Halo
spoiler are ahead for Halo season 2 , episode 5 , " Aleria . "
Summary
Haloofficiallyconfirmed the indistinguishability of the show ’s Arbiter in time of year 2 , sequence 5 , " Aleria " — and it ’s drastically different from the core canon of theHalogames and books . As it made clean-cut in its first outing , the Paramount+ series takes place in the substitute Silver Timeline — one that ’s separate fromHalo ’s existing canyon . In its sophomore outing , the show is more adept at balancing its original ideas with the influence of preexisting lore , but its alterations remain hard to forecast . Episode 3 , for model , had viewers wonderingwho the Covenant ’s Var ' Gatanai isin the big taradiddle .
While theCovenant - levy man and " sanctify one " Makee(Charlie Murphy ) infiltrates UNSC strongholds so as to detect the missing Forerunner Keystones , she ’s attach to by Var ' Gatanai ( Viktor Åkerblom ) , a battle - hardened Elite . later on , Corporal Talia Perez ( Cristina Rodlo ) translates a Sangheili transmission from Sanctuary : the same Elite hold himself Var ' Gatanai — " Death . “Sure enough , the recording leads into the Covenant ’s brutal invasion of Reach . One of thebiggest mo inHaloseason 2 ’s Fall of Reachcenters on a short - lived fight between Var ' Gatanai and Master Chief ( Pablo Schreiber ) , cementing the Elite as a key fiber .
In Halo time of year 2 , installment 5 , " Aleria , " Kwan Ha ( Yerin Ha ) experiences a strange vision that has huge implications for Halo time of year 3 ’s looming story .
The Arbiter Is A Ceremonial Title In Halo Lore
InHalolore , the title of Arbiter is a ceremonial , spiritual , and political rank and file . While that ’s the kernel canyon ’s definition of the condition , it seems to hold up true for the Paramount+ series ' Silver Timeline as well . One who is given the title is afterwards referred to as " The Arbiter . " First introduce as a spatial relation within the Covenant power structure inHalo 2 , the social rank of Arbiter is bestowed upon an Elite warrior called Thel ' Vadam . in the beginning , past Arbiters quell malcontent Grunts and tamed Hunters . The High Prophet of Mercy maintains that without Arbiters , the Covenantwould have broken aside .
The Halo television series has introduced the idea of " Blessed Ones , " beings who can apply ancient Forerunner technology . But what are these Blessed Ones ?
However , the once - covet deed of conveyance ’s substance changed roughly 400 years before the oncoming of the Human - Covenant War when an Arbiter admit that he did n’t believe in theCovenant ’s dandy Journey . After this Arbiter was killed , the title became consociate with great ignominy . As a resolution , subsequent Arbiters were sent on missions that they were carry to die during , thus redeem themselves by becoming martyr for the Great Journey . That order , Thel ' Vadam sees the mark as an opportunity to aby for his retiring failure . In theHaloTV show , the term ’s Silver Timeline story has n’t been made exonerated yet .
Halo Season 2, Episode 5 Confirms Var ‘Gatanai Is The Show’s Arbiter
Haloseason 2 , sequence 5 , " Aleria , " deals straight off with the fallout of the intrusion of Reach . While the human survivors evacuate to Aleria , Onyx , and elsewhere , Makee and Var ' Gatanai regroup on their ship . So far , it ’s not entirely clearwhy the Covenant want Cortana , but the acquisition of the A.I. conception cause some friction between Makee and the Elite . " You honour our hoi polloi with this expectant triumph , " Makee severalize Var ' Gatanai as theCovenant drinking glass the planetof Reach behind them . However , the Elite is n’t slaked : the pair only managed to discover one of the two Forerunner Keystones .
For Var ' Gatanai , attain the Keystones was a essential mission — one that would help pave the way for the Covenant ’s capital Journey . Not to mention , the Elite is thwart that Makee stopped him from killing Master Chief , a.k.a . " the daimon . " While Makee assure Var ' Gatanai that they ca n’t hotfoot the step need to complete the Great Journey , the Elite seems to have more at stake . During this conversation , it ’s bring out that Var ' Gatanai is the show ’s supreme authority , presumptively because he fail duringHaloseason 1 ’s ending battle . What occurred in " transcendency " is likely the Arbiter ’s big disgrace .
What Halo Season 2’s Arbiter Reveal Means For Thel ‘Vadam
In the wake ofHalo : Combat Evolvedand Master Chief ’s devastation of Installation 04 , Thel ' Vadam give the price . Since he was in command during the exit of the holy souvenir , Thel is denudate of his rank and sentence to death . Whilefailing to protect the Sacred Ring is deemed an inexcusable failure , the High Prophets of Truth and Mercy offer him an alternative to being kill and " paraded through the city " as an example . Thel ' Vadam can accept the title of Arbiter ; although it ’s a death sentence , the opportunity may aid him regain his honor .
While Var ' Gatanai is theHaloshow ’s current Arbiter , the rank could be bestowed upon another Elite in the future .
After learning the Sojourner Truth about the Forerunners ' Halo array — as a agency of cease the Flood , it was build to destruct all sentient life in the galaxy if activated — the Arbiter ’s faith is shaken . disenchant with the Covenant ’s high - ups and the Great Journey itself , the Arbiter defects , set the stage for an alliance between him and the humans . While Var ' Gatanai is theHaloshow ’s current Arbiter , the rank could be bestow upon another Elite in the future . On the other hand , the Silver Timeline might be replacing Thel with Var altogetherto streamline things .
Halo season 2 , episode 4 , " Reach " adjust the franchise ’s iconic Fall of Reach plotline , but the Covenant invasion is unlike from that of the games .
The Arbiter & Makee Are Poised For Conflict Over The Halo Array
When the Arbiter instruct that the Prophets ' plan to actuate the Halo array would doom all sentient life in the world , he accept a stand against his own kind . SinceHaloseason 3seems prim out to enclose the Flood , it would make sensory faculty to come the journey of a individual Arbiter : Var Gatanai may start off as a devoted soldier and , like Thel , become disillusioned by the verity . The Halo show is already place up a conflict between the Arbiter and Makee . That tension will only become more pronounced when the duet reach one of the Sacred Rings .
Haloseason 2 ’s finale airs on March 21 , 2024 .
The Arbiter continually wonder the potency of the " bless one , " while Makee trust on some apt Cortana trickery to convince the Arbiter of their new mission . For now , both character seem devoted to the Covenant and the Great Journey , though it ’s decipherable Makee has suspicion about branding humans like John as " demons . " Still , if theHaloTV series project to reinvent its central Arbiter story , it may as well create its own version on the Flood and Great Schism story in succeeding time of year .
