How Halo 3 Uses Mystery to CAPTIVATE (ft. Frogarchist)

Published 2024-05-06
Special thanks to ‪@frogarchist‬ for his collaboration in this video!
If you could describe Halo 3 in one word, what would it be? If you ask me it would definitely be MYSTERY. The one throughline that connects the original trilogy together and gives us a satisfying conclusion to Bungie's story is exactly that. In this video essay, I dive into the mystery surrounding Bungie's Halo 3.

Make sure to check out my other videos on the original Halo trilogy, as well as my essay and tribute to Rooster Teeth's Red vs. Blue! Let me know what game, show, or movie I should discuss next in the comments. Thanks for watching! #themysteryofhalo #halo3 #bungie

Check out my other work on Instagram: @themeaninginbetween.

All Comments (21)
  • @frogarchist
    Thanks for letting me be in your video 🙂
  • @rex3457
    It's refreshing to see a video discussing halo as it was in 2007 rather than what halo is now. People often forget that for years halo 3 was the end of halo and the master chief, an ending I still think was perfect. Halo 3 is my favourite in the series despite the flaws in the campaigns writing and pacing. It really felt like the end of halo back in 2007 especially with "never forget" in the main menu. The series hasn't felt the same since 2007 and it's a shame there's no way to experience what it was originally
  • @Nichrysalis
    Covering the ODST Dante's Inferno subtext and subsequent dovetailing of the B-plot is always a hit amongst Halo fans, even if well known already. Given your background and gusto, that'd probably be a good video to tackle someday. My gut instinct is always going to be to tell other writers to write what you love (then cull your darlings of course) and while I'd love to write about the ODST subtext, I'm working on my own Halo video essay that's pretty much something mostly specific to me, but am hoping to explain why it impacts me so much. And that alone keeps me motivated. Long-winded way of saying, write videos about Halo that make you happy, I'm going to support them regardless because I respect your take on the franchise you provide a perspective and presentation outside my own.
  • @Krypta777
    "A sense of wonder that was never meant to be squashed by someone's attempts to fill in the gaps" 11:59 Makes me think of a certain quoted philosophy in the world of music: "The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between" Cant help but see the analogy there with mystery as a device in storytelling/world-building Outstanding discussions in these videos 👍
  • @TheArchaeon7777
    13:50 Goddamn, dude. Nearly brought me to tears. Thinkin' about the ending to season 13 of Red vs. Blue. Excellent video!
  • @Wernissage
    Your content is on another level! Keep it up🔥 Nice to see the frog himself make an appearance too!
  • @LOLDUDE641
    I'm so happy to see someone give Halo 3's story the props it deserves. Feels like some people have turned hard on it in recent years. But you've definitely laid out some of its triumphs, and reasons why I love it so to this day. On another note, great content to start this channel out with! Your videos are really well-shot and edited, and your insight is incredibly captivating. If I could suggest just one game to dissect (provided you're into boomer shooters), it'd be Dusk. It has immaculate atmosphere and a really compelling narrative that's only really drip-fed to the player, in my opinion. I'd love to see your explanation of a story like that. Otherwise, I wish you the best of luck with your future videos!
  • @Real_Zaneko
    I love seeing your channel pop off. You really deserve it!😎
  • Glad the frog brought me to your channel, immediately subscribed, really enjoy your content
  • When I watch people's videos about old Halo, some of them GET certain elements of what made those older games so great. After watching some of your videos, You really understand and have also reminded me how deep the old games went with their story and themes. I've been recently letting myself get gaslit into thinking that Halo has always had a simple story but that obviously isn't the case, and I love these types of videos that put a spotlight on the writing of the old games and what made them so special.
  • @crossby75th88
    This dude only having 1.28k subscribers is a crime, at least 500k
  • @MajesOnTheXbox
    The production value is crazy for all your vids, the intro caught me off guard with the trailer reference
  • @Retroplayer6472
    Already liked this guy's vids now the frog is here?! Hell yeah
  • @feymasons.7835
    A flood deep dive videox2ould go crazy. Also, can you please analyze all the halo gam3s?
  • @MystGang
    12:57 it's a lot stranger than Bungie implying that humanity were forerunners. During the development of Halo 2 it was definitive (the leaked storyboards showcase it), but Bungie was split on if they were humanity or a different species during Halo 3. The main story implies they're human, but the terminals imply they're different. I think the official explanation is that humanity and forerunners branched off from the same species, but that was only solidified after 343 took over, so it's still a mystery what Bungie would've gone with.
  • Man, you knocked it out of the park on this analysis of Halo 3 tailers. There was a ton of hype. And that's real. But the message of hope... the idea that MC (In other words we) could finish the fight was so real. Love this stuff man. Keep it up.
  • @codybeardsley
    Wow, this was a great video! Immediately got my sub 🖤 Halo 3 is something special
  • @razgriz4978
    I found this video when it had 343 views and had been released 7 hours ago. Real life easter egg. Also, the Marathon series would make for a good transition if you wanted something like a through-line. I describe it to other people as "Proto-Halo," but it's got its own uniquely rich and mysterious universe.