Written by: Basil Lee Kreimdenahl
Directed by: Otto Bathurst
The review is “spoiler-lite”
Aleria starts where Reach finished, picking up at the end of the fight as Chief, Halsey, Soren, and Riz are fighting a hopeless battle. It’s the only action in the episode, as Aleria chooses to reflect on what just happened while setting the groundwork for the rest of the season of Halo the Series. We’ll finally get to see Makee’s perspective as she attempts to coax Cortana into aiding her, and it makes for a damned fine hour of television.
As this is an early review I’ll keep it as spoiler-lite as possible for episode 5. The previous episode, Reach, saw the deaths of Captain Keyes and Spartan Vannak-134. The repercussions of those deaths, the UNSC’s abandoning of Reach, and a few other minor plot threads are the focus of episode 5. There are answers and context given as to why major decisions were made that added a lot to episode 4 for me. That’s one of the tougher parts of reviewing a show mid-season. It’s hard to not judge the destination even though the track is actively being laid down.
The action moves from Reach after the opening scene to a new location, Aleria. Chief, Halsey, Kwan, & the rest are hiding out from the UNSC. Soren and Laera are desperate to find their son, Kessler, so everyone heads to Aleria as it was his last known location. With a nearly one-hour runtime, this is one of the longest episodes of the season. There are lots of “people talking in rooms” as the seeds are laid for where the show’s final three episodes will take us.
Family is the core of Aleria’s story. Jon and Riz have just lost one, Soren and Laera are searching for their son, and Halsey has lost one of the only people she has ever cared for. Kwan feels like a bit of an outcast in the group, but she ends up being the glue that holds them together. It is another standout showing of improvement for the series as a whole.
Kwan was easily one of the worst-written characters in season one. She is given room to grow here as someone shaped by their profound grief. Kwan never got to say goodbye to any of her friends or family, and after living on the Rubble for six months she has thankfully grown up. It is thanks in large part to better writing that no longer makes the character come off as a miserable, whiny child.
Aleria is an episode that lets all of our major characters evolve in some way, outside of Halsey. If anything we see that she’s still the stone-hearted scientist from season one. If you aren’t special then you are of no concern for her. She’s not evil, and she can care about people, but only when she thinks they deserve it.
Wrapping Things Up
Episode 5 of Halo’s 2nd season is a welcome calm before an inevitable storm. New perspectives, character growth, and solid writing lead the way to earn major character choices and set up the season’s final three acts.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
S02E05 - Aleria
PROS
- Continued Kwan Ha Improvements
- Solid Pacing
- Mostly believable dialogue
CONS
- A few extras are weak
I thought the episode was out today when I saw this. Judging by this video, it does sound like this season is not only course correct the direction but so as the existing character. If Season 3 continues with the same director or someone with familiar style, then it will only get better.
It’s spoiler-lite because it’s a full day early, otherwise I would have done a full breakdown. Always curious to see when they embargo things.
No spoilers.
It was a slower episode with some great highlights. It just confirms once again that it is a TV show and character development is more important than seeing them killing covenants and saving people. We see spartans struggling with the aftermath of Reach, with pain and with their emotions and I loved it.
It’s not what you imagine to see in a Halo series, but man, it is setting things up for some cathartic scenes later on.
I’m convinced that:
By the end, Master Chief will be alone with Cortona by the time they reach Halo. I don’t know if this was always the plan but it certainly going toward the game sensation instead of the novels where he was with his team. That said I love how bit by bit he’s losing everything and you can tell the pain is eating him inside.
Yeah, I had the same feeling. Just imagining John and Cortana exploring a Halo ring get me so excited. I hope they nailed that feeling. It will probably be in the last episode though.
Schreiber is good in that episode. He’s really good.
Given what happened in the games, I did laugh a bit at them bringing Cortana into their flagship - like “guys, you really don’t know how dangerous she is do you?”.
Installation00 did a great rundown of this week’s episode: