OOF okay for the commenters who object to my interpretation of the scene at 8:24 you guys are RIGHT those definitely ARE threats later in the scene. But the decision Maximus is talking to Lucy about happens before the actual threats (“string you up by your lungs” and all that) start. My theory is that he makes that choice at the moment Titus says “this is all your fault”. That's why I was focusing on that line, but I ended up asking the question in a really unclear way. Sorry!
And I think that's a misinterpretation of that. It looks like just pauses for a second to think "My fault? You were the one who wanted to get out of the damn vertibird to go shoot something you stupid fuck", along with a healthy dose of disillusionment. Then the threats. He had the medical bag open, he was getting the stimpack, but Titus just keeps going. Between you and me, if I had to work with someone who caused a problem and got himself hurt through his own incompetence and proceeded to blame and threaten me, I'd probably do a double take too. And I would be less inclined to help the bastard.
Maximus knows where all this is going, regardless of the sequence it happens. Every decision that Titus makes is completely in the opposite of maximus' best interest. He doesn't need a direct threat to his life to know Titus is going to get him killed, or beaten or tortured, etc...
Maximus was threatened by Knight Titus when he said, "You know, they'll kill you for this," and then went into detail how he'd be strung up, gutted, and left to die. 8:15
@@NAR106Eeeeeyeah. She keeps trying to see why Maximus is a good brotherhood knight, but the whole point is that he's not a good brotherhood knight. He has way better morals than the knights and that's why he leaves.
I actually really disagree with this view, because this isn't how it happens in the show. When Titus says, "this is all your fault" is when Maximus decides to let Titus die. Titus only says, "they'll kill you for this" etc. once he realizes Maximus isn't going to save him, it reads "they'll kill you for [letting me die]." It is a threat from Titus, but one which is meant to make Maximus afraid to do nothing, so clearly this cannot be the threat that made Maximus decide to let him die. I think the theorem of the video makes more sense here. "It's all your fault" threatens Maximus' safety, because this line implies that Titus doesn't care to protect Maximus in any way. (Note that if he did care then Titus would recognize his mistake of sending Maximus into danger, not recognizing it implies he would do it again.) Realizing this, Maximus decides that the only way to be safe is to put on the suit and the only way for him to get away with that is to let Titus die.
That flashback was also all I needed to see from a narrative standpoint to know that Maximus didn't hurt Dane. He's not a schemer, he's a child. A child soldier, but a child. This gets reinforced with his understanding (or lack thereof) of sex, as well. But he is competent in some ways. He can't fight in the armor but that makes sense if he never saw the armor as a weapon (not to mention the fact that he never got training for it). He can defend himself against gangs of opponents, enduring tremendous beatings, and he killed both of the fiends despite being at a disadvantage both in number and by having to react. Even the part where he shows his incompetence at identifying relics is buttressed with a sideways compliment about his capabilities ("learning how to defend yourself is only one aspect of your training" or some such). Maximus is very competent at staying alive, but within the constraints of a childlike nature.
[Child at Heart] it gets really big and hard and pops like a pimple it's gross LMAO sorry I just figured only someone with the child at heart perk would say that.
YESS!! You get it! For someone who lies quite a lot, he’s really a very honest character. He completely lacks guile, and almost everything he does is in direct response of self preservation. He is an incredibly traumatized person, with a stunted mentality. He’s like a child wondering aimlessly through the world, with no purpose other than survival and finding a place where he can truly belong.
@@ssgoko88 Yep, Child at Heart with a very low Int low Cha build. Lucy is a high charisma character, it makes perfect sense she'd "win" any conversational discussion with him. Each main character is basically one of the 3(4) archetypes from the game. Lucy is the Charisma Leader. The Ghoul is the VATS abuser. Maximus is the Str/Con build. Norm is the high Int build.
You're spot on with the brotherhood of fridge theory. He's my favorite character, because he has been reduced to basic survival instincts by his childhood trauma. One thing, though. He doesn't suck at everything. He's quite capable in combat situations, so long as he is NOT wearing power armor. He takes on 5 guys, armed with a pipe, and he wins. He kills the yao guai with a pistol. AND he defeats the fiends on the bridge 1v2, even though they draw first. The reason he sucks at armor is probably a nod to the games; you need a perk called power armor training to be able to wear them. The Ghoul even makes a comment about it when they first meet. Flesh is weak but steel endures isn't encouragement, it's a reminder that if you're brotherhood material, you should endure whatever you're being put through. He can't complain about the beatings, because that would mean he couldn't endure it. That's probably why higher-ups ignore violence among aspirants. They think the fighting toughens up the recruits and eliminates the weak ones; the ones who can't endure. Also, I think maximus gives up the armor because he feels safer with lucy than he does in the armor. Throughout the show, whenever lucy is in the scene, maximus gets a huge boost to his competence. There are various perks in the games regarding companions, and maximus(or lucy) seems to have some of those perks.
Also the thing she mentions earlier: I think Maximus idolized the Brotherhood. He idolized the Armor they wearing. He saw them as shining knights helping when he first encountered them. Then he goes on his first mission with a knight and sees that this dude is a coward. Runs away from the Yao Guai and insults Maximus. Probably for him collapsed a World more or less when he saw this. He expected him to be a fierce warrior, not a coward, running away and failing who doesnt even believes in the Brotherhood.
Maximus' journey is about wanting to stand for something greater, finding out that greater sucks and exercising all his luck to try to be the definition of strong he idolizes, but one he's come to understand doesn't really exist in the brotherhood.
Yeah but he is a coward, he is very apperence oriented while taking sides, he is not nice at all unless your are traditionally super hot or helpfull, nor is he honorable. He isn't standing for something greater, he fells like he deservers better and won't accept that he is a shit person just as Knight Titus.
@aleksoctop still feels like a bad character to me. He shouldn't be a main character for me he kind ruins things by being there. The story treats him like a kinda of reluctant hero, but he is just too coward to be a villain
"How is this a threat?" The Knight threatened Maximus with being hung up by his lungs until he died for --- Was it being too slow on the draw? I can't remember. Doesn't matter. If the knight lived, Maximus would die. I'm not sure how you're confused by that one. Also, I wouldn't say Maximus was disillusioned because of the knight. More that he was judging the knight as unworthy. It was just one bad guy who didn't deserve his armor, which is how Maximus justified letting him die.
I actually really disagree with this view, because this isn't how it happens in the show. When Titus says, "this is all your fault" is when Maximus decides to let Titus die. Titus only says, "they'll kill you for this" etc. once he realizes Maximus isn't going to save him, it reads "they'll kill you for [letting me die]." It is a threat from Titus, but one which is meant to make Maximus afraid to do nothing, so clearly this cannot be the threat that made Maximus decide to let him die.
@@justynpryce "It is a threat from Titus" in your own words, you are wrong. as well as if you know anything about the brotherhood titus didnt have to say a word for that threat to be there, had titus lived without saying anything and reported max for not listening to orders and causing power armor damage hed have heavy corporal punishment put onto him.
@@Flayre01 To your first point, I'd recommend watching the scene where Maximus talks to Lucy again and read what I said again (you may be confused about what I am saying). Maximus says, “He was threatening me, so instead of helping him I watched him die.” He couldn't be talking about Titus threatening "they'll kill you for this" etc. because Titus is saying, "they'll kill you for [letting me die]" and more notably that happens *after* Maximus has already decided to let Titus die. To your second point, the answer to "how is 'this is all your fault' a threat?" shouldn't need to be tied up in some esoteric lore. However, even if we allow this, the idea that Titus' survival is the threat that Maximus was talking about just is not portrayed at all. Maximus is planning on saving Titus and giving him a stimpack all the way up until Titus says, "this is all your fault." If the threat was present just by Titus surviving, then Maximus would never have looked for a stimpack to give him and would have let Titus die from the get go. This is not what happens, so whatever threat Maximus says Titus made must entirely be tied up in the line, "this is all your fault." I think the theory proposed in this video, that Maximus' main motivation is to be safe, provides a much simpler answer to this question and many others. "This all your fault" threatens Maximus' safety, because this line implies that Titus doesn't care to protect Maximus in any way. (Note that if he did care then Titus would recognize his mistake of sending Maximus into danger, Titus not recognizing it implies he would do it again) Realizing this, Maximus decides that the only way to be safe is to put on the suit and the only way for him to get away with that is to let Titus die. Maybe I'm biased because I'm a physicist and we like when all sorts of observations can be explained by one single theory (i.e. Occam's Razor), but nonetheless I think this is a much more effective lens of analyzing Maximus than appending different aspects to his character for every action he makes which isn't directly explained. This simple theory allows us to make testable predictions about his actions and those predictions, so far, seem to be correct. An ad hoc approach to character analysis I believe can really rob someone of knowing any nuance the story actually has and replaces it with a manufactured and otherwise absent subtext that keeps them satiated but prevents them from being able to critically engage with the story.
Max was having a bit of a panic attack (sometimes panic attacks are relatively quiet) and wasn’t moving fast enough for Titus, but Max was actively getting the meds and was going to administer them to Titus. Because Max was too slow, Titus threatens Max--with death. This makes Max pause as he reconsiders helping Titus. Max’s hesitation further enrages Titus. Instead of apologizing, he starts spatting even more threats and insults at Max. Titus’s reaction is what solidifies Max’s decision to let Titus die. Titus was volatile and unwilling to take any blame. He would absolutely have killed Max when given the chance.
@@justynprycemax reaches for a stimpack, Titus says “This is all your fault” heavily implying that he intends to get Max in some sort of trouble for allowing him to get badly injured. Titus putting blame on Max is the first threat.
Baby Maximus really stepped out of a fridge, survived, saw a guy WEARING a fridge, and went "ah, yes. He looks safe. I too would like to permanently wear a fridge and not deal with... all this... ever again."
Before (in the games) they wouldn't let outsiders join them, if an outsider kept bugging them to join they'd send them on a bunch of suicide missions to join.
My interpretation of the "flesh is weak,but steel endures" line is that their discipline and blind devotion will make them stronger because they may be defeated physically but they can never be mentally with the use of discipline,it sounds like a propaganda phrase and i think it may be intentional.But your whole idea of the fridge symbolism is absolutely genius and I never even considered it being as important to Maximus as it probably is. Great video btw, for only your second upload this is really great quality. Keep up the excellent stuff Squircle 👍
"Flesh is weak, but Steel endures" seems like a religious tenet to me. "Yes, you are weak, but you are a part of the Brotherhood, and [The Brotherhood of] Steel endures." The BoS has always been dogmatic. Breaking recruits down and then building them back up into cogs for the machine seems on brand.
Another thing to consider, maximus could be saying things he *wants* to be true. When he says the line about being given meaning, he's telling the claric what he *and* his interrogator want to be true instead of what's actually true
I love that refrigerators are also literally for preserving things, making them endure! 😄 Question: Do you think Lucy also sees Maximus as weak? Does her perspective have a different way of understanding his deficiencies? Or is she not operating on the weak/strong dichotomy at all?
@@squircleworks42 Hey he's like three years in and you're about three weeks in, you'll just start picking up on shit like that naturally. Also i love both of your content equally already
Personally I don't think Lucy is on the same wavelength as him. The moment her vault is breached, all ideas of safety from the outside are wiped away. She cares more about doing the right thing and looking for the good in others. When Maximus swoops in to fight Cooper, she sees him as a knight - not a Brotherhood knight, but a knight in the classical sense of a chivalrous hero. Even when she learns the truth about what Maximus has done and why, she still gives him the chance to do the right thing by returning the fusion core. In fact, she likely sees that confession as yet another sign that, deep down, Max isn't evil. In fact, maybe she _does_ recognize Max's fear of a lack of safety, in which case her kindness is a response to that - he doesn't have to feel weak or afraid, and he doesn't need the armor, because she'll be there with him.
I think he was smiling because he thought he was supposed to die and instead was saved by “a hero” who just so happens to be “a knight”. So ya know adds up for me but what do I know😅😂
As a fan of the Fallout games, I really like that you focus on the show. Feels refreshing and more focused. People can say “Oh, but the games explain this” and “The games explain that”. But just looking at series on its own merits, really shows its strengths and flaws - not relying on the “paratexts” of the show. Keep up the good work! :)
When the creator of the games works alongside the creator of the show, and goes on public record multiple times saying that the show is canon to the lore of the games, and that games moving forward will fit into the lore of the show, separating the show from the rest of the franchise when discussing the overall lore makes no sense.
@@jazzyjswift seriously? Who said that? Like the show is fine, but frankly it's kind of bad compared to the games. That will completely ruin any future games if that is true.
@@emikkewell no shit the series is bad compared to the games. Instead of taking control, you have to watch from the side lines watching every stupid move that you can see coming from a mile away.
Hi, I’m someone who has never played the games. All the info needed to understand and enjoy the story was presented within the show itself. Only once I finished the show did I look up Fallout lore. And I only did so because I craved more Fallout, not because I needed supplementary material to follow along or fill in any blanks. That also means that my enjoyment of the show wasn't influenced by any “fandom goggles.” Unlike many shows that have easter eggs so poorly incorporated into their adaptations that the stench of those rotting eggs stand out (Disney’s Star Wars), Fallout’s deviled easter eggs were seamlessly woven into the show. (I only know Lucy’s deviled eggs were an easter egg from one of the aforementioned lore videos. It felt like a natural part of the world, not the usual awkwardly inserted moment highlighting a “recognizable thing.”) Is the show perfect? No. But it did exceed my (admittedly low) expectations, and I surprisingly ended up really enjoying the show. Enough that I’m now interested in the games.
I'm surprised you don't even mention the line where he was asked why he joined the Brotherhood: "To hurt the people who hurt me." This, in combination with the "I don't wanna be (weak)" line, paints a clear picture of his motivations in just one scene in the first episode. Other than that, nice pinpointing on the meaning of that short flashback!
"It's not about the suit; it's about the refrigerator." This line single-handedly put so much of this show in perspective for me. I'm gonna go give it another try, thanks 👍
They are the Brotherhood of Steel. They’re saying YOU endure because you are Steel, you’re not mere flesh like all the other wastelanders. It’s like saying “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” It’s not outright saying it but in that context it means you are tough.
I think it's also a way of saying the individual is weak but the collective will survive, the brotherhood being steel itself. It's basically just another form of military brainwashing to get you to lay down your life for their cause, whether you're a squire who's fleshy and weak, or a knight who's steel and much more invulnerable but still not entirely. "There is no place safe."
Wow, when you put in perspective that Maximus just wanted a bigger better fridge to hide in... It make so much sense now! It's like the writers were trying to beat it over our heads. (which still flew over mine, sadly) Even in the scene where it shows Maximus, the fridge and the Power Armor. It's almost like a hermit crab, leaving one shell for the next better one.
Maximus said he was threatened by the knight because he was. The Knight was explaining that he was going to tell the Brotherhood it was Maximus fault, and he explained what happened to squires who messed up. He detailed hanging them by their ribcage or something like that. So Maximus thought he was going back to be brutally executed
Realistically, someone in armor who makes you point man in a cave is going to get you killed. Maximus is lucky there weren't spore carriers, tunnelers, or Deathclaws in the cave.
@@richardarriaga6271 And this is a fine point to make. It feels like Maximus did nothing wrong here. He's been getting the bad end. He's suppose to be learning under his Knight, but instead, the Knight is treating Maximus as disposable. Whatsmore, the Knight never displayed that until he and Maximus were away..
Hello, person who's been in the military here. Just wanted to clarify on the theory that Max could have blocking the sun from his eyes or saluting. He definitely was doing the former. The brotherhood of steel salute is a right fist over the chest. A modern US military salute would be the right hand angled at 45 degrees with the middle finger touching the right brow. His hand was basically covering his whole face. He is a child so he could just be doing it amateurly, but he also grew up during the existence of the Brotherhood of Steel, so he definitely would have seen the proper salute. Just wanted to clear that up. Great video!
He grew up in shady sands, ncr territory. He would know the ncr salute which i imagine would be similar to the prewar salute since the ncr championed old world values
@@rcaiii6738 You make a good point that the NCR used prewar salutes. You're completely correct! I guess we can't rule out the possibility that young Max performed an immature salute. I do personally lean towards Max shielding his eyes from the sun, given that he just got out of a dark fridge, the power armor is shiny, and the fact that the BoS is vastly different than the NCR. Just my opinion, though.
Even if the NCR and the Brotherhood are different, they have one of the armors iconic since the franchise started. Power Armor. Young Max could’ve possibly seen NCR Power Armor in a march or event in his youth, and seeing it again in the aftermath of Shady Sands destruction, not knowing the difference, really could’ve been him happy that soldiers of the NCR survived and finding survivors, including Young Max.
My interpretation of the line "Flesh is weak but steel endures" is that its basically saying "People are fragile but the brotherhood lives on" since the brotherhood is literally called the brotherhood of STEEL and it makes sense that this would be a dogmatic slogan for BOS members.
The characters of Maximus and Lucy from the perspective of someone very familiar with these games represent different playstyles. They are both newly created characters. When you create a new character you get a certain number of points yo can allocate to your attributes. How you distribute them depends on how you intend to play the game. Lucy represents a high charisma high intelligence high perception build. This build's playstyle relies on speech and persuasion to make their way in the world but they are weaker in combat and have low health. They also gain experience much faster and level up faster. Maximus represents a high strength high endurance build. He relies on brute force and fighting to resolve any situation he encounters. His intelligence and perception a very low. Basically he is dumb as a stump. He also is not good when it comes to "speech checks". You see him fail at these many times during the show. Like when he tries to get his armor repaired for 4 caps or when he tries to get Thaddeus' approval when he reveals he isn't Titus.
If anyone wonders what are the SPECIAL stats of each main character, they were published not so long ago : Lucy Strength: 4 Perception: 7 Endurance: 6 Charisma: 5 Intelligence: 6 Agility: 5 Luck: 7 The Ghoul Strength: 5 Perception: 6 Endurance: 7 Charisma: 7 Intelligence: 4 Agility: 7 Luck: 4 Maximus Strength: 7 Perception: 6 Endurance: 6 Charisma: 5 Intelligence: 4 Agility: 7 Luck: 5
There is too much I could say about the brotherhood so I'll keep it as brief as I can. The original Brotherhood of Steel, like, the group from the first game, was formed in fear of man not being able to wield weapons capable of its own destruction, The FEV being the instigator of that if I remember correctly. So they began to safeguard and hoard technology, like how a monk, or any other religion, would safeguard a religious relic or icon Comparing the original Brotherhood to the modern day Brotherhood is night and day. The original understood the cost of using the tech it hoarded and was fearful of it and its use. Preferring defensive action over offensive (you have to convince the brotherhood in the first game to help fight The Master) The modern Brotherhood has forgotten their own goal, they use technology to destroy their opposition, and any other possible threat. Ironically they seem to have started becoming the thing they were afraid of: the destruction of humanity. They use their weapons and accumulated power to destroy groups that become technologically advanced in fear of them (The Institute, The NCR with Moldaver's cold fusion, and The Enclave ---to an extent). The modern Brotherhood seems content in how the wasteland is because they are the most advanced and thus hold power over any budding nation. As soon as said budding nation begins to rival them in technology, like The NCR, they would sooner kill them and control that technology, than even run the risk of that technology becoming a weapon that could be used against them. Tl;dr: The brotherhood has lost sight of its original goal in the 200 years since the bombs fell, and are becoming something they should not have been
Another important thing is WHY they’re so radicalized now in the first place. They’ve almost always had that quasi-religious aspect to them, but they were hardly any more radical than your average faction in the wasteland. When Elder Lyons took over before fallout 3 he made a lot of controversial changes that saw the brotherhood at their least radical point. He allowed outsiders to join instead of membership being a birthright, he took a backseat on hunting down all types of technology, and he helped push societal and (positive)technological advancement for the people of the Capital Wasteland. As time passed and Arthur Maxson took over, there was a massive overcompensation for the changes Lyons made. It mimics real world cycles of periods of conservatism and liberalism. As these massive leadership changes happened the philosophy became based more on responses to it’s predecessor than what the brotherhood was initially founded on: a rogue army sect fighting against inhumane government experimentation.
Seriously love the formatting of your videos!! There are so many parts of your videos that are fantastic, I love the use of clips from the show and overlay of text. Your use of animation is super engaging, along with the way that you speak! So wonderful!!
I grew up in the 70's. abandoned refrigerators were a definite "no-go." They used to lock from the outside-if you got in, you couldn't get out. I'm not sure if anyone ever got stuck in one, but there were actual PSAs about disabling the lock before illegally dumping a refrigerator. The '70s were fun. I wonder if the show's developers are aware of post-WWII technology. That refrigerator had an open rear vent [you can see the sun through the back]. It was probably not safe as a bomb shelter.
Yes, a number of children did die by suffocating in abandoned fridges. I don't know how many. I imagine the filmmakers were careful to make sure he one they used would be safe for their actor
I gotta apologize. At first I was hesitant about watching this video because Maximus is one of my favorite characters and I misguidedly assumed this was just a video bashing him. But hearing your study on his character honestly was a breath of fresh air. You respect the character while also showcasing his major flaws, and bring it all together by ending it on how his character arc, everything he goes through at the end of the first season, is ultimately about a traumatized young man trying to find his own "fridge", a suit of armor and safety to protect him in the wasteland. Only for him to realize at the end that he never truly needed one.
Another banger glad the algorithm was kind enough to let me now this came out immediately! My friends and I were so confused and mad and Maximus's character and this really solves it!
@@squircleworks42 Oh, since you're here, I had a quick question. I've really wanted to start my own Schnee adjacent channel, but have some hesitancy, going so far as I haven't written a script yet, just lots of thinking. I've been thinking a lot about Frieren and doing a video on something for it, so any advice or tips since you're so fresh on the scene? could be anything from how to analyze to how to edit to how to make sure you microphone doesn't sound weird
Maximus, I think, originally saw the brotherhood knight as a savior, then saw the organization as a savior, and wanted to save others and do good with them. He thought their mission was to protect people only to find out that it wasn't and the brotherhood didn't really have any power anymore
But then again, everybody views of the brotherhood varies but it’s easy to see them as a white shining knight who saves people which depends on the leader, the elder who’s in charge
Very cool take. He does have a jealousy that having power or pleasure elevates. That memory is probably when his friend with a pack of Dandy Apples was turned to goo.
I think you got some things completely wrong here, firstly Maximus and Titus You said "what does he fear here, whats the threat?" Titus DIRECTLY threatens Maximus by telling him hes going to report him to leadership which would result in his execution. For one, Maximus MUST act to save his own life as he has no chance in this scenario. SECONDLY, in this same scene he tells Titus outright "you dont deserve this armour" In this video you kinda brush over this whole scene imo At this point, Maximus is still acting 100% on not only self preservation but strong ideological morals. He clearly states that he doesnt believe Titus deserves the armour of a knight, due to him being a coward, not only a coward, but a coward that openly questioned the BoS's mission. Max still dreams of being a knight of the BoS and him seeing a knight be such a coward fills him with disgust, it breaks his childhood perception of a knight which is why he does what he does, not just to save his own life. When it comes to Danes quote? I really think this is as simple as piety. The BoS has religious themes. "Steel endures", simply means faith in the idea/mission. Its not a literal translation into technology itself. Its just a phrase that directly related to the name of their cause/org. "Steel endures" - Belief/Piety I think the brutal reality of Max is, he was brought into the BoS with childhood admiration, it was his only home and he dreamed of being the BADASS HERO he saw as a kid and thats it. A part of him believes it, he is confronted by the reality of the BoS constantly during the show and he keeps believing despite his own flaws. He still wants to be A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR but by the end the truth hits him hard and the grey becomes clear. I think its as simple as that Im a Fallout nerd, dont want to nit pick everything, I did agree with many points but I feel these were big ones that were presented incorrectly, main being Titus. In my opinion the Titus situation only made him want to be a "good knight" even more, not the opposite
I feel like he just sees the brotherhood as knights in shining armor, the archtype of heroes. Hes lived in a world with 0 comfort, constant danger, his parents are dead. He hardly has purpose and all he knows its a lot of pain and struggle. I can see why hes disillusioned about the brotherhood. He sees their strength as security. He sees power as a means to have control over his life? Everyones trying to carve out a purpose here but hes obsessed with becoming that “hero” that found him.
He is having problems processing major events that shapped his life. Being overwhelmed, it is easier for him to fully jump into the next situation he finds himself in rather than deal with loss.
I see a lot of similarities between Maximus and Finn from the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Going back to your previous video, I really like the contrast in moral compass in this apocalyptic setting. 🤔
On top of seeking safety, Maximus wants control. Not necessarily over others, but his own life. Since the bombing of Shady Sands, he has had very little agency over his own life. He's had no control. But the suit? Power armor represents control-- he sees that Knight and thinks "now THERE'S a person who doesn't get bombed, someone who doesn't get pushed around". It's why he aspires to it early on. But, Lucy shows him that you can be weak, GOOD even, and be a master of your own path. She represents safety, sure, but she also presents to him in the way she pushes forward with a determined and good heart that he doesn't need a suit or even the brotherhood to find purpose or control over his life. His face at the end shows that he's now aware that for that safety and control he's going to have to persevere a good deal further to attain it. I think by the end he is actually conscious of what exactly he wants. Before then, he's immature and unable to act responsible with power, but he's reached a critical point of growth by the end.
Omg I literally laughed at "walking refridgerator" I LOVE YOU!! Great video again as always! I can tell you put a lot of thought into this, I'd love to understand more about the stages of disillusionment and how it affected his relationship w Lucy!
I love love love that you never reference or lean on the games for this and you just focus on the show itself, it maintains a very tight perspective that never gets lost or muddied in the decades or lore behind this franchise. As someone who knows the games front to back the show takes place in a very different California and really does merit an isolated perspective.
I too was confused by Maximus as a main character, entertained but still confused, until I saw this. Realizing the scene of him stepping out of the fridge isnt about finding some new idealogical role model, its finding a bigger and better fridge, is so in keeping with the tone and philosophy for survival this show presents, in such a hidden and tragic way. Its why he saves the chicken fucker and intervenes with the shootout in the town, not because he has internalized that murder is bad or something but because he sees someone getting beaten down just like he was and tries to *be* the fridge, an unthinking protector of people and things. For people, its anyone who happens to be around, but for things, its the cold fusion core that he has been assigned to return, a core that he basically gives up when he decides its not his mission. It's such a goofy internal logic that makes so much sense to me because of the tone and presentation of Maximus and the show as a whole.
Fan theory about to do the heavy lifting of the storytelling... Maximus having low INT is not unique to the Brotherhood Squires, it's an intended outcome. The barracks are a frat house. They're highly trained in identifying old-world tech, but not biology - this isn't an oversight. The Squires we see are outsiders, probably taken as children like Maximus, probably encouraged to be celibate through misinformation (explodes like a pimple). They're bodies for the meatgrinder, and the ones that "endure" (survive the slaughter) earn their Steel and become actual Brotherhood members (actual to the interpretation in the show). Maximus has been indoctrinated, gather the tech no matter the cost (including stealing a dead Knights armour), and it's only through seeing things through Lucy's perspective that the cracks start to form and he begins to question what actually is the Brotherhood.
Excellent breakdown of motivation. One important thing to keep in mind, its not a fridge. It is confusing because there is a sign that says "MILK BOTTLES" on it but that sign is not visible when the door is closed and the machine has a coin slot but is not a single unit vending machine like the nuka vends. The door opens completely when the payment is made, which means that this is not a fridge, its a version of the "Personal Fallout Shelters" from the game that someone had repurposed because when bombs are not dropping it is pretty well insulated (my best guess anyway, not sure the set dressers were all on the same page with the tech). Somebody either paid the fee and put Maximus in there or taught him to use the shelter when in danger. This was not an accident of good fortune, this was him even as a child intentionally seeking out a place of safety. From the beginning he doesn't feel safe and desires that safety.
Am also fascinated with Maximus. Specifically been thinking for a while what kind of dialectic he may fit into with Lucy. Lucy mostly does good things for good reasons, whereas Maximus's attempts at doing good mostly backfire, right down to being the cause of his near-death. Its usually the result of him not being informed before acting (eg, stepping in between the farmer and the other bloke, suiting up assuming the vault was going to execute Lucy, and then letting her father go without questions). The clear parallel to that is Lucy seems to learn more about the wastelands in general, both how it runs and the history of how things got that way... And that's about all I got so far, feel like I'm two thirds of the way through having An Interpretation on things 😆. Fun to mull over though
8:22 but in that scene he was threatening him? He was literally going on about how "when we get back to base we're gonna kill you". Or am I remembering wrong
This was such a great watch, thank you for putting your time and effort into it! My favourite archetype of characters has always been the random normal dude among the elite characters, unlucky enough to endure the horrors of the story he's in and yet lucky and skilled enough to survive to the end I just love how those characters ground the story and bring a realistic perspective to everything Characters such as MCU Hawkeye and AoT Connie
Also love the characters where you need to sit to think about them in a similar way you did for this video, where you need to take the time to understand them. Much like a real person
I was going to comment with this statement. Knight Titus repeatedly threatened him with death as soon as they got back. So of course that threatens Maximus's core need to be near a safe walking refrigerator. All he has to do to get access to the Big Fridge is ... Nothing. So that's what he does, and has a lucky streak straight into command, like any good Fallout protagonist.
Great video! Max and his background make the least sense of the 3 far and away. The repeated flashback to Shady Sands did raise a question for me in the greater plot though. If Hank nuked Shady Sands, why was it the Brotherhood standing there right after it happened? I really appreciate your thoughts on it, given that most people just let it pass. I do suspect the fridge was simply a nod to the easter egg in the game, which in turn was a nod to Indiana Jones. I hope it's more than that though.
Your comment got me thinking! There's a chance that the Brotherhood was involved in a conflict or salvaging mission nearby when Shady Sands was nuked. In the wake of disaster they come to take what they can- including orphans to indoctrinate? Moldaver had implied that they were close to completing the reactor previously so the brotherhood might have been there in the hopes of getting it, only to have been too late.
8:25 the knight threatened to have maximus killed due to his incompetence. Saying how everything is his fault and how he will doe because of it. Then he has the gall to ask for a stimpack.
I think Maximus as a character is a "vehicle" for players. I mean, when I played old Fallout games back in the days (and the recent ones now), there was simply NOTHING MORE BADASS than Brotherhood of Steel. Maximus just prerfectly embodies the child-like wonder and admiration of the percieved coolness of BOS. They're the Knights of the Round Table, the knights in the shiny armor, the primary do-gooders we all were raised to know, the single most important symbol of a hero. A shiny armor. Then a horse, then a magic sword. And BOS has it all, in form of vertibirds and laser gatlings. So of course you (as a player) just can't help yourself but want to have the power armor and embark on a mission and be a part of it. Then you get to know the reality of BOS and either you are fine with it, or not. If not, you just skadoodle with the power armor. Now you are your own knight and you can fullfil your own vision of good. Or not. Either way is fine, since there is no overhead, no superiors, no mission reports, no Elders. This is, I think, a cycle a lot of people went through while playing the games. And I think Maximus is a character which embodies that perfectly.
i like the "my lord, i have no armor" bit because there's clearly a better option between Titus and Max as to who should fight a roided up bear. it's like a master chef telling a culinary arts student to make fugu
Maximus and Lucy are first play through players. Maximus is the do what looks cool player and Lucy is the do what’s right player. Cooper is a replay character that skips dialogue checks and just kills whatever’s in front of him.
This was a phenomenal breakdown. I also struggled with Maximus and was never able to suss out the thread that tied it all together. You asked the right questions and gave the best answers available. I accept this theory wholly.
The old man sees in Maximus the same gratitude to the Brotherhood, that drew the old man to the organization when he was a boy. It is like a gang of boys raising each other and the hierarch allows for the older of the boys (the old men) to participate and share wisdom.
This video is so well done! I would suggest a couple things to kinda add a lil more sauce to the vids in general though: 1. A noise gate, which turns off your mic until it detects sound loud enough to reactivate the mic (this will remove the air sound in the background when you're not speaking) 2. Some background music to set the tone of the video Again, loved the video anyway even as it is. I'll be watching more in the future!
I feel like the main thing maximus wanted was power, as a child he saw that power in that person who was wearing the suit. He never really cared to be part of the brotherhood.
the brotherhood of steel line is literally just "your bond with the brotherhood over all" which is why dane looks out for maximus before he gets his head popped. Its pretty straightforward, its a motto to enforce their brotherhood / cohesion amongst each other, thick as thieves and all that.
Maximus made perfect sense to me from a military background perspective - almost everything he went through was hazing or some form of training. You meet all kinds of people in the military; some question every order, others would blindly jump off a cliff if ordered to do so.
Never seen such an in depth analysis on any of the characters!! I always just put maximus’s weird decisions down to me not understanding him hahaha This video was so good tho!! I understand maximus and why he did what he did way more now!! Thanks for making this video! It was really fun to examine his character :) I’d definitely watch videos like this about all of them!
Wonderful analysis, thank you so much for shedding light on and often overlooked character. The next time I watch the show, I'll definitely look at it a little bit differently. Thank you again
They don't really fit the definition of a cult tho. They dont follow a god (well i guess some members do, but that's strictly up to their own choice) And their belief system comes down to a single concept - keeping people safe, because each chapter acts completely differently. One interprets it as wiping all of mankind out and starting anew. One sees it as just that, helping regular folk. Other think its about taking away peoples right to self defense and acting as saviour. They really are just completely different militarized groups united under a single banner and power armor.
Maximus was always a strange character, one that I’m hoping we will learn even more about in the next season. As for the video: I can’t really say anything I didn’t say about your last video, great work!
8:28 he threathened to have Maximus hanged for “being a crappy squire” Also about Maximus being tempted to crush his skull, everyone who’s being bullied has to have desires to do that to their bully. It’s “not personal” for Thaddeus the bully but definitely not to the one bullied. It’s not just physical damage, but also the psychological damage: Maximus, apart from Dane, was alone and (at least as shown in the show) has no other friends. Which can also partially justify why he’s that angry at Dane going away. At the end, he achieves being a knight, but he doesn’t want to be a knight anymore, he now wants to marry Lucy and live in a vault.
OOF okay for the commenters who object to my interpretation of the scene at 8:24 you guys are RIGHT those definitely ARE threats later in the scene.
But the decision Maximus is talking to Lucy about happens before the actual threats (“string you up by your lungs” and all that) start. My theory is that he makes that choice at the moment Titus says “this is all your fault”. That's why I was focusing on that line, but I ended up asking the question in a really unclear way. Sorry!
And I think that's a misinterpretation of that. It looks like just pauses for a second to think "My fault? You were the one who wanted to get out of the damn vertibird to go shoot something you stupid fuck", along with a healthy dose of disillusionment. Then the threats. He had the medical bag open, he was getting the stimpack, but Titus just keeps going. Between you and me, if I had to work with someone who caused a problem and got himself hurt through his own incompetence and proceeded to blame and threaten me, I'd probably do a double take too. And I would be less inclined to help the bastard.
Immediately went to the comment section when I got to that part of the video lol😂
@@chefalopod1137yo, same 😊
Maximus knows where all this is going, regardless of the sequence it happens. Every decision that Titus makes is completely in the opposite of maximus' best interest. He doesn't need a direct threat to his life to know Titus is going to get him killed, or beaten or tortured, etc...
@@YoshimitsuBloodPedal this is indeed the conclusion that Squircle gets to, I'm unsure how that is unclear at all.
Maximus feels just like a character somebody would make in fallout though, he just feels like the stats you would pick
Oof 😂
He took the Idiot Savant perk!
@@shakes525 he took rank 3 💀
Luck -- Max.
1 charisma
Max has the Child at Heart perk. He's hyper-emotional about everything, quick to anger but even quicker to forgive and forget.
And his intelligence stat is 1 or 2
Pretty sure he has the Idiot Savant Perk too
Sounds kinda similar to the BPD autism wombo combo (speaking from firsthand experience having both of those)
@@nickryan4126Absolutely not, he's smart enough to fix power armor. He has to be at least average.
@@DomR1997 If he's really smart he'll be designing the power armor, not fixing it
Maximus was threatened by Knight Titus when he said, "You know, they'll kill you for this," and then went into detail how he'd be strung up, gutted, and left to die. 8:15
"How is threatening to string you up and gut you a threat?"......good lord this video is braindead
I came to say this
@@NAR106Eeeeeyeah. She keeps trying to see why Maximus is a good brotherhood knight, but the whole point is that he's not a good brotherhood knight. He has way better morals than the knights and that's why he leaves.
I actually really disagree with this view, because this isn't how it happens in the show. When Titus says, "this is all your fault" is when Maximus decides to let Titus die. Titus only says, "they'll kill you for this" etc. once he realizes Maximus isn't going to save him, it reads "they'll kill you for [letting me die]." It is a threat from Titus, but one which is meant to make Maximus afraid to do nothing, so clearly this cannot be the threat that made Maximus decide to let him die.
I think the theorem of the video makes more sense here. "It's all your fault" threatens Maximus' safety, because this line implies that Titus doesn't care to protect Maximus in any way. (Note that if he did care then Titus would recognize his mistake of sending Maximus into danger, not recognizing it implies he would do it again.) Realizing this, Maximus decides that the only way to be safe is to put on the suit and the only way for him to get away with that is to let Titus die.
@@NAR106 if you look in the comments, any of the ones pointing out the bs video are getting more likes but shes just ignoring them on purpose😂
That flashback was also all I needed to see from a narrative standpoint to know that Maximus didn't hurt Dane. He's not a schemer, he's a child. A child soldier, but a child. This gets reinforced with his understanding (or lack thereof) of sex, as well. But he is competent in some ways. He can't fight in the armor but that makes sense if he never saw the armor as a weapon (not to mention the fact that he never got training for it). He can defend himself against gangs of opponents, enduring tremendous beatings, and he killed both of the fiends despite being at a disadvantage both in number and by having to react. Even the part where he shows his incompetence at identifying relics is buttressed with a sideways compliment about his capabilities ("learning how to defend yourself is only one aspect of your training" or some such). Maximus is very competent at staying alive, but within the constraints of a childlike nature.
[Child at Heart] it gets really big and hard and pops like a pimple it's gross
LMAO sorry I just figured only someone with the child at heart perk would say that.
YESS!! You get it! For someone who lies quite a lot, he’s really a very honest character. He completely lacks guile, and almost everything he does is in direct response of self preservation. He is an incredibly traumatized person, with a stunted mentality. He’s like a child wondering aimlessly through the world, with no purpose other than survival and finding a place where he can truly belong.
@@ssgoko88 Yep, Child at Heart with a very low Int low Cha build. Lucy is a high charisma character, it makes perfect sense she'd "win" any conversational discussion with him. Each main character is basically one of the 3(4) archetypes from the game. Lucy is the Charisma Leader. The Ghoul is the VATS abuser. Maximus is the Str/Con build. Norm is the high Int build.
You're spot on with the brotherhood of fridge theory. He's my favorite character, because he has been reduced to basic survival instincts by his childhood trauma. One thing, though. He doesn't suck at everything. He's quite capable in combat situations, so long as he is NOT wearing power armor. He takes on 5 guys, armed with a pipe, and he wins. He kills the yao guai with a pistol. AND he defeats the fiends on the bridge 1v2, even though they draw first. The reason he sucks at armor is probably a nod to the games; you need a perk called power armor training to be able to wear them. The Ghoul even makes a comment about it when they first meet.
Flesh is weak but steel endures isn't encouragement, it's a reminder that if you're brotherhood material, you should endure whatever you're being put through. He can't complain about the beatings, because that would mean he couldn't endure it. That's probably why higher-ups ignore violence among aspirants. They think the fighting toughens up the recruits and eliminates the weak ones; the ones who can't endure.
Also, I think maximus gives up the armor because he feels safer with lucy than he does in the armor. Throughout the show, whenever lucy is in the scene, maximus gets a huge boost to his competence. There are various perks in the games regarding companions, and maximus(or lucy) seems to have some of those perks.
Also the thing she mentions earlier:
I think Maximus idolized the Brotherhood. He idolized the Armor they wearing. He saw them as shining knights helping when he first encountered them.
Then he goes on his first mission with a knight and sees that this dude is a coward. Runs away from the Yao Guai and insults Maximus.
Probably for him collapsed a World more or less when he saw this. He expected him to be a fierce warrior, not a coward, running away and failing who doesnt even believes in the Brotherhood.
Maximus' journey is about wanting to stand for something greater, finding out that greater sucks and exercising all his luck to try to be the definition of strong he idolizes, but one he's come to understand doesn't really exist in the brotherhood.
This is wrong and completely unrelated to the video?
Yeah but he is a coward, he is very apperence oriented while taking sides, he is not nice at all unless your are traditionally super hot or helpfull, nor is he honorable. He isn't standing for something greater, he fells like he deservers better and won't accept that he is a shit person just as Knight Titus.
@@owloko1349 he's an idiot savant luck-based character build
@aleksoctop still feels like a bad character to me. He shouldn't be a main character for me he kind ruins things by being there. The story treats him like a kinda of reluctant hero, but he is just too coward to be a villain
"How is this a threat?"
The Knight threatened Maximus with being hung up by his lungs until he died for --- Was it being too slow on the draw? I can't remember. Doesn't matter. If the knight lived, Maximus would die. I'm not sure how you're confused by that one.
Also, I wouldn't say Maximus was disillusioned because of the knight. More that he was judging the knight as unworthy. It was just one bad guy who didn't deserve his armor, which is how Maximus justified letting him die.
I actually really disagree with this view, because this isn't how it happens in the show. When Titus says, "this is all your fault" is when Maximus decides to let Titus die. Titus only says, "they'll kill you for this" etc. once he realizes Maximus isn't going to save him, it reads "they'll kill you for [letting me die]." It is a threat from Titus, but one which is meant to make Maximus afraid to do nothing, so clearly this cannot be the threat that made Maximus decide to let him die.
@@justynpryce "It is a threat from Titus" in your own words, you are wrong. as well as if you know anything about the brotherhood titus didnt have to say a word for that threat to be there, had titus lived without saying anything and reported max for not listening to orders and causing power armor damage hed have heavy corporal punishment put onto him.
@@Flayre01 To your first point, I'd recommend watching the scene where Maximus talks to Lucy again and read what I said again (you may be confused about what I am saying). Maximus says, “He was threatening me, so instead of helping him I watched him die.” He couldn't be talking about Titus threatening "they'll kill you for this" etc. because Titus is saying, "they'll kill you for [letting me die]" and more notably that happens *after* Maximus has already decided to let Titus die.
To your second point, the answer to "how is 'this is all your fault' a threat?" shouldn't need to be tied up in some esoteric lore. However, even if we allow this, the idea that Titus' survival is the threat that Maximus was talking about just is not portrayed at all. Maximus is planning on saving Titus and giving him a stimpack all the way up until Titus says, "this is all your fault." If the threat was present just by Titus surviving, then Maximus would never have looked for a stimpack to give him and would have let Titus die from the get go. This is not what happens, so whatever threat Maximus says Titus made must entirely be tied up in the line, "this is all your fault." I think the theory proposed in this video, that Maximus' main motivation is to be safe, provides a much simpler answer to this question and many others. "This all your fault" threatens Maximus' safety, because this line implies that Titus doesn't care to protect Maximus in any way. (Note that if he did care then Titus would recognize his mistake of sending Maximus into danger, Titus not recognizing it implies he would do it again) Realizing this, Maximus decides that the only way to be safe is to put on the suit and the only way for him to get away with that is to let Titus die.
Maybe I'm biased because I'm a physicist and we like when all sorts of observations can be explained by one single theory (i.e. Occam's Razor), but nonetheless I think this is a much more effective lens of analyzing Maximus than appending different aspects to his character for every action he makes which isn't directly explained. This simple theory allows us to make testable predictions about his actions and those predictions, so far, seem to be correct. An ad hoc approach to character analysis I believe can really rob someone of knowing any nuance the story actually has and replaces it with a manufactured and otherwise absent subtext that keeps them satiated but prevents them from being able to critically engage with the story.
Max was having a bit of a panic attack (sometimes panic attacks are relatively quiet) and wasn’t moving fast enough for Titus, but Max was actively getting the meds and was going to administer them to Titus.
Because Max was too slow, Titus threatens Max--with death.
This makes Max pause as he reconsiders helping Titus.
Max’s hesitation further enrages Titus. Instead of apologizing, he starts spatting even more threats and insults at Max.
Titus’s reaction is what solidifies Max’s decision to let Titus die.
Titus was volatile and unwilling to take any blame. He would absolutely have killed Max when given the chance.
@@justynprycemax reaches for a stimpack, Titus says “This is all your fault” heavily implying that he intends to get Max in some sort of trouble for allowing him to get badly injured. Titus putting blame on Max is the first threat.
Baby Maximus really stepped out of a fridge, survived, saw a guy WEARING a fridge, and went "ah, yes. He looks safe. I too would like to permanently wear a fridge and not deal with... all this... ever again."
The brotherhood has a hazing problem, as it looks to be
Before (in the games) they wouldn't let outsiders join them, if an outsider kept bugging them to join they'd send them on a bunch of suicide missions to join.
My interpretation of the "flesh is weak,but steel endures" line is that their discipline and blind devotion will make them stronger because they may be defeated physically but they can never be mentally with the use of discipline,it sounds like a propaganda phrase and i think it may be intentional.But your whole idea of the fridge symbolism is absolutely genius and I never even considered it being as important to Maximus as it probably is. Great video btw, for only your second upload this is really great quality. Keep up the excellent stuff Squircle 👍
"Flesh is weak, but Steel endures" seems like a religious tenet to me. "Yes, you are weak, but you are a part of the Brotherhood, and [The Brotherhood of] Steel endures."
The BoS has always been dogmatic. Breaking recruits down and then building them back up into cogs for the machine seems on brand.
Another thing to consider, maximus could be saying things he *wants* to be true. When he says the line about being given meaning, he's telling the claric what he *and* his interrogator want to be true instead of what's actually true
this is def the case. he's saving his own ass there because he knows the brutality of the brotherhood.
I never thought of this. Maximus has his own ideal of what the BoS should be.
Fallout TV show drinking game- Take a shot every time the Maximus in a fridge flashback is shown
You won't be able to walk after that😂
I love that refrigerators are also literally for preserving things, making them endure! 😄
Question: Do you think Lucy also sees Maximus as weak? Does her perspective have a different way of understanding his deficiencies? Or is she not operating on the weak/strong dichotomy at all?
I hate that I spent three weeks slaving over the script and you just WALTZ IN HERE with your freakin “FRIDGES PRESERVE STUFF” take 😤
@@squircleworks42 BACK TO WORK SQUIRC! 😛
@@squircleworks42 Hey he's like three years in and you're about three weeks in, you'll just start picking up on shit like that naturally. Also i love both of your content equally already
Personally I don't think Lucy is on the same wavelength as him. The moment her vault is breached, all ideas of safety from the outside are wiped away. She cares more about doing the right thing and looking for the good in others. When Maximus swoops in to fight Cooper, she sees him as a knight - not a Brotherhood knight, but a knight in the classical sense of a chivalrous hero. Even when she learns the truth about what Maximus has done and why, she still gives him the chance to do the right thing by returning the fusion core. In fact, she likely sees that confession as yet another sign that, deep down, Max isn't evil. In fact, maybe she _does_ recognize Max's fear of a lack of safety, in which case her kindness is a response to that - he doesn't have to feel weak or afraid, and he doesn't need the armor, because she'll be there with him.
@@GrayVBoat That moment, when he gives the core back, she sees his true self, even if he doesn't. He's a good person, he just sucks at it
I think he was smiling because he thought he was supposed to die and instead was saved by “a hero” who just so happens to be “a knight”. So ya know adds up for me but what do I know😅😂
As a fan of the Fallout games, I really like that you focus on the show. Feels refreshing and more focused.
People can say “Oh, but the games explain this” and “The games explain that”.
But just looking at series on its own merits, really shows its strengths and flaws - not relying on the “paratexts” of the show.
Keep up the good work! :)
When the creator of the games works alongside the creator of the show, and goes on public record multiple times saying that the show is canon to the lore of the games, and that games moving forward will fit into the lore of the show, separating the show from the rest of the franchise when discussing the overall lore makes no sense.
@@jazzyjswift seriously? Who said that? Like the show is fine, but frankly it's kind of bad compared to the games. That will completely ruin any future games if that is true.
i love it when people are able to think like this
@@emikkewell no shit the series is bad compared to the games. Instead of taking control, you have to watch from the side lines watching every stupid move that you can see coming from a mile away.
Hi, I’m someone who has never played the games.
All the info needed to understand and enjoy the story was presented within the show itself.
Only once I finished the show did I look up Fallout lore. And I only did so because I craved more Fallout, not because I needed supplementary material to follow along or fill in any blanks.
That also means that my enjoyment of the show wasn't influenced by any “fandom goggles.”
Unlike many shows that have easter eggs so poorly incorporated into their adaptations that the stench of those rotting eggs stand out (Disney’s Star Wars), Fallout’s deviled easter eggs were seamlessly woven into the show.
(I only know Lucy’s deviled eggs were an easter egg from one of the aforementioned lore videos. It felt like a natural part of the world, not the usual awkwardly inserted moment highlighting a “recognizable thing.”)
Is the show perfect? No. But it did exceed my (admittedly low) expectations, and I surprisingly ended up really enjoying the show. Enough that I’m now interested in the games.
I'm surprised you don't even mention the line where he was asked why he joined the Brotherhood:
"To hurt the people who hurt me."
This, in combination with the "I don't wanna be (weak)" line, paints a clear picture of his motivations in just one scene in the first episode.
Other than that, nice pinpointing on the meaning of that short flashback!
"It's not about the suit; it's about the refrigerator." This line single-handedly put so much of this show in perspective for me. I'm gonna go give it another try, thanks 👍
They are the Brotherhood of Steel. They’re saying YOU endure because you are Steel, you’re not mere flesh like all the other wastelanders. It’s like saying “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” It’s not outright saying it but in that context it means you are tough.
I think it's also a way of saying the individual is weak but the collective will survive, the brotherhood being steel itself. It's basically just another form of military brainwashing to get you to lay down your life for their cause, whether you're a squire who's fleshy and weak, or a knight who's steel and much more invulnerable but still not entirely. "There is no place safe."
Wow, when you put in perspective that Maximus just wanted a bigger better fridge to hide in... It make so much sense now! It's like the writers were trying to beat it over our heads. (which still flew over mine, sadly) Even in the scene where it shows Maximus, the fridge and the Power Armor. It's almost like a hermit crab, leaving one shell for the next better one.
This is further compounded by his eventual desire to live in a Vault. A Vault is the next step up in "big metal safety boxes".
Maximus said he was threatened by the knight because he was. The Knight was explaining that he was going to tell the Brotherhood it was Maximus fault, and he explained what happened to squires who messed up. He detailed hanging them by their ribcage or something like that. So Maximus thought he was going back to be brutally executed
Realistically, someone in armor who makes you point man in a cave is going to get you killed. Maximus is lucky there weren't spore carriers, tunnelers, or Deathclaws in the cave.
@@richardarriaga6271 And this is a fine point to make. It feels like Maximus did nothing wrong here. He's been getting the bad end. He's suppose to be learning under his Knight, but instead, the Knight is treating Maximus as disposable. Whatsmore, the Knight never displayed that until he and Maximus were away..
I mean he has no training at all on the Power Armor, so it makes sense he sucks at it.
Hello, person who's been in the military here. Just wanted to clarify on the theory that Max could have blocking the sun from his eyes or saluting. He definitely was doing the former. The brotherhood of steel salute is a right fist over the chest. A modern US military salute would be the right hand angled at 45 degrees with the middle finger touching the right brow. His hand was basically covering his whole face. He is a child so he could just be doing it amateurly, but he also grew up during the existence of the Brotherhood of Steel, so he definitely would have seen the proper salute. Just wanted to clear that up. Great video!
He grew up in shady sands, ncr territory. He would know the ncr salute which i imagine would be similar to the prewar salute since the ncr championed old world values
@@rcaiii6738
You make a good point that the NCR used prewar salutes. You're completely correct! I guess we can't rule out the possibility that young Max performed an immature salute. I do personally lean towards Max shielding his eyes from the sun, given that he just got out of a dark fridge, the power armor is shiny, and the fact that the BoS is vastly different than the NCR. Just my opinion, though.
@@spudman1734 I agree. I've always though he was shielding his eyes
Even if the NCR and the Brotherhood are different, they have one of the armors iconic since the franchise started. Power Armor. Young Max could’ve possibly seen NCR Power Armor in a march or event in his youth, and seeing it again in the aftermath of Shady Sands destruction, not knowing the difference, really could’ve been him happy that soldiers of the NCR survived and finding survivors, including Young Max.
My interpretation of the line "Flesh is weak but steel endures" is that its basically saying "People are fragile but the brotherhood lives on" since the brotherhood is literally called the brotherhood of STEEL and it makes sense that this would be a dogmatic slogan for BOS members.
The characters of Maximus and Lucy from the perspective of someone very familiar with these games represent different playstyles. They are both newly created characters. When you create a new character you get a certain number of points yo can allocate to your attributes. How you distribute them depends on how you intend to play the game. Lucy represents a high charisma high intelligence high perception build. This build's playstyle relies on speech and persuasion to make their way in the world but they are weaker in combat and have low health. They also gain experience much faster and level up faster. Maximus represents a high strength high endurance build. He relies on brute force and fighting to resolve any situation he encounters. His intelligence and perception a very low. Basically he is dumb as a stump. He also is not good when it comes to "speech checks". You see him fail at these many times during the show. Like when he tries to get his armor repaired for 4 caps or when he tries to get Thaddeus' approval when he reveals he isn't Titus.
If anyone wonders what are the SPECIAL stats of each main character, they were published not so long ago :
Lucy
Strength: 4
Perception: 7
Endurance: 6
Charisma: 5
Intelligence: 6
Agility: 5
Luck: 7
The Ghoul
Strength: 5
Perception: 6
Endurance: 7
Charisma: 7
Intelligence: 4
Agility: 7
Luck: 4
Maximus
Strength: 7
Perception: 6
Endurance: 6
Charisma: 5
Intelligence: 4
Agility: 7
Luck: 5
Great video, I never linked the fridge he hides in with power armor. But it seems obvious, keep up the great vids
There is too much I could say about the brotherhood so I'll keep it as brief as I can. The original Brotherhood of Steel, like, the group from the first game, was formed in fear of man not being able to wield weapons capable of its own destruction, The FEV being the instigator of that if I remember correctly. So they began to safeguard and hoard technology, like how a monk, or any other religion, would safeguard a religious relic or icon
Comparing the original Brotherhood to the modern day Brotherhood is night and day. The original understood the cost of using the tech it hoarded and was fearful of it and its use. Preferring defensive action over offensive (you have to convince the brotherhood in the first game to help fight The Master)
The modern Brotherhood has forgotten their own goal, they use technology to destroy their opposition, and any other possible threat. Ironically they seem to have started becoming the thing they were afraid of: the destruction of humanity. They use their weapons and accumulated power to destroy groups that become technologically advanced in fear of them (The Institute, The NCR with Moldaver's cold fusion, and The Enclave ---to an extent). The modern Brotherhood seems content in how the wasteland is because they are the most advanced and thus hold power over any budding nation. As soon as said budding nation begins to rival them in technology, like The NCR, they would sooner kill them and control that technology, than even run the risk of that technology becoming a weapon that could be used against them.
Tl;dr: The brotherhood has lost sight of its original goal in the 200 years since the bombs fell, and are becoming something they should not have been
Another important thing is WHY they’re so radicalized now in the first place. They’ve almost always had that quasi-religious aspect to them, but they were hardly any more radical than your average faction in the wasteland. When Elder Lyons took over before fallout 3 he made a lot of controversial changes that saw the brotherhood at their least radical point. He allowed outsiders to join instead of membership being a birthright, he took a backseat on hunting down all types of technology, and he helped push societal and (positive)technological advancement for the people of the Capital Wasteland. As time passed and Arthur Maxson took over, there was a massive overcompensation for the changes Lyons made. It mimics real world cycles of periods of conservatism and liberalism. As these massive leadership changes happened the philosophy became based more on responses to it’s predecessor than what the brotherhood was initially founded on: a rogue army sect fighting against inhumane government experimentation.
@@peanutbutter6720to be fair Maxson left in some changes from Lyons but got back to more conservative
8:22 You forgot that Knight Titus also actually threatened Maximus by telling him what they do to bad squires.
SQUIRC'S BEEN HARD AT WORK!!!! >:D
Brotherhood of walking fridges got me dying
YES ANOTHER ONE, PLEASE KEEP MAKING MORE I LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now I want to see a suit of power armor made out of a refrigerator.
Seriously love the formatting of your videos!! There are so many parts of your videos that are fantastic, I love the use of clips from the show and overlay of text. Your use of animation is super engaging, along with the way that you speak! So wonderful!!
deserves a crown imo
Yeah the little animated person is super cute and expressive
I grew up in the 70's. abandoned refrigerators were a definite "no-go." They used to lock from the outside-if you got in, you couldn't get out. I'm not sure if anyone ever got stuck in one, but there were actual PSAs about disabling the lock before illegally dumping a refrigerator.
The '70s were fun. I wonder if the show's developers are aware of post-WWII technology. That refrigerator had an open rear vent [you can see the sun through the back]. It was probably not safe as a bomb shelter.
Yes, a number of children did die by suffocating in abandoned fridges. I don't know how many.
I imagine the filmmakers were careful to make sure he one they used would be safe for their actor
Apparently they had a kid locked inside a fridge in Fallout 3.
@@Gillsing Im not familiar with the lore. "Don't close yourself in an icebox" was a thing, IRL. Thats's not a shelter, yo.
Given how they’re basing the series almost entirely off Bethesda’s slop, they probably think everything stopped developing at the 50s.
@@GillsingFallout 4
I gotta apologize. At first I was hesitant about watching this video because Maximus is one of my favorite characters and I misguidedly assumed this was just a video bashing him. But hearing your study on his character honestly was a breath of fresh air. You respect the character while also showcasing his major flaws, and bring it all together by ending it on how his character arc, everything he goes through at the end of the first season, is ultimately about a traumatized young man trying to find his own "fridge", a suit of armor and safety to protect him in the wasteland. Only for him to realize at the end that he never truly needed one.
Another banger glad the algorithm was kind enough to let me now this came out immediately! My friends and I were so confused and mad and Maximus's character and this really solves it!
omg hi my lovely first ever commenter 👋
@@squircleworks42 Oh, since you're here, I had a quick question. I've really wanted to start my own Schnee adjacent channel, but have some hesitancy, going so far as I haven't written a script yet, just lots of thinking. I've been thinking a lot about Frieren and doing a video on something for it, so any advice or tips since you're so fresh on the scene? could be anything from how to analyze to how to edit to how to make sure you microphone doesn't sound weird
Are you on the schnee discord server?
@@squircleworks42 I am not :{ for I am a poor child
agh I feel you. I can’t DM you on here, but if you ever hit the $2/month tier on schnee’s discord I can contact you there!
Maximus, I think, originally saw the brotherhood knight as a savior, then saw the organization as a savior, and wanted to save others and do good with them. He thought their mission was to protect people only to find out that it wasn't and the brotherhood didn't really have any power anymore
But then again, everybody views of the brotherhood varies but it’s easy to see them as a white shining knight who saves people which depends on the leader, the elder who’s in charge
this is my new favourite channel for growing more wrinkles on my brain
Very cool take. He does have a jealousy that having power or pleasure elevates. That memory is probably when his friend with a pack of Dandy Apples was turned to goo.
I think you got some things completely wrong here, firstly Maximus and Titus
You said "what does he fear here, whats the threat?"
Titus DIRECTLY threatens Maximus by telling him hes going to report him to leadership which would result in his execution.
For one, Maximus MUST act to save his own life as he has no chance in this scenario.
SECONDLY, in this same scene he tells Titus outright "you dont deserve this armour"
In this video you kinda brush over this whole scene imo
At this point, Maximus is still acting 100% on not only self preservation but strong ideological morals. He clearly states that he doesnt believe Titus deserves the armour of a knight, due to him being a coward, not only a coward, but a coward that openly questioned the BoS's mission.
Max still dreams of being a knight of the BoS and him seeing a knight be such a coward fills him with disgust, it breaks his childhood perception of a knight which is why he does what he does, not just to save his own life.
When it comes to Danes quote?
I really think this is as simple as piety. The BoS has religious themes. "Steel endures", simply means faith in the idea/mission. Its not a literal translation into technology itself. Its just a phrase that directly related to the name of their cause/org. "Steel endures" - Belief/Piety
I think the brutal reality of Max is, he was brought into the BoS with childhood admiration, it was his only home and he dreamed of being the BADASS HERO he saw as a kid and thats it. A part of him believes it, he is confronted by the reality of the BoS constantly during the show and he keeps believing despite his own flaws. He still wants to be A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR but by the end the truth hits him hard and the grey becomes clear. I think its as simple as that
Im a Fallout nerd, dont want to nit pick everything, I did agree with many points but I feel these were big ones that were presented incorrectly, main being Titus. In my opinion the Titus situation only made him want to be a "good knight" even more, not the opposite
I feel like he just sees the brotherhood as knights in shining armor, the archtype of heroes. Hes lived in a world with 0 comfort, constant danger, his parents are dead. He hardly has purpose and all he knows its a lot of pain and struggle. I can see why hes disillusioned about the brotherhood. He sees their strength as security. He sees power as a means to have control over his life? Everyones trying to carve out a purpose here but hes obsessed with becoming that “hero” that found him.
He is having problems processing major events that shapped his life. Being overwhelmed, it is easier for him to fully jump into the next situation he finds himself in rather than deal with loss.
Glad to see another video from you!
I see a lot of similarities between Maximus and Finn from the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Going back to your previous video, I really like the contrast in moral compass in this apocalyptic setting. 🤔
I did not think I would come out of this video having a greater respect for Thaddeus. I hope we get to see him again in Season 2.
By far my favorite Fallout TV analysis(this and your Cooper vid), keep up the good work!
He did survive a nuke inside of a fridge and probably was more that a lot hungry/thirsty.
Great analysis! I'm really loving your content.
On top of seeking safety, Maximus wants control. Not necessarily over others, but his own life. Since the bombing of Shady Sands, he has had very little agency over his own life. He's had no control. But the suit? Power armor represents control-- he sees that Knight and thinks "now THERE'S a person who doesn't get bombed, someone who doesn't get pushed around". It's why he aspires to it early on. But, Lucy shows him that you can be weak, GOOD even, and be a master of your own path. She represents safety, sure, but she also presents to him in the way she pushes forward with a determined and good heart that he doesn't need a suit or even the brotherhood to find purpose or control over his life. His face at the end shows that he's now aware that for that safety and control he's going to have to persevere a good deal further to attain it. I think by the end he is actually conscious of what exactly he wants. Before then, he's immature and unable to act responsible with power, but he's reached a critical point of growth by the end.
oooooh I love this. solid explanation 👌
Omg I literally laughed at "walking refridgerator" I LOVE YOU!!
Great video again as always! I can tell you put a lot of thought into this, I'd love to understand more about the stages of disillusionment and how it affected his relationship w Lucy!
I love love love that you never reference or lean on the games for this and you just focus on the show itself, it maintains a very tight perspective that never gets lost or muddied in the decades or lore behind this franchise. As someone who knows the games front to back the show takes place in a very different California and really does merit an isolated perspective.
I too was confused by Maximus as a main character, entertained but still confused, until I saw this. Realizing the scene of him stepping out of the fridge isnt about finding some new idealogical role model, its finding a bigger and better fridge, is so in keeping with the tone and philosophy for survival this show presents, in such a hidden and tragic way. Its why he saves the chicken fucker and intervenes with the shootout in the town, not because he has internalized that murder is bad or something but because he sees someone getting beaten down just like he was and tries to *be* the fridge, an unthinking protector of people and things. For people, its anyone who happens to be around, but for things, its the cold fusion core that he has been assigned to return, a core that he basically gives up when he decides its not his mission. It's such a goofy internal logic that makes so much sense to me because of the tone and presentation of Maximus and the show as a whole.
3am conspiracy theory! 😆 Love it and on point.
I like the idea that the high cleric Maximus is loyal to is the same BoS PA soldier in the flashback
Love the video! I found maximus's character very confusing when I watched through the show, but this makes total sense.
Fan theory about to do the heavy lifting of the storytelling...
Maximus having low INT is not unique to the Brotherhood Squires, it's an intended outcome. The barracks are a frat house. They're highly trained in identifying old-world tech, but not biology - this isn't an oversight. The Squires we see are outsiders, probably taken as children like Maximus, probably encouraged to be celibate through misinformation (explodes like a pimple). They're bodies for the meatgrinder, and the ones that "endure" (survive the slaughter) earn their Steel and become actual Brotherhood members (actual to the interpretation in the show).
Maximus has been indoctrinated, gather the tech no matter the cost (including stealing a dead Knights armour), and it's only through seeing things through Lucy's perspective that the cracks start to form and he begins to question what actually is the Brotherhood.
Excellent breakdown of motivation. One important thing to keep in mind, its not a fridge. It is confusing because there is a sign that says "MILK BOTTLES" on it but that sign is not visible when the door is closed and the machine has a coin slot but is not a single unit vending machine like the nuka vends. The door opens completely when the payment is made, which means that this is not a fridge, its a version of the "Personal Fallout Shelters" from the game that someone had repurposed because when bombs are not dropping it is pretty well insulated (my best guess anyway, not sure the set dressers were all on the same page with the tech). Somebody either paid the fee and put Maximus in there or taught him to use the shelter when in danger. This was not an accident of good fortune, this was him even as a child intentionally seeking out a place of safety. From the beginning he doesn't feel safe and desires that safety.
Welcome to the youtubes! You're off to a great start with long form topical content, can't wait to see how far you go!
absolutely luv yr vids pls keep it up!!!
Am also fascinated with Maximus. Specifically been thinking for a while what kind of dialectic he may fit into with Lucy. Lucy mostly does good things for good reasons, whereas Maximus's attempts at doing good mostly backfire, right down to being the cause of his near-death. Its usually the result of him not being informed before acting (eg, stepping in between the farmer and the other bloke, suiting up assuming the vault was going to execute Lucy, and then letting her father go without questions). The clear parallel to that is Lucy seems to learn more about the wastelands in general, both how it runs and the history of how things got that way... And that's about all I got so far, feel like I'm two thirds of the way through having An Interpretation on things 😆. Fun to mull over though
8:22 but in that scene he was threatening him? He was literally going on about how "when we get back to base we're gonna kill you". Or am I remembering wrong
This was such a great watch, thank you for putting your time and effort into it! My favourite archetype of characters has always been the random normal dude among the elite characters, unlucky enough to endure the horrors of the story he's in and yet lucky and skilled enough to survive to the end
I just love how those characters ground the story and bring a realistic perspective to everything
Characters such as MCU Hawkeye and AoT Connie
Also love the characters where you need to sit to think about them in a similar way you did for this video, where you need to take the time to understand them. Much like a real person
I was going to comment with this statement. Knight Titus repeatedly threatened him with death as soon as they got back. So of course that threatens Maximus's core need to be near a safe walking refrigerator. All he has to do to get access to the Big Fridge is ... Nothing. So that's what he does, and has a lucky streak straight into command, like any good Fallout protagonist.
Great video! Max and his background make the least sense of the 3 far and away. The repeated flashback to Shady Sands did raise a question for me in the greater plot though. If Hank nuked Shady Sands, why was it the Brotherhood standing there right after it happened? I really appreciate your thoughts on it, given that most people just let it pass. I do suspect the fridge was simply a nod to the easter egg in the game, which in turn was a nod to Indiana Jones. I hope it's more than that though.
Your comment got me thinking! There's a chance that the Brotherhood was involved in a conflict or salvaging mission nearby when Shady Sands was nuked. In the wake of disaster they come to take what they can- including orphans to indoctrinate? Moldaver had implied that they were close to completing the reactor previously so the brotherhood might have been there in the hopes of getting it, only to have been too late.
This video deserves more views! Sharing this as I type
8:25 the knight threatened to have maximus killed due to his incompetence.
Saying how everything is his fault and how he will doe because of it.
Then he has the gall to ask for a stimpack.
It makes Danes line hit harder. “No where is safe.”
I feel you’re looking too deeply into things that are explained pretty well on the surface
I think Maximus as a character is a "vehicle" for players. I mean, when I played old Fallout games back in the days (and the recent ones now), there was simply NOTHING MORE BADASS than Brotherhood of Steel.
Maximus just prerfectly embodies the child-like wonder and admiration of the percieved coolness of BOS. They're the Knights of the Round Table, the knights in the shiny armor, the primary do-gooders we all were raised to know, the single most important symbol of a hero. A shiny armor. Then a horse, then a magic sword. And BOS has it all, in form of vertibirds and laser gatlings.
So of course you (as a player) just can't help yourself but want to have the power armor and embark on a mission and be a part of it. Then you get to know the reality of BOS and either you are fine with it, or not. If not, you just skadoodle with the power armor. Now you are your own knight and you can fullfil your own vision of good. Or not. Either way is fine, since there is no overhead, no superiors, no mission reports, no Elders. This is, I think, a cycle a lot of people went through while playing the games. And I think Maximus is a character which embodies that perfectly.
Oof, that last observation hit hard.
I think of the brotherhood as more of a spiritual path than a religion. A brutal one.
You’re definitely going to blow up these video essays are incredible, it’s so satisfying the way you put all the pieces together frfr keep at this
I absolutely love this kind of character analysis. Great vid!
These are amazing observations and discussions on both videos. I can’t wait to see more from your page!!
i like the "my lord, i have no armor" bit because there's clearly a better option between Titus and Max as to who should fight a roided up bear. it's like a master chef telling a culinary arts student to make fugu
Maximus is Intelligence 3, but his luck and charisma are both 10
I personally love his character. $5 says he was always an orphan
Maximus and Lucy are first play through players. Maximus is the do what looks cool player and Lucy is the do what’s right player. Cooper is a replay character that skips dialogue checks and just kills whatever’s in front of him.
This was a phenomenal breakdown. I also struggled with Maximus and was never able to suss out the thread that tied it all together. You asked the right questions and gave the best answers available. I accept this theory wholly.
love all your stuff keep it up :D
Maximus doesn't suck at everything, he just dumpstatted Charisma and Luck to beef up Strength, Perception and Endurance ;)
The old man sees in Maximus the same gratitude to the Brotherhood, that drew the old man to the organization when he was a boy. It is like a gang of boys raising each other and the hierarch allows for the older of the boys (the old men) to participate and share wisdom.
This video is so well done! I would suggest a couple things to kinda add a lil more sauce to the vids in general though:
1. A noise gate, which turns off your mic until it detects sound loud enough to reactivate the mic (this will remove the air sound in the background when you're not speaking)
2. Some background music to set the tone of the video
Again, loved the video anyway even as it is. I'll be watching more in the future!
Don't forget, back in the day, getting shut in a refrigerator was death. They're airtight so you won't have long........
I feel like the main thing maximus wanted was power, as a child he saw that power in that person who was wearing the suit. He never really cared to be part of the brotherhood.
Please keep the Fallout videos coming! They're fantastic.
Love your way of talking out your ideas. Keep goin! :)
the brotherhood of steel line is literally just "your bond with the brotherhood over all" which is why dane looks out for maximus before he gets his head popped. Its pretty straightforward, its a motto to enforce their brotherhood / cohesion amongst each other, thick as thieves and all that.
Maximus made perfect sense to me from a military background perspective - almost everything he went through was hazing or some form of training. You meet all kinds of people in the military; some question every order, others would blindly jump off a cliff if ordered to do so.
Never seen such an in depth analysis on any of the characters!! I always just put maximus’s weird decisions down to me not understanding him hahaha
This video was so good tho!! I understand maximus and why he did what he did way more now!! Thanks for making this video! It was really fun to examine his character :) I’d definitely watch videos like this about all of them!
Wonderful analysis, thank you so much for shedding light on and often overlooked character. The next time I watch the show, I'll definitely look at it a little bit differently. Thank you again
Very intriguing analysis, you really hit the nail on the head with how Maximus' character is full of contradictions.
I think thats why i like his character. Humanity is a contradiction.
80% of people leave cults. That's what I believe the brother hood is
They don't really fit the definition of a cult tho.
They dont follow a god (well i guess some members do, but that's strictly up to their own choice)
And their belief system comes down to a single concept - keeping people safe, because each chapter acts completely differently.
One interprets it as wiping all of mankind out and starting anew.
One sees it as just that, helping regular folk.
Other think its about taking away peoples right to self defense and acting as saviour.
They really are just completely different militarized groups united under a single banner and power armor.
let's GOOOOOO
Maximus was always a strange character, one that I’m hoping we will learn even more about in the next season.
As for the video: I can’t really say anything I didn’t say about your last video, great work!
Dudley literally joined because the armor looks cool
The good - Lucy, the bad - Maximus, the ugly - the ghoul....
Loving your Fallout analyses!
8:28 he threathened to have Maximus hanged for “being a crappy squire”
Also about Maximus being tempted to crush his skull, everyone who’s being bullied has to have desires to do that to their bully. It’s “not personal” for Thaddeus the bully but definitely not to the one bullied. It’s not just physical damage, but also the psychological damage: Maximus, apart from Dane, was alone and (at least as shown in the show) has no other friends.
Which can also partially justify why he’s that angry at Dane going away.
At the end, he achieves being a knight, but he doesn’t want to be a knight anymore, he now wants to marry Lucy and live in a vault.
18:45 i dont know why but that is one of the funniest things ive ever heard oh yeah and this too 19:04
Your thoughts and views and questions about the show are everything that i have also wondered about. Great analysis again.
Maximus Luck stat indeed.