The Arbiter In Halo Season 2 Could Actually Be Another Halo 2 Character

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Halo season 2, episode 6, “Onyx”

An exciting new theory suggests that Halo season 2’s Arbiter may replace another character from Halo 2. As seen in the live-action Paramount series starring Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief John-117, Halo has debuted a brand-new Arbiter rather than the one established in the core franchise canon. With this new Arbiter having defied the alien Covenant’s leadership in Halo season 2, episode 6, the show may be setting up a very exciting character reveal.

As seen in Halo season 2, the forces of the Covenant are actively seeking Forerunner artifacts, hoping to ascend and claim the Forerunners’ Mantle of Responsibility as the dominant species in the galaxy. This involves finding the powerful Halo rings, though the leading Hierarchs are ultimately hypocrites given the truth regarding humanity as the Forerunners’ true Blessed Ones (hence their inability to read and access Forerunner technology while certain humans can). To that end, Halo season 2, episode 6 may be teasing that the Arbiter Var ‘Gatanai may evolve into a completely different character from the core Halo franchise.

Halo Season 2 Debuted A Different Arbiter Than The Games’ Version

Var ‘Gatanai

First appearing during the Halo show’s Fall of Reach, Var ‘Gatanai declares himself as the leader of the invading Covenant forces. It was later revealed that he was aligned with the Covenant human servant Makee, a Blessed One who’d been helping them access Forerunner artifacts. In the core Halo franchise canon, Thel’ Vadam was the supreme Elite commander during Reach who’d later become the Covenant’s shamed Arbiter due to his failure to secure the first Halo ring. However, Paramount’s Halo show has confirmed that ‘Gatanai is the current Arbiter, seeking to redeem himself by killing John-117 aka “The Demon”.

That said, Makee convinces Var’ Gatanai in Halo season 2, episode 5 to defy the Covenant Hierarchs and their orders to return to High Charity, speaking out against their lies and hypocrisy while claiming that the Arbiter could be the one to lead the Covenant to true enlightenment if he helps Makee get to the Halo ring first. It’s also implied that Var ‘Gatanai was shamed and given his Arbiter title because he’d spoken against the Prophets in the past. Likewise, Makee also claims he was made Arbiter because the Hierarchs fear his influence and see him as a threat.

Halo Season 2, Episode 6 Features A Major Covenant Rift

Will The Aribter Become The Heretic?

The Arbiter’s defiance is truly cemented in Halo season 2, episode 6 when his ship’s Sangheili priest begins questioning why they haven’t returned to High Charity. Likewise, the priest later accuses Makee of treachery following the discovery of a transmission sent to the UNSC’s world of Onyx (sent by Cortana who’s currently in the Covenant’s custody). Rather than killing Makee as demanded by the priest, the Arbiter and those who choose to remain loyal to him attack the priest and his followers, resulting in an all-out brawl aboard the Covenant ship.

Assuming Var ‘Gatanai and his followers emerge victorious in the episodes of Halo still to come, they do seem positioned to become the group of heretics who were first seen in Halo 2. To that end, Var’ Gatanai might actually be a substitute for Sesa ‘Refumee, the leader of the heretics who defied the Prophets after ‘Refumee learned the truth about the Forerunners and the Hierarchs’ hypocrisy in the wake of the battle for the first Halo ring. The main difference would be that ‘Gatanai and those still loyal to him would become heretics before the battle rather than after.

Var ‘Gatanai Becoming The Halo Show’s Heretic Would Be Exciting

It Could Set Up Thel ‘Vadam’s Arbiter For Halo Season 3

If Var ‘Gatanai is indeed the Halo show’s Heretic leader, there would now be room for a live-action Thel ‘Vadam, the more well-known Arbiter from the Halo games. One of ‘Vadam’s first missions as Arbiter in Halo 2 was to execute ‘Refumee, a confrontation that eventually led to ‘Vadam discovering the lies of the Prophets as well and eventually siding with humanity. While it’s unclear how closely the Halo show will adapt this element from the core Halo canon, the opportunity to make Var ‘Gatanai the Heretic and set up ‘Vadam’s Arbiter for the future would be very exciting.