Spoilers are ahead for Halo season 2, episode 2, “Sword.”
Halo has returned to Paramount+ for its sophomore outing with more than a few changes, including a new look for Cortana. In fact, the Halo season 2 Cortana design change has prompted sharp-eyed viewers to question if the Master Chief’s (Pablo Schreiber) former A.I. companion was recast. Toward the end of season 1, Halo reveals that Natascha McElhone’s Dr. Halsey had a sinister purpose for Cortana. Seeing John-117’s humanity as a weakness, Halsey wants Cortana to take over the Chief’s mind, control his body, and refine the Spartan into an unfeeling war machine.
Ahead of Halo season 1’s ending, Cortana comes clean to Master Chief and, finally, earns his unequivocal trust. However, when the human-Covenant conflict takes a turn, John realizes the only way to defeat the enemy is to allow Cortana to take over. As Halsey predicted, the Cortana-controlled Master Chief is an unstoppable force — but the team-up doesn’t last long. In Halo season 2, it’s revealed that Cortana was removed from the Chief. The UNSC and ONI decision to separate the super soldier-A.I. duo leaves the future of Dr. Halsey’s Spartan program uncertain.
Cortana’s Voice Actor Wasn’t Recast In Halo Season 2
Produced by Showtime in association with 343 Industries, the studio that took the Halo reins from Bungie, the Halo show exists on its own alternative timeline. Even though its version of events differs from the main canon of the games, Paramount+’s Halo still boasts references and Easter eggs related to the source material. One of those inter-timeline connections is Cortana, an artifical intelligence (AI) construct that Dr. Halsey modeled on her own brain. As in the Halo video game series, Halo season 1’sCortana is voiced by Jen Taylor, who also provided motion capture for the character.
Halo: 10 Cortana And Chief Quotes That Prove They Have The Best Relationship
Halo’s Master Chief is generally the strong, silent type, but one of the few people he likes talking to is his in-suit AI companion, Cortana.
Although Halo‘s Cortana is separated from Master Chief in between seasons, the A.I. construct still appears in the show’s sophomore outing, despite some glaring character design changes. That said, Taylor still seems to be involved in the series. Not only is she credited in Halo season 2, episode 2, but Cortana’s voice still sounds in-line with Taylor’s iconic performance. Interestingly, Jen Taylor isn’t the only actor credited with portraying Cortana in Halo season 2. Christina Bennington (Bat Out of Hell: The Musical), who’s most well-known for her work on London’s West End, physically portrays the character.
How & Why Cortana Looks Different In Halo Season 2
In its first two episodes, “Sanctuary” and “Sword,” Halo season 2 doesn’t provide a clear in-universe reason for Cortana’s new design. However, the revamped look might stem from fans’ negative reactions to the show’s earlier depiction of Cortana. It’s no secret that Halo‘s first season wasn’t received warmly by die-hard fans of the games, pushing the series’ new creative team to reconsider certain elements of the story. One point of backlash was that the Halo show’s Cortana broke canon with her more human-like design, which scrapped the A.I.’s Tron-inspired look from the games.
When Cortana first appears in Halo season 2, she looks less like the main character from Final Fantasy: Spirits Within and much more human thanks to Bennington’s physical portrayal. While season 2 still opts for a life-sized projection of Cortana, the show emphasizes the character’s blue glow and gives her bob that’s more akin to her video game counterpart’s design. Instead of blending uncanny valley, cartoon-like elements with realism, Halo season 2 opts to make Cortana more human-looking — like a Star Wars hologram. Cortana’s key design differences include:
- Cortana has a bob haircut that’s more in line with the games’ character.
- Halo season 2 retains Cortana’s blue glow from the games.
- Cortana is more life-like and bears a greater resemblance to Dr. Halsey.
- Cortana’s UNSC uniform is different.
- Christina Bennington plays Cortana’s physical form.
Halo TV Show Changes Cortana’s Origin & Purpose In 6 Major Ways
Paramount+’s Halo TV series has finally introduced Cortana – rewriting the origin and purpose of the Master Chief’s greatest ally in a disturbing way.
Where Is Cortana In Halo Season 2?
Since Cortana is a construct, it makes sense that her appearance is malleable. Clearly, the real-world backlash to the character’s season-one design influenced the show’s new rendering, but changing Cortana’s appearance also feels like a nod to her video-game counterpart, who looks different throughout the series. The change in her design may also reflect Cortana’s season-two reality: the A.I. is being “held” on Reach by Halo‘s James Ackerson in the same vault that houses the Forerunner artifact from season 1. That said, it’s possible Ackerson’s meddling with the A.I. construct led to noticeable alterations.
Halo
- Release Date:
- 2022-03-24
- Cast:
- Jen Taylor, Bokeem Woodbine, Charlie Murphy, Shabana Azmi, Kate Kennedy, Natascha McElhone, Yerin Ha, Bentley Kalu, Pablo Schreiber, Danny Sapani, Olive Gray, Natasha Culzac
- Genres:
- Adventure, Sci-Fi, Action
- Seasons:
- 2
- Writers:
- Kyle Killen, Silka Luisa, Richard Robbins, Steven Kane, Justine Juel Gillmer
- Franchise(s):
- Halo
- Directors:
- Otto Bathurst, Jonathan Liebesman, Roel Reiné, Dennie Gordon, Debs Paterson, Craig Zisk, Jessica Lowrey
- Showrunner:
- Kyle Killen
- Creator(s):
- Kyle Killen, Steven Kane
- Where To Watch:
- Paramount+
