The opening scene in Halo season 2’s third episode (titled “Visegrad”) has a telltale marker of status tv: It’s darkish as shit. As John/Grasp Chief (Pablo Schreiber) and the remainder of his crew head off to choose up the cliffhanger from episode two, I’m squinting like a grunt staring into the solar proper earlier than its head will get unceremoniously popped off.
Although the occasional near-total darkness of this newest episode frustrates me, “Visegrad” neatly tightens the reins a bit, bringing the collection’ plots collectively relatively than letting them proceed to tug on individually. Although there’s nonetheless some questionable story decisions on show right here, there’s quite a lot of good to unpack within the Halo collection’ newest providing. So let’s get into it.
Grasp Chief goes rogue
Halo season two has been deftly establishing John’s rogue flip, and “Visegrad” provides us a pleasant little pay-off: although the top of the final episode reveals the Covenant attacking the relay on Attain, by the point Chief and Silver workforce arrive, there’s no signal of them. As a substitute, after one more well-executed, horror-tinged scene, we be taught the Visegrad relay is empty—save for the troops which have been despatched there to apprehend Silver workforce for this unsanctioned mission. Oops.
The person behind all of this wheeling and dealing is, in fact, Ackerson (Joseph Morgan), however he’s extra than simply the dickhead Silver workforce thinks he’s—we see him gingerly taking good care of an outdated man with dementia, who’s revealed to be his father (performed by Fleabag’s Invoice Paterson). Daddy Ackerson, who constructed the large bridge spanning a piece of Attain that he can see from the window of what’s most likely an old-folks’ dwelling, can’t keep in mind that his spouse and daughter are useless, however he can keep in mind that he’d relatively die earlier than “they take him alive”—no matter that means. Armed with the data Cortana gave him about Attain’s destiny, Ackerson clearly plans to observe his father’s needs, and Morgan performs the scene superbly, flitting between frustration, disappointment, and solemn resolve with ease.
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However instantly after this, we’re as soon as once more reminded that Ackerson has dickish tendencies: Admiral Keyes (Danny Sapani) is ripping John and Silver workforce new assholes for going exterior of the chain of command, stealing a Pelican, and pointing a gun at a superior officer. All 4 Spartans are instructed to hold up their fits, and John is ordered to bear a compulsory psychiatric analysis—however not earlier than it’s revealed that somebody modified the intel to make it seem like Cobalt was by no means despatched to the Visegrad relay, furthering the speculation that his psychological state is declining. John has a terse dialog with Kai (Kate Kennedy), who brazenly worries about his judgment, citing his claims that he noticed Makee (who she “killed”) as cause for concern. Truthful sufficient.
When “Visegrad” swings over to the Rubble and Soren’s household’s B-plot, I let loose a sigh of frustration for the diversion, after which one other on the sight of the horrible wig they’ve crammed on Laera’s (Fiona O’Shaughnessy) head. Hilarious that she’s panicked in regards to the lack of her husband, however had time to modify to a CEO bob earlier than setting off to seek out him. Fortunately Laera, Kessler (Tylan Bailey), and Kwan Ha (Yerin Ha) are neatly set on a path of convergence with the primary storyline throughout the confines of this episode, and for that, I’m grateful.
The demon
Although the Fall of Attain could be very clearly occurring this season, I suppose it is sensible that the Halo collection showrunners don’t wish to hand us one of many greatest moments within the franchise’s historical past instantly—therefore why “Visegard” does a bit of extra teeing up relatively than going for the total swing. John, whereas en path to his necessary psych eval, takes out his two escorts in an elevator à la Captain America, and runs off to attempt to determine why ONI (the Workplace of Naval Intelligence, of which Ackerson is part), is protecting the lid on the Covenant’s presence on Attain.
Seems, as Ackerson quickly tells Keyes white standing over Cobalt workforce’s useless our bodies, it’s as a result of he doesn’t need the planet’s inhabitants to descend into chaos. There’s nothing they’ll do, in accordance with Cortana’s calculations, and although Ackerson assures Keyes that they’ll put up a struggle, he guarantees him that the UNSC (and, primarily, humanity) will lose. “Can I depend on you?” Ackerson asks, hoping Keyes will preserve this all a secret. “Go fuck your self,” Keyes responds. Cue applause.
“Visegrad” is a good instance of how correctly paced scenes can construct rigidity with out dragging viewers alongside; how they may give actors an opportunity to shine with out burning out. Morgan’s scenes with Sapani, Paterson, and Halsey (Natascha McElhone) are intense and poignant, respectively, and so they really feel like vital home windows into these character’s souls relatively than annoying asides. Although I’d argue that a few of this episode is filler (as if the showrunners are guaranteeing the Attain cow is sweet and prepared earlier than milking it), the person scenes don’t really feel too egregiously like distractions—even the stuff on the Rubble, which has bothered me in earlier episodes.
That’s as a result of Halo cleverly establishes motifs that assist carry coherence to the present, like a beat tapped out by Perez to start with of the episode that’s mimicked by a door slamming on Visegrad, and later, by Kwan Ha, who makes use of the sound to distract Soren’s crew (which has turned on Laera and captured her). It’s this type of stuff that makes tv good.
Ackerson brings Halsey face-to-face with Soren, who was clearly captured and delivered to Attain for some unknown cause that, if identified, would probably not make any sense. If Ackerson is aware of Attain is doomed, why carry Halsey and Soren there if he can’t even get pleasure from watching them struggle it out? If the planet goes to get glassed, why not carry them in your little escape Pelican so you possibly can see them bicker in particular person? The place’s your villainous head at, man?!
Elsewhere on Attain, John heads to Perez’s condo to speak to her, however his mom informs him that she’s not there. “She’s a very good lady,” she insists. “However I feel the satan follows you.” Regardless of this, she factors him in the direction of Perez, who’s praying in a extremely cool-looking, semi-futuristic church. Perez performs John the recording from Sanctuary, the identical one she was taking part in initially of the episode. It’s not simply static or interference that may be heard over UNSC channels: it’s a Covenant prayer. Because the Sangheili language performs over the headphones (probably spoken by Viktor Åkerblom, who performs the collection’ model of the Arbiter), Perez interprets it:
“I carry you blessings, individuals of Attain. Know that I’ve come with out mercy. With out pity. Know that I’m the instrument of your extinction…I carry this planet forth as an providing. Upon this altar, I place the pinnacle of the Demon. Could his blood mark the best way to the sacred ring and consecrate the nice journey of my individuals.”
There’s a pleasant, meaty reoccuring motif for you. The satan follows John? No, he’s the Demon, bear in mind?
Halo season 2 episode 4 airs on Paramount+ on February 22.
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