Halo (2022)

I really, REALLY wanted to like this one. I have been such a huge Halo fan since the first game. This is an example of a production company who liked the IDEA of the intellectual property, and had a complete disrespect and disdain for the CONTENT of the property. This felt nothing like Halo, and completely ignored the established franchise's history, lore, cannon, etc. Bad CGI, bad action sequences, and a completely underwhelming plot and actor performances. Again, I REALLY wanted to like this. After all of the production company interviews and announcements leading up to the premiere, stating that this series was "going to be its own thing," I anticipated about a 3 or 4/10 on the enjoyability meter. Solid 1.5/10 for me. Worse than even I expected. Waste of time. Why would you do this, Paramount?

I know that this show is controversial to the die hard Halo fans, but I have to say, as someone who loves that universe, I really enjoyed this show! Putting a face to Masterchief was a little nerve racking at first, but it worked out. The action in this show is really great and reminds you of the games.

At first I had no hope for any series that would be spawned by 343 industries that had to do with Halo. In my opinion 343 industries was the downfall of the Halo series. When Bungie left Microsoft and gave Halo over to 343 industries, they turned the entire series into something that was just bland and unfeeling. As much as I loved Master Chief and playing as Master Chief, the heart of Halo died the moment Bungie turned the reins over to someone else. So what I say that I had no hope for the series when it came to TV is saying the least and most decent way I can say that I knew it was going to be a steaming pile of shit. Surprisingly though, the TV series really wasn't that bad. They skipped over some things, rushed a few things, and redefined a couple more but overall the series was as close to what Halo is that a TV series possibly could get. Pablo Schreiber was a good choice for Master Chief. At first I couldn't get past the fact that I knew him as pornstash from Orange is the New Black. But after about the second episode I found myself feeling like he was more Master Chief than the master chief I knew in the game. The way he talked and carried himself throughout the entire series was the exact way Master Chief does throughout the entire game series. Even down to the way he held his gun, Pablo was perfect. I particularly grew quite fond of Spartan 125 AKA Kai. From her pretty much picking up a warthog to taking on so many elites and standing up to the status quo, Kai was a badass. Was a little disappointed in how they changed Commander Keyes and Miranda Keyes characters so much. Other than that the actors that they got to play both parts were very good. The actress that they got to play Halsey was tremendous and I am really pleased that they brought Jen back to voice Cortana. The first Covenant you really see in this series is the elite. Now I think that their mouthpiece is a little smaller than what it is in the games but otherwise the elites looked brilliant. Prophets they nailed those 100%. And if you thought the Brutes were ugly in the game, wait till you see them in the TV show. And yes I still hate Brutes that much. Jackels and grunts don't really make that make a huge appearance until the last episode but they were still done very well. Sadly there's only one small scene with the hunters and basically all you see is their separate forms as worms and they are scattered and taking out all the Marines on a certain ship at Meekee's request. If you Didn't know Halo lore, you wouldn't have recognized the hunters at all you probably would have just brushed over it but I recognized it and I was like "hey those are the hunters". We only see the Halo ring when MeeKee or Master Chief are touching the artifacts and it's only for a brief moments but if that's what's to come in future episodes (if there are future episodes), then I think the HALO series is in good hands. Wait, Let me correct myself there... I think the Halo TV series is in good hands cuz 343 can fuck right off. There's only one other thing I can say that I didn't like about the HALO series and that was the fact that Master Chief kind of went off character and lost his virginity as Cortana watched. That was something none of us needed to see. But not a lot of skin was shown in that scene so we'll give it a pass just because it wasn't an extra long sex scene that we didn't need. Overall if you're a Halo fan, the TV series isn't that bad so give it a chance. We're not that far into the lore or the games so to speak that you couldn't see what you want to see from it .... there's so much more that's coming if they continue this series. We have Johnson to look forward to (hopefully), scarabs, the actual halo rings, the flood, and the forerunners. If they choose to continue the Halo TV series it could be huge. Let's just hope they decide to keep going... Hope they finish the fight.

I had hoped after season one we had seen the last of "Halo" the series. In short and without wasting too much time, in this reviewers opinion, cringe worthy, woke nonsense, with a thin veneer of a sci fi series that looks and behaves nothing like the famous games franchise, it apes. Only upside I can see is reasonable CGI..... My advice, if you haven't already, watch the movies instead. Oh and play the games, they are great fun, with a story much better than this.

It could have been an a average sci-fi show but with the attachment of the halo name it just plunges this show to the bottom. the writers intently ignore all the things that made halo fun, the lore, the action, and the stakes. instead what we get is a space soap opera (and not a good one) with the halo name attached.