The Darkest Hour

The true test of fortitude is not in withstanding all attacks but in coming back from devastating defeat. After The Covenant’s brutal attack on Reach, UNSC is on the run, its leaders escaping to safety, abandoning those deemed less important to certain death at the hands of the enemy.

HALO Season 2 Episode 5, “Aleria,” sees John (Pablo Schreiber) and Riz (Natasha Culzac) moving forward without Vannak (Bentley Kalu) after escaping the decimated Reach, two major losses they will struggle to accept.

From the right side of the image, John looks grimly to the left of the shot, lit from behind with a series of long dimly golden lights in HALO.

HALO Season 2. Photo Credit: Adrienn Szabo/Paramount+

Meanwhile, Halsey’s (Natascha McElhone) clinical approach to relationships and the world in general will be tested in the wake of Keyes’s (Danny Sapani) horrific demise. How will this affect her relationship with daughter Miranda (Olive Gray), who hasn’t been seen all season? Will it have any effect at all?

RELATED: Check out our recap of the HALO episode, “Visegrád”

In the aftermath of the battle’s chaos, we are left with so many questions:

Where did the ONI higher-ups evacuate to? Is there a secondary home base where FLEETCOM’s forces can regroup?

What were Ackerson’s (Joseph Morgan) orders to Kai (Kate Kennedy) on HALO‘s “Visegrád”? Is she still on Reach? Was she on the transports? Has she learned of Vannak’s death?

James Ackerson sits on a ship while wearing a suit and looking pensive in Halo Season 2 Episode 1, "Sanctuary."

HALO Season 2. Photo Credit: Adrienn Szabo/Paramount+

Moving Forward

Riz has even more loss to process. Seeing both Louis (Marvin Jones III) and Danilo (Christian Ochoa Lavernia) die in front of her during the battle for the city just as she was exploring the idea of living a non-Spartan existence may make a pellet-less life feel truly overwhelming.

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The dynamics and membership of Silver Team are in unprecedented flux. With Kai’s whereabouts unaccounted for and Vannak K.I.A., John might consider the return of Soren (Bokeem Woodbine) some sort of fortuitous coincidence.

To be sure, Soren’s probably not thinking about signing up, but he was vital in the stand against the Sangheili and their minions on the hangar platform. He may be a legitimate(?) pirate king now, but there’s no denying his potential as a warrior for humanity.

Soren wears a brown leather jacket and black undershirt while standing in his home on an asteroid in Halo Season 2.

HALO Season 2. Photo Credit: Adrienn Szabo/Paramount+

Personally, I hope to see Perez (Cristina Rodlo) again. I don’t know if she knew where she was flying to when she left Reach, but she’s shouldering a lot of grief as she pilots that transport.

RELATED: Read all of our HALO recaps here!

On the other side of the war, we still don’t know how Makee (Charlie Murphy) came back and The Covenant’s ultimate plan. Now that they have Cortana (Jen Taylor/Christina Bennington), her limitless knowledge of humanity’s history and plans opens the door to many potential shifts in power and purpose.

Rising Again

The Covenant appears to hold the upper hand in strength and intel. Is humanity’s dogged tenacity enough to see them through this conflict? 

And could it be the weight of their grief that ultimately pulls them under?

Master Chief never sees the defeat in a loss. Can he carry them all to victory? And what will be the price he pays for it?

HALO drops new episodes every Thursday on Paramount+. 

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