Summary
While it may have lost its luster a little over the last decade, theHalofranchise still has a die-hard fan-base, one that’s unwilling to move on from the series despite its numerous setbacks over the years. But that doesn’t mean thatHalofans just sit back and put up with every disappointment that’s thrown their way. Paramount+‘sHaloshow is the perfect example of this.
Debuting back in March 2022, Paramount+‘sHaloshow had a lot of hype surrounding it before release. An adaptation over a decade in the making, fans couldn’t wait to see the Master Chief, the Covenant, and the rest of theHalouniverse finally realized in full live-action. But fans didn’t quite get what they wanted. ThoughHalo’s first season had some shining moments, it also strayed far from the source material, and made some truly astounding character and plot decisions. For its second season,Halohad to make some major changes to win back fans, and nobody knew that better thanthe Master Chief himself, Pablo Schreiber, who recently sat down with Game Rant to discuss some of the course corrections heading into season 2.
How Halo Season 2 Is Course-Correcting, According to Pablo Schreiber
It’s no secret thatHaloSeason 1 wasn’t received all too well by fans, and that’s somethingHalo’s cast and crew have been very upfront about during this pre-release press tour. During Game Rant’s recent interview with Pablo Schreiber, the actor wasted no time at all before mentioning the first season’s general reception, and howHaloSeason 2 plans to turn things back around:
The change from Season 1 to Season 2 - one of the many changes - was looking for a match for that stoicism that the Master Chief has that fit a little bit better. One of the biggest changes we have, obviously, is a new showrunner, David Wiener, who is leading the charge, and it’s his vision you’ll see on-screen for the second season of Halo.
A common thread between all ofGame Rant’s interviewswith the cast and crew ofHaloSeason 2 was this idea that David Wiener was the linchpin for the entire second season, this new captain that’s going to steer the ship much closer to what fans originally wanted from the show. Schreiber continued to double down on his praise forHalo’s new showrunner, saying:
I think he brings a sense of tonal shift that I think is really helpful to the universe. I think it feels darker, more mysterious, deeper, more interesting. A lot of the action sequences are being handled in a way that I think lends itself to a better version of the Halo universe, it’s more subjective, it puts you inside the battle from the character’s point of view.
For long-time fans oftheHalouniverse, Schreiber’s words here might result in a sigh of relief. One of the biggest criticisms ofHaloSeason 1 was its tonal dissonance, with some scenes trying to elicit some deep emotional reactions from an audience who struggled to even understand the characters’ motivations to begin with. While being grim and grittier doesn’t necessarily pave the way to success for every project, it does make a whole lot of sense forHalo, especially when the second season is trying to adapt the Fall of Reach storyline, possibly the darkest moment inHalolore.
Hearing Schreiber directly mentionHaloSeason 2’s action sequencesis also probably a good sign for many fans. The action sequences wereHaloSeason 1’s saving grace, so the notion thatHaloSeason 2 is going to really hone in on those and attempt to incorporate them into the season’s storytelling is great to hear. To round out the interview, Pablo Schreiber continued to candidly discuss the cast and crew’s approach to season 2, stating:
There’s been many shifts from season 1 to season 2, trying to learn what we were effective at, what we were successful at, and what we weren’t successful at to try and get better.
It sounds like those working onHaloknow where they went wrong with season 1, and it’s abundantly clear that they’re trying to do everything within their power to ensure thatHaloSeason 2 does exactly what it needs to to bringHalofans back on board.
