Spartans aren’t human, they say. About 500 years in the future, the super soldiers are created in secret: As part of the “Spartan II” program, the military kidnaps children, gives them drugs, trains them, lets them grow unnaturally. In battle suits they seem almost invincible, emotionally they are deadened. They should defeat human rebels who want to violently liberate planets from the military command UNSC (United Nations Space Command).
Halo is set in 2552. Mankind has colonized planets and is not just struggling with itself. The aliens of the Alliance, a combination of different races, threaten them. On the planet Madrigal, the most famous Spartan, dubbed Master Chief, encounters an alien artifact and flees, drawing the wrath of the Alliance.
As if that weren’t enough, he seems to remember his family. That shouldn’t be the case, says its creator Dr. Halsey (Natasha McElhone). “Better concentrate on your mission,” she advises the Master Chief. Because the Spartans serve as cold fighting machines, the military actually erased their memory. “Halo” dares a balancing act, the series has to satisfy fans and explain its complex lore to everyone else.
In “Halo” Spartan 117 aka Master Chief questions his identity, challenges the UNSC and wants to know why the Alliance hunts the artifact with religious zeal. Exotic planets, scheming aliens, the mysterious super soldier: This universe fascinates millions of gamers worldwide.
“Halo” inspires millions of gamers
Since 2001, Microsoft has sold more than 81 million of its Halo games. As an exclusive title, it drives sales of Microsoft PCs and their Xbox console. Gaming has long since become the most lucrative entertainment industry: in 2019, according to the analysts of “Newzoo”, with sales of USD 145.7 billion worldwide, it clearly outperformed the cinema (USD 42.5 billion). More than 20 million fans have already played the latest games offshoot “Halo Infinite”.
It is logical that Microsoft is now filming its flagship “Halo”. The group has long considered a series or a film. As early as 2007, the short film “Landfall” by “District 9” director Neill Blomkamp promised a dirtier version of the sometimes colorful alien spectacle. A Ridley Scott film remained a rumor. So now Paramount is trying its hand at Halo, which is roughly on par with Season 1 of Game of Thrones at $10 million per episode.
The story begins just before the game prequel Halo Reach. The Master Chief myth already exists in the games, other people can hardly believe it when they see it. Even the small grunt aliens shout “There he is” or run away in fear. The series wants to explain why the Master Chief is notorious in the games. To do this, she breaks with a secret: players never find out which face is hidden under the Master Chief’s helmet.
It looks different in the series. Rebel Kwan Ha (Yerin Ha) doesn’t understand why the Master Chief never takes off his helmet. “For combat tactical reasons,” he replies. That’s his profession, not feelings. He doesn’t know why he, who up to now has always followed orders, saves the rebel Kwan and thus opposes the military. The look under the helmet makes the series pleasantly different from the games, Pablo Schreiber plays close to the taciturn original.
If you search, you will find Easter eggs from the games
In fights, the makers quote the game. When the Master Chief shoots at aliens or scans the environment, it takes place in first-person perspective, that is: from the point of view of the video games. When 117’s energy shield charges up, it sounds just like it does on the console at home. The series also stays true to the latest games when it comes to the alien design. The alliance leaders called prophets on their flying thrones could also come from the cinematic sequences from “Halo 2: Anniversary”. Eventually, Halo developer 343 Industries got involved in the series.
Visually, “Halo” leaves a mixed impression. On the planet Reach, the series succeeds in creating a vista of dozens of skyscrapers and mountain scenery, the Master Chief flies his spaceship spectacularly through an asteroid field. But the “elite” aliens clearly come from the computer. The rooms in Allianz capital High Charity are alienating with their plastic Apple CGI look. In these moments, “Halo” seems like a small TV series penned by George Lucas.
Newcomers and old fans alike don’t get their money’s worth
Anyone who knows the “Halo” games knows about their potential. The Master Chief still has many stories to tell. But as a TV series for those who don’t know, “Halo” with producer Steven Spielberg has so far remained decent science fiction. Viewers do not expect too much show value and more than average action, the series is too conventional for that. A mysterious super soldier suddenly feels and refuses orders that aliens are threatening humanity. Compared to other video game templates, Halo does well, which should be enough for many fans. At least Paramount has confirmed a second season.
“Halo” has been streaming on Sky since March 24, 2022, 9 episodes between 50 and 60 minutes