Summary
A powerful and harrowing action episode, “Reach” showcases the titular planet’s fall with a focus on civilians, marines, and SPARTANs, and their unbroken spirit. It draws on imagery of modern urban warfare from the real world to terrifying effect.
Episode 4 of Halo Season 2 starts the Fall of Reach in earnest, with the Covenant decimating Reach City. It’s an action-packed episode with an appropriately heavy tone for what’s happening. At some points, it looks no different from the scenes of modern urban warfare seen on the news. But this heavy tone doesn’t squeeze out all hope, deftly balancing the horror with moments of human defiance.
The action is (mostly) framed well, with sharp camera movements and long takes. It’s the best Halo episode so far, though would have been better if the SPARTANs were in armor, even if the episode attempts to explain it away. Still, it’s are relatively minor quibble.
Picking up where Episode 3 left off, audiences first see Vannak-134 feed the birds, who are ruffled by the explosions. Vannak-134 notices them, surprised. In the city, Corporal Perez and Master Chief run to Perez’s home. Perez attempts to run inside to get her family, but the building explodes before she can. Chief pulls her away.
In the bowels of the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), Soren-066 and Halsey get reacquainted. Soren-066 says he built this moment up in his head but is unsure of what to do now he’s met his kidnapper. Explosions disable the hologram, and despite Halsey’s pleas that it might still be active, Soren-066 leaves. Halsey quickly follows.
Perez is upset. Her marine training didn’t prepare her for the death of her family. Chief is emotionless as usual and just says they need to get to Fleetcom. She tries to warn people who are somehow oblivious to the fact explosions are happening a block away to clear the streets, but she’s ignored. That is until Sangheili (elites) with active camo start attacking, with all hell breaking loose. Chief tackles one into a shop, and together with Perez they kill it. At ONI, Halsey and Soren-066 agree to work together.
Why won’t the shopkeeper leave?
Perez and Chief dart into what they think is an abandoned antique shop as Sangheili run past. The pair quickly find it’s not abandoned when the shopkeeper nearly shoots Chief, jumpy from the attacks. She asks Chief to be careful, and when Perez attempts to tell her to evacuate, she questions who will look after her shop. Perez says that none of it matters as it will all be glassed, which causes the shopkeeper to tell them the story of a 20th-century typewriter from Earth, that’s made it all the way to Reach in 2552. It’s lived through six wars and fought fascism, and communism, and still survived. It matters. Despite Perez’s and Chief’s pleas, the shopkeeper won’t leave with them.
It’s analogous to humanity making it all the way to Reach and beyond from a tiny blue planet, fighting constant wars and evil ideologies, though still surviving. If humans can live through all that, then they’ll make it to the other side of the Human-Covenant War. It’s a moment of quiet defiance. The shopkeeper refuses to surrender despite almost certain death against a foe she has no hope of fighting, but that’s exactly the position humanity found itself in against the Covenant. And in the books and games, humanity prevails.
Halsey tries to get Soren-066 to open up about Kessler, but he shuts her up. She says Soren-066 was always driven, but after his injury, she had to let him go, which angers Soren-066 as he’s convinced he escaped. They round a corner and find ONI soldiers with plasma burns. The Covenant are at ONI.
Chief and Perez link up with Riz-028 and some marines. They have to move through a building and are attacked by several Sangheili, and the Marines die. They’re forced out, and just as Riz-028 leaves, she spots that the masseur is dead. Outside, a Covenant Wraith tank pins them down. Riz-028’s instructor sacrifices himself to destroy the vehicle.
Why did Halsey let Soren escape?
At ONI, Halsey and Soren-066 find Cortana. Halsey is delighted her AI is OK, but Cortana warns her to run. Makee steps out to steal Cortana, and Var ‘Gatanai nearly kills the pair. Soren-066 and Halsey flee using an explosive. Afterward, Halsey confirms to Soren-066 that she let him escape, saying it was necessary for John-117 to become Master Chief.
Chief, Perez and Riz-028 arrive at FLEETCOM and see civilians and marines badly in need of medical help. Riz-o28 and Chief meet Vannak-134 who explains that Ackerson fled with key ONI assets, including their MJOLONIR armour. It’s a flimsy excuse for the SPARTANs not to be in their gear, especially as Ackerson left Cortana, a supremely vital asset.
Chief meets Admiral Keyes, who explains the Covenant are attempting to destroy the power stations for the orbital mass accelerator cannons (MACs), currently holding the Covenant fleet back. If the MACs go down, the Covenant will glass the planet. The United Nations Space Command fleet won’t help, as a decision was made to preserve military assets. The immediate plan is to hold the Covenant at bay on the nearby bridge while civilians evacuate.
Keyes gives an honest but inspiring speech, telling the Marines they won’t survive but their sacrifice will be remembered, and that they need to teach the Covenant that they messed with the wrong planet. On the bridge, everyone braces for the attack. A Scorpion tank arrives, shooting one round to light up the fog, revealing a horde of Sangheili. It’s a dull and static action beat, especially compared to the dynamism of other action shots.
Halsey and Soren-066 run into Keyes, for an awkward meeting. Keyes takes them up to the evacuation ship and forces them to wait behind civilians. Soren-066 notices ropes on the hanger edge are shaking, and Kig-Yar (Jackals) rappel up, prompting panic. Keyes signals to the SPARTANs for help, who make their way up.
On the ship, Keyes and Perez realize the fuel line is still attached. Despite Perez’s protestations, Keyes volunteers to disconnect it but becomes surrounded by Kig-Yar. He turns on the fuel and disconnects the line, filling the hanger with explosive gas. Soren-066 grabs Halsey and flees. Keyes signals to Perez to punch the engines to leave, causing a massive explosion. She manages to get to space. Halsey, distraught, spots Chief and the other SPARTANs.
Their reunion is shortlived, as more Kig-Yar and Sangheili attack. ‘Gatanai appears and duels Chief. During their fight, a Sangheili shoots Chief with a plasma pistol, causing his leader to kill him. Chief falls to the floor. Just as ‘Gatanai is about to kill him, Makee stops him, saying not yet. Vannak-134 tries to stop ‘Gatanai with a Needler gun, but ‘Gatanai shoves a pink bullet into Vannak-134’s chest, which explodes, killing him. Riz-028 and Soren-066 drag Chief away while the Covenant retreats, ending the episode.
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