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Halo is a sci-fi action series that follows Master Chief, a super-soldier, and his AI companion Cortana as they fight against the alien Covenant. The show has mixed reviews from critics and fans, with some praising the visuals and action, and others criticizing the writing and pacing.
- (76)
- Pablo Schreiber
- TV-14
- 2
Read critics' reviews of the sci-fi series based on the popular video game franchise. See ratings, trailers, cast, and more on Rotten Tomatoes.
- (71)
- March 24, 2022
- Pablo Schreiber
- Paramount's Halo series reveals a very different side of Master Chief.
- Halo: The Series Gallery
- How would you rate Halo: Season 1?
- Verdict
- Halo: The TV Series - Season 1 Review
- More Reviews by Jesse Schedeen
- IGN Recommends
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By Jesse Schedeen
Updated: May 20, 2022 11:50 pm
Posted: May 20, 2022 8:09 pm
Warning: this review contains full spoilers for the first season of Halo: The TV Series. For a deeper dive into the series, here are the links to our individual episode reviews:
•Halo: Episode 1 - "Contact"
•Halo: Episode 2 - "Unbound"
That decision generally works in the series' favor. It allows the show's writers a certain amount of leeway in terms of altering characters, condensing the timeline and generally reworking the Halo mythos to better suit the television format. Iconic or not, Master Chief as he exists in the games is not an ideal protagonist for a TV series. He's a man of few words and even fewer displays of emotion.
The TV series, on the other hand, is perfectly willing to explore the man underneath the imposing armor. As much as the decision to show Master Chief's face stirred up some initial controversy, it's hard to imagine the series working as well as it does without Schreiber spending so much time out of the armor. Schreiber capably plays John-117 as a hardened soldier slowly coming to grips with his simmering emotions and a flood of unlocked memories. The series humanizes John without fundamentally betraying the qualities fans love from the games. Yes, that includes the much-discussed sex scene in Episode 8.
Halo: Season 1 is by no means a perfect adaptation of the beloved source material. The series makes some storytelling mistakes and often stumbles when the action is too focused on recreating the look and style of the games. But considering Hollywood's track record with video game adaptations, it's a small miracle Halo is as good as it is. It succee...
Review scoring
good
Halo: The TV Series isn't a perfect adaptation of the games, but it ultimately succeeds in expanding the series' mythology and taking a more character-driven approach to Master Chief's adventures.
Jesse Schedeen
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IGN's Jesse Schedeen reviews the first season of Paramount+'s Halo series, a prequel to the iconic video game franchise. He praises the humanization of Master Chief and Cortana, but criticizes some of the original characters and the pacing.
Dec 6, 2021 · IGN praises Halo Infinite's open-world gameplay, combat variety, and boss fights, but criticizes its lack of environmental and story diversity. Read the full review to find out how the game powers up a 20-year-old series and returns to form for Master Chief.
May 20, 2022 · A mixed bag of a show that departs from the Halo canon but also explores new characters and concepts. Read why the Master Chief, Dr. Halsey, Makee, and Kai-125 are the highlights and lowlights of the first season.
- Ash Parrish
Mar 14, 2022 · With Steven Spielberg as an executive producer, the game franchise 'Halo' arrives as a Paramount+ series featuring Pablo Schreiber.
Feb 8, 2024 · IGN's Hayden Mears praises the second season of the live-action Halo series for its coherence, focus, and tension. He highlights the performances of James Ackerson, Natascha McElhone, and Pablo Schreiber as the show's strengths.
