This article contains spoilers for Halo episode 2.
Paramount+'s Halo TV series has introduced mysterious beings referred to as the Blessed Ones, an original concept that isn't lifted from the original canon or wider lore. The Halo TV series opened with an extended action scene that felt as though it was lifted straight from the games. It then surprised viewers by heading in an unexpected direction, focusing as much on the politics of the UNSC as on the Human-Covenant War. Surprisingly, though, very few of these elements were actually additions to the lore and canon; rather, they were lifted from tie-in novels and comics that have developed the world of Halo since the first game's release in 2001.
One exception, however, is the surprising addition of a human named Makee who lives among the Covenant. Played by Charlie Murphy, Makee has been indoctrinated to believe in the ways of the Covenant, although there are curious hints she still remains drawn to human civilization and longs to reconnect with her own race. Makee is a Blessed One, who possesses the ability to use ancient Forerunner technology - and it seems the Master Chief is one as well.
Halo's Blessed Ones are an entirely original concept, although they're actually a logical extension of themes and ideas in the original Halo timeline. The first two episodes help clarify the nature of the Blessed Ones, although there are still a lot of mysteries about them. Here's everything known about the Blessed Ones to date.
Halo: Why Master Chief & Makee Are Blessed Ones
In the original Halo timeline, the ancient race known as the Forerunners reprogrammed human genes with what they called a "geas," or "genesong," allowing them to use Forerunner technology. Curiously, in Paramount+'s Halo adaptation, not all humans possess this gene; those who do are referred to by the Covenant as Blessed Ones. It's unclear how common the Blessed One genes are, but at least two appear in Halo to date; Makee, who has been inducted into the Covenant, and the Master Chief himself. Given UNSC scientist Dr. Halsey examined the genes of her Spartan recruits before selecting them for the program, it's actually possible every single Spartan is a Blessed One.
Interestingly, in an interview with Decider showrunner Steven Kane revealed there may be a direct tie between the two known Blessed Ones to date, although he refused to give any details. "That connection and also Makee’s connection to those objects and what that means is actually a really core thread of the show," he confirmed. "John is in many ways an alien or an orphan among his own people, because he’s different. He’s a Spartan, he’s trained to be a certain kind of way. And that’s what makes them effective as a soldier. In many ways, he is similar to Makee, who is a stranger in a strange land living among the aliens. As the season goes on, you learn more about where she came from and learn more about where he came from."
Why The Covenant Need Blessed Ones In Halo
The alien Covenant worship the Forerunners, believing these ancient ascended to a higher plane of existence using the sacred Halo Rings. In reality, these rings were used by the Forerunners to sterilize the galaxy of almost all life as a way to stave off a parasitic infection known as the Flood; should the Covenant succeed in locating and activating the Halo Rings, they'll render the galaxy uninhabited. The Blessed Ones play a key role in their plans, because they are the only ones who can activate the Forerunner technology that will lead the Covenant to the Halo Rings - and they're then the only ones who can use them. It's likely the Covenant's Prophets will be shaken to learn the Master Chief is a Blessed One in Halo, because the Covenant view Spartans as demons.