Halo Season 2 Master Chief Actor Pablo Schreiber Talks Removing Helmet

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Halo Actor Has Blunt Words for Fans Who Don't Want Master Chief's Helmet Removed

Halo

By J.W. DiCarlo

Published Jan 22, 2024

Highlights

Halo season 2 actor Pablo Schreiber defends the decision to remove Master Chief's helmet in the TV series, stating that it is necessary to tell the story of the character and examine the discrepancy between the different versions of Chief.
Showrunner Steven Kane paralleled the helmet approach in the show with the books' portrayal of Chief's emotions, arguing that both aim to explore the man inside the helmet.
Paramount's Halo series seems to prefer a more emotional approach, which may require regularly removing Chief's helmet, frustrating some fans who prefer the stoic and determined portrayal of Chief from the games.

Halo season 2 actor Pablo Schreiber responded to criticism about Master Chief's helmet being removed and explained why the show chose this approach. In Halo season 1, Schreiber's Master Chief removed his helmet during the first episode, breaking tradition with the games.

This approach continued throughout Halo season 1, as Master Chief was regularly seen without his helmet. Some fans were surprised by this, seeing that Master Chief is famous for never removing his helmet during the Halo games. This criticism and others led Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto to pan the show by stating that it's "not the Halo I made." Following the backlash, some fans wondered whether Paramount would adjust its strategy with Halo season 2. However, that may not be the case, as Schreiber doubled down on Master Chief's face being shown.

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During an interview with GamesRadar's SFX Magazine, Schreiber defended the decision to remove Master Chief's helmet in the Halo TV series. "People who don’t feel the helmet was necessary to come off, they’re at such an early conception of what the show could be," he said. "In order to examine the discrepancy between these two versions of the character [Chief and John-117], you can’t tell that story without taking the helmet off. If you don’t agree with the helmet coming off in the show, you don’t like our show. So, there’s no point discussing it."

During a previous interview with SFX Magazine, Halo showrunner Steven Kane claimed this can't be done in a visual format without removing Master Chief's helmet. He drew a parallel between the show's helmet approach and the books' unfettered access to Master Chief's emotions, explaining that both seek to tell the story of the man inside the helmet. However, some fans believe the Halo show has taken this approach too far.

Fans have requested many changes for future Halo seasons, including reducing Master Chief being put in vulnerable emotional scenarios. The Halo games mostly saw Master Chief as a stoic, determined super warrior rather than a conflicted individual. However, to be fair to the show, this was not always the case during the games, as seen during Master Chief's emotional struggles with Cortana. Additionally, the books shed light on Master Chief's traumatic upbringing and complex emotional state. Paramount's Halo series will seemingly continue to prefer the emotional approach, which might be difficult without regularly removing Chief's helmet. But some fans are understandably frustrated with this decision.

One Halo Infinite writer supported removing Master Chief's helmet. He detailed that in the books, Spartans taking their helmets off is seen quite regularly and is in keeping with the lore.

Schreiber's recent comments aren't the only time he's defended the Halo show's decisions. Previously, he claimed that some fans hated the show before they ever watched it due to its approach, but he will continue working to make the Halo show as good as possible. Hopefully, Halo season 2 will do a better job of satisfying fans.

Halo season 2 premieres on February 8th, 2024, on Paramount Plus.

Halo

Halo is a science fiction first-person shooter and part of Microsoft's Xbox Game Studios. The franchise development originated with Bungie but has since transferred to 343 Industries. The series centers on a conflict between humanity and various alien species over installations called Halos, superweapons created by a mysterious race known as Forerunners. Launching in 2001 with Halo: Combat Evolved, the franchise has also spun off into books, comics, animated films, live-action TV, and much more.