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Helldivers 2 is gearing up to partner up with Halo 3: Odst with the game’s release on Xbox. But if you’re someone who doesn’t know anything about this particular entry in the Halo franchise, you might wonder who exactly the Odst are, and why they are called “Helljumpers”.

It’s not a shock that the ODSTs fly under the radar. Unlike characters such as Master Chief or the Arbiter, the ODSTs never got the same attention in the Halo verse. But don’t worry, before the Helldivers 2 x Halo 3: Odst crossover hits the shelves, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about these elite soldiers, and why they fit right into our favorite co-op shooter.

Who Are the ODSTs from the Halo Verse?

The Halo games, and even books, have always centered around the Unsc’s Spartan program, which has given rise to...

All the Helldivers 2 fans who were eagerly waiting for a Spartan skin from Halo may have to wait a little longer. That’s because a new leak has begun to surface on the internet, suggesting that the Spartan skin will be available in Fortnite first. According to this leak, the upcoming Season 4 is when you can expect the collaboration between Halo and Fortnite to bring the said skin to the game.

This may come as a surprise to some players, as the rumors of the Master Chief coming to Helldivers 2 were spreading like wildfire. It even makes sense, as both games share a similar military theme. However, with the whispers of the new Fortnite x Halo collaboration catching pace, the odds have dramatically shifted in their favor.

Master Chief May Come to Fortnite Before Helldivers 2

After staying on PlayStation and PC for over a year, Helldivers 2 is finally making its...

Gerard Butler will always be known for his blockbuster roles in 300 and How to Train Your Dragon, but 15 years ago, the action star teamed up with an Emmy winner for a critically panned action comedy that has returned to streaming charts. Butler stars alongside Jennifer Aniston in The Bounty Hunter, the 2010 film following a bounty hunter who learns that his next target is his ex-wife, a reporter working on a murder cover-up. The Bounty Hunter is currently streaming on Prime Video in America and Netflix globally, where it’s charting in countries such as Jamaica and the Bahamas. The Bounty Hunter earned “rotten” scores of 13% from critics and 51% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, but it still earned nearly triple its $40 million budget at the box office, grossing $136 million.

Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker was famously considered for the role of Nicole Hurley, which ultimately went to Jennifer Aniston.

Xbox’s multiplatform strategy is in full effect with their flagship titles, such as Gears of War and Forza, already making their way onto PlayStation. However, their crown jewel, Halo, still hasn’t found a spot on the Ps catalogue, although rumors suggest otherwise.

Halo might be arriving on PlayStation soon, and the odds of seeing the iconic Spartan on Ps are more likely than Helldivers 2 going to Xbox. But that hasn’t stopped the defenders of Super Earth from wanting Master Chief to join the battle and spread democracy across the galaxy.

Players want a Halo collaboration in Helldivers 2 with Master Chief

There have been whispers of Halo arriving on PlayStation ever since Xbox started handing out their flagship franchises to their competitor platforms, and rumors are that it’s joining the PlayStation catalogue soon.

It’s still unknown when PlayStation plans to get hold of Master Chief, as...

In 2022, "Halo" fans finally got what they'd been itching to see for years when Paramount+ brought Master Chief's story to life – and they did not like the results. The biggest issue came when Pablo Schreiber as the legendary Spartan 117 did the unthinkable and removed his helmet for most of the series, seemingly trying what "The Mandalorian" had gotten away with after showing off Pedro Pascal's mug on the odd occasion. Even the show's star was unhappy with some of the creative choices that were made, which included Master Chief getting it on in the show's first season with a controversial sex scene.

Unfortunately, that and other decisions didn't hit the target correctly, and the show was canned after two seasons. But while some fans might've complained about the final short-lived project, it should've still been deemed an achievement given the numerous attempts to bring the "Halo" franchise to life before it.

Gerard Butler’s underrated 2023 action film - and a favorite of Stephen King's - soars again, becoming a huge streaming hit on Netflix. His movies may not come at the same furious pace as Liam Neeson’s, but the Scot who perfected Spartan-kicking is not far behind his Irish acting brother when it comes to cranking out relatively inexpensive, watchable action fare.

Butler’s high rate of production not only keeps him busy as an actor, it also guarantees him a prominent place in every streaming service’s lineup of action films. Earlier in 2025, Butler saw his action-thriller Den of Thieves become a trending title, thanks in part to the release of Den of Thieves 2, which itself rocketed to the top of the streaming charts when it was made available (Den of Thieves 3 is now on the way). Also in 2025, Butler’s flop theatrical release Geostorm found new life on streaming,...

Tubi is once again proving why it's one of the best streaming services available. The free streamer will add a beloved Sylvester Stallone action movie to its catalog next month.

Beginning June 1, Demolition Man will be available to stream on Tubi. Stallone headlines the 1993 sci-fi action movie as LAPD Police Sergeant John Spartan, with Wesley Snipes co-starring as the psychopathic criminal Simon Phoenix. After Spartan unintentionally causes mass casualties and destruction while attempting to apprehend Phoenix, both men are sentenced to be cryogenically frozen in 1996. The rest of the movie takes place in 2032 and sees Spartan unthawed to stop Phoenix, who escaped during a parole hearing. Despite mixed reviews from critics, Demolition Man was a box office success, grossing $159 million worldwide.

Sandra Bullock, Nigel Hawthorne, Benjamin Bratt, Denis Leary, and Bill Cobbs also star in Demolition Man. The movie is also notable for featuring one of the earliest big-screen appearances of Jack Black,...

The ambitious six-part sci-fi space opera envisioned by Zack Snyder, commencing with Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire and continuing with Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver, appears increasingly unlikely to reach its intended conclusion.

While The Scargiver briefly soared to the top of Netflix's film viewership charts upon its debut, the lack of news regarding further installments from the streaming giant suggests the saga may be facing an untimely end.

The primary reason is likely due to the fact that Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver's viewership numbers exhibit a sharp decline when compared to its predecessor. This decline in audience retention naturally raises concerns at Netflix about the overall viability and sustained interest in this burgeoning cinematic universe.

Adding to these anxieties is the overwhelmingly negative critical reception that has greeted The Scargiver. Languishing at a mere 16% positive rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes,...

Pulitzer Prize-winning filmmaker David Mamet comes out of a 10-year hibernation today with a trailer for his upcoming thriller Henry Johnson. The prison drama finds Shia Labeouf and Evan Jonigkeit turning up the heat inside a hostage situation.

Here’s the official synopsis for Henry Johnson courtesy of the project’s production company 1993:

Written and Directed by Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet, Henry Johnson follows the title character (Jonigkeit) as he navigates his search for a moral center, after an act of compassion upends his life. Looking to authority figures he encounters along the way — including his eventual cellmate, Gene (Labeouf) — Henry’s journey leads him down a road of manipulation and ethical uncertainty. The film is an exploration of power, justice and the consequences of letting others choose your path for you.

In David Mamet’s Henry Johnson trailer, Henry (Evan Jonigkeit) forms a unique friendship with Gene...

Two years after staging his newest play, David Mamet is returning to the big screen with a brand-new cinematic adaptation of the work. “Henry Johnson,” Mamet’s first film since his 2013 Al Pacino-starring Phil Spector TV movie, reunites the full original cast from the stage version, including Shia Labeouf, Evan Jonigkeit, Chris Bauer, and Dominic Hoffman. The film’s first trailer, an IndieWire exclusive available below, hints at the acidic drama to come.

Per the film’s official synopsis, “Henry Johnson” is “a drama that follows the title character (Jonigkeit) as he navigates his search for a moral center, after an act of compassion upends his life. Looking to authority figures he encounters along the way — including his eventual cellmate, Gene (Labeouf) —Henry’s journey leads him down a road of manipulation and ethical uncertainty.”

When the play was first mounted at Venice, California’s Electric Lodge in October...

In honor of the legendary Val Kilmer, who has passed away at the age of 65, we’re sharing The B-Side’s episode from 2022 discussing his career and most overlooked films. See the original description below.

Today, we discuss one of the most intriguing actors of his generation: Val Kilmer! To tackle such an enigma, we bring in the legendary Katie Walsh! A must-follow on Twitter, a co-host of the insatiably-entertaining Miami Nice Podcast, and an accomplished writer. The B-Sides featured today are: Kill Me Again, At First Sight, The Salton Sea, and Mindhunters.

We discuss how Kilmer was a prodigy––the youngest student admitted into Juilliard’s drama department––before his Broadway debut in the (ultimately) star-studded Slab Boys. There’s talk of his well-documented penchant to be difficult on set, as well as those who defended him and his abilities.

We confront Dan’s deep admiration for the poorly-aged The Salton Sea,...

Val Kilmer, the actor known for playing Iceman in Top Gun, Jim Morrison in The Doors, and the Caped Crusader in Batman Forever, has died at age 65.

News of Kilmer’s passing was confirmed by his daughter Mercedes Kilmer, who told the Associated Press that the actor died of pneumonia on Tuesday night in Los Angeles, surrounded by friends and family.

Val Edward Kilmer was born on December 31st, 1959 in Los Angeles. Despite becoming one of the biggest movie stars of the 1980s and ’90s, he began his career in theater, starring in productions of Orestes and in The Wood Demon as a student at Juilliard. He was so committed to being a proper thespian that he turned down a role in The Outsiders to attend to prior theater engagements — though acting alongside Kevin Bacon, Sean Penn, and Jackie Earle Haley in an Off Broadway production of The Slab Boys...

The iconic actor Val Kilmer, best known for roles such as Jim Morrison in 1991's The Doors and "Ice" (Adm. Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky), in 1986's Top Gun, has died at the age of 65 according to his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, who told The New York he died of pneumonia on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. This follows a decade of medical issues for Kilmer. The actor's final film fittingly found him reprising his role as 'Iceman' in Top Gun: Maverick, though the actor would continue to be involved in the arts with his painting. His final Facebook post, on March 22, 2025, included his last painting. He wrote, "It’s got that late-night glow. Cool tones with a low burn, like when the camp fire cools down but you’re still wide awake." Rest in peace, sir.

It’s got that late-night glow. Cool tones with a low burn, like when the camp fire cools down...

Actor Val Kilmer has passed away. Known for several fan-favorite roles, from Doc Holliday to Batman, the actor was 65 years old.

The New York Times reported on the passing of Kilmer, with his daughter, actress Mercedes Kilmer, confirming the news. According nto his daughter, Kilmer died in Los Angeles due to pneumonia. He'd previously been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015. His subsequent health struggles had been chronicled in the documentary Val, released in 2021.

Val Edward Kilmer was born on New Year's Eve in 1959. At the age of 17, he started studying acting at Juilliard in New York. This led to his work in theater, and he made his Broadway debut in 1983 with a role in Slab Boys. He'd make his debut in film by playing teen idol Nick Rivers in the 1984 film Top Secret!, following it up with a role in tthe1985 film Real Genius.

A big break came quickly for...

Emotes in Helldivers 2 have gone beyond just simple gestures. The game features a variety of interactive gestures, from respectful salutes to ones that can be used for some playful trolling. We’ve seen so many situations where they showcase camaraderie between players, lighten intense battles, and even serve practical purposes.

The game has some peak emotes. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios

Arrowhead Game Studios leaned into this even further with the update back in September 2024 that added an emote wheel to the game. Here are five of the best emotes in Helldivers 2 that every Helldiver should use.

Best Emotes That You Should Be Using in Helldivers 2 Spread democracy and camaraderie with your fellow Helldivers! | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios 1. Casual Salute

The Casual Salute is the most iconic emote in the game, and for good reason. We all start the game with it by default. If you do it near...

Queen of the Ring star Emily Bett Rickards isn't scared to face wrestling's rabid fanbase. The former Arrow ensemble member will draw their attention when she takes to the silver screen as wrestling legend Mildred Burke in an upcoming biopic, but she developed a knack for braving backlash during her time in the CW's DC universe as Felicity Smoak.

"When I was on Arrow, I quickly realized how passionate comic book fans can be," said the CWveteran in an interview with TV Insider, confessing "At one point, I had to have a really long talk with my therapist, asking, 'Okay, so what is all this energy? I don’t really understand it.'"

The actress claims she had to develop "skin like a rhino" and "heart like a rose" to be able to achieve that understanding. She now acknowledges criticism often stems from passion, not malice alone.

I think that criticism is passion,...

Legendary director John Frankenheimer’s penultimate effort, “Ronin” (1998) finds him returning to firm action-thriller footing after the disaster of “The Island of Dr. Moreau” remake. But what’s most interesting about the film is that noted playwright and screenwriter (and director) David Mamet worked as a script doctor. As such, you’re left with an interesting hybrid of wordplay, plotting, and muscular action filmmaking. Frankenheimer, whose career dates to Hollywood’s golden age and who made several interesting and intelligent political thrillers in the 60s and 70s and Mamet’s dialogue-driven formation make a fascinating pairing.

Mamet chose to write under a pseudonym after not receiving sole credit, but his fingerprints are unmistakable all the same as his word plays and sly deconstruction of the action genre plays counterpoint to Frankenheimer’s straightforward presentation. In principle, these two contrasting approaches may have canceled each other out, but while they don’t sit perfectly together,...

Tonight we dine in the hospital!

Gerard Butler says there were an “insane” number of injuries when filming his fan-favorite action hit 300.

The Zack Snyder film from 2006 — which marked Butler’s breakout role, playing the fearsome Spartan King Leonidas — was apparently quite war zone on set.

“I remember every day somebody was getting taken to the hospital,” Butler told People. “You’d be doing a fight, you turn around, there’s a guy down there, a spear went in his eye. Another time, you turn around, there’s a guy over there who just fell, broke his ankle. I mean, it was insane.”

Butler himself apparently walked away from 300 unscathed, though he detailed injuries he sustained on other film sets, such as nearly drowning while learning to surf for the 2012 movie Chasing Mavericks.

“I thought I was done,” the 55-year-old actor said. “They had to take me out, take me to hospital,...

Helldivers 2 made a splash at The Game Awards, both winning the awards for Best Multiplayer Game and Best Ongoing Game and dropping a new trailer for the Omens of Tyranny update, which introduces a new enemy faction and a sweet new ride for the soldiers of Super Earth. The continued success of Helldivers 2, even after a bout of community backlash from account requirements, proves that players have been waiting for this type of game for a long time; the type of game that puts soldiers in space, fighting enemy alien factions in a multi-front war with a type of infection taking over their comrades.

If that game sounds familiar, it’s because the newest trailer for Helldivers 2 strikes an eerily similar tone to the Halo series. In fact, it seems that Helldivers 2 is everything that Halo should’ve been, especially after the games seemingly ran out of steam in the post-Bungie era.

Take the toughest, most ruthless cop and pit him against the most brutally sadistic criminal in a near-future Los Angeles—a hellish vision of the city that presupposes that the 1992 riots never stopped—and you’ve got a quintessential early-’90s Hollywood action film setup. Marco Brambilla’s Demolition Man starts in 1996, but after John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone) and Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) are frozen in a cryogenic prison after a deadly square-off, they awaken again in 2032, only to be greeted by a sanitized, peaceful “utopia” in which swearing, smoking, meat-eating, “gasoline, uneducational toys, and anything spicy” have been banned.

With the population effectively neutered, even the cops have been reduced to enforcing petty tickets, mere shells of their former hyper-violent selves. “We’re police officers. We’re not trained to handle this kind of violence,” Rob Schneider’s Erwin asserts upon seeing the freshly unfrozen Simon take out six cops who are armed,...

The '90s were a special time for sci-fi. With the release of Jurassic Park and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, film studios began to recognize the practical potential of CGI and other special effects. Films like The Matrix revolutionized cinema with techniques such as slow motion, influencing not only sci-fi and action films but nearly every genre across the industry. However, many 90s sci-fi films were overlooked at the time and are only now receiving the appreciation they deserve.

A lot of great sci-fi films from the '90s had a dark, grungy aesthetic that made them less family-friendly, thereby limiting their audience. Several were independent productions that had to find creative ways to work around small budgets. Additionally, 90s sci-fi often leaned into the strange and unconventional, which led to poor reception from critics and a lack of awareness among general audiences. Exploring the sci-fi films of the '...

With Gladiator II releasing in late 2024, 2000's Gladiator is back in the public eye and so is Maximus Decimus Meridius's journey to regain his freedom and avenge his family against Emperor Commodus. While the movie is not particularly historically accurate, it still proved to have a lasting impact on pop culture and the perception of gladiators in general.

Yet, as fascinating as Gladiator is, it isn't the only historical epic with stakes and drama that continues to resound through Hollywood. Many other movies fit a similar profile. While the wait for Gladiator II reaches its final stretch, it might be worth checking out some other impactful historical epics.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on November 15, 2024: Ridley Scott's Gladiator II finally hits theaters on November 22, 2024, 24 years after the release of the original. As fans eagerly step back into the world of ancient Rome and gladiatorial combat, several terrific films make...

Welcome To Plathville viewers have been struggling with the current season after accusations that the shows gotten too boring and produced have flown, but fans caught a clue that could reveal the show is fake in the most recent episode. Throughout Welcome To Plathville season 6, fans have wondered whats happening with the series centered around the Plath family. While theres still drama to unfold on screen, the majority of the season has been made up of heavily produced segments that wouldnt happen in real life. From last weeks Spartan race to this weeks surprise party, things havent seemed legitimate.

"Werent some of the people shown at Olivias sex ed party Micahs old roommates?"

In a Reddit discussion about Welcome To Plathville season 6 episode 7, one fan noted that a few of the same people that will be featured in Olivia Plaths sex ed party storyline had been associated with Micah Plath in a previous season.

Paramount+ has cancelled Halo, Deadline has confirmed.

The news comes a few months after Season 2 of the live-action video game adaptation premiered on the streamer in February. Amblin Television, Xbox and 343 Industries are currently shopping Halo in hopes of finding it a new home, Deadline understands.

“We are extremely proud of this ambitious series and would like to thank our partners at Xbox, 343 Industries and Amblin Television, along with showrunner and executive producer David Wiener, his fellow executive producers, the entire cast led by Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief and the amazing crew for all their outstanding work. We wish everyone the best going forward,” a spokesperson for Paramount+ said in a statement Thursday.

Added 343 Industries: “We deeply appreciate the millions of fans who propelled the Halo series to be a global success and we remain committed to broadening the Halo universe in different ways in the future. We...

The Yoga Teacher Killer: The Kaitlin Armstrong Story premieres on Lifetime on June 15, 2024.

It is the story of a yoga teacher who murdered a professional cyclist in 2022.

Armstrong broke a cardinal rule of yoga, Ahimsa (non-violence), in a way that shocked the Austin, Texas, community where the murder took place. It also stunned the broader communities of yoga practitioners and professional cyclists nationwide.

Who is Kaitlin Armstrong?

Kaitlin Armstrong, played by Caity Lotz in the new Lifetime film, is a convicted murderer. Her crime was particularly shocking because many murderers, such as the Happy Face Killer, are male.

She was convicted of killing professional cyclist Moriah "Mo" Wilson in a crime of jealousy and passion over a love triangle.

Related: 13 Love Triangles That Left Us Genuinely Torn

The murder took place on May 11, 2022, in Austin, Texas

Before becoming a convicted killer, she was a yoga instructor.

She also held...

Green Arrow faces off against Merlyn with help from Team Arrow, leading to Diggle taking Merlyn away in an iconic moment. John Diggle, Arrowverse's Spartan, is officially canonized in DC Comics with a codename and costume in Green Arrow #12. Arrowverse fans can take comfort knowing Spartan's story can continue in the DC Universe following the closure of the connected world.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Green Arrow #12!One of Green Arrow's closest Arrowverse allies has been canonized in the DC Universe. After spending months tracking down his most hated enemy, Oliver Queen is in the fight of his life against Merlyn. But the Emerald Archer encounters another surprising blast from the past that makes a certain superhero identity DC Comics canon.

In Green Arrow #12 by Joshua Williamson, Sean Izaaske, Phil Hester, and Eric Gapstur, Green Arrow is finally facing off against Merlyn. Unfortunately, Green Arrow is overwhelmed by Merlyn's use...

Rooster Teeth co-writer Matt Hullum discusses the end of Red Vs. Blue and his hopes for the future of the Halo series. Hullum compares Halo to Star Wars, suggesting branching out to explore new corners of the universe like Reach and Odst. Fans could see more Halo projects outside of Master Chief's story, similar to Star Wars spin-offs exploring different perspectives.

When discussing the conclusion to Rooster Teeth's long-running Red Vs. Blue, the show's co-writer, director, and voice actor, Matt Hullum talked about the game franchise it started life as a machinima of: Halo. Red Vs. Blue has been around since the very first Halo game, starting in 2003 a year before the release of Halo 2, and so the team at Rooster Teeth has experienced the release of every Halo game both as fans and using the titles to create their content.

As Red Vs. Blue comes to an end after...

After Microsoft’s closure of the Activision Blizzard merger last year, Xbox is now one of the biggest publishers in the gaming industry, a far cry from just 10 years ago, when it had a paltry five studios developing mostly Halo, Gears, and Forza games.

However, things have massively changed now, as the brand has 36 game development studios under its umbrella, as well as ownership of legendary IPs like Call of Duty, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Diablo, and many more. With names like these representing Xbox in the future, where does Halo -the trendsetter that kickstarted the platform in 2002 – fit in?

Xbox Still Finds Halo Important, But May Have Other Priorities Even though Halo Infinite accrued positive reviews, fans were divided on the campaign’s direction.

In a June 2023 interview with The Guardian, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer assured fans that the keystone Halo franchise will remain important to Xbox among all...

Legendary Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and playwright David Mamet said that his children aren’t nepo babies and that they have achieved their success due to their talent. His daughter Zosia Mamet is best known for starring on “Girls” alongside news anchor Brian Williams’ daughter Allison Williams, Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke’s daughter Jemima Kirke and creator Lena Dunham, daughter of a pair of New York City artists.

Promoting his memoir “Everywhere an Oink Oink” over the weekend at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, David conceded that his daughters — including Zosia’s sister Clara Mamet — learned from spending time on set with their father, according to the L.A. Times. He noted that he felt gratified by that.

Speaking particularly of the successful Zosia, Mamet argued that his daughters haven’t benefited from any form of privilege. “They earned it by merit,” he said.

“Nobody ever gave my kids...

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Quick Answer: Stream every episode of Halo on Paramount+. Get a seven-day free trial here.

get free trial at paramount+

The battle between the Spartans and the Covenant rages on with another season of Halo now out on Paramount+. The Paramount+ series, based on the hugely popular video game franchise of the same name, returned for its second season earlier this year and garnered positive reviews from critics.

Warning! This post contains Spoilers for Halo season 2, episode 8, "Halo"

Most Spartan-IIs and IIIs have been lost, setting the stage for a new program in Halo season 3. Soren-066 may play a role in the emergence of the Spartan-IVs. Halo season 3 could see Soren and Ackerson building the new Spartan-iv program together.

The ending of Halo season 2's finale may have set up the origins of the Unsc's Spartan-iv program for a potential Halo season 3. As seen in the finale, Master Chief John-117 (Pablo Schreiber) has finally made it to the first Halo ring while the Unsc was battling the Covenant in orbit, sending several legions of their new Spartan-IIIs in a desperate bid to achieve victory. Combined with the first outbreak of the parasitic Flood, a dynamic future has certainly been set up for a third season, including the emergence of the Spartan-IVs.

By the end of Halo season 2, events...

Warning! This post contains Spoilers for Halo season 2, episode 8, "Halo"

Miranda Keyes' future in the Halo show is set to reach greater heights after the Flood threat. Miranda's role in the show has diverged from the game canon, though exciting developments hint at ways to align her more with her counterpart in the games and books. Miranda Keyes could be be revealed as a Reclaimer/Blessed One in future seasons via some sort of recon, just as she is in the games.

The conclusion of Halo season 2 leaves Doctor Miranda Keyes (Olive Gray) in a very interesting position, especially considering her history in the core Halo franchise canon. The daughter of Doctor Catherine Halsey and Unsc Commander Jacob Keyes, Miranda Keyes is a leading military scientist in her own right with a particular focus on the Covenant as well as linguistics. However, the new threat of the Flood following Halo...

There is no argument in admitting how the Halo franchise has one of the largest fan bases across the globe when it comes to video games. The series and its characters have managed to have a huge impact on not only who experienced the game, but the gaming industry as a whole.

The main protagonist of the game, Master Chief, is an icon not only in the game’s fan base but the pop and entertainment culture as a whole. Unfortunately, many often forget the existence of one soldier, who was considered to be deadlier than Master Chief himself and paved the path for humanity to continue living till his very last breath.

Halo is one of the most successful video game franchises, having a huge impact on the video game industry. The Only Spartan That Forced The Covenants To Glass An Entire Planet In Halo, And It’s Not...

Spoilers are ahead for Halo season 2's finale.

The Halo season 2 finale sets the stage for a thrilling season 3 with the return of Master Chief and Cortana's dynamic as well as the emergence of the Flood. The introduction of 343 Guilty Spark hints at upcoming story moments from Halo: Combat Evolved. The sacrifice of characters like Kai — and the dwindling numbers of Spartan-IIIs — create high stakes for Master Chief and humanity's future.

The Halo season 2 finale wraps up several threads, all while setting an exciting third outing into motion, especially where Master Chief's (Pablo Schreiber) story is concerned. The eighth episode, which is aptly titled "Halo," picks up where the previous installment left off. Makee (Charlie Murphy), the Covenant-raised human, and The Arbiter Var 'Gatanai (Viktor Åkerblom) are racing toward the Halo, thanks to Cortana's (Jen Taylor; Christina Bennington) quick thinking. Eager to stop the Covenant from reaching the Sacred Ring,...

Spoilers are ahead for Halo season 2, episode 7.

Soren-066 is a complex character in Halo, who's torn between his humanity and his Spartan past. The Silver Team Spartans and Soren provide interesting contrasts to Master Chief in Halo season 2. Although he's traumatized by his past as a Spartan, Soren is struggling to walk away from it completely.

While Halo received backlash for introducing brand-new Spartans to Master Chief's (Pablo Schreiber) story, Bokeem Woodbine's Soren is shaping up to be one of the Paramount+ series' most compelling characters. Despite abandoning the Spartan-ii program years before the events chronicled in season 1, Soren finds himself pulled back into his former life during the show's sophomore outing. At first, he's obsessed with tracking down Natascha McElhone's Dr. Halsey, the creator of the Spartan-ii program, in a kind of vengeful play. Instead, he ends up saving the Unsc scientist during the Covenant invasion of Reach.

Spoilers are ahead for Halo season 2, episode 7.

Kwan, Miranda Keyes, and Dr. Halsey discover a Forerunner lab, which holds the body of a mysterious scientist. Onyx is revealed to be an artificial planet that's hiding a Forerunner Shield World. Halo season 3 will likely focus on The Flood and, in turn, the importance of Shield Worlds like Onyx's.

Although Dr. Catherine Halsey (Natascha McElhone) is an accomplished Unsc scientist and the creator of the Spartan-ii program, she was wrong about the so-called "city" that viewers caught a glimpse of in Halo season 2, episode 7. After Kwan Ha (Yerin Ha) and Halsey follow Kwan's visions to the Unsc research site at the center of the underground Forerunner installation, the unlikely duo reunite with Commander Miranda Keyes (Olive Gray). Like her estranged mother, Miranda has been trying to solve a cryptic Forerunner puzzle and open a seemingly unyielding door. Luckily, Kwan's visions of The Flood pay off.

Spoilers are ahead for Halo season 2, episode 7.

Dr. Halsey's revelation about the Spartan-ii program's origins changes everything. The connection with the DNA found at the Forerunner site hints at all Spartans being Reclaimers. The Forerunners deemed the Reclaimers their heirs as the galaxy's next stewards.

Halo season 2, episode 7, "Thermopylae," finally reveals what sets John-117 (Pablo Schreiber) and his fellow Spartan-II soldiers apart from all other humans — and it stems from Dr. Catherine Halsey's Forerunner twist from the previous episode. Natascha McElhone's Unsc scientist has fallen from grace: the show's sophomore season opened with Halsey being held captive by her replacement, Oni officer James Ackerson (Joseph Morgan), who subsequently arranged for Dr. Halsey to die during the Fall of Reach. Alongside John and former Spartan Soren (Bokeem Woodbine), Halsey survives the invasion, but the remaining Spartan-II soldiers aren't too pleased.

The ending of Halo season 1 revealed a lot about Dr.

Spoilers are ahead for Halo season 2, episode 7.

An unlikely trio of Dr. Halsey, Miranda Keyes, and Kwan Ha unlock a door that leads to a hidden Forerunner lab. The scientist in the lab, who is probably a Forerunner, died clutching a crucial device that may contain genetic material. From the introduction of the Forerunner Shield World of Onyx to hints at Halo: Combat Evolved's story, teases indicate that The Flood will be Halo season 3's key villain.

After solving a series of cryptic tests, Dr. Catherine Halsey (Natascha McElhone), Commander Miranda Keyes (Olive Gray), and the ever-wary Kwan Ha (Yerin Ha) discover the body of an alien scientist in Halo season 2, episode 7, "Thermopylae." Split up from Master Chief (Pablo Schreiber), James Ackerson (Joseph Morgan), and the rest of the Unsc and Oni forces, the unlikely trio use their smarts and Kwan Ha's foreboding visions to solve the Forerunner puzzles and...

Spoilers are ahead for Halo season 2, episode 7.

Dr. Halsey claims the Forerunner installation on Onyx is a library. Halsey's previous discovery of both Covenant and human DNA in the library seemingly proves her theory, as the Forerunners stored genetic material in their libraries. Forerunner libraries, like Onyx's, serve as genetic repositories to re-seed life after Halo array activation, hinting at The Flood's arrival.

Halo season 2, episode 7, "Thermopylae," reveals that the Forerunner installation on Onyx is a library — at least that's what Dr. Catherine Halsey (Natascha McElhone) claims. Previously, insurrectionist Kwan Ha (Yerin Ha) and Dr. Halsey peeled off from the larger group on Onyx, leaving Master Chief (Pablo Schreiber) and Soren (Bokeem Woodbine) to pursue their own missions. While Soren and his wife, Laera (Fiona O'Shaughnessy), grapple with why the Unsc would take their son, Kessler (Tylan Bailey), the Chief infiltrates the Oni base on Onyx to find...

Spoilers are ahead for Halo season 2, episode 6, "Onyx."

Var 'Gatanai brands himself with the Mark of Shame in Halo season 2, episode 6. Makee inspires The Arbiter to go rogue in search of Halo, which sets into motion a defiant storyline for the two. The Mark of Shame, once a symbol of disgrace, comes to signify rebellion in the core Halo canon — and the same may (eventually) be true in the show too.

In Halo season 2, episode 6, "Onyx," The Arbiter (Viktor Åkerblom) — a.k.a. Var 'Gatanai, the high-ranking Elite who led the Covenant invasion of Reach — brands himself with a symbol. For long-time fans, said symbol will be immediately recognizable as a reference to Halo 2. However, the Paramount+ show doesn't offer much of an explanation for the scene, making the brand more of an Easter egg. The sixth installment in the series' sophomore outing doesn't heavily feature The Arbiter, but the...

Warning! This post contains Spoilers for Halo season 2, episode 6, "Onyx"

Spartan-iii soldiers are introduced in Halo season 2 as the next generation of the Spartan program, far outnumbering Spartan-IIs such as Master Chief. The Spartan-IIIs in the show wear Spi armor and were created to be cheaper and more expendable than Spartan-IIs. Oni is intentionally reckless with Spartan-iii lives, trading their larger numbers for more time against the alien Covenant.

Halo season 2 has brought the Unsc's Spartan-iii soldiers to live-action. The next series in the Spartan program following Master Chief John-117 (Pablo Schrieber) and his fellow Spartan-IIs, there are a few key differences between the two iterations of humanity's best defense against the alien Covenant. However, there are also some differences in their origins between the core Halo canon and the version seen in the show's "Silver Timeline".

As seen in Halo season 2, episode 6, an army of armored Spartan-IIIs are...

Spoilers are ahead for Halo season 2, episode 6, "Onyx."

Halo season 2 embraces deep-cut references from the core canon's lore, including a nod to Project Javelin. The Halo TV series explores the moral issues that arise from Dr. Halsey's Spartan-ii program, all while setting up Ackerson's Spartan-iii program. Project Javelin connects to Halo: Reach, offering fans a fun reference to Dr. Halsey's journal and notes.

In Halo season 2, episode 6, "Onyx," the series makes reference to "Javelin" — a term that has connections to the core canon's Spartan-ii program. Although the Paramount+ show exists in the alternative Silver Timeline, a thread that's separate from the franchise's pre-existing canon, it still borrows from established Halo lore. The sophomore season features some deep-cut Halo references, from its use of Halo season 2's Thermopylae ship to the introduction of Oni officer James Ackerson (Joseph Morgan). After the Fall of Reach, episode 5 doesn't spend time with the planet's civilian survivors.

Spoilers are ahead for Halo season 2, episode 6, "Onyx."

Dr. Halsey and Kwan Ha uncover secrets on Onyx, hinting at the planet's secret Forerunner connection. The Mother provides clues about shield worlds, teasing a potential upcoming twist that will tie into the Flood plot. Dr. Halsey's obsession with Forerunner tech and Kwan Ha's visions will seemingly lead them to uncover the truth about the Flood.

Halo season 2, episode 6, "Onyx," connects Dr. Catherine Halsey's (Natascha McElhone) knowledge of Forerunner technology and history with the Unsc to Kwan Ha (Yerin Ha) and The Mother's (Olwen Fouéré) story, which teases Halo's all-consuming, parasitic Flood villain. In its premiere episode, Halo's sophomore outing used Kwan Ha's connection to lore to hint at the Gravemind — the monstrous shared consciousness of the entire Flood species. Since then, Kwan has experienced disorienting visions of The Mother, a shaman who seemingly died when the Covenant glassed the planet Sanctuary.

Spoilers are ahead for Halo season 2, episode 5, "Aleria."

Halo season 2 has introduced Onyx, but has yet to hint at its Forerunner connection. To start, Halo explores the importance of Onyx as a training base for James Ackerson's Spartan-IIIs. The concept of shield worlds (and the aftermath of Installation-04) plays a significant role in Onyx's story.

The glimpse viewers get of Onyx at the end of Halo season 2, episode 5, "Aleria," might tease the location's importance, but it does little to reveal the planet's secret Forerunner connection. The majority of "Aleria" takes place on the episode's titular planet, following Master Chief (Pablo Schreiber), Dr. Catherine Halsey (Natascha McElhone), Riz-028 (Natasha Culzac), Kwan Ha (Yerin Ha), and the other Reach survivors who landed on the outer colony. Fittingly, after Halo reveals that the Unsc abducted Kessler (Tylan Bailey), the son of Laera (Fiona O'Shaughnessy) and ex-Spartan Soren (Bokeem Woodbine), the Paramount+ series cuts Onyx.

Spoilers are ahead for Halo season 2, episode 5, "Aleria."

Master Chief reflects on loss and purpose, grappling with his identity as a fighter after Reach's fall. Vannak's love for animals adds depth to his character — as seen in a poignant moment he shares with Reach's birds. Bird imagery symbolizes the Spartans' quest for freedom as well as their internal struggle in Halo season 2.

In Halo season 2, episode 5, "Aleria," Master Chief (Pablo Schreiber) stares at a bird in flight while contemplating his next move in the wake of Halo's Fall of Reach plot. John-117 isn't just taking in the sights and sounds of the planet. When his fellow Spartan, Riz-028 (Natasha Culzac), is wounded during the evacuation of Reach, John can't help but think the risk his comrade took was foolish. Vannak-134 (Bentley Kalu), another Silver Team Spartan, was one of the people who died in Halo season 2, episode 4 — and...

Spoilers are ahead for Halo season 2, episode 5, "Aleria."

Halo season 2, episode 5 teases Ackerson's Spartan-iii program on Onyx, setting up a major storyline for the future. The Spartan-iii soldiers are designed to be cheap and expendable, making them both replacements for and rivals to Master Chief and Halsey's Spartan-IIs. The new soldiers deepen the rift between Master Chief and the Unsc, isolating John and setting the stage for thrilling Halo threads.

The final moments of Halo season 2, episode 5, "Aleria," finally teases James Ackerson's (Joseph Morgan) secret project: the Spartan-IIIs. While viewers get a fleeting glimpse of Master Chief's (Pablo Schreiber) replacement soldiers in the fifth episode, all signs point to episode 6, the aptly titled "Onyx," delving into the details of Ackerson's Spartan-iii program. It's no secret that the Halo TV series has carved out a standalone narrative within the larger franchise. Although the Paramount+ show takes inspiration from...

Spoilers are ahead for Halo season 2, episode 4, "Reach."

Kai's absence during the Fall of Reach likely connects to her doubts about Master Chief's leadership. The members of Silver Team notice that their Spartan armor is missing, but don't connect it with Kai's absence. Kai's alliance with Ackerson may deepen the rifts within Silver Team, impacting their dynamic and Halo's story.

While Master Chief (Pablo Schreiber) and his comrades fought valiantly against the invading Covenant forces during Halo season 2, episode 4, Kai-125 (Kate Kennedy), a key member of John-117's Silver Team, was missing during the Fall of Reach. Prior to the Covenant's all-out invasion, Kai accompanied her fellow Spartans to the Visegrád comms relay in the hopes of finding out what really happened to Cobalt Team. After learning that Master Chief falsified their mission, Kai begins to doubt John's leadership. After the Chief is grounded by Jacob Keyes (Danny Sapani...

Warning! This post contains Spoilers for Halo season 2, episode 4, "Reach"

"Fall of Reach" is shown in Halo S2, with tanks like the Covenant Wraith and Unsc Scorpion appearing on the front lines. Silver Team refuses to back down in the face of the Covenant's attack, despite high-ranking members fleeing Reach. Halo S2's attention to detail shines through with accurate tank depictions, even with deviations in the storyline itself.

The Fall of Reach has begun in Halo season 2, featuring remarkably accurate tanks on both sides of the Human-Covenant War. The Unsc's Fleet Command can no longer hide the truth that the alien Covenant has already arrived on the planet Reach. To that end, Master Chief Petty Officier John-117 (Pablo Schrieber) and his fellow Spartans are on the front lines during the invasion, doing what they can to buy civilians enough time to evacuate. However, they're also backed up by some...

This Halo article contains spoilers.

While it’s never pretended to be a direct adaptation of the classic video game series it’s based on, the Halo TV series has made some really weird alterations to Master Chief and his world, and the latest change to the story Halo fans know and love is the most bewildering yet. It comes just as the show finally sets course to cover the Fall of Reach, a pivotal event from the games and tie-in books that has somehow taken a season and a half to get to.

To be fair, there are a few things to like about season 2 episode 4, “Reach.” For one, at the height of its war-movie-style CGI-heavy action, the show finally feels like Halo and not a talky political thriller that only occasionally flirts with the spectacle of the games. That we’re finally at the Fall of Reach also...

Warning! This post contains Spoilers for Halo season 2, episode 4

Cortana was taken by Makee during the attack on Reach, putting her in great danger for the rest of Halo season 2. Joined by the new Arbiter Var' Gatanai, Makee has Cortana, sparking a new direction for the story compared to the games and books. The Covenant likely needs Cortana to obtain coordinates to the first Halo Ring, presenting a new twist in the plot.

The Fall of Reach has officially begun in Halo season 2, featuring several surprise twists including one regarding Cortana, Master Chief's advanced AI companion who was taken from him by the Unsc in the aftermath of Halo season 1. With the alien Covenant having secretly invaded the colony world of Reach, it's quickly revealed that they've come to the surface for a critical mission before fully glassing the planet via orbital plasma bombardment. To that end, Cortana has now found herself in great danger.