Deron Generally
Deron GenerallyHALO S01XE03
HALO
Paramount Plus
Season 1 Episode 3
Emergence
John meets his new partner, and he discovers secrets inside his own memory. Kwan wants to return to Madrigal to continue her people’s fight for independence, but Soren has other plans for her. Makee initiates her plan to retrieve the Madrigal object, with deadly consequences.
You ever wonder if one episode of a series can decide whether you stick with it or not? Well episode three of Halo definitely did that for me. While the episode isn’t all bad, it isn’t good enough for me not to question whether or not I will continue the journey this series is taking.
First, the episode is a huge exposition dump of information as all of the characters spend it contemplating what to do rather than actually doing anything. Master Chief is finally reinstated, but he is saddled with Cortana who is working with Halsey and constantly trying to assert itself at key moments. There are some charming moments between the two, but nothing happens that is compelling including the moments where there is supposed to be tension.
Kwan wants to return to Madrigal for some reason and finds her intentions thwarted for no particular reason other than Soren’s promise to keep her safe. There is no compelling reason for her to go considering everyone she knows is dead and her determination to fight is hollow.
Master Chief wants to experience the emotions that he has had suppressed by the UNSC and the moment he takes a walk among the people has some compelling moments that should have been explored more, but everything leads back to him walking back into Halsey’s agenda.
Makee’s journey is established in the beginning of the episode in order to give her some character motivation and that works for the most part as there is a scene that showcases where her loyalties truly lie. The scene is interesting and scary and works for the character.
Other than these few moments, nothing really happens, nothing feels organic or earned and the entire episode feels like a pause in its momentum that I don’t know if it can get back for the simple fact that every character motivation had no significant weight.
HALO S01XE03
