not) resemble on screen.
Ella Purnell confirms that a romance between Lucy and The Ghoul is not on the table.
The chemistry between “Fallout’s” two central characters is undeniably compelling, yet Ella Purnell has pushed against the notion of a conventional love story. In a conversation with Geek Culture, the actress portraying Lucy MacLean addressed the fan speculations surrounding “Ghoulcy,” humorously stating that anyone supporting that relationship “needs therapy.”
Purnell elaborated on that position by pointing to the essence of Walton Goggins’ character as a significant barrier to any romantic plotline. She remarked, “You can’t fix him. You can’t save him. Let it go. Let it go, hon.” This framing casts the Ghoul as someone toughened by violence and the radiation-laden existence of the Wasteland, and implies that romance would undermine the tone that the post-apocalyptic series inherits from the franchise.
While Purnell acknowledged that a genuinely beautiful connection exists between them, she stressed that it is a bond rooted in necessity and common goals, not attraction. Lucy’s quest for her father and the Ghoul’s search for his family’s fate propel the story forward, and a romance would serve as a diversion from that primary momentum.
Why the Fallout star considers Ghoulcy an unhealthy fan theory.
Despite Purnell’s comments, segments of the “Fallout” fanbase continue to advocate for the pairing. Reddit features a dedicated forum for “Ghoulcy” discussions, where fans contend that the tension between Lucy’s innocence and Cooper’s nihilism could fuel a dramatic love story. One user even proposed that the show’s creators would be cowardly for steering clear of that direction.
Purnell’s perspective is anchored in the idea that both characters already possess emotionally charged motivations strong enough to fill any void that romance might occupy. A relationship also encounters biological and ethical hurdles, as the Ghoul is centuries older than Lucy and bears the physical and mental wounds of someone who witnessed the world’s collapse. As she expressed in the interview, “they’re both looking for the people that they love; let’s leave it at that.”
Ultimately, maintaining Lucy and Cooper Howard’s relationship strictly platonic aligns more closely with the bleak, cynical, and sardonic tone that characterizes the “Fallout” universe. For fans, this clarifies a single path to await season 2 and observe how this partnership withstands whatever new challenges emerge in the Wasteland and New Vegas.
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