Paramount+’s 2-Part Sci-Fi Space Opera Series Is Worth Binging This Weekend

March 27, 2026

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While it might not be a perfect adaptation of its source material, one of Paramount’s most underrated sci-fi shows remains a fun watch on its own terms. Sci-fi TV is enjoying a renaissance in the streaming era. As if to prove this, the upcoming cyberpunk sequel Blade Runner 2099 is going straight to streaming instead of cinemas.

Meanwhile, hits like Silo and Foundation continue to wow critics, while The Expanse’s author will soon be releasing another sci-fi TV show in The Captive’s War, based on their successful novel series of the same name. It is an exciting time to be a fan of the genre, even if some ambitious small-screen projects like Paramount’s Halo show don’t quite come together perfectly.

Halo Is A Fun Sci-Fi TV Show (Especially If You Haven’t Played The Games)

Loosely based on the blockbuster game franchise of the same name, 2022’s Halo was a long-awaited video game TV adaptation that arrived loaded with expectation. Set in the 26th century, the show follows a war between the United Nations Space Command and the Covenant, an alliance of alien races attempting to wipe out humanity.

Pablo Schreiber’s genetically engineered supersoldier Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 is the show’s main character, while Kate Kennedy, Charlie Murphy, Bokeem Woodbine, and Natascha McElhone flesh out the supporting cast. In development as early as 2013, the Halo TV show took a long, long time to make it to screens.

Ironically, all of that time in Development Hell seemed to bring Halo’s TV show further and further from the plot of its source material. Where Fallout’s critically acclaimed Prime Video adaptation successfully brought the world of the video game series to the screen, Halo jettisoned a lot of the source material and altered huge elements of the franchise’s canon.

Halo Works Better As An Original Sci-Fi Show Than A Video Game Adaptation

Makee (Charlie Murphy) touches the artifact in Halo Season 2 Episode 6

This amounted to a show that, all things considered, was at best imperfect as a Halo adaptation, but surprisingly fun and enjoyable when viewed a straightforward original sci-fi/action show. Especially for viewers who were not too familiar with the source material, Halo was a twisty, action-packed, and immersive series with some great performances.

After weathering a few major controversies, chiefly a controversial sex scene and the substantial changes the show made to its source material, Halo returned with a second season in 2024. Halo season 2 marked a major improvement on its predecessor, with critics praising the show’s sophomore outing as “Leaner and meaner.”

Sadly, the show was too expensive to justify its middling critical reception and was canceled after only two seasons. It is tough to tell how much Halo might have improved if given a chance, but there is no doubting that the show’s two seasons are still well worth a watch for sci-fi fans.