Paramount Plus 'Halo' TV Series Is Inspiring Reactions And Memes Amid Master Chief's Face Reveal

The long-awaited and contentious Halo TV series from streaming service Paramount+ has finally premiered on the platform as of yesterday, and fans of the Halo video game franchise are already reacting to it in memes across social media, some pleased and some disappointed.

Leading up to the premiere, the show was in the midst of a bad run with publicity with many of the video game's fandom feeling alienated or worried. This stemmed mostly from an interview with Variety last week where some of the staff on the show admitted in an unabashed manner that they didn't even consider the plot within the video game when writing the show.

For many fans, this didn't bode well for the show going forward. Many were excited from the get-go that their favorite game was getting a TV adaptation, but after the Variety interview development, they were going to watch the premiere with skepticism.

On Reddit and Twitter, in forums like the /r/Halo subreddit, users gave their takes on the show's first episode yesterday in droves. Even though many would assume they'd be all negative reviews, many were positive in contrast. The criticism levied by fans centered on the depictions of Spartans in the universe, as well as technical complaints like the way they held their rifles. Positive remarks centered on the depictions of certain characters and effects like the shield SFX.

Raise your hand if you knew the Halo TV show was going to be trash just from the interviews ✋

— MasteroftheTDS (@MasteroftheTDS) March 24, 2022

I did not expect the Halo TV show to be so brutal ☠

It gives a really unique look at this universe!

— SSG UberNick (@UberNick) March 25, 2022

"The Halo TV show creators didn't look at the…"
Shut the fuck up pic.twitter.com/mZFSaInc50

— Logan🇺🇦 (@SithVenator) March 24, 2022

However, probably the most polarizing moment of the premiere was when Master Chief's face was revealed. At a moment in the episode, he takes off his helmet for the first time ever — a helmet that famously stays on. Memes and reactions populated Twitter and Reddit, with many exploiting the screenshot of him, relating him to other characters within the game and poking fun at Pablo Schreiber's depiction of Chief.

Halo revealed Master Chief's face 😲 pic.twitter.com/OL2ROgEH55

— Dexerto (@Dexerto) March 24, 2022

Ain't no fuckin way they revealed Master Chief's face pic.twitter.com/sdxUcmpf37

— DDS Enjoyer (@DumbSMTFan) March 24, 2022

They decided to make the unmasking of Master Chief official and they give him the face of a guy who looks like he's about to turn off his body cam. https://t.co/wnsa7pAxbB

— Elliot (@Elliot1990x) March 24, 2022

#Halo has finally revealed our first look at Master Chief without the helmet! pic.twitter.com/RGFGzyBdlG

— Stalker from 1979🇵🇱 (@ZydongOfficial) March 24, 2022

Debate ensued over whether or not Master Chief's unmasking was warranted, with fans either loving or hating it. Many of them then reacted to a statement from Schreiber. He stated that, "In order to know a character … you kind of have to take the helmet off … It’s not like in 'The Mandalorian' where there’s a rule."

Pablo Schreiber on finally unmasking Master Chief in #HaloTheSeries getfandomgaming</a> <br><br>&#39;In order to know a character...you kind of have to take the helmet off... It’s not like in &#39;The Mandalorian&#39; where there’s a rule&#39;<br><br>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/DEADLINE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">DEADLINE | https://t.co/SaoTJdIEzm) pic.twitter.com/GDwtixfZtP

— Fandom (@getFANDOM) March 24, 2022

Not sure who needs to hear this but Master Chief is not a Mandalorian… pic.twitter.com/JpoirCuNzX

— Everborn “Stop Crying” Saga (@EverbornSaga) March 24, 2022