Makee’s death seemed very premature and I’m sad that she will not return for Season 2 because it did not feel like we got to know her very well at all. Similarly, Kwan’s story didn’t resolve so much as reach a pre-defined end point without any apparent relevance to the greater plot of the season or the show overall. It feels like they don’t really have a plan for any of these characters, and that’s not a very encouraging realization.

Kwan's story was, as much I hate to say it, the real weak point. I'm wondering if the cut from 10 episodes to 9 shortchanged her story.

I’m not really sure where this show wants to go in Season 2. I think there are some things we can deduce about the plot, but character-wise, I don’t know where any of this is leading. It doesn’t seem like they’re trying to “match up” to any established major events in existing canon, so I think this is going to go in its own direction, but what that means is a total mystery at the moment. Again, I’m fine with that, but it needs to be a direction that makes sense and exists in service of the story they are trying to tell. The trouble is that I’m not certain they know exactly what that story is in the first place.

Makee’s death seemed very premature and I’m sad that she will not return for Season 2 because it did not feel like we got to know her very well at all. Similarly, Kwan’s story didn’t resolve so much as reach a pre-defined end point without any apparent relevance to the greater plot of the season or the show overall. It feels like they don’t really have a plan for any of these characters, and that’s not a very encouraging realization.

However, the show continues to excel in its action scenes (when it bothers to stage them) as well as its overall pacing and, while I find myself in the minority regarding this next point (at least over on Reddit), I’m mostly very pleased with the way the show has chosen to depict the Master Chief and his fellow Spartans. Other characters like Halsey and Miranda show a lot of promise, but I’m going to be looking for tighter and more introspective writing in Season 2 to develop that promise into something substantial. The jury is still out, but if Season 2 fails to build upon the foundation that this first season established, then I will likely stop watching upon its conclusion.

Overall, it was a decent finale that ended very abruptly and left a lot of plot and character threads unresolved. I’ll be back for more when the show resumes.

Sure. But I have to believe if they can create an AI that can interface with and control a human body, they could just build a robot wrapped in MJOLNIR armor she could control instead.

But the humanity! ;p

I think that’s the point in the show, too. Cortana changes her mind about working with Halsey because she believes in the Chief. Her taking control sort of undercuts that.

I mean, he did die there, so I guess it didn't? Thank god we'll get new showrunners, this was a mess.

Yeah, that was my major complaint, too. At a certain point, why not just build a separate suit and put Cortana in it?

Because it's not the suit, it's his actual body being taken over. Which is silly, but it is what it is.

Sure. But I have to believe if they can create an AI that can interface with and control a human body, they could just build a robot wrapped in MJOLNIR armor she could control instead.

The whole point is they work better together, and it was a little off-putting that Cortana essentially without John was far more effective.

The point in the books, yes. The point in the series is apparently Dr Halsey meant for this the whole time. I wonder if Cortana being produced from a flash-clone of hers is a big part of this in the series' justification. Like, she is achieving her own sort of immortality?

I think that’s the point in the show, too. Cortana changes her mind about working with Halsey because she believes in the Chief. Her taking control sort of undercuts that.

Yeah, that was my major complaint, too. At a certain point, why not just build a separate suit and put Cortana in it?

Because it's not the suit, it's his actual body being taken over. Which is silly, but it is what it is.

The whole point is they work better together, and it was a little off-putting that Cortana essentially without John was far more effective.

The point in the books, yes. The point in the series is apparently Dr Halsey meant for this the whole time. I wonder if Cortana being produced from a flash-clone of hers is a big part of this in the series' justification. Like, she is achieving her own sort of immortality?

Some lines, especially during the action sequences were hackneyed crap. "The ship won't hold!" "She'll hold."

I thought that was a direct quote from the games, but after a cursory search through some cutscenes it doesn't appear to be. I swear I can hear "She'll hold" (or perhaps "It'll hold") in the Chief's voice in my memory somewhere. At the very least it's a twist on "We're not going to make it!" and "We'll make it" that Bungie used like three times. Especially given the crash and then then Kai pulling herself onto the ledge, just like Chief did in the games.

D'oh. Good point. An echo I missed. I guess I just didn't like that sequence anyway. At one point a character says something like cabin A is on fire, and I thought Pelicans have cabins? (Maybe this one did--it was biggest Pelican I'd ever seen.)

I thought she said “cabinet.”

I guess what really bugged me was I didn't see what line they were supposedly holding. I didn't understand what they were doing, and how it related to whatever Cortana was supposedly doing, and anytime it showed a Master Chief's hand on the yoke, it looked fake, like actors in old TV shows directed to act like they steering fake cars but overdoing it.

I don’t disagree there. None of the action in the finale was good, which is disappointing, because I thought the Spartans fighting in the previous episode was pretty well done.

Some lines, especially during the action sequences were hackneyed crap. "The ship won't hold!" "She'll hold."

I thought that was a direct quote from the games, but after a cursory search through some cutscenes it doesn't appear to be. I swear I can hear "She'll hold" (or perhaps "It'll hold") in the Chief's voice in my memory somewhere. At the very least it's a twist on "We're not going to make it!" and "We'll make it" that Bungie used like three times. Especially given the crash and then then Kai pulling herself onto the ledge, just like Chief did in the games.

D'oh. Good point. An echo I missed. I guess I just didn't like that sequence anyway. At one point a character says something like cabin A is on fire, and I thought Pelicans have cabins? (Maybe this one did--it was biggest Pelican I'd ever seen.)

I guess what really bugged me was I didn't see what line they were supposedly holding. I didn't understand what they were doing, and how it related to whatever Cortana was supposedly doing, and anytime it showed a Master Chief's hand on the yoke, it looked fake, like actors in old TV shows directed to act like they steering fake cars but overdoing it.

Some lines, especially during the action sequences were hackneyed crap. "The ship won't hold!" "She'll hold."

I thought that was a direct quote from the games, but after a cursory search through some cutscenes it doesn't appear to be. I swear I can hear "She'll hold" (or perhaps "It'll hold") in the Chief's voice in my memory somewhere. At the very least it's a twist on "We're not going to make it!" and "We'll make it" that Bungie used like three times. Especially given the crash and then then Kai pulling herself onto the ledge, just like Chief did in the games.

Can we get some new show runners for Season 2?

They literally ARE getting a new show runner for season 2. But my gut tells me season 2 will pivot too hard because of stupid internet hate, and the show will suffer. Stay the course guys! Refine what you have and improve the weaknesses.

This^

I had low expectations for the show and I was pleasantly surprised, for many of the reasons you've already articulated. I admire that they made their own thing. The finale was disappointing over all. I seem to like the episodes that are less about action, I guess. Some lines, especially during the action sequences were hackneyed crap. "The ship won't hold!" "She'll hold."

I'm a fan. though, who will keep watching with fingers crossed.

Can we get some new show runners for Season 2?

They literally ARE getting a new show runner for season 2. But my gut tells me season 2 will pivot too hard because of stupid internet hate, and the show will suffer. Stay the course guys! Refine what you have and improve the weaknesses.

More thoughts later, but what an unsatisfying finale.

Starting with the worst, the idea of the climactic battle was good, but I'm not sure about the execution. It was once again very video gamey in logic and presentation. Yes in the game we could mow down hundreds of enemies easily, but in a TV show it just ends up feeling ridiculous with the crazy fully CG shots that defy physics and look animated. And just… don't go to first person. Please. It's just a stretch to do it this way with the budget they have. Fewer covenant that are harder to take down would have made the fight more cathartic. If they had them scramble to take down each one rather than blowing most away I think it would have been better, and victory sweeter. Sure they need to be overwhelmed, but even with Cortana taking over it felt like there'd be no way. Taking down the Brute that stole the artifact in episode 5 should have felt amazing! But he was sort of just crushed by a random pillar. Ug. I'm also unclear on some elements. Why did only the elites get hurled away when Makee touched the artifact? Why not the brutes, grunts, or other spartans?

But still, the idea narratively worked fine, and was I think emotionally in the right place.

Halsey replacing herself with a flash clone was badass.

They went really dark with Adun… finally Halo has a depraved pervert.

Unlike the games, you really do get a sense that Silver team knows each other, and have a relationship together, as well as having individual personalities. Although, I don't think a Spartan would have to ask what spaghettification was (aren't they supposed to be the best and brightest?) Just write the line in a way that it's clear "The ship will be destroyed". Easy.

There's some nice touches like the the spartans being able to run faster than the Chief when he doesn't have his suit on. Kai running to catch up to the ship was a little ridiculous though, but everything that happened before the opening credits was absolutely compelling.

I was a little surprised by Kawn's story. Not necessarily that it didn't tie back in this season, but that it didn't really feel that developed. I figured it would be about her learning to become a leader, rallying everyone against Vishner and becoming the general that her father was. But… she just kind of killed him off quickly. Especially if storylines aren't going to intersect for a while, you've really got to make sure that the storyline is fulfilling and interesting. It's kind of a weird choice…

And of course by the end, I'm now wondering if Halsey got what she wanted after all…

I await season 2.

I’ve been watching the show week-to-week and (mostly) enjoying it up until the now-infamous sex scene. While I’ve got no problem with the concept of giving Master Chief a romantic and/or sexual relationship, I did not feel that the moment was earned given the way they chose to do it.

For one thing, what the hell is Chief doing making a booty call in a high-security prison cell? Like, aren’t there cameras? And then he just spends the night like it’s no big deal. Bro, I get it, Makee is a nice-looking woman and you’re (probably) a virgin, but don’t you think you might get caught? Doesn’t it seem like a really, really bad idea to be doing this? Moreover, doesn’t Chief have enough wherewithal to realize that literally sleeping with the enemy will probably backfire spectacularly? At the very least, it’s a huge opsec risk and he should know better than to do it. Again, I do understand that Chief is a 40 year old virgin and that he’s experiencing this really intense and specific emotional connection with Makee, but I don’t think the context justifies the stupidity of his behavior here.

I agree that it happened a little quickly, but it's not like they didn't foreshadow the romantic connection, and it truly does serve the plot. I mean, all young lovers see themselves as singularly unique, and these two actually are. I also get it's a mindf*ck to those totally wed to the Steve Downes, faceless, Mr. Business Master Chief. This ain't him ... yet. Taking out the emotion regulator was little like the multiverse plotline in the Star Trek reboot (before the creative landscape became lousy with multiverses). It's gives them a lot of room to play. Besides, if Mankitten's amazingly specific prognostications are correct, it'll all be all right for the canon referees.

I don’t know, man. It didn’t kill the show for me and I’m still going to watch the finale to see how they wrap all of this up, but it was a major letdown in such an otherwise good episode.

I mean, at least they didn’t have him fuck Cortana… although when they cut away to that shot of her watching him, I actually laughed out loud. Her expression combined with the unintentional comedic timing of the cut was just too perfect.

I enjoyed that, too.

For one thing, what the hell is Chief doing making a booty call in a high-security prison cell? Like, aren’t there cameras? And then he just spends the night like it’s no big deal. Bro, I get it, Makee is a nice-looking woman and you’re (probably) a virgin, but don’t you think you might get caught? Doesn’t it seem like a really, really bad idea to be doing this? Moreover, doesn’t Chief have enough wherewithal to realize that literally sleeping with the enemy will probably backfire spectacularly? At the very least, it’s a huge opsec risk and he should know better than to do it. Again, I do understand that Chief is a 40 year old virgin and that he’s experiencing this really intense and specific emotional connection with Makee, but I don’t think the context justifies the stupidity of his behavior here.

I don’t know, man. It didn’t kill the show for me and I’m still going to watch the finale to see how they wrap all of this up, but it was a major letdown in such an otherwise good episode.

I mean, at least they didn’t have him fuck Cortana… although when they cut away to that shot of her watching him, I actually laughed out loud. Her expression combined with the unintentional comedic timing of the cut was just too perfect.

I've noticed a change, Cody. It's probably been present for a while, but first, second, and [...] impressions die hard. Perhaps it's rude to bring up anything from years ago, but you're not as dogmatic as you used to be. You've always had a big impact here, and kept things lively. That's to the good, but there's been less good parts.

This post is classic Cody: very articulate, it contains strong, forceful opinions, but then there's this kicker:

Like, if you hated it please reply. I won't argue or mock you or anything… I literally just want to comprehend.

I wanted to kiss the screen. May we all seek to understand this sincerely.

I hope you don't take this as condescending or faint praise, I just appreciate you and this post. I believed them when they told me you were a good guy in person, I knew you were a good guy in chat, but you've pulled off something admirable and difficult: disagreeing without rancor online.

Kerm

I hope someday we can raise a glass together. It'll be on me.

This is how I hope it ends.

Makee signals the covenant with the artifact -
Covenant find Reach and begin the glassing -
Everyone hops onto In Amber Clad -
Cortana finds coordinates in Artifact to jump to -
Arrive at Halo -
Calm moment as everyone is blinded by its majesty -
Covenant arrive next -

Roll credits.

Post credit tease of the flood.

Credit to my boy, MechaTanuki for this detail.

There has to be a scene where Master Chief / Cortana take a significant physical blow, to the point where his armor gets jacked up and has to get re-calibrated. As the person checking him out gives him the ol' "Look up, now down...to the right, now left. Ok you're good to go."

"Look down"

Chief Looks up.

"Whoops, you're in inverted mode"