Technology

Kyle MacLachlan On Hank's Plan In Fallout Season 2 & Villain Debate

December 17, 2025 5 min read views
Kyle MacLachlan On Hank's Plan In Fallout Season 2 & Villain Debate
Kyle MacLachlan Teases Hank's Full Fallout Season 2 Plan, Disagrees With Villain Characterization Kyle MacLachlan's Hank looking intensely while in his Power Armor in Fallout season 2 Kyle MacLachlan's Hank looking intensely while in his Power Armor in Fallout season 2 4 4 By  Ash Crossan  &  Grant Hermanns Published 2 hours ago Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Kyle MacLachlan's Hank is back in Fallout season 2, but whether or not he's a villain is up for debate in the eyes of the two-time Emmy nominee. Played by the Twin Peaks vet, the MacLean family patriarch served as the Overseer of Vault 33, who was kidnapped by the mysterious Moldaver. Fallout season 1's ending revealed that Hank was actually a Vault-Tec exec who had a hand in planning The Great War that brought about the nuclear apocalypse and Wasteland.

While Fallout season 2 will see Ella Purnell's Lucy and Walton Goggins' The Ghoul chasing Hank to New Vegas, it will also see the return of Moisés Arias' Norm, who was last seen trapped in Vault 31 and apparently forced to enter a cryosleep tube. However, after narrowly escaping, the younger MacLean sibling will not only strive to warn his friends of the dangers of other Vaults, but also learn more about his father and Vault-Tec's other devious plans.

Ahead of the show's premiere, ScreenRant's Ash Crossan interviewed Kyle MacLachlan and Moisés Arias to discuss Fallout season 2. When asked about going from being a doting father to one of the show's main villains of the series, the Emmy nominee acknowledged that "he's done some very naughty things," but questioned whether Hank is fully a villain, as he is "warm," "charming" and "does have a family that he cares about."

However, as MacLachlan points out, "he also has a mission," which is "what drives him" more so than his family. As such, coming into Fallout season 2, the star teases that "he's picking up" the pieces of the plan he put on hold in the years prior, and that "he's got this idea" that he's going full force on:

Kyle MacLachlan: He has a history with people and he's got a background. He wants to avenge these people." So I think part of that is being able to play both of those things, which they've allowed me to do. The writers are just fantastic at the show.

Norm & Hank's Potential Reunion Won't Be Pretty

ScreenRant: And then for you, when we left you, you're trapped. What's he going to do? But also, I think we see this shift. I've seen a few episodes, so I'm happy to hold anything we want to talk about, but we kind of see this shift of him almost coming into his own in a way. In the first season, I feel like Norm was kind of getting all the clues together. So, what would you say his mindset is this season?

Moisés Arias: Well, now he's been in the Vault for two or three weeks with little food and water, let's say. He is asking the brain on the Roomba, "How was my father like?" Sort of the last breaths that he's got, the last consciousness before he starts going loopy. I think that all those conversations and situations put him in a position where he has one irrational idea that is the only option, and now has to lead a group of vault dwellers.

ScreenRant: Yes. If or when these two reunite, how do you think it'll go?

Moisés Arias: Luckily, Norm's not very physical. [Laughs]

Kyle MacLachlan: It's going to be tough. It's going to be tough. We'll appeal to the common sense. Norm is sensical. "This is the reasoning. This is why it's done." You'll understand intellectually why I did what I did.

Moisés Arias: Sure. [Chuckles]

ScreenRant: Lastly, I want to ask, talking about season 1, we hope this is great. We already know there's a Fallout season 3 in the works. What is it like for you guys interacting with the fans and just really being embraced in this world?

Kyle MacLachlan: It's really nice, because I feel like they're validating what I think was so important to us in the beginning, which was to honor the world, honor the game, honor the world within the game, and then create a story on top of it that's compelling. We've got extraordinary writers, creators, and a great cast that has brought all that to life. So, it's right at the moment, we're in a really good place.

Moisés Arias: I agree. We're learning things almost as quickly as you guys are. I personally was week by week, waiting to see what we were doing next. I think all that helps, because I'm discovering as quickly as Norm is what he's doing, and what these vaults mean to him, and how they came to be. I think that's part of the video games, and the fans witnessing that with the characters and the actors experiencing that with the development of the characters, I think is how there's a formula for how it comes together.

Be sure to dive into some of our other Fallout season 2 coverage with:

  • Our Fallout season 2 review
  • The eight important season 1 story details to remember before season 2
  • Our five theories on Hank's plan for New Vegas in season 2
  • Geneva Robertson-Dworet & Justin Theroux explaining Fallout season 2's Mr. House recasting
  • Ella Purnell & Aaron Moten on how Lucy and Maximus' journeys are different in season 2
  • Robertson-Dworet revealing the Western genre icon that inspired The Ghoul's creation

New episodes of Fallout season 2 air Wednesdays on Prime Video!

Fallout TV Show Poster Showing Lucy, CX404, Ghoul, and Maximus in Front of an Explosion with Flying Bottle Caps 178 9.0/10 ScreenRant logo 8/10

Fallout

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-MA Sci-Fi Action Adventure Drama Release Date April 10, 2024 Showrunner Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan Writers Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan Franchise(s) Fallout

Cast

See All
  • Headshot Of Ella Purnell In The 7th Canneseries International Festival 'Fallout' Ella Purnell Lucy MacLean
  • Headshot Of Aaron Moten Aaron Moten Maximus
Main Genre Sci-Fi Genres Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure, Drama Creator(s) Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Graham Wagner Seasons 2 Streaming Service(s) Prime Video Powered by ScreenRant logo Expand Collapse Follow Followed Like Share Facebook X WhatsApp Threads Bluesky LinkedIn Reddit Flipboard Copy link Email Close Thread Sign in to your ScreenRant account

We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.

Be the first to post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.

Your comment has not been saved

Send confirmation email

This thread is open for discussion.

Be the first to post your thoughts.

  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Feedback
Recommended Kong raising his fist in the air in Monarch Legacy of Monsters season 2

Apple TV Officially Sets A Second Monsterverse Prequel With Returning Character

Resident Evil Leon next to background for horror game GRAFT

Resident Evil Fans Shouldn't Miss This New Sci-Fi Survival Horror

Mon Mothma in Andor Season 2-1

Emmy-Winning Andor Writer Explains Real-Life Inspiration Behind Mon Mothma Speech: “I’m Writing That Speech, I’m Angry”

Aaron Moten's Maximus and Ella Purnell's Lucy looking shocked by something in Fallout season 1

How Lucy & Maximus’ Fallout Season 2 Journeys Are Different After Dark Season 1 Ending Explained By Stars

Antony Starr as Homelander looking miserable in The Boys. 3 By  SR Staff 0:49

The Boys Season 5 Finale Might Be the Darkest Ending Yet for Homelander and Butcher

Screenshot 2025-12-12 130401 4 By  Michael Keene 0:44

Henry Cavill’s Shock Superman Cancelation Explained… DC’s Real Reason Comes Out

Screenshot 2025-12-12 130919 4 By  Michael Keene 0:50

DCU vs Snyderverse: How Netflix Could Help Both Sides Without Breaking DC Rules

Screenshot 2025-12-10 123902 3 By  SR Staff 0:47

Is Millie Bobby Brown Bound for the MCU?

Screenshot 2025-12-09 115731 4 By  Mallory Flory 0:44

Wake Up Dead Man’s smartest clues finally explained — the details everyone overlooked

More from our brands

MovieWeb logo

How to Watch the Monster High Movies in Order Chronologically and By Release Date

CBR logo

Best New Movies To Watch On Streaming Right Now

CBR logo

The 40 Best TV Shows Of The 2000s, Ranked

MovieWeb logo

50 Best New TV Shows to Stream Right Now

sweetpea-season-1-episode-4-ella-purnell

CBR logo

Fallout Star's Serial Killer Thriller Series Gets Hyped Up by Star Ahead of 'Bonkers' Season 2

Mr House's face on a giant television screen in Fallout season 2.

TheGamer logo

Bethesda Really Wanted Mr House To Be The First Game Character In The Fallout Show

fallout-76-game-rant-advance-cover-thumb

GameRant logo

Fallout 76 Embraces Its Own Manifest Destiny with the Burning Springs Update - Game Rant Advance

Trending Now Edward and Bella in Twilight promo shot Upcoming Vampire TV Show Will Be The Next Twilight Norm Maclean (Moises Arias) looking at two individals in blue uniforms in Fallout season 2 Fallout Season 2 Cast Teases Arrival Of Major Video Game Villain: "A Very Popular Enemy" Ralph Ineson's Galactus sits on his throne lit by a dim light in The Fantastic Four First Steps image All Live-Action MCU Villains Of 2025, Ranked