I had the opportunity to watch the first two episodes of Halo recently and I have to say, the show looks very promising. While it’s not perfect, it could help the Sonic films in breaking the video game to movie/TV curse. Let’s talk about why I think Halo has potential.
The best part of the show is undoubtedly Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief. Schreiber embraces the role and gives an outstanding performance as Chief, a very ambiguous character that everyone can see themselves in. I am not thrilled with the decision to show Master Chief’s face, but I understand why they did it. Schreiber gives the character so much personality and depth when the helmet is off that it makes him more human and relatable.
The pacing of the first episode starts off slow but picks up after the 30-minute mark. By the second episode, the pace is more consistent and engaging. Hopefully the show continues at this pace for the rest of the season.
The action in the show is very well done. The opening scene has Master Chief and other Spartans fighting off the aliens and it really makes you feel like you’re watching the game come to life. This is a great way to kick off the show and I can’t wait for more of these big action sequences!
The problem with this show is that it looks and sounds like any other generic sci-fi show. There’s a scene in the first episode that felt so out of place that I wouldn’t have been able to tell it was part of the Halo show if I didn’t know what I was watching. The look and feel of the show sometimes made it feel like I was watching a video game cutscene. Some scenes felt a bit cheap and rushed to the point where it looked like Pablo Schreiber’s face was slapped onto a mannequin in a Master Chief costume. This is something that needs to be addressed if the show is going to have a chance at success.
In short, Halo has some promise. I think the show has its fair share of issues, including some mediocre writing, but if it can overcome them, I think that this show could be a success.
One Take News 