Halo Season 2 Finale Review

Halo season 2 has ended with a full-throttle roar instead of a whimper. Season 2 episode 8, aptly titled “Halo,” delivers an explosive (literally) narrative while introducing a terrifying new threat to this universe. If The Flood isn’t in your nightmares from here on out, you have a resilient mind.

“Halo” unlocks more mysteries of the paradise-like ring that’s eluded John, Makee, the UNSC, and the Covenant since the beginning. However, it also presents more questions that hopefully get answers in a potential third season. (C’mon, Paramount, do the right thing!)

I love how cinematic this episode feels. It’s like a mini-movie. The visuals are stunning and immersive.

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Dark Places Contain Dark Things

We open with Master Chief John-117 speaking to an unseen host, who explains the facility they’re in is “vast” and “unknowable,” except by them. The voice asks John what he found “down there.”

Meanwhile, Miranda examines the artifact she and Halsey discovered at the archeological site. She notices that the spores are separating and multiplying rapidly. One researcher, Janine, tries to chat with Miranda, but she’s not about it.

After Miranda shoos Janine away, the latter’s behavior changes. Janine goes on autopilot, struggling to pay attention to her coworker. She looks unwell. Suddenly, she lashes out at said coworker, stabbing him in the neck.

Well, that took a turn.

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The Spartan-IIIs

Later, Kai directs the Spartan-IIIs to stand in formation before the Covenant explodes the carrier in which they’re standing. The explosion sends Kai, Perez, Mullins, and the other Spartans hurtling into space — into the heart of the carnage and ship debris. We view this through Perez’s perspective as she panics. Eventually, she collects herself and rejoins the Spartans as they fly toward the Covenant corvette to deliver the Spike.

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Parangosky

Meanwhile, Admiral Parangosky contacts John, who watches the Covenant slaughter his fellow Spartans in real-time. Parangosky orders John to make a beeline for the Halo. He asks her if the UNSC plans to help Kai and the others.

Elsewhere, Soren gathers resources to save Laera and Kessler, whom the UNSC has imprisoned. Kwan warns him of the encroaching darkness before joining him. She sees visions of The Mother urging Kwan to save her.

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What are you in for?

Later, a guard locks Ackerson behind bars. He spots Kessler and Laera in the cell opposite his. Kessler tries to strike up a conversation with Ackerson, but Laera forbids him. Then, Kessler sees Janine in the cell next to him. She stands motionless while a nasty parasite crawls out of her mouth. Hey, you got a little somethin’ on your face…

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The Fight

Next, Kai and the Spartans make it to the Covenant corvette. After finding others to help them fight, she orders them to rally at the breach point. Suddenly, the Covenant fires on the Spartans. Then, the UNSC fleet finally arrives. They contact Parangosky and the other admirals for support. Unfortunately, the Covenant assault cruiser blasts them with a laser, instantly incinerating the ship.

John watches this in horror, realizing the Spartans are expendable to Parangosky. They’re merely there to distract the Covenant while John reaches the Halo. It’s all about getting there before the enemy.

So, John flips a coin, relying on its outcome to inform his next decision. He ignores Parangosky’s commands to help his fellow Spartans.

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Cortana and John

Meanwhile, Makee asks Cortana where John is. The latter refuses to answer, indicating to Makee that the AI’s loyalty to John is unwavering. It’s admirable, but it’s also a problem. Makee crushes Cortana’s module under her heel.

At the same time, Perez takes a few hits while battling the Covenant. Kai supports an injured Perez as they make their way toward the console. Kai activates the Spike, preparing to jam it into the corvette’s console. However, John’s arrival stops her. He slays the Covenant forces in one fell swoop before reuniting with Kai and Perez.

He orders Mullins to escort Perez off the corvette to treat her injuries. Then, he and Kai discuss how Spartans aren’t invincible after all. John departs for the Halo while Kai stays behind, seemingly planning to fall on her sword to save the day. Aw.

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The Parasite

Kwan and Soren stumble upon a group of people frozen in place. They aren’t breathing. Laera, Kessler, and Ackerson witness Janine transform into a horrifying, monstrous figure plucked straight from my nightmares. Janine attempts to slip through the bars, hoping to infect Kessler and Laera. Ackerson grabs a gun from one of the guards and fires on Janine. Soren and Kwan discover their location thanks to the security cameras.

Then, Parangosky brings Halsey in to persuade John to stick to the mission. They see him moving toward another Covenant ship — Makee’s ship. However, instead of doing Parangosky’s bidding, Halsey advises John on accessing said ship. John lands on the Covenant vessel, injecting Cortana into his system again.

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Freeing Kessler, Laera, and Ackerson

Thankfully, Soren and Kwan get to Kessler and Laera in time to free them. Kessler persuades his father to help Ackerson escape, too, since the latter saved their lives from Janine. Soren reluctantly unlocks the door to Ackerson’s cell.

Meanwhile, John finally arrives on the Halo. Cortana fills him in on their location. He hopes to find Makee. Cortana suggests they head toward the large, castle-like structure in the distance. Elsewhere, Makee and the Arbiter also make their way toward the structure. The Arbiter sees this as part of the prophecy foretold by Makee. It’s his redemption.

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Kai’s Sacrifice

Later, Perez wakes up on a cot. She’s convalescing following her injuries. She asks Mullins where Kai is. We see Kai drive the Covenant corvette into the assault cruiser, utterly destroying it. The UNSC admirals cheer. Perez looks crushed. Oh, I don’t like this at all. Too many Spartans have been dying like flies this season.

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The Infection

Miranda contacts Halsey from the lab, informing the latter of what she discovered regarding the spores. Miranda believes the artifact they found was merely a container to hold the parasites. Now, it’s spreading like wildfire, infecting humans like Janine and the guards.

Halsey witnesses this firsthand as the officers in the command center start tearing at each other. Each one boasts a crawling parasite. Halsey manages to escape, but Parangosky isn’t so lucky. We see a group of infected people take her down. RIP (or not … you weren’t a nice person).

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The Flood

Meanwhile, Soren, Kwan, Ackerson, Kessler, and Laera run into a host of infected folks while trying to find an exit — a few of them corner Kwan. However, The Mother intervenes. She freezes them before talking to Kwan, revealing she and her ancestors are all within Kwan. This parasite infecting everyone is called The Flood. It will be humanity’s downfall. The Mother urges Kwan to wriggle past the paralyzed Flood while she can still hold them in place.

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New Discoveries

Later, Halsey and Miranda reunite. Halsey is in awe of what Miranda found. This is groundbreaking. The spores and parasitic infection are connective tissue between them and the advanced beings who constructed the underground city and light bridges at the archeological site.

Miranda balks at this, citing that The Flood rapidly infecting everyone doesn’t bode well for further research on said advanced beings. Then, she notices that The Flood has also infected Halsey. Uh-oh.

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Laera

After Soren, Kwan, Ackerson, and Kessler make it to safety, Laera locks herself in the corridor with the infected. She shows Soren her wrist, which bears the mark of a parasite entering her system. She tells Soren she loves him and that he’s a great father to Kessler before retreating into the shadows. Aw, I’ve always liked her.

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John and the Arbiter

Next, John and the Arbiter square off outside the massive structure on the Halo. Makee watches. John gravely wounds the Arbiter, who demands an honorable death. Makee sobs as John kills the Arbiter. After this, Makee storms inside the structure. The entrance boasts the same outline as the larger Artifact used to find the Halo.

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The Monster Is Real

Kwan tells Soren that Kessler is asking for Laera. After he and Ackerson get their ship in the air, Soren sits with his son. Kessler insists that “the monster is real.” Soren agrees with him.

In the lab, Miranda freezes Halsey, vowing to save her mom. Then, we see Kai floating among the wreckage in space after her valiant sacrifice.

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Our Host

John is hot on Makee’s heels, following her inside the structure. That’s where he speaks with the unseen host from the beginning of the episode.

John reveals he’s angry with the UNSC for capitalizing on his image in the name of heroism, only to sacrifice his fellow soldiers. He also urges our host not to trust Makee. The host goes on about some vague being waiting to meet John. It lurks in the shadows.

Next, we see the host is a floating device of sorts. It flies down a dimly lit hallway. John puts on his helmet. The face shield is cracked, revealing one of his eyes behind it.

It’s morphin’ time!

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