Despite some initial controversy—which seems inevitable in hindsight—Paramount+‘s Halo series is a worthy expenditure of time in an increasingly crowded entertainment market.
The show takes place in what’s called the “Silver Timeline,” which exists outside of the core narrative seen in Bungie and 343’s games. Like in those games, the primary character is Master Chief, but the series’ John-117 is undergoing an identity crisis, like RoboCop in green armor. It’s a powerful journey that matches the character’s physical capabilities, but he’s not the only tough person on Halo’s character roster.
Dr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey (Natascha McElhone)
Dr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey (Natascha McElhone, star of Californication) has power because she has clout. She was the creator of the Spartan program and even though there will ostensibly be some political hiccups for her down the line, she is integral in giving the human race a fighting chance against the Covenant. This means she also has Master Chief at her fingertips, and that’s a substantial asset to have in her pocket.
However, the latter is indicative of a tenuous relationship, and it stands to reason John-117 won’t perpetually allow himself to be her puppet. But throughout the first few episodes, at least, Dr. Halsey is an influential figure within the universe.
Admiral Margaret Parangosky (Shabana Azmi)
Admiral Margaret Parangosky is the one in the board room who makes everyone shush just by opening her mouth. She’s seasoned but far more of a bureaucrat than a boots-on-ground soldier.
However, she has a fair amount of power over Dr. Halsey, which could very well mean that she has the means at her disposal to bump the doctor from the picture and take over the Spartan program for herself. Admiral Parangosky seems devious, and she probably is, because no one gets far in politics without being exactly that.
Cortana (Jen Taylor)
“Spartans were the first step. Cortana is the upgrade.” These are the words spoken by Dr. Halsey as she floats the Cortana proposition to her peers.
However, she also mentions that Cortana is utterly controllable, so while she is more intensive than standard A.I., she still bends to the will of man. Cortana is one of Halo’s more renowned characters, but that didn’t save the TV series’ version from third-degree-burn meme-ing. It stands to reason that it would be worse were the games’ performer, Jen Taylor, not brought on for the series as well. Thank goodness she was, because her inclusion only serves to intensify the throughline between the games and the series.
Soren-066 (Bokeem Woodbine)
Bokeem Woodbine makes every project he’s involved with better. Even his scenes in the head-scratcher-in-all-the-wrong-ways remake of Total Recall benefitted from his presence.
Soren-066 is a former member of the UNSC, and an original character created for the show. He’s a former squadmate of Master Chief’s, but he’s turned his back on the Spartans and their subservience to nameless, faceless powers that be. Most of Soren’s time in at least the first five episodes is devoted to securing Kwan Ha Boo’s safety, and he does a good job of it until she escapes his grasp.
Prophet Of Mercy (Julian Bleach)
The High Prophet of Mercy is the eldest Covenant High Council member, and his word has sway. For one, he’s over 200 years old, so those around him are aware of the fact that he’s wise. No matter which galaxy someone is in, knowledge is power.
In the games, Mercy enters the fray once the Prophet of Truth and the Prophet of Regret are dispatched, but the show’s going a different route. Truth and Regret are probably out there, but Mercy’s few scenes have thus far been shared with Makee.
Kai-125 (Kate Kennedy)
Kai-125 is the Silver Team’s resident extra-strong-willed soldier. For instance, in the 4th episode, Kai removes the emotional suppressor pellet from her spine, just as she’d seen Master Chief do in the 3rd: “Emergence.”
What’s even more telling about the character is what she says to UNSC officer Miranda Keyes after having done so: “You see us as machines. But if you really wanna understand how we work, you’re gonna have to dig a little deeper.” Kai is finding out that she’s much more than a killing machine at the whim of mostly-uninvolved bureaucrats, and it could lead to her being even more powerful down the line.
Riz-028 (Natasha Culzac)
Riz-028 is probably the most agile member of Silver Team. She’s able to run, slide, and take out two Elites all at the same time.
Riz seems as devoted to the rigid protocol as she is to the cause as a whole, and while that doesn’t betray an individualistic nature, it does hint at some blind ambition. The character hasn’t yet reached a point of real development, but it’s clear that she’s a force to be reckoned with and an asset within any group dynamic.
Makee (Charlie Murphy)
Sergeant Jackson may be missing from the Halo series, but his absence did bring in a character who is arguably even more compelling. Makee, “The Blessed One,” is effectively a Covenant asset. Her people have been slaughtered by the very group she now obeys, and it’s only her other-worldly genius that keeps her alive… because she’s of use.
Makee’s power is all in the mind, but there’s no denying that being in such an intimate league with the Covenant also grants her a certain amount of leverage over just about everyone else on the planet(s). Furthermore, Makee has control over a slew of Flood-like tentacles and she can order them to eradicate a crew of Marines just by nodding her head.
Kwan Ha Boo (Yerin Ha)
Like in the first Halo game, the Covenant establishes themselves as extremely deadly mere minutes into Halo’s first episode. Boo is the one who spots their ship and runs to her friends, hoping it’s not too late. After she dodges the blue beams that rip her friends apart, Boo has the forethought to send up a flare for her teammates at the nearby compound.
While Boo is smart and brave enough to put her in the same league as Master Chief, it’s her willingness to question orders and the status quo that could make her even more powerful than him in time. John-117 has the armor and reliable weaponry, Boo has the smarts that can make those two things irrelevant.
Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 (Pablo Schreiber)
Master Chief and his team make a superhero-like entrance during the opening battle of Halo’s premiere episode. Fans may not be over-the-moon that he removes his helmet, but properties develop as they extend beyond their initial medium.
Schreiber brings both gravitas and tenderness to the role, making Master Chief seem superhuman and flesh-and-blood all the same. Furthermore, the way the character is filmed (where each leap seems like it leaves shockwaves) makes him seem like a wrecking ball… he’s just now a wrecking ball with a conscience.
