TheHalotelevision series is not without its critics. The Paramount production has changed a lot of things from the beloved games,including aspects of the character Dr. Catherine Halsey.The largest problem that fans have with the series is the fact Master Chief removes his helmet and talks a lot, which goes against a lot of what the fans love about the game series.
Catherine Halsey, meanwhile, has a lot of similar elements in the games and the series. In both, she creates the Spartans and Cortana, and is a high-ranking scientist in the UNSC. However, there are a lot of differences between her TV show and her game counterpart. Here’s what’s different in the show.
6She’s Much More Involved In The Story
In the game series, Dr Halsey does not appear untilHalo Reach, a prequel to the mainline games and the sixth entry in the franchise. The plot of this series actually takes place before whenHalo: Combat Evolvedis set, as that game takes place on the titularHalo. The TV series revolves around the quest to find the location of said Halo.
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Therefore, Dr. Halsey isa prominent character in the TV series, much more so than in the games. Story arcs that aren’t explained until much later in the timeline of the games are portrayed in the series years before they come to light. Telling Halsey’s story much sooner made the character much more relevant, and fans can see why the change was made.
5She Acts As A Boss To The Spartans
In both the TV series and the games, Dr. Halsey created the Spartans. She was involved in everything from their captures as children to creating their armor. However, this ends there at the games. Dr. Halsey was on Reach as it was destroyed, so she missed out on the action inHalo 1, 2and3.
In the show, Dr. Halsey remains as a boss to the Spartans, sending them on missions. She seemingly has more control over them than the rest of the UNSC. The games only have one Spartan, apart from prequels beforeHalo 4. In the games, the Master Chief takes orders from UNSC high command, Miranda and Jacob Keyes, and Sgt. Johnson (who is unfortunate to not be included in the series).
4Her Lab Is Different
InHalo Reach’s campaign, gamers see Dr. Halsey’s lab, a remote building tucked away in an icy landscape surrounded by glaciers and mountains. This is vasty different in the game. Although both are based on the planet Reach, Catherine’s lab is a modern-looking lab in the main UNSC headquarters.
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It is also worth noting that Reach has not been glassed by the Covenant andacts as the main base for the UNSC in the series. On the other hand, by the time theHalorolls around in the games, the planet is no more.
3She’s Arrested Much Sooner Than In The Timeline Of The Games
Catherine Halsey eventually pays the price for capturing children to be used in the Spartan program. In the games thougn, this plot point is not introduced untilHalo 4. As fans are well aware now, the timeline has been altered in the TV series, and things happen at different points compared to the games.
In the show, Dr. Halsey is arrested and turns on the UNSC much earlier, setting her up as an adversary in the later episodes and beyond in season 2. This ties in with Dr. Halsey being a much more prominent character in the series than in the games, especiallyHalo 1, 2and3.
2She Wants To Use Cortana As A Weapon
The use of Cortana in the TV series is completely different from the games. InHalo: Combat Evolved,Cortana is the Pillar of Autumn’s ship AI, given to the Master Chief to protect the UNSC’s information.
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In the series, viewers see Cortana being created by Halsey and then directly inserted into the Master Chief. Halsey then explains thatCortana will be used as a means to control John-117and help keep him on track. She also uses Cortana as a spy on the Master Chief, reporting back her findings to her creator.
1She Becomes More Of A Villain Than The Covenant
Surprisingly, the Covenant takes somewhat of a backseat in theHaloTV series. Rather, the focus is mainly on the Master Chief and his conflict within the UNSC. At the basis of the story,the Covenant are the main villains, but not the only ones within the story.
It is quickly established that Dr. Halsey captured the Spartans as children, forcing them to turn on their former creator and in turn the UNSC arresting her. This becomes much more of a focal point than that of the Covenant trying to activate the halo rings. Hopefully, season 2 includes more of the Covenant, maybe including fan favorite Arbiter as a direct arch-nemesis to the Master Chief.
