After the massive finale of episode 5, episode 6 starts off a little more sombre with Master Chief in the infirmary looking after an injured Kai surrounded by the wounded aftermath of their latest encounter with the Covenant. With the second part of the artifact lost the UNSC retreats to Reach with their newly found survivor to regroup and plan their next course of action.
The battle is over for the moment we are starting to see cracks in Master Chief. Has the artifact shown him the truth of his past? How does Dr Halsey fit in with all of it? Unfortunately, John’s state of mind is put on show and questions start to be asked about his capabilities and that of the entire Spartan program. His entire demeanour seems to have now changed, a more intense and direct way of dealing with everything going on within himself, the team and now with the arrival of The Blessed One to Reach a new challenge is put before him. His intensity has kicked up more than a notch. 
Episode 6 focuses solely on the human element of Halo building on the previous showing of how the characters within the UNSC fit together, but above all else the Master Chief is the main focus here. His confrontation with Dr Halsey gives him full insight into his past and the cost that the Spartan program had on him and many alike. Of course, the human element includes all the failings that come with it. John is beginning to show his human side more and more with not only his emotional yet disturbingly calm and logical confrontation with Dr Halsey offset by a more irrational confrontation with Cortana. Thrown into this confusion is the introduction of The Blessed One (Makee) who is beginning to show she knows more than she is letting on while also having some sort of connection to not only the artifacts but to John also. I was asking questions of Makee all through the episode and wondered just where her allegiances lie.
Brilliant performances from Shreiber again as Master Chief and his moving away from robotic video game character to a more fleshed-out version of himself, some would say leaning more towards the John persona than the Master Chief at this point. Also, the extra screen time for Charlie Murphy as The Blessed One/ Makee is only a good thing. Portraying the frightened survivor after we saw her decimate a ship in an earlier episode is something I always enjoy watching. We know who you are, we know what you did but they are all buying the story you’re spinning. I am eager to see how her introduction progresses. Plus with Murphy speaking English now we get to hear her Irish accent come through and well, you have me won there….
While Episode 6 is a far cry from the action of the last it still manages to continue the pacing of the previous episode and once again left me wanting to know what happens in the next. The big set-piece and open spaces are replaced by the narrow hallways of Reach yet somehow a single moment can give you a visual feast you can forgive the drab setting.
We are getting to the pointy end of the season and without any spoilers, I think I know where it is heading. I am not sure I like where it is heading but I am too invested now to not see it through.
Episode 6 of Halo is available now on Paramount Plus
