This is a very brief review, but is important to the story as we see Colonel Mehaffey talk with Lasky about the fight and his burgeoning leadership.

Mehaffey asks Tom what he was thinking when starting a fight.

He seems confused about her comment.

She goes on to say that she sees the soldier he is and that everyone does. He just needs to realize it himself. The way Mehaffey talks to Tom in this scene is more motherly than as a superior officer. In reality, Tom should have been punished, as well as Vickers. My thinking is that since Mehaffey served under Tom’s mom, she may feel duty bound to watch over him. But, it seems to be a little more than that. It could be that Lasky’s mom treated Mehaffey in a similar way and that she is reciprocating that treatment upon Tom. In any event, this dynamic adds a sincere personality to the character of Mehaffey and makes her very likeable, in my opinion.

And am I the only one who finds that scar on her making her just a bit more attractive? LOL

She dismisses Tom by telling him to go get cleaned up and ready for class. That really comes off as motherly and I like that about her.

Next review part 6: Oh Brother.

Okay, this scene is by far one of the most anticipated of the whole mini-series. We’ve seen bits of this previewed back in July or August and it was shown on Waypoint in pictures.

It’s the fight between Lasky and Vickers. Though it’s a short one, it’s good.

The scene opens with Lasky and Vickers walking with their food trays towards their respective seats in the mess hall.

Note how clean it is. The janitor must be doing a great job…

Orenski looks on, then tells them to halt.

She orders both Lasky and Vickers to give her their quiché as punishment for having her and the squad have to get up early due to the incident of the training mission as seen in the first episode.

Orenski expects better of them, especially Lasky.

What I don’t like about this character is that she’s like some I saw during my time in the Navy. A hardass for the sake of being one. Yes, she’s a squad leader so she needs to be hard to a point. However, she also needs to take some responsibility for their action instead of taunting them by taking their food and egging them on as seen in what happens immediately after.

As Lasky and Vickers leave the table, Vickers comments on how it must be tough for Lasky’s mom knowing she’ll never see her true son come back home again.

This sets Lasky off and he throws a vicious right elbow to the head of Vickers. And it’s on!

Blows are swung and landed by both.

Lasky really takes it to Vickers for the comment and the rest of the cadets look on. I really like this scene as it seems FINALLY Lasky has grown a pair. Fighting isn’t always the way to go. But dammit, when someone is constantly being pushed, if you’re the one pushing, you better expect a push back eventually.

Officer on Deck!

Colonel Mehaffey looks on as the two combatants get up from their scrum.

Hmm, who’s this guy and why does he have a space mop? LOL

Battered but not beaten, Lasky gets to his feet.

Is that a smirk or smile of approval on Mehaffey’s lips?

And finally Vickers looking worse for wear.

This scene really is the break out scene of the episode. Lasky finally shows in detail the man he can be. I for one am glad to see he finally took charge of a situation. Violently yes, but he took charge.

Next: Review Part 5 Mother Goose…

As this scene opens we first get a beautiful shot of the space elevator and the lush forest right next to the base.

Here we see Cadet Chen outright lie to his father.

Next a series of shots from Sullivan’s screen as well as conversation between he and Dima Tchakova.

What’s interesting in this scene is that there is a clear frame of a Spartan hand. Sullivan asks Dima not to tell her mom. So wait, who is Dima’s mom then? Hmm. Note that the Covenant symbols appear a few times during this sequence.

If Sully isn’t an ONI spy now, he’s going to make a great one in the future. I’m also wondering if he and Dima have a thing going on between them? That would be another good dynamic.

Next up part 4: MESS Hall

Review Part two is about the rude awakening Hastati Squad gets for it’s failure on the training field.

Immediately after the first scene of Cortana in thought, the episode cuts to Tom Lasky in bed.

Startled the squad gets dressed and heads out into the main hallway. (Let me tell you folks, it happens like this in boot camp. I recall being woken up like this or worse at 4am. It’s not pretty and you are very disoriented. Again, I know this form being in the NAVY.)

Orenski plays the part of a company commander well as she is barking orders at the freshly woken cadets.

Now in this next pic we see General Black. This is one thing I’d disagree with. It’s definitely not usual to have a commanding officer of a base be at a wake up call like this. I’d have to guess because it’s an officer cadet base and a smaller base that he would be there. Again though it’s not the norm for a commanding officer.

The squad is finishing up getting ready in a hurry.

Silva finishes getting ready first.

Vickers is next, but comes up short as he’s not completely ready.

Chen just completely fails and General Black calls him out on it:

Lasky is admonished from a,sight by Black regarding his brother Cadman being a real soldier.

The look on Tom’s face is very telling. He’s getting pissed off and frustrated by constantly being compared to his brother and living under his shadow.

This whole scene is completely believable, but for Black being there, but I can forgive that as important characters need to be present.

That last shot of Lasky makes me feel like there is going to be a change in Lasky and it happens in a scene coming up.

Next review part 3: Lies and Spies

This the first part of an 11-part review of the second episode of Forward Unto Dawn. Here we listen to Cortana talking about how for 4 years+ she’s not had anything to do but think.

The episode opens with the Forward Unto Dawn floating aimlessly about.

Cortana seems to have some bouts of Rampancy during this brief speech.

Now what I like up to think point is the direct correlation of blue and cold as well as darkness. Cortana is blue of course but has essentially gone “cold” by not being able to do anything but think. And she has gone “dark” as well by not being able to be in communication with others. Though she does try:

I love these graphics of the display screens. VERY believable. The ice looks great as it accumulates on the screen.

Finally, we see Cortana, not as her normal female frame, but as a blue glowing orb.

But wait, she turns red….hmm

Again, a nice set-up in the Halo present of Halo 4 that transitions to the past of Tom Lasky at the academy.

Short review section? Yeah, but I’m keeping them that way so there isn’t much text to read, yet enough to cover the key scenes.

Next up review part 2: Wake Up Call