Halo

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Season 1
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 305 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 168 out of 305
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 305
  3. Negative: 121 out of 305
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  1. cyphus4
    Mar 24, 2022
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The only reason I gave it a 3 is because set design is decent and effects were "on par". The color correction though when Kwan went into the small grasslands area was horrendous. It was laughable bad.

    This show completely misunderstands the character of John (117, Master Chief) and also manages to make a show that disgusted me at the same time. I expected Halo to have violence, but not on the level of Suicide Squad in the first 15 minutes. I get it - people like edgy, but this is Halo. We don't need a child (or kid) character getting painted by the blood of her child friends five minutes into the show. I also don't want a Halo show where the elite brutally murder women and children at the beginning. Plus, the dismemberment and gore is insane. It would be R-rated, if it was in theaters.

    Master Chief could've swooped in one minute sooner and saved the day and less gore would've made a show with better. I can't speak for other aspects of the show because I didn't make it past this scene. I turned it off after Master Chief abandoned the kid on the planet.

    343 and Microsoft were idiots to endorse this garbage. If I was them, I'd get your names removed from the credits. They ruined a good opportunity.    … Expand
  2. Kai82
    May 22, 2022
    3
    This is not the Halo you know from the games and they made this clear. Is it still good would be the reply and I say no even more if you are a Halo fan. Maybe unfamiliar viewers can get out more of the show. The show is something different than the games and the changes and new characters cant win me over. I think the games were already a blueprint for a movie adaption with not manyThis is not the Halo you know from the games and they made this clear. Is it still good would be the reply and I say no even more if you are a Halo fan. Maybe unfamiliar viewers can get out more of the show. The show is something different than the games and the changes and new characters cant win me over. I think the games were already a blueprint for a movie adaption with not many changes needed. Even a Halo creator came out and roasted the show (Not the Halo I made). Lets start with the elephant in the room: The ending of season 1 is so horrible that I expected many angry rants. I don't know how they want people to come back for a second season. Lets continue with the problems: You barely see in the show that humanity is loosing a war against the superior alien Covenant forces with billions of casualties. Master Chief is hollow compared to the games and also other characters feel inferior like Cortana, Miranda Keyes or Elizabeth Halsey. Also Cortanas and Master Chiefs incredible relationship is ruined or non existing here. I know they want something different than the games but everything will be judged against the source material no matter what franchise is used and you have to deliver. This is something that will be come up again and again. While I see the potential of Kwans story and character it should be done better. Also does the struggle of 1 world matter when planet after planet is purged / glassed by the Covenant? The character Makee is an interesting choice that I would defend. Unluckily she is wasted by the script. Also there is not much action in the show. I hate bashing here but the choices were questionable if they would win the Halo fans over. The actors are fine for me after some thinking. I cant blame them for doing / delivering the script when their roles are different form the sources. Pablo Schreiber does a great job but does not feel like Master Chief. I praise him for the performance. Yerin Ha as Kwan and Charlie Murphy are wasted by the script but do a good performance. I cant blame them. I shorten this by saying all actors are decent to fine. I praise the action scenes but those are sparingly used. Some sets and effects are not that good but it is not that bad. I repeat this is not the Halo of the source material or what it need to be. Overall I think it is a missed opportunity and overconfidence that they can improve Halo harmed the show. The source was a blue print that should be used with some adaptations like Lord of the Rings. It would have millions of Halo fans watching and praising it instead. I give a 3/10.… Expand
  3. HughMBehavior
    Mar 25, 2022
    3
    Do you enjoy it when Holywood makes your favorite franchises put the lotion on it's skin then flenses them & wears that skin like a gristle suit to sell shows full of "THE MESSSSIGGE"?

    Well of course you do!
    Here's another one for you. Not the worst of them at least. 3.5 stars, round down to 3. If Halo was a franchise I cared about much, probably be a 2.
  4. Perseus69
    Mar 25, 2022
    3
    The first thing you notice is the amazing diversity of races, languages, accents. A joy to behold. The second thing is the cast with 90% of women. Strong leaders, warriors, of unfaltering morality of course. Men are bad and evil. The third is the tragic fan-made style of direction. The fourth is that everything feels flat and uninspired. The previous four points are strongly statisticallyThe first thing you notice is the amazing diversity of races, languages, accents. A joy to behold. The second thing is the cast with 90% of women. Strong leaders, warriors, of unfaltering morality of course. Men are bad and evil. The third is the tragic fan-made style of direction. The fourth is that everything feels flat and uninspired. The previous four points are strongly statistically correlated.… Expand
  5. AlchemistsNoir
    Mar 24, 2022
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pretty solid set designs, costumes and cgi. But wow the dialogue. Bad fan fiction level. Maybe it'll get better but not holding my breath.… Expand
  6. JinxyXeno
    Mar 24, 2022
    3
    Hot Garbage, and I’m a Xbot too, goes to show!! lol they screwed up big time
  7. MoosCrew
    Mar 24, 2022
    3
    Youtube videos have done a better job than this.

    You can tell the people who made this series didn't play the original games and would rather tell their own uninteresting take with the IP.
  8. Whateggs
    Mar 24, 2022
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pretty much what I expected, c tier sci fi action show. It wasn't complete trash; there are spartans which are cool as hell and some geniune tension around 3/4 through... but there's little here to get me excited for the next episode. I was really hoping the show would subvert my expectations and go in a different direction.

    Halo combat, while extremely fun is very arcade-y. The TTK is long, and lets be honest you're just strafing around throwing a few grenades and finishing off kills with a quick melee attack. So obviously that doesn't work for tv show action shots, you need to spice it up. The direction they went was the predictable one. Shoot a little bit, get up close and get in a very lackluster martial arts fight between the spartan and the elite.

    This is made worse by the elites' really bad CGI, the CGI is passible but not great throughout but the elites themselves were shockingly bad. One of the tricks to helping convince the audience the CGI is real, is to partially obscure the CGI with environmental effects or lighting. Instead they chose the first fight scene to be in broad daylight on a desert planet, they stick out like a sore thumb. I can't even blame the animators here, the budget seems big but over the span of a season those VFX hours will dry up quick.

    There are also a small variety of factions and characters in these games. They start the show with these rebels who have incredibly forgettable dialog and acting, didn't show up in the games (I have played most but not all so i might be wrong). Then immediately kill them off. They leave one alive, who's clearly going to be the other main protagonist throughout the rest of the show. Listen, Chief's a good dude, but he's a diehard soldier that lays it all on the line for humanity, he's not going to go on an outcasts journey throughout the galaxy. The dynamic duo just strikes me as out of character for chief, you play the games solo most of the time, every once and a while running by some marines and getting them out of a tough spot.

    I also want to mention. They don't use chief's voice. The voice actor is apparently too old because they planned on showing his face. WHY??? We've heard the same voice for 20 years, they forgo that to show that characters face, who has NEVER SHOWN HIS FACE IN 20 years.

    I could go on and on so here's what I had hoped for: I wish the tone and direction was a dark war movie, kind of like if they picked up from where the famous Halo 3 ad left off. Think Halo 1917, band of brothers, saving private ryan etc. I wish they had looked at the games (which they specifically said they didn't do LOL), and said, how can we tell this exact same story but with a tone, art direction, and cinematography that could get my dad interested. Kept the supporting character list to the grizzled soldiers we know and love.

    You can tell they looked at things like the Mandelorean(which I thought was great) just based on how this story is shaping up, but with that goal in mind the execution is falling flat on its face.    … Expand
  9. monk3ybutt77
    May 11, 2022
    3
    I made a metacritic account just so I could make sure to put my review in for this garbage show. It doesn't feel like Halo and is boring as hell. Additionally, CBS is trying to silence any and all negative criticism towards the show and Paramount+, which is also not worth the money.
  10. Kurrjur
    Apr 7, 2022
    2
    It is not possible that anyone involved in this show has read any of the books, or even played the games. If you base a show on a video game it is assumed that it will follow the story of the original material at least a little bit, but this is not the case at all. I don't believe that anyone who is familiar with the series could enjoy this. The show is also poorly cast, the studio isIt is not possible that anyone involved in this show has read any of the books, or even played the games. If you base a show on a video game it is assumed that it will follow the story of the original material at least a little bit, but this is not the case at all. I don't believe that anyone who is familiar with the series could enjoy this. The show is also poorly cast, the studio is clearly just telling it's own story, and three episodes in I am not a fan. I knew 20 minutes into the first episode that I was only going to watch this until the paramount + sub runs out, and only to use as an outlet to get some aggression out by yelling at the tv.
    It's really pretty though...    … Expand
  11. Targetdrone
    Jul 3, 2022
    2
    it would probably have been a better idea to just buy the rights to some fanmade videos... those are lightyears ahead of this series.
    this is another exampled of some tone deaf studio exec deciding they need to adapt a video game ip to tv. and as so often they do a faceplant hard.
  12. Ahlgren
    Mar 24, 2022
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Bad acting ,horrible dialog.
    It looks okey when the fighting is going on, but every dialog is cringe or boring as hell.
    A loot of **** actors that are so bad that you just cant focus on what they are saying.
    Master cheif removers his helmet in the first episod, that scene is so stupid that only a soyboy could
    come up with.
    The problem with this show is its lack of understandig what Halo and how master chief is.    … Expand
  13. dave606
    Mar 24, 2022
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A terrible and shocking battle, an hopeless plot and 117 with a sleepless face,
    Before watching this play, I have tried to lower my expectations, but its harm to me is still immeasurable.
    I tried to find the highlights of the play, but even if I ignored the story, it couldn't find a good place.
    This is the work of big companies in order to squeeze IP money and perfunctory people. It doesn't deserve a cent.    … Expand
  14. Kzix
    Mar 28, 2022
    2
    What a waste! all these fantastic set, CGI and costume all down the drain due to a very weak scenario. I cannot tell if the actors are any good because the script they have is an abomination. ALL the dialogs are trash, the scenario is very linear and extremely uninspired. I do not mind the "diversity"/wokeness of the cast as it has nothing to do why this show fails. the idiotic action thatWhat a waste! all these fantastic set, CGI and costume all down the drain due to a very weak scenario. I cannot tell if the actors are any good because the script they have is an abomination. ALL the dialogs are trash, the scenario is very linear and extremely uninspired. I do not mind the "diversity"/wokeness of the cast as it has nothing to do why this show fails. the idiotic action that all characters are performing is so cringely bad that I have no idea why the actors did not rebel!… Expand
  15. jameshowlett89
    Apr 14, 2022
    1
    This show wasn't made for fans or none fans, as fans you'll see most of us did not like this, i watched it with my girl who knows nothing of the universe and was confused by everything in the show. So it's not made for fans, since this has butchered and ruined everything in the halo lore, and it's not made for normies as the universe is not explained well to them.

    It's just another show    This show wasn't made for fans or none fans, as fans you'll see most of us did not like this, i watched it with my girl who knows nothing of the universe and was confused by everything in the show. So it's not made for fans, since this has butchered and ruined everything in the halo lore, and it's not made for normies as the universe is not explained well to them.

    It's just another show plagued by identity politics, with poor decisions, changing the mottos of the big names like chief and produce garbage without knowing the source material and the showrunners openly admitted to this, they didn't play the games and don't know the universe.

    edit: after watching 3 it went from bad to absolute trash. i am disgusted with what these fools are allowed to do. they do this often with different properties, from witcher, star wars, LOTR to etc.... angers me that great names and franchises are given to terrible incompetent "writers/producers" who then just dump their own politics and ideas in to make it "their own" and completely ignore the source material. i mean if you were actually "good", then you'd be the one that wrote or created something great and not the clown who simply ruined it.    … Expand
  16. AshmasterXX
    Mar 27, 2022
    1
    Halo came out over 20 years ago, and finally the much anticipated and rumored series for it has come. Instead of making an actual Halo series and you know, playing the games, they made a Mandalorian copy. If you're going to make some Hollywood high budget video game movie or series, it helps to y'know, play the game.
  17. drokami
    Jan 17, 2023
    1
    Worst series about a game ever made. A mediocre series of a game that is also **** especially the last ones that became a joke and humiliation to xbox paladins.
  18. Ggragnar
    Mar 24, 2022
    1
    Una vaga adaptación de un lore increíble cómo el que tiene Halo, lo único sobresaliente los efectos especiales.
  19. Keegs008
    Apr 2, 2022
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This show is supposed to be for fans of the game. This show is NOT that. There are so many story lines they could have gone with, but instead made this mess. This series is so disappointing. Why would they have master chief take off his armor and his helmet?… Expand
  20. Truemk
    May 21, 2022
    1
    The writing is horrible and completely goes against three franchise by using the alternative timeline cop out.
  21. soulassssns
    Mar 29, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This "show" has serious issues and I am not referring to the fact that the developers of it admitted to have not looked at the games. It does have its positives, but the negatives definitely out weigh them.

    Positives:

    - Special effects/CGI during combat/military scenes.
    - Vehicles from the games i.e. Warthog, Pelicans etc.
    - it is violent i.e. when someone dies there is blood and guts.
    - Prophet of Mercy is seen and accurately designed.

    Negatives:

    - Characters are poorly written and portrayed.
    - Dialogue is boring.
    - Elites are poorly designed which says a lot considering how poorly designed they were in Halo 4/5.
    - Where are the Jackals, Grunts etc.?
    - Why do we see Master Chiefs face so soon if at all?
    - Why does Master Chief sit down with an insurrectionists (the rebels) and start discussing classified information?
    - No Steve Downes as the voice of Master Chief (They could have used him for his voice while in armor).
    - No Blue Team (Show has Silver team?).
    - Human character working with the Covenant. The Covenant wants to eradicate humanity.
    - Game/s takes place during the 26th century yet we see the rebels using 20th/21st century vehicles and weaponry.

    343 Industries who worked closely with Paramount/Amblin to make this show knows full well that NONE of this crap would be acceptable in their games or expanded universe content i.e. books/comics, and yet they fully supported it (Looking at YOU Kiki Wolfkill).

    This review will be updated as the show progresses, but I doubt it will improve.    … Expand
  22. throwaway15
    Mar 25, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is absolute garbage filled with identity politics and wokeness. The armor and guns look cheap and flimsy, the cgi is awful, and they have a 2015 Chevy Tahoe just hanging out in 2552. They should've just stuck to the story but no, it's paramount Viacom cbs and they're killing halo just like they killed star trek.… Expand
  23. XBlade1X
    Apr 2, 2022
    0
    A prime example of what happens when men in suits aquire a license to make a new piece of media based on a previously beloved and popular property, but doesn't know what to do with it so they don't bother doing the research on lore or even playing the games and instead decide to throw it all out the window and do their own thing.

    This is Halo in name only... and it was NOT made for    A prime example of what happens when men in suits aquire a license to make a new piece of media based on a previously beloved and popular property, but doesn't know what to do with it so they don't bother doing the research on lore or even playing the games and instead decide to throw it all out the window and do their own thing.

    This is Halo in name only... and it was NOT made for people who like Halo.
    #notmyhalo    … Expand
  24. Jiffy41
    Mar 26, 2022
    0
    All the writers who worked on this show need to find another profession. WHY did you do this?

    Edit: There are so many bots rating this a 10 to maintain a green score. They know how bad this is.
  25. zaclinmac
    Mar 24, 2022
    0
    Casting was horrible. Characters have no idea why they exist, they’re just saying words they don’t feel. If it didn’t have ao much action then it would be unwatchable. I didn’t finish it so for me it was unwatchable but some people might be able to sit through it.

    Also what’s up with the 2020 trucks in 25th century?
  26. KWOW
    Mar 24, 2022
    0
    Uggggggggghhhhhhhh..... why bother. Why hasn't tv and movie studios learned that YOU DO NOT STRAY FROM SOURCE MATERIAL and trying to reimagine what people already love is a show/movie killer. I now do not care for it and will not watch the rest. Another alienation of fans and they should be your main target audience.
  27. AngryShark92
    Mar 30, 2022
    0
    This ain't it chief.

    This isn't Halo. I have no clue what storyline this is following because I stopped playing after Halo Reach when I learned Bungie was no longer producing the series. I think I can speak for most original fans when I say that the decision to follow the 343 timeline was a bad one. This reminds me of the Witcher, it has showrunners who are not interested in    This ain't it chief.

    This isn't Halo. I have no clue what storyline this is following because I stopped playing after Halo Reach when I learned Bungie was no longer producing the series. I think I can speak for most original fans when I say that the decision to follow the 343 timeline was a bad one.

    This reminds me of the Witcher, it has showrunners who are not interested in respecting the source material and are looking to create their own spin/narrative which will undoubtedly be utilized to spew some political nonsense in the future, mark my words. This show is another example of talentless hacks trying to capitalize on an IP with an established fanbase that they did not earn.

    There are no positives that came out of this first episode for me, except maybe the gore and the design of the prophets.

    Also, I have to mention that the anti-white racism, also known as diversity, is off the charts here. I think the only prominent white male in the show is John himself, which, if you have played the original games, is completely contrary to the source material. Captain Keyes and his daughter, who are white in the games are now black in the show, why? Imagine if Sergeant Johnson was played by Nicolas Cage... It would make no god damn sense, so why swap it the other way? Speaking of Johnson... where the hell is he? A charismatic black character that is beloved by fans of the series is nowhere to be found.

    No disrespect to Pablo Schreiber, but Steve Downes is the only voice for Chief, and to see his face unmasked early on was a terrible decision with rippling consequences. Master Chief is not some empathetic, joke cracking, friendly guy, he's a borderline psychopath that had all his memories and emotion stripped away to create the perfect super soldier. Why is he protecting and befriending some trash character that nobody cares about?

    Oh and feel free to include Martin O'Donnell's legendary soundtracks and score, you know, the one that was absolutely groundbreaking for its time...

    Bottom line: This is not Halo, this is some woke hack's take on fan fiction and is truly an abomination when compared to the magic of the original games. Forward Unto Dawn was a superior adaptation to this drivel.

    - Anti-white racism
    - Unnecessary diversity
    - No Steve Downes
    - No Martin O'Donnell soundtrack
    - Questionable CGI
    - Race swapping
    - Master Chief's character is all wrong

    These are the negatives I have after one episode, I can't see this getting any better. If you are a fan of the original games (+ ODST & Reach), you will not enjoy this.    … Expand
  28. Princejojo
    Apr 5, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Absolutely horrible. The first episode. Watch when the gun hits the ground, That CGI is atrocious… Expand
  29. Fuccc
    Mar 24, 2022
    0
    That "show" makes me physically sick. Bad CGI, awful acting, EMPATHETIC MASTER CHIEF.
  30. turdlemckay
    Apr 2, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Seriously. He took off the helmet from step one. The people who made this never played the games, and it shows with how little they know. Fan made stuff from 10 years ago is better.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Most Discussed TV Season of 2022

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. Empire
    Reviewed by: James Dyer
    Jun 22, 2022
    60
    Hail to the Chief? Not quite, but despite some uneven plotting, this is a worthy adaptation that promises better things to come.
    Read full review
  2. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Mar 24, 2022
    70
    Where this all goes and whether the balance tips more toward character and story or more toward video game-like battle scenes is unclear, but if the first two episodes are any indication, character stories will win out. As long as that remains the case, I’ll gladly go along for this sci-fi ride.
    Read full review
  3. The Guardian
    Reviewed by: Ben Child
    Mar 24, 2022
    60
    The obvious parallels are with The Mandalorian, another show about a seemingly invincible, murderous space warrior who embarks on a path towards becoming a total sweetie. If that’s the long-term plan here, neither the show nor Schreiber has quite nailed it yet.
    Read full review
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