Is it just me, or does that kind of actually look like a glassing?
If you are finding yourself on this blog and website, chances are you know a good deal about the Halo universe. Most people reading this will know the story of the video games, plus undoubtedly a decent portion of the story from the books, short stories, comics, and other minor canon entries. But what does an AI know about the Halo universe? Programs like ChatGPT, DALL-E, and the like have impressed us over the past year or so with their ability to create original, convincing works seemingly instantaneously, no matter the request. While they are still far from perfect, they are incredibly compelling pieces of software, and hold the knowledge of the entire world at their metaphorical fingertips.
But what about a fictional universe like Halo? Does an AI like ChatGPT “know” the Halo canon? Can it accurately describe the characters and events in Halo as it is presented in the official canon, or will it make rookie mistakes and get confused by the endless sources that provide dubious or just plain “wrong” information?
To answer that question (and to test your Halo canon knowledge), I have asked ChatGPT questions about the Halo universe, and I will post the responses here, unedited. YOUR job, should you choose to accept it, is to determine whether ChatGPT is correct, or whether it is making unforgiveable errors to the Halo canon. Read through these, find any errors, and let us know why ChatGPT is wrong. These aren’t planted errors, so there could be none, or there could be dozens. It is up to you, the fine readers, to catch them all.
In this post, we will explore the most well-known period in the Halo universe, the end of the Human-Covenant War in the second half of 2552. This period has been covered endlessly in the Halo lore, but most notably in the first five Halo games made by Bungie from 2001 to 2010. Even casual Halo fans probably know something about this period having played the games, and a lot has been written about it over the years, both as official lore and as community content. So does ChatGPT know 2552? Let’s find out!
Part One: The Fall of Reach
The Fall of Reach as depicted by DALL·E 2. This feels kind of close to how it is depicted in the lore I think.
Prompt
Write a detailed account of the Fall of Reach, listing dates, locations, and individuals involved when possible.
Response
The Fall of Reach was a significant event in the Halo universe that took place between July 2552 and August 30, 2552. It was a decisive conflict in the Human-Covenant War and marked the beginning of the Covenant‘s full-scale invasion of the human colony of Reach.
Locations involved in the Fall of Reach include the planet Reach itself, the human military installation at CASTLE Base, and the human space station known as the Orbital Defense Platform (ODP) Antioch.
Individuals involved in the Fall of Reach include the following:
The Fall of Reach began on July 2552, with a Covenant attack on the Viery Territory, a region of Reach that was home to numerous military installations and industrial facilities. Over the next few weeks, the Covenant continued their assault on Reach, targeting military and strategic locations, such as CASTLE Base and the ODP Antioch.
On August 30, 2552, the Covenant launched a full-scale invasion of Reach, with their forces landing all over the planet. The battle for Reach was intense and devastating, with heavy casualties on both sides. During the battle, Noble Team was assigned to destroy the Covenant’s superweapon, the “Key of Osanalan,” which was located in CASTLE Base. While they were successful in destroying the weapon, most of Noble Team was killed in the process, and Reach was ultimately lost to the Covenant.
In the aftermath of the Fall of Reach, the human population of the planet was largely eradicated, and the Covenant was able to use the planet as a staging ground for their invasion of Earth. The events of the Fall of Reach would have far-reaching consequences for the Halo universe and would play a central role in the story of the Halo franchise.
Part Two: The Battle of Installation 04
Prompt
The Battle of Installation 04 as depicted by DALL·E 2. When I said ‘ringworld’, this isn’t exactly what I had in mind.
Write a detailed account of the Battle of Installation 04, listing dates, locations, and individuals involved when possible.
Response
The Battle of Installation 04 was a significant event in the Halo universe that took place in September 2552. It was a conflict between the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) and the Covenant that took place on and around the Halo installation known as Installation 04.
Locations involved in the Battle of Installation 04 include the Halo installation itself, the human colony world of Reach, the human starship Pillar of Autumn, and the Covenant cruiser Truth and Reconciliation.
Individuals involved in the Battle of Installation 04 include the following:
John-117 (Master Chief): A SPARTAN-II supersoldier and a central figure in the Human-Covenant War.
Cortana: An AI (artificial intelligence) constructed from Dr. Halsey’s own memories and a critical ally to Master Chief.
Thel ‘Vadam (Arbiter): A former Covenant Elite commander who would later defect to the humans after the events of Halo 2.
Sergeant Johnson: A Marine veteran and a central ally to Master Chief throughout the Halo franchise.
The Prophet of Truth: The leader of the Covenant High Council and the central antagonist of Halo 3.
The Battle of Installation 04 began when the Covenant discovered the location of Installation 04 and launched an attack on the Pillar of Autumn, which had been sent to the Halo installation to investigate strange readings. After a battle in orbit around Installation 04, the Pillar of Autumn crash-landed on the Halo’s surface, and Master Chief was deployed to secure the ship’s AI, Cortana, and to destroy the Halo in order to prevent the Covenant from using it as a weapon.
Over the course of the battle, Master Chief encountered a number of other human survivors on the Halo, as well as Covenant forces and the installation’s native sentient life-form, the Flood. The Flood, an ancient and extremely dangerous parasitic life-form, had been unleashed on the Halo and posed a significant threat to both the humans and the Covenant.
As the battle raged on, Master Chief and his allies faced off against the Covenant, the Flood, and the Halo’s defensive systems, ultimately destroying the Halo and preventing the Covenant from using it as a weapon. However, the Pillar of Autumn was destroyed, and Master Chief and Cortana were forced to evacuate the Halo aboard a Covenant escape pod.
The Battle of Installation 04 marked a critical moment in the Human-Covenant War and was a seminal event in the Halo franchise’s central narrative. Its impact would be felt for years to come, shaping the course of the war and the future of the Halo universe.
Part Three: The Battle for Earth
DALL·E 2’s take on the Battle for Earth.
Prompt
Write a detailed account of the Battle for Earth from the Halo universe, listing dates, locations, and individuals involved when possible.
Response
The Battle for Earth was a decisive conflict in the Human-Covenant War that took place between November 17, 2552, and December 11, 2552. It marked the end of the Covenant’s campaign of destruction against humanity and the culmination of the Halo franchise’s central narrative.
Locations involved in the Battle for Earth include Earth itself, the city of New Mombasa in Kenya, the African city of Voi, the Forerunner Shield World known as the Ark, and the Covenant holy city of High Charity.
Individuals involved in the Battle for Earth include the following:
John-117 (Master Chief): A SPARTAN-II supersoldier and a central figure in the Human-Covenant War.
Cortana: An AI (artificial intelligence) constructed from Dr. Halsey’s own memories and a critical ally to Master Chief.
Thel ‘Vadam (Arbiter): A former Covenant Elite commander who defected to the humans after the events of Halo 2.
The Prophet of Truth: The leader of the Covenant High Council and the central antagonist of Halo 3.
Commander Miranda Keyes: A naval officer of the UNSC and a central figure in the Battle for Earth.
Sergeant Johnson: A Marine veteran and a central ally to Master Chief throughout the Halo franchise.
The Battle for Earth began with the Covenant’s invasion of the Kenyan city of New Mombasa, where they attempted to uncover a Forerunner artifact believed to be located beneath the city. Over the course of the battle, Master Chief and his allies fought to prevent the Covenant from accessing the artifact and to defend humanity against their invasion.
After the Covenant’s defeat in New Mombasa, the battle shifted to the African city of Voi, where Master Chief and the Arbiter joined forces to activate a Forerunner portal leading to the Ark, a massive Forerunner installation located outside the galaxy. At the Ark, Master Chief and the Arbiter faced off against the Prophet of Truth and the Covenant forces, ultimately defeating them and activating the Halo Array, a weapon capable of wiping out all sentient life in the galaxy.
In the aftermath of the Battle for Earth, the Covenant was disbanded, and the threat of the Halo Array was neutralized. However, Master Chief and Cortana were lost in deep space, and the fate of the Halo universe remained uncertain.
The Battle for Earth marked a turning point in the Halo franchise’s central narrative and was a seminal moment in the Human-Covenant War. Its impact would be felt for years to come and would shape the future of the Halo universe in ways that are still unfolding.
Part Four: The Battle of Installation 05
I am definitely getting some Flood vibes from this one, despite the AI still not understanding what a ringworld is.
Prompt
Write a detailed account of the Battle of Installation 05, listing dates, locations, and individuals involved when possible.
Response
The Battle of Installation 05 was a significant event in the Halo universe that took place in November 2552. It was a conflict between the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) and the Covenant that took place on and around the Halo installation known as Installation 05.
Locations involved in the Battle of Installation 05 include the Halo installation itself, the Covenant city of High Charity, and the human starship In Amber Clad.
Individuals involved in the Battle of Installation 05 include the following:
John-117 (Master Chief): A SPARTAN-II supersoldier and a central figure in the Human-Covenant War.
Cortana: An AI (artificial intelligence) constructed from Dr. Halsey’s own memories and a critical ally to Master Chief.
Thel ‘Vadam (Arbiter): A former Covenant Elite commander who had defected to the humans after the events of Halo 2.
Sergeant Johnson: A Marine veteran and a central ally to Master Chief throughout the Halo franchise.
The Prophet of Truth: The leader of the Covenant High Council and the central antagonist of Halo 3.
Commander Miranda Keyes: A naval officer of the UNSC and a central figure in the Battle of Installation 05.
The Battle of Installation 05 began when the Covenant discovered the location of Installation 05 and launched an attack on the Halo. Over the course of the battle, Master Chief and his allies faced off against the Covenant, the Flood, and the Halo’s defensive systems, ultimately destroying the Halo and preventing the Covenant from using it as a weapon.
The battle was complicated by the presence of the Flood, an ancient and extremely dangerous parasitic life-form that had been unleashed on the Halo and posed a significant threat to both the humans and the Covenant. As the battle raged on, Master Chief and his allies fought to prevent the Flood from spreading beyond the Halo and to secure a critical artifact known as the Index, which was crucial to activating the Halo.
In the climax of the battle, Master Chief and the Arbiter boarded the Covenant holy city of High Charity in an effort to stop the Prophet of Truth from activating the Halo Array. Over the course of a massive battle, Master Chief and the Arbiter fought their way through the city, facing off against the Covenant and the Flood, ultimately defeating the Prophet of Truth and preventing the activation of the Halo Array.
The Battle of Installation 05 marked a critical moment in the Human-Covenant War and was a seminal event in the Halo franchise’s central narrative. Its impact would be felt for years to come, shaping the course of the war and the future of the Halo universe.
Part Five: The Battle of Installation 00
Prompt
Not exactly what I had in mind for the Ark, but I guess… closer? And did it lay an egg?
Write a detailed account of the Battle of Installation 00, listing dates, locations, and individuals involved when possible.
Response
The Battle of Installation 00, also known as the Battle of the Ark, was a major conflict in the Halo universe that took place in November 2552. It was a battle between the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) and the Covenant for control of the Halo Array and the Ark, a massive Forerunner installation located in the galaxy’s outer rim.
Locations involved in the Battle of Installation 00 include the Ark, the Covenant holy city of High Charity, and the human starship Forward Unto Dawn.
Individuals involved in the Battle of Installation 00 include the following:
John-117 (Master Chief): A SPARTAN-II supersoldier and a central figure in the Human-Covenant War.
Cortana: An AI (artificial intelligence) constructed from Dr. Halsey’s own memories and a critical ally to Master Chief.
Thel ‘Vadam (Arbiter): A former Covenant Elite commander who had defected to the humans after the events of Halo 2.
Sergeant Johnson: A Marine veteran and a central ally to Master Chief throughout the Halo franchise.
343 Guilty Spark: An AI caretaker of the Halo Array who plays a central role in the Battle of Installation 00.
Truth: The leader of the Covenant High Council and the central antagonist of Halo 3.
The Battle of Installation 00 began when the Covenant discovered the location of the Ark and launched an all-out attack on the installation, hoping to activate the Halo Array and fulfill their religious beliefs. Over the course of the battle, Master Chief and his allies faced off against the Covenant, the Flood, and the Ark’s defensive systems, ultimately securing the Ark and preventing the activation of the Halo Array.
As the battle raged on, Master Chief and his allies fought to prevent the Covenant from using the Ark to destroy all life in the galaxy. The battle was complicated by the presence of the Flood, which had been unleashed on the Ark and posed a significant threat to both the humans and the Covenant.
In the climax of the battle, Master Chief and the Arbiter faced off against Truth and his forces in a final showdown. Over the course of a massive battle, Master Chief and the Arbiter fought their way through Truth’s forces, ultimately defeating him and preventing the activation of the Halo Array.
The Battle of Installation 00 marked the end of the Human-Covenant War and was a seminal event in the Halo franchise’s central narrative. Its impact would be felt for years to come, shaping the course of the Halo universe and the future of humanity.
Final Thoughts
A lot of that, in fact a majority of it, actually appears correct. A few facts it got wrong, such as the start of the Battle for Earth, but mostly it seems pretty spot on. One glaring exception is the ODP Antioch, which as far as I can tell, ChatGPT made up from whole cloth. I am not sure what happened there, but it sure does sound like the name of an Orbital Defense Platform. Are there more errors I missed? Let us know in the comments what other inaccuracies you find!
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Spartan-II Blue Team as depicted by DALL·E 2. Not sure that a more accurate depiction could be created.
If you are finding yourself on this blog and website, chances are you know a good deal about the Halo universe. Most people reading this will know the story of the video games, plus undoubtedly a decent portion of the story from the books, short stories, comics, and other minor canon entries. But what does an AI know about the Halo universe? Programs like ChatGPT, DALL-E, and the like have impressed us over the past year or so with their ability to create original, convincing works seemingly instantaneously, no matter the request. While they are still far from perfect, they are incredibly compelling pieces of software, and hold the knowledge of the entire world at their metaphorical fingertips.
But what about a fictional universe like Halo? Does an AI like ChatGPT “know” the Halo canon? Can it accurately describe the characters and events in Halo as it is presented in the official canon, or will it make rookie mistakes and get confused by the endless sources that provide dubious or just plain “wrong” information?
To answer that question (and to test your Halo canon knowledge), I have asked ChatGPT questions about the Halo universe, and I will post the responses here, unedited. YOUR job, should you choose to accept it, is to determine whether ChatGPT is correct, or whether it is making unforgiveable errors to the Halo canon. Read through these, find any errors, and let us know why ChatGPT is wrong. These aren’t planted errors, so there could be none, or there could be dozens. It is up to you, the fine readers, to catch them all.
In this post, we will start simple. Blue Team, the Spartan-II fireteam consisting of Master Chief Petty Officer John-117, Fred-104, Kelly-087, and Linda-058 is the most well known and most written about team in the Halo universe, and as such, ChatGPT should presumably have good information on the Spartans. Let’s see what it puts together for character dossiers for each member and for the entirety of Blue Team. For fun, I added a little flair to the requests.
Part One: John-117
John-117 as depicted by DALL·E 2. This feels like an Infinite fractures event.
Prompt
Write a character dossier for John-117 from the perspective of a Covenant assassin
Response
Name: John-117 Nickname: “The Demon” Age: Unknown Occupation: UNSC Spartan-II Super Soldier Affiliation: United Nations Space Command (UNSC)
Appearance: The Demon is a towering figure, standing at an imposing height of 6’10”. He is always clad in a full body suit of armor, known as the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor, which is said to be nearly impenetrable. His face is never seen, as it is always obscured by his helmet.
Personality: The Demon is a ruthless and efficient killer, who shows no mercy to his enemies. He is said to have a cold and calculating nature, and is said to be able to remain calm and focused even in the most intense of battles. He is known for his exceptional combat skills and his ability to lead his fellow soldiers to victory.
Background: The Demon is a member of the UNSC’s Spartan-II program, a group of genetically and cybernetically enhanced soldiers. He has been trained since childhood to become a formidable warrior, and has fought against the Covenant in numerous conflicts. He is considered one of the most feared and respected soldiers in the UNSC, and has played a major role in many key battles against the Covenant.
Skills:
Exceptional combat skills, both armed and unarmed
Skilled in the use of a wide variety of UNSC weapons and equipment
Exceptional physical strength, speed, and endurance
Exceptional leadership and strategic thinking abilities
Experience in various forms of combat, including ground, air and space engagements.
Equipment:
MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor: Advanced armor system that enhances the wearer’s physical abilities and provides protection against small arms fire and explosive devices
Assault rifle, pistol, grenades, energy shields, and other standard UNSC weapons and equipment.
Significant events:
The Demon has participated in many battles against the Covenant, and has played a key role in the defeat of many of our forces.
He is considered to be one of the UNSC’s most valuable assets and a formidable enemy to our cause.
Many of our own have fallen in battle at the hands of this Demon. He is said to be almost invincible, and his death would be considered a great victory for the Covenant.
Overall, John-117 is a formidable and dangerous opponent, his exceptional physical and mental capabilities, as well as his leadership and strategic thinking abilities, make him a formidable warrior. He is a ruthless and relentless opponent, his determination and dedication to his cause are admirable but also terrifying. He has caused many casualties and defeats on the Covenant side and is considered a high-priority target by the Covenant.
Part Two: Fred-104
Prompt
Fred-104 as depicted by DALL·E 2. When did Fred get that retro 1960s look?
Write a character dossier for Fred-104 from the perspective of Catherine Halsey
Response
Name: Fred-104 Nickname: “Fred” Age: Unknown (estimated to be in his mid-30s) Occupation: UNSC Spartan-IV Super Soldier Affiliation: United Nations Space Command (UNSC)
Appearance: Fred is tall and well-built, standing at 6’5″ and wears a full body MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor. He has short, dark brown hair and blue eyes. He is known for his stoic and serious demeanor, and is rarely seen without his helmet on.
Personality: Fred is a highly skilled and dedicated soldier. He is known for his calm and collected nature, even in the most dire of situations. He is a natural leader and is respected by his fellow Spartans and UNSC soldiers alike. He is also highly skilled in both armed and unarmed combat, and is able to remain focused and level-headed in the heat of battle.
Background: Fred was selected for the Spartan-IV program, which is a later generation of the Spartan-II program I had the honor to lead. He was one of the few individuals to have been chosen from the pool of potential candidates, due to his exceptional physical and mental capabilities. He underwent the same rigorous training and cybernetic enhancements as the Spartan-II’s, which has made him a formidable warrior.
Skills:
Highly trained in armed and unarmed combat
Skilled in the use of a wide variety of UNSC weapons and equipment
Exceptional physical strength, speed, and endurance
Exceptional leadership and strategic thinking abilities
Experience in various forms of combat, including ground, air and space engagements.
Equipment:
MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor: Advanced armor system that enhances the wearer’s physical abilities and provides protection against small arms fire and explosive devices
Assault rifle, pistol, grenades, energy shields, and other standard UNSC weapons and equipment.
Personal Perspective: I have had the privilege of observing Fred’s development since his early days in the Spartan-IV program. He has always been an exceptional candidate and has proven to be a highly skilled and dedicated warrior. He is one of the few Spartans who has truly embraced the ideals of the program, and has consistently demonstrated leadership and courage in battle. He is a true credit to the Spartan legacy and the UNSC.
Significant events:
Participated in many important battles and operations against hostile factions, including the Covenant and the Flood.
Considered one of the UNSC’s most valuable assets and a respected leader among the Spartan-IVs.
Has served as an inspiration to future generations of Spartans, and his legacy will live on as one of the most accomplished and respected warriors of the UNSC.
Overall, Fred-104 is a remarkable Spartan, his exceptional physical and mental capabilities, as well as his leadership and strategic thinking abilities, make him an invaluable asset to the UNSC. I am proud of his achievements and his contributions to the program and I am certain that his legacy will live on as one of the most accomplished and respected warriors of the UNSC. He is a true testament to the success of the Spartan programs and I am honored to have played a role in his development.
Part Three: Linda-058
DALL·E 2’s take on “Linda-058”, Anyone else getting a Starbuck vibe?
Prompt
Write a character dossier for Linda-058 from the perspective of Jameson Locke
Response
Name: Linda-058 Nickname: “Linda” Age: Unknown (estimated to be in her mid-30s) Occupation: UNSC Spartan-II Super Soldier Affiliation: United Nations Space Command (UNSC)
Appearance: Linda is a tall and athletic woman, standing at 6’1″ and wearing a full body MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor. She has short, blonde hair and green eyes. She is known for her stoic and serious demeanor, and is rarely seen without her helmet on.
Personality: Linda is a highly skilled and dedicated soldier. She is known for her calm and collected nature, even in the most dire of situations. She is a natural leader and is respected by her fellow Spartans and UNSC soldiers alike. She is also highly skilled in both armed and unarmed combat, and is able to remain focused and level-headed in the heat of battle.
Background: Linda is a member of the UNSC’s Spartan-II program, a group of genetically and cybernetically enhanced soldiers. She has served in numerous conflicts against various hostile factions, including the Covenant and the Flood. She has played a key role in many important battles and operations, and is considered one of the UNSC’s most valuable assets.
Skills:
Highly trained in armed and unarmed combat
Skilled in the use of a wide variety of UNSC weapons and equipment
Exceptional physical strength, speed, and endurance
Exceptional leadership and strategic thinking abilities
Experience in various forms of combat, including ground, air, and space engagements.
Equipment:
MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor: Advanced armor system that enhances the wearer’s physical abilities and provides protection against small arms fire and explosive devices
Assault rifle, pistol, grenades, energy shields, and other standard UNSC weapons and equipment.
Personal Perspective: I have had the pleasure of working with Linda on many occasions. She is a highly skilled and dedicated warrior, and a natural leader. She is always calm and composed under pressure, and is able to make quick and effective decisions in battle. She is also a skilled fighter, and I have seen her take on entire enemy battalions with ease. I trust her implicitly and would follow her into any battle.
Significant events:
Participated in many important battles and operations against hostile factions, including the Covenant and the Flood.
Led a successful operation to infiltrate and retake the city of Sunaion from the Covenant.
Considered one of the UNSC’s most valuable assets and a respected leader among the Spartan-II’s.
Has served as an inspiration to future generations of Spartans, and her legacy will live on as one of the most accomplished and respected warriors of the UNSC.
Overall, Linda-058 is an exceptional warrior and leader, her exceptional physical and mental capabilities, as well as her compassion and dedication make her an admirable person. It is an honor to have the opportunity to work with her and I hope to continue doing so in the future.
Part Four: Kelly-087
Does DALL·E 2 have a mid 20th century bias, or is that just me?
Prompt
Write a character dossier for Kelly-087 from the perspective of Margaret Parangosky
Response
Name: Kelly-087 Nickname: “Kelly” Age: Unknown (estimated to be in her mid-30s) Occupation: UNSC Spartan-II Super Soldier Affiliation: United Nations Space Command (UNSC)
Appearance: Kelly is a petite woman, standing at 5’5″ and wearing a full body MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor. She has short, red hair and green eyes. She is known for her stoic and serious demeanor, and is rarely seen without her helmet on.
Personality: Kelly is a highly skilled and dedicated soldier. She is known for her calm and collected nature, even in the most dire of situations. She is a natural leader and is respected by her fellow Spartans and UNSC soldiers alike. She is also highly skilled in both armed and unarmed combat, and is able to remain focused and level-headed in the heat of battle.
Background: Kelly is a member of the UNSC’s Spartan-II program, a group of genetically and cybernetically enhanced soldiers, which I had a crucial role in creating. She was one of the first candidates selected for the program, due to her exceptional physical and mental capabilities. She underwent rigorous training and cybernetic enhancements, which have made her a formidable warrior.
Skills:
Highly trained in armed and unarmed combat
Skilled in the use of a wide variety of UNSC weapons and equipment
Exceptional physical strength, speed, and endurance
Exceptional leadership and strategic thinking abilities
Experience in various forms of combat, including ground, air, and space engagements.
Equipment:
MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor: Advanced armor system that enhances the wearer’s physical abilities and provides protection against small arms fire and explosive devices
Assault rifle, pistol, grenades, energy shields, and other standard UNSC weapons and equipment.
Personal Perspective: As one of the creators of the Spartan-II program, I have had the opportunity to observe Kelly’s development and growth since the beginning of her training. She has always been an exceptional candidate, and her performance in the field has exceeded expectations. She is one of the most skilled and dedicated Spartans, and her leadership and strategic thinking abilities make her a valuable asset to the UNSC.
Significant events:
Participated in many important battles and operations against hostile factions, including the Covenant and the Flood.
Led a successful operation to infiltrate and retake the city of Sunaion from the Covenant.
Considered one of the UNSC’s most valuable assets and a respected leader among the Spartan-II’s.
Has served as an inspiration to future generations of Spartans, and her legacy will live on as one of the most accomplished and respected warriors of the UNSC.
Overall, Kelly-087 is a remarkable Spartan, her exceptional physical and mental capabilities, as well as her leadership and strategic thinking abilities, make her an invaluable asset to the UNSC. I am proud of her achievements and her contributions to the program. She is a true testament to the success of the Spartan-II program and her legacy will live on as one of the most accomplished and respected warriors of the UNSC. She has also been a role model for future generations of Spartans, and I am sure that she will continue to inspire them for many years to come.
Part Five: Blue Team
Prompt
Write a character dossier for Spartan-II Blue Team from the perspective of Captain Jacob Keyes
Response
Team Name: Spartan-II Blue Team Team Leader: John-117 (Master Chief) Team Members: Linda-058, Samuel-034, Kelly-087, Fred-104
Appearance: The members of Blue Team are all tall and well-built, standing at an average height of 6’2″ and wearing full body MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor. Each member has a unique appearance, with varying hairstyles and eye colors. They are known for their stoic and serious demeanor, and are rarely seen without their helmets on.
Personality: The members of Blue Team are highly skilled and dedicated soldiers. They are known for their calm and collected nature, even in the most dire of situations. They are natural leaders and are respected by their fellow Spartans and UNSC soldiers alike. They are also highly skilled in both armed and unarmed combat, and are able to remain focused and level-headed in the heat of battle.
Background: Blue Team is a unit of the UNSC’s Spartan-II program, a group of genetically and cybernetically enhanced soldiers. They have served in numerous conflicts against various hostile factions, including the Covenant and the Flood. They have played a key role in many important battles and operations, and are considered some of the UNSC’s most valuable assets.
Skills:
Highly trained in armed and unarmed combat
Skilled in the use of a wide variety of UNSC weapons and equipment
Exceptional physical strength, speed, and endurance
Exceptional leadership and strategic thinking abilities
Experience in various forms of combat, including ground, air, and space engagements.
Equipment:
MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor: Advanced armor system that enhances the wearer’s physical abilities and provides protection against small arms fire and explosive devices
Assault rifle, pistol, grenades, energy shields, and other standard UNSC weapons and equipment.
Personal Perspective: As Captain of the UNSC Pillar of Autumn, I have had the pleasure of working with Blue Team on several occasions. Their exceptional physical and mental capabilities, as well as their leadership and strategic thinking abilities, make them a formidable and valuable asset to the UNSC. They are always willing to put themselves in harm’s way to protect their team and civilians, which speaks to their strong sense of duty and loyalty. They are always willing to take on dangerous missions and always come out victorious.
Significant events:
Participated in many important battles and operations against the Covenant.
Led a successful operation to infiltrate and retake the city of Sunaion from the Covenant.
Considered one of the UNSC’s most valuable assets and a respected leader among the Spartan-II’s.
Successfully completed various high-priority missions, including the infiltration and destruction of the Covenant’s superweapon, the Halo Array.
Overall, Blue Team is an exceptional unit of Spartans, their exceptional physical and mental capabilities, as well as their leadership and strategic thinking abilities, make them an invaluable asset to the UNSC. Their determination, dedication, and loyalty to their cause are admirable and their actions have saved countless lives and have been instrumental in the UNSC’s fight against the Covenant. I have had the honor of serving alongside them and I am confident that they will continue to be a formidable force for the UNSC for many years to come.
Final Thoughts
ChatGPT put together some compelling dossiers, though with a few obvious errors. I am curious to see you pick these apart and make a full list of all the errors you find, and maybe any tidbits that you found particularly odd or interesting. Let us know in the comments what errors you find!
More from Evolved
We would love for you to get involved with Evolved. Here are just some of the ways you can do that.
Interested in keeping up with the latest Halo news, events, and, of course, lore? Subscribe to Podcast Evolved on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or whatever other podcast service you use to catch the latest episode.
We have a Facebook Group and a Discord Server we use to talk with our members and fans. Podcast Evolved is always open to new members, and welcome every Halo fan to join, whether they are podcast listeners or not. We hope to see you soon!
Whether or not you wish to pledge your support, you are still just as valuable a community member as ever. If you do want to help, however, head over to our Patreon page and become a patron.
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Hey there you incredible people! Long time no write. I know things have been a little stagnant here for the past few months, but rest-assured, there are some huge changes coming very soon that I think people will really enjoy. I wanted to take a few minutes to let everyone know what we have planned, and to give everyone some time to provide feedback before we go live with the changes in January.
On our Patreon, we are revamping our tiers and benefits to provide all of you with better content, better rewards, and a better experience overall. This includes the following:
1.Moving our merch rewards from Spreadshirt into Patreon. Some of you already have received Patreon merch depending on your tier, but we will be expanding these to more tiers and more rewards for everyone. For all tiers $5 and above, you will receive 4 Patreon-exclusive items throughout your first year of support, with items’ value growing along with the tiers. This also means a removal of the annual Evolved store credit for tiers $10+. This is an unfortunate change, but between the lacklusker quality we have seen from Spreadshirt products and the difficulty in ensuring rewards were tracked and disbursed appropriately, we decided to hand off this benefit completely to Patreon. Since many of you are currently in a tier that provides a dollar-amount credit per year, anyone who has a credit that is either already due or coming due will receive one last credit to be used at the store on whatever Evolved merchandise you like. Any new patrons after the transition point will only receive the Patreon merch rewards.
2. Adding a Patreon-exclusive new Evolved podcast, IWHBYP (I Would Have Been Your Podcast). If you didn’t notice already, we like to talk, and while we love talking Halo, we also have other interests. This podcast will be exclusive to Evolved patrons only, and will feature us chatting about life, our interests, answer listener questions, interviewing guests, or just whatever you want and we like. This is going to be pretty freeform, so expect the topics to be varied and the format to be pretty loose until we get into the flow of things. We are definitely up for suggestions about topics, guests, or whatever, so if any of you have thoughts on what you would like to see out of this, let us know! All tiers at $5 Lifeworker and above will have access to IWHBYP as soon as it goes live.
3. Changing our tier structure. Starting in 2023, our tiers will be updated to reflect what we think is a better array of support amounts. The current Manipular and Miner tiers will be combined into a single $2 Manipular tier, and the $75 Theoretical tier will become $80 to match tier progression and benefits. The current $55 Juridical tier is being retired, and in its place will be a special limited tier as described below. All current Manipulars at the $1 tier will be grandfathered in to their current pledge level and benefits.
4. Special Limited Tiers. In addition to the new tier structure, there will be 5 single-patron tiers available that provide some unique benefits. These will be the Linda-058, Kelly-087, Fred-104, John-117, and 343 Guilty Spark tiers, with support levels commensurate with their numbers. These special tiers come with the same benefits as the Theoretical tier, with the addition of a one-time store credit amount matching the tier level, an entry into the Evolved Patreon hall of fame on our website, and a extra special secret private discord channel just for Evolved Patreon hall of famers.
5. Retiring and retooling some less used benefits. Due to their limited use, we are retiring some of our less-used benefits, and retooling some others to make them more beneficial to you. Holiday and anniversary digital/physical postcards will be retired. In its place will be an annual end of the year thank you video or audio clip put together by the team. Podcast guest opportunities will be extended to all tiers Promethean and above. Co-op gaming with hosts will remain largely the same, provided to all tiers at Linda-058 and above. Vinyl copies of the Evolved album are being retired as well, as there was little demand and they were exceedingly difficult to get good quality copies. Evolved Cameo videos will be retired as well due to low demand.
6. Changes to the Evolved Store and credits. As mentioned above, the Spreadshirt store is going to be retired alongside these Patreon changes. In its place will be a new store built right into our website so you can make purchases of Evolved merch directly from us. Along with that, Patreon tiers Linda-058 and above will receive one-time credits for the store. The limited tiers will receive a one-time credit matching their support level, and the Theoretical tier will receive a $50 one-time credit. In addition, we are working to provide discount coupons or codes to all patrons to receive an extra percentage off, though this is still being worked on in the backend.
7. Evolved-commissioned artwork. To simplify the distribution of any commissioned artwork going forward, commissioned art will be provided in its max resolution to all tiers $10 and above, once we actually find an artist who is talented and available to create new pieces for us. This is expected to resume alongside the Patreon changes in January 2023.
If anyone has questions or comments about this upcoming change, be sure to let us know in the comments below or via any of our social media or email. Thanks for a great year, and we look forward to what 2023 has to offer for the Patreon, Evolved, and the Halo community as a whole!
More from Podcast Evolved
We would love for you to get involved with Podcast Evolved. Here are just some of the ways you can do that.
Interested in keeping up with the latest Halo news, events, and, of course, lore? Subscribe to Podcast Evolved on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or whatever other podcast service you use to catch the latest episode.
We have a Facebook Group and a Discord Server we use to talk with our members and fans. Podcast Evolved is always open to new members, and welcome every Halo fan to join, whether they are podcast listeners or not. We hope to see you soon!
Whether or not you wish to pledge your support, you are still just as valuable a community member as ever. If you do want to help, however, head over to our Patreon page and become a patron.
Take a stop in our merch store, where you can pick up Podcast Evolved-themed shirts, hats, coffee mugs, and more! All proceeds go towards helping pay for operating costs, and any additional funds are returned to to community via giveaways and special events.
Hey everyone – and welcome to a closer look at MEGA’s latest army builder, the Ghost of Requiem. This set retails for around $16.99 and is available on Amazon and at some brick-and-mortar retailers right now. Let’s take a closer look!
The set comes with four Micro Action Figures. Two are Halo 4 Marines – with one representing the more traditional design for the Halo 4 Marine, and the other representing a more up-armored version of the Marine. The figures come with a Battle Rifle and a Halo 5 Rocket Launcher – a strange choice given this set is based on Halo 4. I like the new removable helmets but do feel as though the sculpting on the helmets for the figures is slightly soft.
On the Covenant front we have a figure of Gek Lhar – a figure which essentially functions as a Storm Elite from Halo 4. The brighter blue colour used here pops, and there are some nice yellow highlights on the armor. Gek is complemented by an Orange Storm Grunt – a figure which is easily mass able, although it would benefit from some additional eye paint.
The Ghost is one of the most gorgeous versions of the Halo 4 Ghost we have seen to date – with lots of additional printed details and other elements packed into the build. I really love how sleek and modern this design looks – packing in so many gorgeous elements which really make this build pop. This may be the best Ghost we have received to date.
That’s it for this short look at the Ghost of Requiem! Check out our video on YouTube, linked below, for a more in-depth look. Until the next time – Evolved!
More from Podcast Evolved
We would love for you to get involved with Podcast Evolved. Here are just some of the ways you can do that.
Interested in keeping up with the latest Halo news, events, and, of course, lore? Subscribe to Podcast Evolved on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or whatever other podcast service you use to catch the latest episode.
We have a Facebook Group and a Discord Server we use to talk with our members and fans. Podcast Evolved is always open to new members, and welcome every Halo fan to join, whether they are podcast listeners or not. We hope to see you soon!
Whether or not you wish to pledge your support, you are still just as valuable a community member as ever. If you do want to help, however, head over to our Patreon page and become a patron.
Take a stop in our merch store, where you can pick up Podcast Evolved-themed shirts, hats, coffee mugs, and more! All proceeds go towards helping pay for operating costs, and any additional funds are returned to to community via giveaways and special events.
Master Chief Petty Officer John-117, as seen in the introduction to Halo the Series.
“The most amazing thing for me is that every single person who sees a movie, not necessarily one of my movies, brings a whole set of unique experiences, but through careful manipulation and good storytelling, you can get everybody to clap at the same time, to hopefully laugh at the same time, and to be afraid at the same time.”
— Steven Spielberg, filmmaker
Be sure to check out Halo TV+, the latest podcast from Evolved covering every episode of the Halo Television Series including commentary, analysis, and a final season review!
Season one of the Halo TV Series is in the bag, and I have to say, after watching it all the way through with a very open mind, I think it failed. I think it failed to deliver a compelling story, and I think it failed at reproducing the themes and ideas that run so deep in Halo, particularly the original trilogy. The verdict is out whether it succeeded at bringing in new fans to the franchise, though considering the viewership of the show was apparently really good, it may have managed to succeed at least on that front.
Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot to the Halo TV Show that I have enjoyed immensely, but those parts were interspersed with far more parts I did not care for at all, and even more parts that I just did not understand the reasoning behind. It is not terrible by any means, but I don’t think I could call it a good show, even as someone who has been dying to see live-action Halo on the television for over a decade.
Now I don’t want to leave the reader with just a rant, as I personally cannot stand seeing people on social media attack the show’s cast and crew without providing context and constructive criticism. There are good aspects to the show, and I am hopeful that the showrunners can correct a lot of the mistakes from season one and deliver a much stronger and more compelling season two, whenever that lands. I also want to provide my thoughts on what I think the show should have been out of the gate, now that I have been able to digest Halo’s first attempt at a real non-canon entry into the franchise. I have a lot running through my head, so lets hope I can manage to get it all written down without making you, the reader, roll your eyes to the back of your head in exhaustion.
Related Media
The following article will discuss major plot points related to season one of the Halo TV Series.
What the Show Got Right
Before I dig into all the part of the show I thought were outright failures, I am going to cover the parts that I think the show got right. If you are one of those people who just wants to read someone bashing the TV series, skip to the next section, though I would urge you to read through this section as well and see whether you agree with my assessment on the good parts of the show. You may fervently disagree with my opinions, or you may remember something else I completely forgot that was a highlight of season one.
The Spartan Program
Firstly, the plot following John discovering his past as a child and as a Spartan recruit was fantastic. I know a lot of people found these episodes (two through four) to be eye-wateringly boring, but this is the kind of character exploration and pace I really wanted from a Halo television show. The weird changes to the canon aside, John’s discovery of the truth behind what happened to him and his evolving relationship with Dr. Halsey were amazing to watch unfold. The realities of the Spartan program have mostly been mellowed in canon material, so while we always knew of the horrors of how the Spartans came to be, it was never presented with that much raw emotion. What Dr. Halsey did was not excusable in any reality, and the fact that we got to see her face what her actions wrought on the screen was a real gem of season one.
We also were able to see glimpses of the effects of the Spartan program on the Spartans themselves. The scars were a nice touch, but I am actually referring to the brief glimpses of the children on the operating table during the augmentation process. This has been seen in other Halo media, but seeing it live-action really hit a nerve for me far more than anything else I have seen or read in the Halo universe. As hard as it could be to watch, I really want the show to keep going back there to really drive home the horror of the Spartan program, so we don’t forget these adult supersoldiers were once kidnapped and abused children.
The Clones
This leads into the second aspect that I loved, which is cloning, both to create Cortana and to replace the abducted children for the Spartan program. Again, this aspect of both Cortana and the Spartans is just so ethically and morally disgusting, and we actually get to see just how awful it really is. That said, there are aspects of these parts that I questioned the writing decisions made, but overall the portrayal of just how terrible Halsey’s cloning programs are is laid bare during John’s flashbacks as well as during the Cortana creation scene. I will absolutely get into the parts of this I really did not care for in the next section, but I was thrilled to see that the writers didn’t gloss over what should be an impossibly contentious part of the Halo universe.
Using a fully human clone was a great change, and one I would expect to see again were this to ever be touched on again in a future live-action Halo entry. Having Halsey look into her clone’s eyes, her own eyes, and talk to her so coldly, then proceed to destroy her for the sake of progress really adds so much more emotion to what would otherwise be confusing and hard for an audience to really grasp on an emotional level. Cloning and destroying a brain, while fundamentally the same atrocity as what we see in the TV show, does not carry the same emotional weight as does seeing a human clone killed to create an artificial intelligence. I am not surprised but am glad they decided to go this route in the show, and it completely paid off in the end.
The Sets
Moving to the practical effects, I think the team did an astounding job building vast sets that I would have expected to be CG, as well as designing fantastic costumes and props that are used throughout the season. The Mjolnir suits look incredible, and the huge set pieces filled with warthogs, marines, weapons, and other supplies were mostly done fantastically, bringing the Halo universe to my television like I have never seen before. Like the first two positive aspects, this one is not without fault, and again I will cover all the parts of it I did not like in the next section.
Episode five in particular caught my attention just because of the scale involved. I suppose maybe it is more CG than I realize, but as far as I could tell the entire base, minus the ships, were part of a physical set, which means the producers put a lot of time and effort into building that set which ultimately only appeared in that single episode. This was a great choice, and it really brought a sense of reality to the show that I don’t think would have been there if the set had been CG.
The sets were very well done and were probably one of the best parts of the entire season one.
What the Show Got Oh, So Wrong
So not that I have established that there are significant parts of the Halo show that I thoroughly enjoyed, I am going to dig deep into all the parts I either did not like or outright hated. I say this because, frankly, there is a lot more that I didn’t like than I did. I really tried to accept the decisions made early on in the season with the assumption that they would payoff in the end, but knowing now that most of those questionable decisions did nothing to build a compelling story, I cannot let them by with a free pass.
The Pace
I am just going to come out and say it, the pace of this show is terrible. And before you shout in agreement that the show was too slow, I am going to posit that the show is way too fast! No, seriously. While nearly nothing of significance happens throughout basically the entire season one outside of the Forerunner macguffin, the plot still develops way too quickly. Episode one may have been the most egregious, and while I forgave the writers who I knew were trying to pander to the core Halo fandom, the introduction of characters, themes, and relationships happen so quickly that there is little room to really get drawn into the universe’s story. We meet Kwan, her dad, the insurrectionists, Silver Team, and the Covenant all in the first scene! By the end of the episode we have been introduced to Jacob and Miranda Keyes, Admiral Parangosky, and Dr. Halsey too, leaving just Soren-066 as the only main character not seen in the first episode. There is just way too much being thrown at the viewer in episode one, and while the pace slows down in subsequent episodes, it picks back up mid-season and never looks back.
Starting at episode five, the show really picks up steam again. While I really enjoyed episodes two through six, I have to admit that the plot points that develop in episode five start the ball rolling to the wild conclusion that left me rolling my eyes at for nearly all of the last two episodes. I am for the action scenes by all means, but I am going to be completely honest in saying that the action scenes are not what differentiates Halo from other science fiction or first-person shooters. Everyone has action. What makes Halo unique is the story about the struggle. The struggle to fight for humanity’s survival and the struggle to come to terms with the fact that the Spartan program is both one of the most egregious crimes against humanity and the only thing that saved humanity from total annihilation. Most casual fans haven’t delved into the backstory of Halo at all so that second part is missed entirely, but it is constantly hanging over everything that happens throughout the Human-Covenant War and beyond.
What’s more, as was so eloquently described in the Halo 4 prologue cutscene, “You (Dr. Halsey) developed the Spartans to crush human rebellion, not to fight the Covenant.” The story of the Spartans would surely be on par with anything done by, say, Red Skull in Captain America, a purely evil act, were it not for the timely appearance of the Covenant. That doesn’t absolve Halsey or ONI or anyone involved of their sins, but boy does it make for a compelling story! How do you deal with a person who should unquestionably be sent to the firing squad for her actions, yet is also the only reason humanity still exists? The TV show does manage to dive into that more in the middle of the season, but it kind of flies past it in favor of more action, to the detriment of the show I think.
The Compression
Along with the rushed pacing, the story compression is a serious detriment to the Halo series. If you aren’t sure what I mean by this, I am talking about how just about everything in the Halo story is compressed to fit within the TV show. Right off the bat we get to see a planet of insurrectionists who are completely unaware the Covenant exist, decades into the war with the aliens. This idea isn’t new, though, as we have seen it in multiple Halo novels that take place at or very near the start of the war. It’s a great way to introduce the Covenant to the audience, as a new reader would also be largely unaware of the Covenant, or at least the specifics of who they are at the onset of war with humanity. It allows for exposition that could otherwise feel very forced. This is all fine and dandy, and I like this aspect to the timeline.
But in the context of the Halo show it makes no sense. While we don’t know for sure how long the war with the Covenant has been going on in the Silver timeline, it presumably has been at least a decade or two as Makee is kidnapped as a child by the Covenant, who appears to be well into her 20s in present day 2552. So instead of being given a maybe forced plot exposition by a character describing the Covenant to someone who should know better, we are given this contrived plot thread that just comes off as confusing. I don’t want to say it is lazy writing because I am sure more effort was put into every aspect of the story than I could possibly understand, but I think it is just a poor decision by the writers and/or the showrunners.
The compression continues thematically in the first episode as well. We are introduced to the UNSC in the second half as John speeds towards Reach with the artifact, but then and throughout the entire first season the UNSC is presented as the placeholder for the entire human military complex. This is another simplification that I get from the standpoint of introducing new audiences, but completely ignoring ONI and their involvement in the Spartan program weakens Parangosky as a character and turns an otherwise complicated and contentious relationship between military power centers into a nebulous “evil government/military” organization. The presentation of the UNSC to the audience is basically just as a vessel to continue the John/Halsey plotline in the context of a broader conflict with the Covenant, and that really detracts from so much nuance that exists in the novels and even in the games to a degree.
The last part of the universe that gets compressed is travel time. This is not just a problem of the TV show as it has been a recurring theme of Halo content since the transition from Bungie to 343 Industries, but I personally cannot stand the change to a “globalized” galaxy, where planets are no longer months apart, but merely hours. While the original trilogy of games never expressly mentions this, you see it if you pay attention to the dates given and focus on the broader story being presented. As an example, the travel time from Reach to Alpha Halo (Halo: Reach to Halo: Combat Evolved) is nearly three weeks. A month elapses between CE and Halo 2. Nearly two weeks elapse between Earth and Delta Halo in Halo 2, and yet another two weeks go by between Halo 2 and Halo 3. Leaving Earth for the Ark in Halo 3 takes the Forward Unto Dawn almost four weeks.
These are all big time jumps that the casual player doesn’t even register, but they are meaningful in the context of the broader universe, and establish a galaxy where solar systems are within reach, yet still a significant distance away. If you are someone who isn’t familiar with the extended Halo universe you might be saying “who cares?”, but it does help to ground the universe in a way that makes this fictional world seem real, and helps explain some of the themes and plot threads that extend throughout Halo. Why are the outer colonies so against UNSC/UEG rule? Because they are literally months away from the inner colonies and have built a separate governance and culture from that of Earth and its nearby neighbors. Forget the physical distance, that doesn’t really matter in the context of colonial expansion. It is all about travel time.
This seemingly minor nuance of the universe starts to get lost once Halo 4 is released and has continued ever since, to my endless frustration. While it is true that there are over four years between Halo 3 and Halo 4 in the timeline, the plot of Halo 4 takes place over a total of five days. This includes traveling from Requiem to Gamma Halo to Earth. And yes, I know there are completely explainable reasons why this makes sense from a lore perspective, but it still takes away that important aspect of the Halo universe, and in my opinion it does so to the detriment of the series.
Faster-than-light travel is a key aspect of most science fiction, because it allows the story to progress in a universe that is so unimaginably vast that only having conventional propulsion would render interstellar travel impossible for the individual. As someone who much prefers adherence to physics whenever possible, I am accepting of this exception because without it, all science fiction stories would be confined to a single solar system. Insisting that travel time is still a non-trivial amount, however, keeps that aspect of the fictional universe as an impactful factor in how the story develops and grows. Yes, humanity can spread amongst the stars, but not without straining against the realities of being weeks or months apart from each other.
This thematic change continues in Halo 5 and beyond, and while again I understand the plot reasons why it makes logical sense, it still detracts from the narrative. The exact same goes for the TV series. While distances and timeline are not extremely clear in the show, it is heavily implied that traveling from Madrigal to Reach in a Condor only takes a few hours. Madrigal is basically a backwater mining town with heavy insurrectionist ties, yet the human capital on Reach (as it is presented in the show) is only a couple hours away. There is no plot reason why any type of insurrection shouldn’t have been put down hard long ago on Madrigal. And more importantly, there is no real reason why an insurrection should have gathered steam in the first place.
As I said before, the in-universe reason the insurrection grew was due to the time distance between the outer colonies and Earth. They were forced to self govern, and as the years and generations went by, the outer colonies grew apart from the UEG/UNSC, and demanded more autonomy. When that was denied, resentment and rebellion began to grow. Being that UNSC and UEG command was literally months away, they were unable to effectively contain the growing hatred and the insurrection was born.
Does any of this matter to the story told in the Silver Timeline? No, but actually yes. Sure, this world-building nuance can be ignored for the sake of simplicity, but when you state that the intent of the Halo TV series is to build a believable narrative world (or in this case rebuild) in a similar manner to Game of Thrones, the reasoning and intentions behind characters’ actions is important for the viewer to get invested in the story. The excessive compression done by the showrunners has completely removed the minor parts of the Halo universe that make it a unique and lovable world.
Silver team, standing around in their sexy AF Mjolnir. This was the best part of season one, hands down.
The Simplification
This complaint will sound similar to my previous rant about narrative compression, because it is in the same vein to the ideas I discussed there. While I mentioned earlier that I really enjoyed the show’s portrayal of Halsey and the terribleness of the Spartan program, even these parts had issues I couldn’t help but mention. Were it not for all the other issues I probably wouldn’t have made a big deal about these, but given the context I can’t help but mention them. I think these issues are all related to the same underlying problem with the TV series, which I will get into in just a bit.
Like I said before, I was thrilled to see the Halo TV show really dig into the immorality of the Spartan program. The only other time this has really been pursued in any meaningful way in the lore was in the Kilo Five Trilogy of novels, and that entry into the canon was met with complaints from fans who thought it was too one-sided and tried too hard to absolve everyone other than Halsey of the original sin of the Spartans. Likewise, the TV show falls into the same trap, placing the blame (rightly) onto Halsey’s shoulders, but effectively forgiving everyone else involved as merely pawns in her plan.
To be fair, Keyes doesn’t totally get off scot-free, but his repentance is presented in such a way that the immorality of the Spartan program doesn’t rub off on him. The same can be said for Parangosky too, who, while written as a hardened military officer, is still presented as someone who isn’t responsible for kidnapping children and creating child-soldiers. This blame narratively falls solely on Halsey’s shoulders, and any ambiguity as to who is the real villain is removed from the equation.
This is a theme around Halsey’s character throughout the show. She is conniving and scheming, which is really well done, but she is so one-dimensional her side of the argument never plays out. Not that Halsey has a leg to stand on morally or ethically, but that character conflict between Halsey and John just doesn’t ever build in any meaningful way. She is basically the wicked witch who has John under her spell right until the enchantment is broken and John is finally made aware of the wrongs that were forced upon him as a child and throughout his life.
This relationship has been handled so much better in the core canon that I the only conclusion I can come to is the show writers were afraid of giving Halsey’s character any chance to argue her side for fear of appearing to condone her actions. While in some respect I understand that fear, it is a bridge that has been crossed plenty of times before and could have been handled so much better and given Halsey’s character so much more depth. Viewers don’t see Walter White’s portrayal in Breaking Bad as condoning murder, gangs, and drug use. Everyone knows he is the anti-hero and while fans root for him throughout the five seasons, they also understand that his behavior is reprehensible and unforgivable. Walter White is such a beloved character because of that depth and because viewers can relate to him on some level.
Halsey should be the same. You know she is fundamentally wrong, but her character portrayal should be such that you believe she thinks she did the right thing, even if she understands her actions harmed hundreds of people. I don’t get that from the TV show Halsey. Clearly she stands by her actions based on her behavior on-screen, but that is where the conflict seems to start and end. She is the bad guy, she doesn’t care, so she fights back. No reflection on the weight of her actions. No throwing the accusations of severe child abuse back in the face of Parangosky and all the others who helped and supported the Spartan program. She is purely a sociopath who has no remorse or concern for anyone she has hurt along the way. This is not the nuanced Halsey of the core canon, and it is to the extreme detriment of the TV show.
Then there is Cortana. All the changes to her appearance aside, I have real problems with how her creation, development, and fit into the silver timeline were changed for the show. While I know the community has real issues with how she appears in the show, that part doesn’t really bother me. Clearly it was done that way to aid in dramatic effect, and understanding that the TV medium is far different than video games, I forgive the showrunners for any changes they made on that front.
My real issue with Cortana is how she fits into the broader Halo universe. AI runs deep in the core Halo story, not just as a plot device but as a vessel for exploring the nature of humanity. I completely get that Cortana is the focus of the show, but I couldn’t help feel like she was presented as the first AI ever created in the Halo universe. This is never said explicitly anywhere, but this is how the writing made the audience feel. On one hand this makes her character that much more special, but I think it is just another example of the writers oversimplifying the story for the sake of a new audience.
I am curious, though, how casual fans who are only familiar with the original Halo trilogy processed this part of the story. From the perspective of the first three games, Cortana is the only AI you ever see. So on one hand you might think that those fans would assume Cortana is the only AI in the Halo universe. This is not how I remember the original trilogy though. Not that there is some AI in the story somewhere, but the story of the games is presented with such a narrow focus on Master Chief and Cortana that the player isn’t given any information to make the determination. I always assumed there were other AIs, just based on this. Halsey never shows up in the trilogy, Cortana’s birth never does either, and aside from very small snippets that include John, the broader UNSC military complex is never fleshed out.
The TV show, meanwhile, does present the viewer with many scenes that do not involve John or Cortana, and in these it is clear there is no AI present, at least not one that takes on a corporeal form. No one in the UNSC is shown interacting with an AI at all, so it can be assumed that Cortana is the first. Of course this is not made clear so if one shows up in season two it wouldn’t be a retcon, but the writers clearly tried to simplify this concept for the viewer, and I think this seriously hurts the world-building and story depth of the TV series.
Everything Else
I could probably spend a lot more time listing the things in season one of the Halo TV series that bothered me, but since that might feel like beating a dead horse, I will just briefly mention the most egregious issues I had with the show that pop into my head. If there is something else that particularly bothered you, mention it in the comments. I don’t want this to turn into a hate-filled rant because I think there is a lot of good in the show still, so keep the comments respectful and thoughtful.
I wanted to care about Madrigal and Vinsher Grath, but this plot thread never really went anywhere.
Kwan Ha – This part of the story didn’t go much of anywhere and the places it seems like it is going in future seasons are not compelling at all for me.
Vinsher Grath – This just felt like more generic villain. Nothing about this part of the story interested me.
Miranda Keyes – She started to come into her own in the end of the first season, but she seemed way too meek overall. I get that Keyes is young and in a vulnerable position with her family, but I just never felt like I she was someone I wanted to root for. The actor who plays her, Olive Gray, did a great job with what she was given, but this could have been a lot better.
Silver Team standoff – The entire standoff in the last two episodes between the pelleted Silver Team and the reborn Silver Team was incredibly cliched and just felt weird. I did not like this part one bit.
The CG – I defended the CG for the most part throughout the season, but the last episode in particular looked awful and cartoonish. The animation of the Brutes reminded me of Claymation, and the entire scene overall seemed like they were trying to match one of those epic scenes out of Lord of the Rings, but came up way short. I get that their budget is much smaller, but if you can’t make convincing CG with the budget you have, don’t.
Makee – This is another one of those choices I defended at the outset, adding a human kidnapped by the Covenant into the story, but the execution was again poor. Her ties to John were interesting but didn’t really go anywhere, then they killed her.
The Ending – What the hell was that? So I guess we have silent Chief now because he is actually dead and his suit is controlled by Cortana, making him an actual robot? Why? To appease the fans that want silent Chief? First this isn’t silent Chief, this is dead Chief. Second, this will absolutely not appease any fans. This made no sense.
The Plot – The whole story in the first season is very messy and doesn’t really go anywhere. The first five episodes were pretty good overall, but after that the story seemed to kind of go off the rails and doesn’t really progress very well.
Reach City – Just… why? This has to be the laziest part of the entire first season. Again, I get the writers were trying to simplify the universe for new viewers, but just give it a real name, either New Alexandria, or any other already established city on Reach or just a new name that isn’t “Reach City”. I know, I know, there are plenty of other instances of lazily named cities and planets in Halo lore, and I don’t forgive those either. This is already an established planet with established city names. Reach canonically has a lot of Hungarian roots which is why so many of the locations have Hungarian names. The TV show was literally filmed in Hungary. Pick any city name from there and it would have been better than “Reach City”.
Atriox – At least in season one, choosing the main Brute to be Atriox is weird. This is non-canon, so whatever, but I struggle to imagine a fan who knows who Atriox is but doesn’t know the original trilogy story and those characters like Tartarus. Maybe I am too old and out of touch, but this decision seemed like it was trying to be fan service but failed. I feel like calling him Tartarus would have made a lot more sense in the story, and would have been much better fan service to the hardcore fans. Maybe this will all make sense in season two and I will eat my words, but I don’t have a ton of faith in the story progression at the moment.
Halsey’s Lab – I have said this before, but that lab is so absurdly generic it is laughable. The lab should have at a bare minimum had some personal effects including Halsey’s journal in it. The lab as presented it far too clean and just comes off as a generic science fiction setting.
The running/movement – Why did everyone look so weird running around? I chalked up the weird movements of the Spartans as due to the suits, but the weird movements continued to non-armored characters. It was mostly the Spartans though, and while I understand the why, it nonetheless took away from the show for me just a little bit.
I may not like that this is Atriox, but this was one hell of a scene and episode!
Wrap Up
I don’t want to seem like I hated the TV show, because I didn’t. I can’t say that I liked it though, and if this were any other franchise I would have stopped watching a while ago. I completely understand why the creators felt the need to create a story that focused on Chief and Cortana and the Covenant War, and I 100% agree with that decision. While I personally would have preferred a canon story, I still think the path ultimately chosen to create a parallel timeline was the right one based on the target audience and focus on an original trilogy-era story.
That said, the emotional beats of the original trilogy are totally missed in this show, and I struggle to see how season two and beyond get there based on where the story seems to be going. Again, I would love to be able to come back after season two and say I was completely wrong. I really hope I can. I just struggle to see that happening at the moment.
I was going to end this article by describing how I would have built the Halo TV series’ story, at least in broad strokes, but as this is already pretty long, I will save that for my next post. Check back on EvolvedHalo.com soon for my next article where I try to develop the Halo TV series if I was put in charge. To be clear, I am NOT a writer or in any way qualified to be developing a TV show, so it might be a total shitshow, but if nothing else it should be entertaining.
Really all I want at this point is for the TV show to right a lot of the missteps it took in season one, and to hopefully salvage a decent entry into the Halo universe, non-canonicity notwithstanding. If nothing else, this show should provide a good template for what does and does not work for a Halo TV show, and perhaps in the future we will get a better entry, or maybe a core canon show, or maybe this will spread the brand enough that something like an ODST-focused Band of Brothers-style show would be a success. There are a lot of good bits in the TV series, they are just too far apart for me to consider this show a good Halo show or even just a good show. My hope for better Halo on the TV or big screen remains very strong, though perhaps slightly weaker than it was a few months ago.
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