Halo TV Series Season 1 Episode 8 Review: Penultimate Tensions Climax

In the eighth episode of the Halo TV series, the tension between the main cast finally stops building. Instead, we get a blast as sides are picked and passions ignited. It’s not exactly where I thought the show was headed, but it works well enough, and I’m more invested in this rendition of Master Chief than ever.

That said, there are a few shortcomings given how little show we have left at the moment. With just one more episode from here, there’s still a lot this series will have to juggle before the finale. As long as things stay focused on Master Chief and the rest of the characters currently on Reach, I’m excited to see where it ends for this season.

Note: This review contains spoilers for Halo Season 1, Episode 8, “Allegiance”.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, be sure to read our Halo Season 1, Episode 7 review.

The episode surprisingly doesn’t opened with a flashback. Instead, we get Master Chief drawing circles in the steam from his bathroom mirror, seemingly mesmerized by the vision of the Halo Ring in Episode 6. Makee is also distracted, and the two wander into the gardens of Reach, apparently to the frustration of the UNSC personnel around them.

We see neat framing, as various pairs of individuals discuss the odd blossoming friendship between John and Makee. Captain Keyes notes that John has changed, much to Parangosky’s frustration, while Halsey finds John’s budding connection to the woman fascinating.

As John pushes Makee for answers on Halo, the woman finally explains why the Covenant is looking for him. She recites a prophecy that the divine wind will rush in and take believers on the path to becoming divine. It’s a cool moment for fans of the games, as it’s basically a paraphrased version of what the Prophets say right in Halo 2.

The differences between the three non-Master Chief members of Silver Team are amusingly highlighted as Vannak and Riz perform tests on a captured Covenant Phantom. As Vannak abruptly asks what Kai’s status is, Riz carefully tries to play him.

Smash cuts to Kai, who is currently showing off by pulling on a rope, lifting first an engine block and then a Warthog, to the excitement of a group of Marines playing around her.

I have to say Kai really grew up with me. I was not sure of the quality of the presentation of another Spartan in addition to Master Chief experiencing emotions and feelings would be fine, but his wide-eyed naivety is played well by Kate Kennedy. She has a refreshing, upbeat, happy, and almost overwhelming vibe, and I hope she continues to shine in the future of the series.

We get another cute moment between Miranda Keyes and her dad. Miranda unsuccessfully tries to clean up and translate the Sangheili language fragments intercepted earlier in the season. Even though her dad assures her she’ll get it, she ominously notes that it’s almost as if different slots are being used.

John checks on Makee again, throwing off her custody and delivering her a book, recalling that earlier in the episode she told him how a childhood friend would read to her. After a few tense moments, Makee kisses her. The two take off their shirts, inspecting each other’s scars…

Oh, yeah, they’re having sex.

Of course, Cortana is secretly watching them all the time. It’s a good time to remember that Cortana, as an intelligent AI, was created using a clone of Halsey. In turn, let’s remember that Halsey, having kidnapped the kids for the Spartan program in the first place, is something of a mother figure to everyone, including John. Frankly, there are more layers to this than a celebrity wedding cake. Freud is spinning so fast in his grave that he is likely to open a wormhole.

All right, I can already hear the cries of confusion. “Master Chief having sex?” It caught me off guard. It’s more than a little funny. “Master Chief? Do you mind telling me what you’re doing with this woman? “Sir, finishing this fight.”

But the reality is that it makes sense. I think the implementation here is a little complicated, but these two have been through quite a bit of trauma. Both are trying to figure out what it means to be human. He’s no longer the stoic warrior of the games. It’s a different version of Master Chief, with (at least right now) a different fight. I haven’t talked about the differences between the games and I show a lot, but I think it deserved a mention here.

Makee also agrees to help John figure out the artifacts under UNSC supervision, even secretly removing the plasma knife embedded in his finger.

As Cortana relays her findings to Halsey, the latter merely piles on the subtext by insisting that John was never alone; he had his. Halsey is then informed by Captain Keyes that she is being removed from Reach ASAP and must quickly pack up anything important. Always scheming, Halsey plays her, using a hacked device created by her assistant Adun. Ignoring Keyes’ warnings that her ambition has cost her every relationship she has, Halsey quickly hacks into Makee’s room, telling the woman not to trust the UNSC and to run away with her.

As Makee rightly panics, Halsey uses Cortana to cut off comms across the base, telling Kai, Riz, and Vannak to report only to her and grab Master Chief as she prepares her ship to sail. ‘escape. When Kai questions these orders, she is quickly knocked unconscious and handcuffed to a stone seat by Riz and Vannak.

Miranda, meanwhile, has made some progress in her decryptions, isolating one voice in particular. A woman’s voice. With gruesome realization, she sprints off to warn Parangosky and his father. Cortana, clearly feeling conflicted about what’s to come, warns Master Chief of his impending abduction. Kai frees himself from the stone seat in a flexible show of strength, smashing it with his armored boots.

Heeding Cortana’s warning, Master Chief engages Vannak and Riz. Being unarmed, he is at a significant disadvantage, even with Cortana’s help. Kai joins the fray, and as several members of Silver Team get their hands on Magnum pistols, it becomes a dangerous stalemate.

I must say that I loved this fight scene. The weight of the Spartans is felt as they crash, grapple, and ram into each other. It’s brutal but coordinated.

Less enjoyable is how Miranda bursts into Makee and the assembled UNSC. When Miranda explains that it was Makee who led the massacre of the crew on the stranded cruiser, Makee asks for forgiveness but is brutally shocked. It is frustrating and heartbreaking to see any chance of happiness or any step on the road to recovery being brutally snatched away. Whatever connection she has made with humanity is burned in these moments.

As Makee desperately grabs the alien artifact, a pulse of power reverberates through the base, ending the standoff and knocking the Spartans unconscious.

With only one episode remaining, I’m excited to see where the story is going, especially for Silver Team. Unfortunately, I’m also convinced that we won’t physically see the Halo ring this season, which means I’m not sure where the show wants to hook its audience until we get to officially confirmed season 2.

Halo Season 1, Episode 8 is available now, exclusively on Paramount+. For the best experience, watch it on one of the best 4K TVs available.