TheHaloTV show has met a fairly lukewarm reception from critics, with some viewers actively disliking the series' first few episodes. Some fans were upset with a few more surprising aspects of the show, such as oneHalowriter saying they didn’t look at the game when crafting the series, and instead focused more on the world that Bungie and 343 have worked to build over the years sinceHalofirst launched with the original Xbox.
What may have been the most surprising aspect of theHaloTV show to viewers though, was a moment that involved the removal of Master Chief’s helmet. Master Chief is the most recognizable character from theHalofranchise, and one of the most well-known protagonists in gaming, yet many feared that the show on Paramount Plus wouldn’t be able to get the character just right, with some even believing thatadaptations of theHalouniverse shouldn’t include Master Chief altogether. One employee at 343 Industries, the company behindHalo Infinite, seeks to explain the decision behind the removal of Master Chief’s helmet though.
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Alex Wakeford, community writer at 343 Industries, wrote a recap for the first episode of theHaloTV show, explaining some of the thinking that went into the decision to remove Master Chief’s helmet in episode 1, hoping to quell some of the fans' anger. “For fans of our expanded universe,” reads Wakeford’s blog post, ““who have read The Fall of Reach and other media centered around the Master Chief, taking the helmet off is something that they’re actually quite used to.” Wakeford also mentions howHalo 4enacts an exploration and deconstruction of Master Chief similar to what the show is trying to accomplish.Halo 4even allows players to see Master Chiefas a child in the beginning of the game, and for any player skilled enough to beat the game on Legendary, there was also a glimpse at the eyes behind the iconic helmet.
SomeHalofans may be irritated by Wakeford’s implication that those angered at the Master Chief reveal merely haven’t read or played enoughHalocontent. Wakeford does go onto address where the fans are coming from though, confirming that the fans have been in control of Master Chief in previousHalotitles. As the games focus on Master Chief’s exploits, Wakeford argues that the show takes him on a journey “about identity and self-discovery; about systems and morality, and to whom you are loyal.”
Whether fans believe that the show is good or not, and Master Chief should or shouldn’t have removed his helmet, it’s clear Paramount’sHaloseries is certainly reaching manyHalofans, as the show’s debut set new records for the Paramount Plus streaming platform. It’s still uncertain though whether theHaloTV showwill be able to pull off Wakeford’s vision of a show about loyalty, or if the fans' first impressions will be proven right.
