HALO 1x2 Reaction/Review! "Unbound" 

Can I say I admire them keeping chiefs one liner personality lmao. I can just hear Steve Downes saying that! “We’re gonna die!” “Everyone dies, breathe.”

I like how they show how big Spartans are, that end scene between John and Halsey holding hands just shows you how much bigger John and the other Spartans are.

I'm glad to hear someone else say The Blessed One is John's sister. It would make sense for the story and would lead to an epic brother vs. sister battle at the end of the series. Great reaction as usual!

When they rode the rail car to the rock, I wondered how long it will take Disney to build this at Orlando.

I think you might be interpreting things a bit wrong, let me interpret what I think is going on which could also be wrong but * shrugs shoulders * that's just how it is.. 1. The Forerunner technology, the Halo, must be activated by what the covenant refer to as the blessed ones. Which was stated in the episode to be more than human. This explains the young woman with them, she clearly can activate forerunner technology whereas the covenant clearly cannot which is probably why they treat her like a Goddess/Leader/Important rather than just an enemy. On top of that like John with the Spartan program, the young woman was clearly conditioned by the Covenant in a very similar manner. 2. As for Reth's knowledge, I don't know why they wouldn't tell him things or at the very least the Covenant's Blessed One wouldn't tell him things about why he was there? I would assume the more unlikely element is how he managed to escape rather than him knowing things. And like you said, it could be because he knows the language. We also don't know exactly who is, so there could've been a pre-covenant prisoner reason for why he was abducted. Maybe he was like Miranda who studied alien technology but as result of being prisoner (who knows what the would be like) became obviously a broken shell of what he once was. 3. For why there was the Soren plot at all, did you forget about Kwan? Like are you suggesting removing the Kwan plot completely because did you forget that they wanted to kill her. You said something about streamlining the events but that would mean killing a teenager, and I'm not entirely sure WHY they would go that route for streamlining purposes. Seeds of doubt had to be planted, and if it wasn't for those seeds of doubt and John going Rogue, I don't think Halsey would've been able to push for the Cortana system that the Admiral was against and was only forced to agree because of everything that happened. I'm not entirely sure how you are justifying the Cortana system being used if John doesn't go rogue, unless you're suggesting an entirely completely different plot be in place? 4. I don't think it's fair at the moment to assume there will be a Cortana vs John battle. The one thing you seem to be forgetting, well its what humans always forget, is the sheer audacity of their arrogance. What I mean is, Halsey says Cortana is supposed to be full sum of human knowledge. She is assuming because she programmed Cortana a certain way that Cortana will act in accordance to her programming. However think of it like a logic problem, If Cortana believe that a symbiotic relationship (which would mirror the games a bit more) then why would Cortana choose the route of total control. If the Sum knowledge of humans say that relative independence or even a socialistic method (the symbiotic like relationship) is the best attributes that humans to offer. Wouldn't that mean Cortana would allow John to be in control of his body, at least in the hypothetical chance that sum of human knowledge outweighs Cortana's nefarious programming. 4b. There's also the point that Halsey could just be lying her ass off to everyone, and Halsey wanted a symbiotic type relationship to begin with. The Cortana system to have all the facts and information at "her" fingertips with the spartans being in control over their actions (because Halsey wants them to not be robotic point and shoot weapons) and Cortana is just merely a superior knowledgeable officer. At worst maybe in times of dire crisis, maybe the Cortana system can take over a spartan if Cortana believes the Spartan's actions would end up costing the human race their lives. But who knows at this point. 5. I don't know if by the end your issues with Vishner in relation to what Soren was saying about Kwan were resolved. But to put my take on it. Vishner isn't part of the UNSC proper, he is still a rebel leader of sorts. But unlike Kwan's father, Vishner is a means to an end person and sees the benefit of allying with the UNSC, but make no mistake, he's doing it so he can be the warlord/tyrant that he wants to be. So to make the difference. The UNSC wants to kill Kwan because Kwan was being difficult and wanted independence for her nation otherwise she would lie about the events. Vishner wants Kwan dead because he absolutely hates Kwan's father and likely it means Kwan is a reminder of his own personal failure and he only succeeded because of the Covenant and not because he himself was responsible.

Here to represent a non-halo informed viewer… I know nothing, lol I’ve never played the games. I’ve only ever seen the character of master chief. I’m really enjoying the show so far 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think, despite all the changes, the show has really kept and captured just how manipulative Halsey is. From how she's pitching Cortana to the brass to the way she talks to John at the end. Cortana is linked into John's neural interface. Technically, she could control him and does in book canon enhance his reflexes even further because of that link. That's how Halsey is selling the idea to her bosses. However, Cortana lets him make his choices. So, the show version COULD control him, but I don't think that's what Halsey wants. She just wants, basically a copy of her conscious mind in John's ear all the time. The drawback is that Cortana can grow, develop, and learn, meaning she might eventually reach a point where she differs from what Halsey would have done or wanted. As for Kwan being wanted by Vinsher; he's a dictator and she's a potential figure people could rally behind. I don't think her role in the show is done, but we'll see what happens. My take on Reth is to take the simplest path. He was a scholar once, maybe of exobiology, but it's not really important. If the Covenant had any inkling that he might be able to activate what they consider to be holy relics, they would of course abduct him. The Blessed One is now face to face with another human, maybe the only one she's even seen in years. She talks to him, because wouldn't you? I think it's safe to assume she was taken by the Covenant at a very young age (like the Spartans the UNSC) so she'd be curious to talk to another human. As to how he escaped, would you notice if an insect left your house? Or, they recognized he was a complete shell of himself and just jettisoned him on the nearest planet. Or, my out there conspiracy, the Blessed One helped him escape, just for the drama lol.

I'd say Halsey is lying about Cortana taking over John because those ranked higher than Halsey believe John is malfunctioning, so they would prefer a complete memory wipe of John, instead of providing him with the companion that we all know Cortana is.

Had any trouble with CBS claiming/blocking your Halo reactions? I've had both of mine claimed and blocked due to the audio of the episode. Extra frustrating since they don't give any option to mute the audio.

i'm gonna say, we dont know what are they trying to do because there's 7 episodes left, i believe we will get answers soon!!

Man you quick, appreciate it. I just watched the ep myself. And I loved it so much. There's not enough Halsey in 1 episode 🥺🥺 I just think she's so cool

13:50 Idk why they changed Reth to human, in the books he was a Jackal, and that would have explained how he understood everything they said.

Apparently the human being in the covenant is in one of the books.

It's like he's the Terminator and Kwan is little John Connor from T2 lmao. I wonder if this show lowkey is about humanizing him? I like it so far.

I agree with everything you were saying Omn1

Maybe the covenant lowkey let him go so he could transmit this info to the blessed one if he found him/her. Who knows lmao.

people should understand that the biggest reason he takes his helmet off is because it's Hollywood, they have to show the actors faces every once in a awhile. a perfect example was Game Of Thrones. none of the main cast wore helmets with their armor wardrobes, the reason? they have to show the money makers during the episodes

i only played Halo 1-2-3-Reach-Wars, but wasn't Cortana just the Ship AI of the Pillar of Autmn that where given Master Chief to keep save because she knew the position of Earth ? That feels like... a MASSIV change... But as long as they don't change what the Halos are and... why they are... i am open to changes

I think Hallsey is blowing smoke up the UNSC's ass about Cortana taking over their minds. She'll say whatever it takes to protect John. Definitely like where the show is going- but I think viewers new to Halo won't understand what a threat the Covenant represents.

Excellent objective review. Halo purist over here and I'm glad there's a TV series versus none at all. Another point to bring up, but the Chief without his helmet on needs to stop. I understand the show writers are trying to flesh out the human side of John and attempt to tell his backstory, but the entirety of Halo is set during war time where the Chief has no time to sit in Halsey's lab and hold hands. It definitely hurts the mystique of the Chief to see him with his helmet off.

I’m gonna keep watching, but I’m not gonna refer to this as Halo anymore. I’ll just call it “that sci-fi show on Paramount+”

Halsey has always been a morally dubious character although I don't think she would go quite as dark as rewriting the Spartans consciousness. I assume she is using this situation to get the funding and support she needs for the Cortana project. She's lying to the people in charge. I bet Cortana will function exactly as she did in-game.

I don't know if y'all heard they did confirm they ain't going to fall like entirely all the lore like they were going to use all the assets from what they said but not like going off from lower entirely so far as I've been watching the show myself it's actually alright however as a series will progress I'm sure we'll have a lot of answered questions my thing is after seeing the human in the covenant when they call her I quote blessed one my assumption that they're going for in this is that if you know like Halo or and they even said that they can find the covenant for years they even mention it in like the first episode could it be possible profit Mercy took one of the children that was probably isolated from her family and probably raised her in high charity to be a user to activate installations to help the covenant further out there plans and I think that's the goal that they're ultimately going to go for so the reason why they're probably treating her differently is to make her feel like she's one of the covenant cuz if you noticed like she had a brand on her back that reminded me the arbiter from Halo 2 when they branded thell vadame and then as you all know if you play Halo 2 he had a distinguished military history and the fact that we got to see the rubble a human colony that we only get dimensions in the book and also in Halo terminals and Halo 2 anniversaries terminal especially in the MCC we might see thel vadame in cgi and there's already other models that have already been shown especially in the trailer like jackals and such we'll just have to wait and see how the series progresses but I'm going to stick to my assumption at the moment the series itself is a little bit mistrooms from lore but as they literally did say they're not going to follow entirely all the lower aspect as disappointing as that is so far the show is relatively starting off strong and it's doing well

That alien language is getting hard to get used to hearing.

I think Halsey is lying to them about Cortana

Pretty sure she is lying about Cortana's purpose. Just like she lied about Cortana and cloning in the first place.

I hope you read this. So i do not like the way he took off his helmet. After all he killed Han's mother so she has every justification to shoot him. But now I understand why they were so insistant on removing his helmet. It's for us to understand MC. MC had after all a very cruel fate. They took everything from him. : his memory, his feelings, his familly... Imagine they took everything from you like that : you would be living but not really living. Sauren represents MC if MC had escaped with him. If MC had escaped he would have had a life : a family, memories feelings, sensations. Now you see him taste a fruit and he can't even understand the taste , it has no meaning to him. You can't call this a life if you can't even enjoy it (your favorite food, your favorites hobbies etc.) . That's why Sauren's character is important in my opinion. His dynamic with MC is also very interesting. You can see he really likes him : he talks about him often to his wife and he wants him to remove his inhibition to sensations so he wants the best for him. But MC only lives for his mission and accomplishing the mission seems to be his only reason for existing. When you play the game you never really stop to think how sad his life must be, you only think about killing those aliens that threaten your home and the UNSC. So the show wanted to portray more of what the chief is living through in my opinion. That's why they removed his helmet : to show the human behinds it. With the helmet it wouldn't have worked.

Don’t you think Halsey is just saying what the committee needs to hear? Hope the writers are that smart though…

Its not following the games. So its no confusing. Just looking for it to follow the game and it wont. Just lean back and take it in. 😊

This series is definitely for the uninitiated and not the lifelong Halo players and fans. I guess, since the Halo IP isn’t Bungie’s anymore and is now developed by 343, and owned by Microsoft, both decided to change events of the series to divorce themselves from the Bungie version of Halo that you and many others are familiar with. Since I’m not too familiar with the HALO game series, I’m not as mired by the changed to the video game storylines as the fans who’ve followed the game series are. It has me mildly engaged in the show.

i think you did a whole lot of over thinking on this one ..alot from this epside are easter eggs from the books...your halo cannon got in the way.

All my Halo lore in this show is like putting a square peg in a circle hole. Lol, I am enjoying the show though. Like the racist undertones from the prophets are there, but yeah, she be vaporized by now. lol.

didn't like it, no one knew about halo before they arrive. They are changing the Halo franchise history, not expanding on it. And F HATE that master chief have a face... if Jhon have the helmet he is one... if he has the helmet off he even talks different.