Source: Microsoft / Paramount +
Halo TV’s fourth episode returns with the slower, character-driven drama of the second episode, although things are going much better this time around. We’re getting updates on multiple lines, with Master Chief continuing to struggle with his identity, while another Silver Team member gets some time in the spotlight. We also get some neat hints towards where the plot is going, as the pottery ring itself has finally been dropped.
Unfortunately, an update for Maki and the rest of the covenant can’t be found anywhere in this humanity-centric episode. It’s not a huge loss, but given the slower pace of most of this episode, even a quick check-in would have helped raise the bar for a perfectly good entry into the season.
Note: This review contains spoilers for Halo Season 1, Episode 4, “Homecoming.”
Hello series
minimum: The series is again tackling the waters with an emphasis on dialogue and drama, but a few small twists make things interesting.
The good
- Multiple supporting characters shine
- Escalation of the main line regarding Halo
bad
- Not attending the covenant
If you haven’t checked out yet, be sure to read our review of Halo’s first season, Episode 3.
After a quick flashback to the early days of Spartan training, where Team Silver engages in group practice and Halsey talks to younger John-117, we see a series of discussions today. The Master Chief discusses his suspicions when the group approaches Eridanus-2, while Soren tries to reason with Kwan, who insists that her father’s forces will spread across the planet against Vinsher. Either way, the pair finally made it to Madrigal.
Source: Microsoft / Paramount +
Meanwhile, the Kai-125 is seen naked—we get a lot of Spartan background shots in this series—playing quests from the Riz-028 and washing blood off the knife. When her fellow Spartan leaves, we see that Kai has also removed the inhibition granules.
As Quan and Soren make their way to the city, Fincher dispatches his troops, having clearly assumed control of the remaining resistance forces. As we witness the bounty announcements on Kwan, I learned of her deceased father’s memorial that will take place later in the day.
The UN Security Council team arrives at Eridanus-2. Master Chief is able to find his childhood home. After experiencing more flashbacks, the team begins digging in. While I understand the need for secrecy and trying to keep things as low-key as possible, I have to admit that the scene of Master Chief and two scientists wandering in the woods and digging up his old, buried drawing is inadvertently funny.
Source: Microsoft / Paramount +
Back in Reach, we’re starting to get some insight into who the Spartan character isn’t the Master Chief, as the Kai-125 apparently enjoys removing funnel grits. While cleaning the sniper rifle, she takes the color of red grease and uses it to add streaks to her hair. It’s a frankly wonderful sight, one with a near childlike innocence, as if she was trying to find herself in a quiet rebellion that was always repelled.
Miranda pulls out the Silver Team to examine the remains recovered at Madrigal, trying to understand why she’s reacting to Master Chef. Despite some tension from the unsuppressed Kai-125, none of the Spartans are able to move the remains.
In Eridanus-2, after searching for ancient John-117 drawings, Cortana is able to help the Master Chief revive memories, as artificial intelligence brings together the shape of the house digitally, much to Halsey’s concern. We see Mr. Shiv suffering from joy and sadness, clearly losing a life he can barely remember. After talking to Halsey when he was a young child, he becomes very withdrawn and upset.
Source: Microsoft / Paramount +
Meanwhile, we see the Silver Team talking with Miranda in her lab, where the Riz-028 and Vannak-134 contrast pleasantly with Now. until far away Animation Kai-125. The Spartans share war stories while Kai enthusiastically watches the lab and settles for a Needler. Miranda reacts with confusion and annoyance to this newfound energy until the Spartans reveal their knowledge of a handful of words the covenant uses, especially from the Sangheili, or Elite.
While a part of me feels a little weird Nobody The concept of claiming the Spartans would have raised informal field notes beforehand, it helps highlight the differences in the branches of the UN Security Council and how fragmented things are, especially when it comes to Halsey’s direct control of the Spartans.
Kwan and Soren attend Kwan’s father’s religious awakening. Upon meeting an ex-general in the Uprising, Quan’s outburst of anger over being told Fincher killed her father’s support cuts a tender short scene in a seemingly odd way. It’s perfectly understandable that her emotions run high and she acts impulsively, but there’s a lack of self-preservation on display that just doesn’t feel right.
Source: Microsoft / Paramount +
Given a shot of Vinsher showering – again with butts – the new Madrigal leader sends an assassin (Angie Cepeda) to hunt down Kwan directly.
This killer pursues Quan and Soren when they try to meet her aunt, and easily sends her and her guards away, despite having her cut into Soren’s shoulder. With the arrival of the rest of the Vinsher soldiers, the unexpected duo escapes into the desert, pursuing an idea and trying to find the mystics who are supposed to guide Kwan’s father.
While Miranda and Kai continue to talk while reviewing some new data, Miranda and Kai-125 talk awkwardly but seriously about their respective struggles. Miranda is then able to piece together parts of a previously intercepted message, including a particular word translated into the sacred ring – Hello. This revelation is underlined by an excerpt from the famous chorus from the games soundtrack, and it’s a really cool moment. Even if you’re not familiar with the source material, there is a quiet veneration for this scene.
Intersecting with this discovery of the episode, Master Chief traces his memories back to the relics he once discovered as a child. As the episode concludes, we see Master Chief and Halsey staring in amazement at the effects, even as Miranda notes that her emotionally distant mother won’t undo any uncontrollable variables.
Looking to the future, I hope we see more of Covenant in the next episode. It looks like the quest for the Honorary Halo will be taking effect soon, and it will be interesting to see how things unfold.
Halo Season 1, Episode 4 is now available exclusively on Paramount+. For a better experience, watch it on one of the best 4K TVs available.
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Hello and more awaits
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