The new Halo series on Paramount+ has left fans heavily divided. The show has strayed quite a bit from the games, and so far, very little has been seen of the Covenant race and The Ring (Halo). Instead, there have been many subplots introduced in the show that have helped broaden the Halo universe, but have also produced tons of "whaaaat?" moments.
Holding a 52% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, it's obvious to see that Halo has created a stark division between viewers, some of whom think the show is an interesting take on the games...while others think the series is a wild, off-the-rails disaster.
Makee Appears
One of the main antagonists in the Halo series is Makee, a young woman who was captured by the Covenant, but was spared from death. It's revealed that she's since grown up with the Covenant and taught to hate humans.
Even weirder is that Makee is a character that was completely made up for the show and doesn't exist in any of the games or books. Her bizarre inclusion in the series has caused anger from many fans.
Master Chief gets Naked
Much like The Mandolorian, fans were abuzz before the show's release, with many asking the question: will Master Chief take off his helmet? Not only has John taken off his helmet (and has it off for much of the show), but in episode 3, Master Chief bared it all, and the fandom world almost had a heart attack.
Twitter went wild, articles began flooding in, memes were made, and the moment went down in Halo history...it even left Decider asking the question, "Will Halo go even further in future episodes? What’s next, Master Chief has sex?"
Master Chief has Sex
In episode 8, Master Chief and Makee go all the way. It was a notable, strange, awkward, and unintentionally hilarious moment because it's the first-ever mention of John having sex or even having a romantic interest. None of the games, books, or comics ever mention John being sexual or falling in love.
Naturally, the internet once again went ablaze and people had a field day, with IGN saying that Master Chief had "boldly gone where no Spartan has gone before."
Kwan Ha's Awful Plotline
One of the most divisive aspects of the Halo series has been Kawn Ha's storyline. Kwan is a teenage girl from the desert planet of Madrigal. She's a new character invented for the show that wasn't previously included in any official Halo lore. She seeks to win her planet's freedom and unintentionally meets Master Chief when the Covenant attacks her base.
In general, fans have seen Kwan's storyline as dull and boring. In fact, episode 7, which centered solely around Kwan Ha, might just be the worst episode of the entire season.
Kwan Ha's Drug Trip
Episode 7, which focused solely on Kwan Ha, was panned for being dull and boring...but also for being utter nonsense.
Halfway through the episode, Kwan Ha ends up meeting a coven of desert witches who send her on a mystic drug trip using some kind of fire-water that enables her to have visions of Master Chief...who leads her to some sort of magical well where she sees her dead father who proceeds to have a conversation with her. Confused, bored, and somewhat angry, Kwan Ha's drug trip has been one of the most mocked moments of the entire series.
The Show Forgets About Kwan Ha
After being the sole focus of episode 7...Halo suddenly seemed to forget all about Kwan Ha. The final two episodes don't feature her at all, and instead, focus on furthering John's storyline and giving audiences another glimpse of the Covenant.
And while most audiences hate the Kwan Ha plotline, something about completely ignoring her in the final two episodes felt weird. It's as if the show's creators themselves were as bored with her subplot as the audience. She was a noticeable (but welcomed) absence in the final episodes.
Dr. Halsey Is Monstrous
In the games, Dr. Halsey is certainly not portrayed as the best person in the world. It's revealed that she kidnapped children and turned them into fighting machines. Even at the end of Halo 5, when Master Chief rescues her, her only response is "It took you long enough..."
But she was never portrayed as a belligerently dangerous character the way she is in the Halo series. At one point in the TV adaptation, she even decides to go against the entire UNSC and use the Spartans for her own personal military use, hoping to steal the artifact and kidnap John.
Halsey's Clone
In the finale episode, Dr. Halsey is finally caught and held accountable for her actions...however, after "Halsey" begins experiencing unexplainable health problems, it becomes clear that she's replaced herself with a clone.
Not only was it a shocking moment in the season, but it once again showed how downright ruthless Halsey was in the series. Whereas in the game she's a complicated antihero, the show has turned her into an unquestionable villain.
Halo Only Seen Through a Dreamlike Scene
With Halo spending so much time focusing on new characters like Makee and Kwan Ha, the series hasn't really found the time to focus on the one thing it should be focusing on...the Halo itself, also called The Ring.
So far, audiences have only been given two glimpses of the Halo ringworld, in episode 6 and the finale, when John and Makee mysteriously develop some kind of mental bond, transporting their subconsciousness to the Halo.
Cortana Takes Control of Master Chief
The wildest moment in season 1 of Halo is when Master Chief finds himself in a battle that no human can win. In order to escape alive, he would need the lightning-fast thinking and decision-making skills of a computer. He orders Cortana to take control of his body, and when she refuses, he deliberately begins walking toward an enemy, giving Cortana the choice to either let him die or to take control.
Season 2 will now pick up with John essentially (most likely temporarily) dead and Cortana having control over his mind and body. The Covenant and UNSC have also yet to find the Halo, Halsey is on the loose, and John's newfound love interest, Makee, is dead. Season 1 was intense, but season 2 is set to be absolutely bonkers.