Halo season 2 is expanding the series' universe and pulling more from the existing lore. The show earned some ire for deviating from the canon, but its take on the material varies. They often borrow the broad concept of obscure characters and change details. Season 2 provides an excellent example in its new antagonist, James Ackerson. Ackerson stepped out of the books, but his on-screen appearance is notably different.
The Halo novels represent an intriguing place in pop culture. Most science fiction franchises have expanded universes in print, but Halo's expanded far beyond most fans' attention. Short of Brian David Gilbert's classic video unpacking the novels, most won't know the details. That leaves the showrunners of Halo season two an endless playground of source material to pull from.
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Who is James Ackerson in Halo season 2?
James Ackerson is the new Director of the Spartan Program. He's an ambitious manipulator working his way up in the Office of Naval Intelligence. Ackerson is imperious, wise, and proud. He served in the United Nations Space Command Army for several years before rising through the ranks. His goal is power, constantly angling for a promotion or a new avenue to leadership. Ackerson becomes the Director after Catherine Halsey flees Reach in fear and disgrace. Halsey was a complicated figure in the UNSC. Her scientific genius gave the military the Spartans, who became their greatest weapon. Halsey saw the Spartans as experiments, more fascinated by their behavior than their results. This led to Cortana, and she guided John to remove their emotional regulators. The change, with the nightmarish truths behind the Spartan program, pushed Halsey away. Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 struggled with his new guide.
John and James don't get along. John is initially impressed by Ackerson's military record, heartened by the knowledge that his new overseer has seen combat. Though Ackerson fought in the war against the Covenant, he viewed his decent record as another step toward his loftier goals. Ackerson is committed to downplaying the threat he fought against, bringing him into conflict with the Master Chief. John sees Covenant Elites invade a planet before glassing it, suggesting the precursor to something more significant. Ackerson challenges him, arguing that Cortana's brief possession of his body might have knock-on effects. As the aggression heats up, Ackerson points out that while he needs Master Chief, he has less use for the man behind the mask. He's part of a central thematic element separating John from the Master Chief persona he dons, retrofitting fan complaints about his helmet as a narrative thrust. Ackerson will continue to be a more compelling, less destructive enemy than the Covenant.
Who is James Ackerson in the Halo novels?
James Ackerson has a similar role in the Halo novels, but the details change. He appears in early entries like The Fall of Reach and Ghosts of Onyx. He's still an ambitious social climber who used his impressive military record to secure a position in the ONI. He's likely an ambassador figure, maintaining connections between the ONI and UNSC. Ackerson is Catherine Halsey's most ardent rival. He begins developing a Spartan III program almost immediately after Halsey enacts the Spartan II system. He wields his power to undermine Halsey and replace her.
He discovers Halsey's flash-cloning operations, retrieving their bodies after their planned obsolescence. His Spartan III plan involves using orphans instead of kidnapped children, pitching the idea with slightly better morals. Ackerson tries to have the Master Chief killed with a mad onslaught during a routine training exercise. John survives, prompting Cortana to hack Ackerson's computers and have him publically shamed. Ackerson is later tortured and killed during the Defense of Mars. He seems to be a more significant presence in the show. Kurt, the Spartan he quietly apprehended to lead his Spartan III program, described him like this:
I do get the feeling that Ackerson would gladly assign members of his own family to a suicide mission if he could find an appropriately high value target to send them against.
Who plays James Ackerson in Halo season 2?
Joseph Morgan portrays James Ackerson in Halo season 2. He's best known for his work as Klaus Mikaelson in The Vampire Diaries, a character he continued to play in The Originals and Legacies. Klaus is an antagonist-turned-anti-hero who fans fell in love with. Shortly after his long tenure with The CW's vampire franchise, he joined the cast of Titans as the vicious cult leader Sebastian Blood. Morgan frequently portrays complicated villains with secret ambitions, making him the perfect performer behind James Ackerson.
James Ackerson will fill a critical role in Halo season 2. While Catherine Halsey isn't properly absent from the narrative, the sinister place she occupied felt empty without her. In the Halo games, all a character needs to do to be a villain is shoot at the player. The Halo novels and show must develop some antagonists that assault Master Chief off the battlefield. Ackerson is the perfect foil for John-117, just as the Covenant are the best enemy for the Master Chief.
The Best Halo Books
Halo fans who love lore dumps and super soldier action scenes should crack open one of these exciting Halo books!
