{"id":45212,"date":"2024-02-05T12:00:52","date_gmt":"2024-02-05T11:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1986109"},"modified":"2024-02-05T12:39:07","modified_gmt":"2024-02-05T11:39:07","slug":"halo-season-2-review-disjointed-second-run-misses-the-mark","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/halo-season-2-review-disjointed-second-run-misses-the-mark\/","title":{"rendered":"Halo season 2 review: Disjointed second run misses the mark"},"content":{"rendered":"

Season 2 loses what made season 1 special. <\/p>

By Louise Griffin\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 05 February 2024 at 11:00 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Paramount Plus\u2019s Halo TV series<\/a> has been controversial pretty much from the off \u2013 and season 2<\/a> will be no different.<\/p>\n

As a disclaimer: I\u2019m not a gamer, and I don\u2019t have tons of experience with the Halo games, unlike other viewers \u2013 and, undoubtedly, that means many won\u2019t agree with my judgement of it.<\/p>\n

Purely as a TV viewer, I enjoyed Halo season 1, but that certainly wasn\u2019t the case for everyone. From the decision to remove Master Chief\u2019s (Pablo Schreiber) helmet to genuine criticisms<\/a> from the leading actor himself about certain plot lines, season 1 didn\u2019t exactly go down a storm with everyone.<\/p>\n

But, for all its faults, there\u2019s no denying that season 1 was incredibly compelling, introducing us to a lead character we can\u2019t help but root for \u2013 especially when we discover the shocking truth about his past \u2013 and supporting characters that brought genuine heart to the story.<\/p>\n

\"Pablo\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Pablo Schrieber as Master Chief in Halo season 2.<\/span><\/figcaption> Adrienn Szabo\/Paramount+<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Unfortunately, with a new showrunner, a new focus and quite the time jump since the cliffhanger at the end of season 1, Halo season 2 has lost a lot of what made it special.<\/p>\n

We pick up with Master Chief and co months after the events of season 1, when he and Silver Team have seemingly faced a demotion for reasons that are beyond them. But rather than moving the story on, the time jump makes it feel like we\u2019ve missed a lot.<\/p>\n

To make that worse, in the first four episodes of Halo season 2 that were made available for review, it feels like we\u2019re very static.<\/p>\n

For good reason, John is cold, powerless and broken after the events of season 1 \u2013 but that feels like a regression for his character, who had a complex and nuanced journey in season 1.<\/p>

Season 2 can\u2019t rely on its supporting players in the way that season 1 did, either.<\/p>\n

While season 1 boasted compelling characters in the likes of Natascha McElhone\u2019s Dr Halsey, Kate Kennedy\u2019s Kai-125 and the newly introduced Kwan-Ha (played by Yerin Ha), season 2 suffers from taking some focus away from them.<\/p>\n

One merciful exception is Soren, played by Bokeem Woodbine, and his family \u2013 who benefit from a more interesting story in season 2. If only we could say the same about the rest of the supporting characters.<\/p>\n

Nor can season 2 rely on its new entrants. Our introduction to James Ackerson (Joseph Morgan) is tepid, especially because it\u2019s impossible not to compare him to the vastly more interesting Dr Halsey, who\u2019s quite literally stuck in place in season 2, similarly to the re-imagined Cortana who, despite her importance in season 1, has barely spoken a word four episodes into season 2.<\/p>\n

\"Jen\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Jen Taylor as Cortana in Halo.<\/span><\/figcaption> Paramount Plus<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Then there\u2019s the \u201cwall to wall\u201d action. Many fans are sure to love the increased focus on action in season 2 and, in some places, it proves to be a well thought-out decision.<\/p>\n

However, especially at the beginning of the season, when fans will be looking for answers to the questions we were left with at the end of season 1, it takes away from some of the character-driven stories, leaving little time for anything else.<\/p>\n

All of this results in a less meaningful season 2 that\u2019s lost some of its heart. Of course, a lot of it will depend on how it sticks the landing with the final half of the season, but, a few episodes in, it\u2019s not looking good.<\/p>\n