Halo (1×07) Inheritance Review

For our review of the last episode of Halo, click here.

Just like the last episode, this latest episode is more focused in terms of plot but suffers from timing. Kwan and Soren took the spotlight here as they have essentially been floating around but the series decided to check in on what they’ve been up to. However, the series’ negligence in terms of their character development stripped it from any kind of excitement whatsoever. One can’t help but want to move on from this subplot.

Focusing on characters that have been so detached from the main storyline, it only makes sense that the episode would be unlike all the episodes that preceded it. Kwan and Soren have not mattered in the grand scheme of the series and this episode provided little to no reason for viewers to change their minds or at a minimum, care. That’s a problem when it relies heavily on those characters. Putting so much importance on Madrigal and its inner workings, that work, if it could even be called that, has yet to pay off. While it may very well matter in the future, at this point, why bother?

Kwan and her paper thin family history in relation to Madrigal was tenuous at best as her quest to free the people of her planet has been a dull watch for the most part but at least, that quest appears to be over in what could only be described as an act of mercy. Going around in circles while delving into a boatload of cliches, Kwan’s journey took her on a pointless vision quest of sorts before reuniting with Soren for a trademark action-packed climax. However, Soren is definitely no Master Chief/John.

Meanwhile, it’s unclear how much time had passed since we last saw Kwan and Soren as the latter was somehow back on Rubble until guilt appeared to have forced him back to Madrigal to help Kwan. She was in trouble as her exploits did not go unnoticed by Grath who sought to eliminate her once and for all. Ultimately, Grath was the one who was eliminated once and for all which was an act of mercy for Burn Gorman and for viewers. Perhaps with Grath gone, Madrigal is safe but judging by how much of a mess that storyline has been, who really knows? And where does that leave Kwan?

This season has been a mess narratively full of high points and low points. The last episode was certainly a high point that showed what the series could be after finding a formula that works. Less is more. Though this episode followed that same formula, it was doomed from the start for trying to salvage characters that the season has ruined. Yerin Ha and Bokeem Woodbine have decent chemistry as Kwan and Soren but that can only go so far which is just a shame.

With some loose ends now tied up, let’s move on to what actually works and stay away from what doesn’t.

still courtesy of Paramount

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.