Best Things The Halo TV Show Has Done So Far

Best Things The Halo TV Show Has Done So Far

Halo is one of the biggest gaming franchises in the industry’s history. Therefore, fans were not shocked when the series received its own TV adaptation on Paramount Plus. The universe set up in the Halo games is fascinating, and there is a lot for a show based on this property to explore. In fact, it seems that things are going well, given that the streaming show has already lasted longer than its first season.

Fans of the franchise have already seen a lot that they can gravitate toward in the show, and have even been shown some ideas that they are not familiar with. However, there are also some things that everyone can agree are the best decisions for a TV show based on Halo.

Spoilers Ahead

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Portraying Vehicles & Weapons

Viewers Feel They Are In The Halo Universe

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The main premise of the Halo video games is exploring the war between humanity, and the group of alien races known as the Covenant. Players take control of Earth’s greatest weapon in the form of a genetically altered soldier, called Master Chief, to help wipe out the waves of aliens on the battlefield. As with most first-person shooters, the games include a wide variety of weapons and vehicles that players can use to complete this objective.

Since the Halo gaming franchise has lasted over twenty years, many of the weapons and vehicles in the series have become iconic. Players can instantly recognize an Assault Rifle or a Warthog. That’s why it’s so important that the show includes all this detailed equipment, rather than trying to create something new. Even things like Covenant drop-ships and Pelicans make up the backdrop in this TV show, helping fans feel as if the story is taking place in the same reality they know and love.

The Covenant Designs

Bringing The Evil Force From Games To TV With Ease

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Most people would agree that a story’s protagonist is only ever as good as its villain. In Halo, Master Chief and the rest of humanity have to fight against the evil Covenant, a group of religious extremist aliens that want to ignite the Halo rings and destroy the universe as per the prophets’ wishes. These aliens take many forms, and have appeared in every Halo game since the very first installment. However, these enemies were nothing more than canon fodder until Halo 2 fleshed out these villains’ motives.

In the TV adaptation, the Covenant appear exactly as how fans recognize them in the games. Parts of the story even delve into their complex belief systems. Everything players love about the games is here in the designs for the TV show, from the towering Elites to the cowardly Grunts. It also helps that these enemies are brought to life using some incredible digital effects, making it feel as though viewers can reach out and touch these fictional creatures.

Adding In Book Lore

Halo Has Expanded Beyond The Xbox

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With the Halo franchise having six games already set in the main series and a number of spin-offs, most fans would expect that there is enough content in this medium to flesh out the TV show’s main story. However, a property as big as Halo has expanded beyond just the games. So far, thirty-four books have been written about this complex universe. These novels are mainly used to explain the events that occur between the main games, as well as explore the political strife that is present during the human war with the Covenant.

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Such rich material is too good for a storyteller to leave on the cutting-room floor, and it seems that the showrunners of the Halo TV show agree. The series includes and adapts many ideas and stories from the Halo books. These include the moral dilemmas of Dr. Halsey, as well as characters like James Ackerson and BB, who fans of the novels will recognize.

Iconic, Recognizable Music

The Score Of The Games Is Unmatched, So Why Change It?

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While the Halo games take players’ breath away with their stunning visuals and exciting gameplay, there is another strong element in the franchise that fans of the series love. As soon as any player pulls up a Halo loading screen, they are met with a haunting choral soundtrack that immediately sets the tone for the game to follow. This deep choral music is also brought in during key moments of the game when there are sweeping landscapes to admire, and is accented by powerful drums when the action begins again.

The music in the Halo games is something that every fan marvels at, and the showrunners of the TV show were wise to take notes from this sound design. The ethereal work of original game composers Martin O’ Donnell and Michael Salvatori are included in the show. Meanwhile, the composer for each episode, Sean Callery, brings his own take on these tracks during key moments in the series, setting the tone in a way that fans of the games are used to.

The Flood

Paying Homage To One Of The Biggest Twists In Gaming History

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There is a reason why Halo: Combat Evolved is considered one of the best video games of its generation. The gameplay is solid, but the story in this first-person shooter is one that everyone from this era remembers. Just as players get used to mowing down waves of Covenant enemies, the sixth level in the game pulls the rug out from under them with a great twist. Master Chief discovers a forgotten facility on the Halo ring, as well as a new enemy, when he encounters the parasitic and terrifying life form known as The Flood. These creatures are the reason Halo exists. Their release could spell the end of the universe, as well as provide another threat for players to deal with for the rest of the trilogy.

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Season one of Halo spent most of its time exploring the Covenant and their motives during the war with humanity. As such, many fans wondered whether The Flood would show up in the series. Fortunately, the season two finale finally brought The Flood into the picture. These iconic villains are more akin to classic zombies than the ones in the games, but it is great to see the show embracing horror in this sci-fi universe, just as the games did many years before it.

Master Chief Not Having A Helmet

Breaking Canon Makes Sense For This Format

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The central protagonist in all the main series Halo games so far has been the stoic, tenacious spartan soldier, Master Chief. This eight-foot tall warrior is an unstoppable killing machine, who rarely speaks or forms attachments to other characters. As a general rule, Master Chief does not take off his helmet in the games. The original developers at Bungie thought that it would help players put themselves in the characters’ shoes more easily in this first-person video game. Unfortunately, these rules for the character do not fit well with how character development works in a TV format.

Master Chief is played by Pablo Shrieber in the Halo TV series. The actor is revealed to the audience less than fifteen minutes into the first episode of the show, when the character takes off his helmet to speak with his fellow soldiers at ONI. This decision may have been controversial for some fans, but it has helped viewers grow attached to the central character. Master Chief is still played as the brave warrior fans know, but now fans can tell his thoughts and emotions more easily when looking at the emotions on his face. As a result, Master Chief works perfectly as a character in live action.

Halo

Release DateMarch 24, 2022CastJen Taylor, Olive Gray, Bokeem Woodbine, Pablo Schreiber, Natasha Culzac, Shabana Azmi, Yerin Ha, Charlie Murphy, Natascha McElhoneSeasons2Based OnHalo by Xbox Game StudiosStreaming Service(s)Paramount+ More

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