Paramount Plus' "Halo" TV series recently caused quite a stir among long-time fans of the game franchise. However, this wasn't because fans thought the live-action adaptation was good, but because of what they did with the series' golden boy, Master Chief.
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Master Chief has long been a video game icon since he was first introduced. But among the biggest things about him is that he never showed his face-something that the "Halo" TV series deviated from when Pablo Schrieber's Chief took his helmet off during the show's first episode.
This is quite a bold move, but current "Halo" developer 343 Industries had an explanation, writes WindowsCentral. That explainer came from Alex Wakeford, a community writer who works for the studio.
Wakeford begins his argument by saying that TV is a "totally different" medium compared to video games. He argues that the defining aspect of games - the interactivity and player agency - can never be found in a live-action depiction. A game tells a story differently from a TV show, and Wakeford says this is evident in the controversial Master Chief face reveal.
He argues that the reveal of Chief's face was "a way to tell a story," and not much else. He calls this reveal a "mission statement" that sets the path of the "Halo" TV series' narrative, which is non-canonical to the games and is set in an alternate timeline called the "Silver Timeline."
In his post on HaloWaypoint where he recaps the series' first episode, Wakeford argues that the TV show doesn't have the games' characteristic as a "space for player projection." Basically, he's saying that Master Chief's face was never revealed because he intended to be a "vessel" for the players to inhabit, where they see the world of "Halo" through his eyes.
In layman's terms, Wakeford argues that players should be a bit easier on how Paramount Plus approaches the show because it's not an interactive medium where they're in control. This Master Chief is that of Pablo Schrieber's (a great actor in his own right), not the ones they've played since the iconic character debuted in 2001.
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Read also: The 'Halo' TV Show Is Now Paramount+'s Most-Watched Original Series Debut Ever
How Fans Reacted To Master Chief's Face Reveal
Despite 343 Industries' gallant attempts at explaining the creative decision, however, fans are still more or less divided by it.
Most people reacted with disappointment. This mostly included long-time fans of the franchise who have been there since it launched with the OG Xbox console 21 years ago. To them, Chief removing his helmet to help someone (a character called Kwan-Ha, whose trust Chief had to earn) was a massive story deviation from what they're used to, writes ScreenRant.
On the other side of the fence, there were some fans who seemed to be "okay" or were indifferent to the decision. A handful of folks looked to be pleasantly surprised and excited, considering that Master Chief is a character who's stayed anonymous for so long (excluding a few instances where his face was briefly seen).
Either way, the show will keep going on its own path, as Paramount Plus has already confirmed the show's renewal for a second season.
Related: 'Halo Infinite' Campaign Co-Op Is Not Coming This May Alongside Season 2
Story posted on GameNGuide
Written by RJ Pierce
