I think at this point it is no real news that the Halo TV show isn't really good. Everyone who I know who has watched it can agree its not very good. But everyone says it for different reasons. For me I think that at its core its not because it's not because it simply takes liberties with the narrative, but because it really isn't halo.
To be a bit more clear, the special effects, weapons, costumes and way some stuff looks is Halo. all the character names or planets, and factions is halo. Even so its story is not halo. You can see it in how they characterize the Spartans. In all other media, the Spartans have many modifications and implants but not one suppresses their emotions/memories. They know what was done to them, they know who they are and still fight for the UNSC. They don't emotionally lash out either, not because they are robots but highly disciplined. Spartans in the games are supposed to be the pinnacle of military discipline. To make it worse in Halo legends it shows how a few did try to escape the program and how they reacted. This was one of the impressive yet dark aspects of the program and the Spartans mentality. But what do we see in the show the Spartans are essentially a group of robo cops. Like robocop their memories and emotions were stripped from them and the UNSC monitors their very brain activity. If they even think of going of the reservation the UNSC can cut o2 to their suites. This is is the case for virtually the entire cast. The ones who were in universe just aren't themselves. Miranda is a Scientist for petes sake! Half of the cast doesn't even exist in the original story, but even then, the factions just are too different. I don't even have to talk about the unnecessary race swaps and face reveals to feel this way either.
To hammer it home, the show doesn't even structure the story similar to any other Halo media. Instead of having some sort of idea of mystery or fog of war, it instead gives up most of the mystery up front. The writers instead focus almost entirely on interpersonal drama. It feels more like The Expanse or Game of Thrones rather than Halo. Between the lack of action for most of the episodes and the fact that the Covenant doesn't really feel like the overwhelming threat it's supposed to be, this show has largely been a let down. Had the show just been wearing a different skin and renamed a few characters I wouldn't even be able to tell its supposed to be halo.
While watching I thought maybe this is to try to attract a new audience. But this doesn't make much sense as they almost assume you will know what is supposed to be. It has odd fanfare like the sound effects, and some models. plus instead of showing or explaining anything it just continues as if the person watching would know what the insurrection is, UNSC or Spartans are off the bat. I think that the lack of explanation and how fast stuff is moving a person who doesn't have historical knowledge of the franchise would be lost.
The end result is a show that isn't for fans, its not for new people and will probably only be watched by those who desperately wanted a halo show or are too bored to look away. It is a mash up of Robocop and The Expanse with all of the drama of the latter with very little of the action of the former, all while wearing a Halo skin suite. Personally it feels like a 10 mil per episode wasted opportunity, with a story that wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't expecting Halo.
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