The trailer for Halo season 2 sets up the fall of Reach in the Paramount+ show, hinting at a closer storyline to the games on which the series is based. After Halo season 1’s ending, many were curious to see how the show would continue. Given that the first season of the show was equal parts faithful and different to the source material with some major changes to the games, it remained to be seen which side of the fence Halo season 2 fell on.
Seemingly, the first trailer for Halo season 2 hints at a more faithful storyline to the original game series. From the teases that Halo season 2 will finally fulfill its promise via introducing the titular rings to a change of behind-the-scenes staff after season 1, the biggest fidelity issues with Paramount+’s show may finally be resolved. Aside from the tease of the Halo ring, Halo season 2’s story may include another major event from the games that is hinted at in the trailer: the fall of Reach.
“The Enemy Is At Our Gates” Sets Up Humanity’s Greatest Defeat
The trailer for Halo season 2 showcases a handful of teases for the upcoming story, accompanied by a voiceover from Danny Sapani’s Captain Jacob Keyes. This voiceover seemingly comes from a speech being given to the UNSC troops prepping for the ongoing war with the Covenant. At the beginning of the speech, Jacob can be heard saying “The enemy is at our gates.”
This line sets up humanity’s greatest defeat from the Halo games: the fall of Reach. Reach is an Earth-like planet that serves as the base of the UNSC’s military operations where large sections of Halo season 1 took place. In the games, a prequel to the first game titled Halo: Reach outlined the loss of the planet to Covenant forces which marked a major turning point in the war. As such, it seems Halo season 2 could be foreshadowing this event for the upcoming story.
The Halo Ring Won’t Be Discovered Until After Reach Falls
Interestingly, Halo season 2’s trailer sets up the timeline of the fall of Reach when connected to the shot of the Halo ring. In the original game series, the first Halo ring is discovered in Halo: Combat Evolved, the first game in the series’ release order. In 2010, the aforementioned Halo: Reach – which outlines the fall of Reach – was released, though it was set before Halo: Combat Evolved in the story’s timeline.
Given that Halo season 2’s trailer teases both the fall of Reach and the discovery of a Halo ring, it stands to reason that the former will take place before the latter in the upcoming adaptation. Based on the timeline of the game series on which Halo is based, the loss of Reach to Covenant forces may take place in the first half of the season. This would then set up the first exploration of the titular Halo ring for the latter half of Halo season 2, thus providing a much more faithful story concerning the lore of the franchise.
