Halo season 1 episode 1 review: The Master Chief has finally arrived!

The video-game adaptation has spared no expenses in terms of production value, but the pilot episode is at times predictable,

Rating: 3/5

Story:
In the 26th century, a rebel colony on the planet of Madrigal is brutally attacked by mysterious alien beings called the Covenant. In a surprise turn of events, the ruling regime elite task force called the Spartans arrive at Madrigal to the aid of the rebels in Madrigal, despite being at war with one another for years.

Review:
Halo was arguably the game that put Microsoft’s Xbox on the map, going toe-to-toe with gaming behemoths, the Sony PlayStation in the 2000s. The Halo launches and releases were just as eventful as an iPhone launch in the United States. While the franchise’s success during the Xbox 360 days could not be emulated in the following Xbox One generation, largely due to its creators Bungie leaving and 343 Industries taking over. But 343 Industries has since redeemed itself with Halo: Infinite for the new generation of consoles, the Xbox Series X and S. The company is also involved with the creative for the Halo TV series as well, with help from Steven Spielberg no less, who serves as executive producer for the show.

The pilot episode did have a touch of the blockbuster in it. Kyle Killen and Steven Kane, the showrunners, did not beat about the bush before getting into the action. Within the first 15 minutes of the episode, the series kicks into gear and delivers fast-paced action sequences and sets the tone for season one. Pablo Schreiber stars as the protagonist Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 along with Yerin Ha as Kwan Ha, the last survivor of Madrigal. The Master Chief, often renowned for his faceless persona in the games, is understandably given more backstory and a face for the TV series.

The limited exploration of the lore in the first episode is probably for the best so that it does not overwhelm the audience. However, none of the supporting characters, which also features Indian legend Shabana Azmi, are given enough screen time to flesh out their arcs, so that the audience is compelled to root for them. The series follows many tried and tested tropes from start to finish in episode one, and the narrative becomes predictable. The stellar CGI and action sequences do offer hope in what the series can offer for the remainder of the season, similar to Apple’s Foundation.

Verdict:
The Halo pilot may not have earth-shattering, but there is plenty of promise that 343 industries could deliver an action-packed season one.

Share