Gulper (TV series)

	For an overview of gulper variants in other media, see gulper.

Gulpers are creatures found around Los Angeles in the Fallout TV series.

Background[]

These creatures were created in Vault 4 and began appearing in the local wilderness in the twenty-third century.

At least two specimens are seen, one having escaped containment and taken to a natural body of water. The people of the Boneyard colloquially named the creature a "gulper," possibly indicating the existence of a larger wild population.

Characteristics[]

The gulpers resemble axolotls. They were created through experiments in mutating or hybridizing humans, hoping to create a radiation-resistant humanoid species. Some or all of the "gulper" specimens may have been twisted from normally developed adult humans.

On close inspection, their many fleshy, prehensile "feelers" resemble human fingers. Many of these appendages line the insides of their mouths and grab into prey. Additionally, their front limbs end in nearly human hands, and their eyes are human-like.

In the series[]

The Head[]

Lucy encounters a gulper while trying to feed a baby deer near a lake. The deer is suddenly snatched and eaten by a gulper.

The Trap[]

Lucy encounters a gulper in a tank on the 12th floor of Vault 4. A gulper also attacked the vault in a flashback/holotape.

The Radio[]

It is revealed in a holotape depicting the final moments of the original overseer Lloyd Hawthorne and his wife Cassandra that the gulpers were created as a result of experimenting on humans with radiation-resistant species. As Lloyd attempts to rationalize the experiments on the holotape while Cassandra tries to barricade the door, both he and his wife are killed just off-screen by a gulper, claimed by Overseer Benjamin to be his maternal great-uncle Peter.

Notes[]

• They share their colloquial name with the "gulpers" of the East Coast, which they superficially resemble.
  • East Coast gulpers are mutant hellbender salamanders. Much more compact and maneuverable, they are capable of bipedal sprinting and hanging from trees by their tails. They hunt in packs.
  • The solitary Los Angeles gulper strongly resembles an axolotl, another variety of salamander, which may or may not contain axolotl DNA. It has a frame comparable to a crocodile, moving on its belly to support an oversized mandible.

Appearances[]

Gulpers appear in the Fallout TV series episodes "The Head", "The Trap", and "The Radio".

Behind the scenes[]

• The TV series' version of the gulper was designed by concept artist Thomas du Crest based on preliminary sketches by Ben Kovar.^[1][2]

Gallery[]

Attacking Maximus

Peter in Lloyd Hawthorne's final log

Concept art[]

Preliminary concept art by Ben Kovar

Preliminary concept art by Ben Kovar. "This version was a combination of a mole and a hippo, and was more mobile and actively aggressive than the final design.^[1]

Preliminary concept art by Ben Kovar. "These drawings were to explore the mobility of the creature in and out of the water."^[3]

Preliminary concept art by Ben Kovar. "This one is closer to the final design.. a stockier body shape and sensors on the head to help detect its prey. And those lips.. talk about LUSCIOUS."^[4]

Final concept art by Thomas du Crest

Final concept art by Thomas du Crest. "I had the honor to design the gulper for the Fallout TV show! Based on a first pass of sketches by Ben Kovar and the video game as reference, I was in charge to do the final version."^[2]

Preliminary 3D model by Thomas du Crest. "My 3D models were then passed on to the prop department, to make an on-set reference model, and to Framestore who nailed the CG versions."^[2]

Preliminary 3D model by Thomas du Crest. "Even thought the added some fingers in his mouth (amazing idea btw), I'm very happy to see how extremely faithful the designs was translated to the screen!^[5]

References[]