Halo episode 6 review: Master Chief beats Moon Knight at its own game

All the most recent episodes Moon Knight Halo Each deal with childhood traumas from their pasts as well as demonic mothers. One is held back by its desire for as broad of an audience as possible, keeping the heavy material and its potential emotional impact at an arm’s length. One is the other. Halo.

Marc Spector/Steven Grant/Master Chief are confronting their emotional scars and coming to terms the truth of who their maternal figures really are. Both have an additional person inside their heads that they fight with and has a different relationship to said mother figure.

But while Marvel’s house style gets in the way of Moon Knight’s efforts, Halo shines — not only through its lead performances, but in its willingness to lean all the way in with jarring editing and sound design to enhance the fractured experience of its protagonist. In “Solace,” the sixth episode of the Paramount Plus show, Pablo Schreiber plays the character with all the rage and confusion of a child who has just discovered how messed up the world is. His outstanding lead performance — coupled with the show’s strongest handle yet on its cinematic language — makes “Solace” a standout episode and a compelling case for skeptical viewers to give the sci-fi show another chance.

[Ed. note: Spoilers for episode 6 of Halo]

Photo: Adrienn Szabo/Paramount+

In “Solace,” John (Pablo Schreiber) is not well. After a deadly attack by the Covenant in the fifth episode and the continued unraveling of his repressed childhood memories, he is visibly shaken and quick to lash out at those around him (many of whom are simply asking him if he’s all right).

However, the episode depicts John’s downward spiral with care and an acute eye. “Solace” opens quietly on John’s face, set against a black background, with blood on his uniform. Deep in thought and pain, he is deeply affected as his thoughts drift over the memories of his childhood abduction by Dr. Halsey. The room is dead silent around him despite the presence of people — all we can hear is his memories and a painful ringing. As he considers the artifact, his hand shakes. Halsey responds with a smile and an expression that resembles pure murder.

Suddenly, a hand reaches out to grab his arm, and the scene we’re in comes to life. Kai-125, Kate Kennedy (Kate Kennedy), has been injured during the episode. As John was overwhelmed by the sounds and sights of chaos, we are also overwhelmed. The machines and the people screaming for help are making a lot of noise. It’s finally enough to wake up John, just for a moment, as he squeezes Kai’s hand. But then he’s back in his own head, as Cortana tells him he’s ill and needs medical attention.

Photo: Adrienn Szabo/Paramount+

“Solace” effectively depicts John’s internal struggle through an unsettling approach that often puts us directly inside his head, with jarring juxtapositions between his memories of his childhood and his experiences in the present. This is paired with real costume design and set in. Halo (and contrasted with the MCU’s heavy reliance on visual effects and green screens), and Halo feels like an actual television show — which should not be as high praise as it is, but that’s where we’re at.

John is on the brink of collapse, but he doesn’t care about his health. He gets caught up in the past and has a mystery to solve. He will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of how he got to where he is and what happened to his family, including nearly killing Halsey simply to test Cortana’s limits. The only thing that brings him comfort is misery when he finds the truth. But misery loves company, and the end of “Solace” suggests John may have found that, too, in fellow “Blessed One” Makee (Charlie Murphy).

Halo After its initial episodes, many people (including here at Polygon), were shocked to see the series end. It had too many storylines and lacked a clear identity. Although it drew inspiration from videogames, the show seemed determined to create something entirely new and leave audiences with little to keep. But now that John’s story has come into clearer focus, the series has tightened its storytelling, both in plotting and in its use of jarring cuts to unsettle viewers and immerse them in his internal turmoil. John learns more and more about his history, which helps him to understand himself and what he desires. The show appears to also be learning these same lessons.

After a shaky start, Halo The show has found its groove with both a combat-heavy episode 5 and a tension-heavy episode 6. This episode makes it one of the best action programs this season. Consider giving the show another chance if you’re not satisfied with its slow pace.