If there is anything clearly apparent from this pilot episode, this show will not please long-time fans of Xbox's 20-year old killer app.
This episode did have a promising opening action sequence. However, it is clear that producers were more than willing to take some characters the fans have known and loved for years and compromise those characters for the sake of unnecessary drama.
The producers have also willingly made a choice to completely alienate a dedicated fan-base in an attempt to reach a wider audience with, what is my opinion, a B-rated version of a franchise that is already beloved by millions. It's almost like this show was written, directed, and produced by a group of people who were given a description of Halo by a 12-year old.
And while I think the show will do a decent job at intriguing those who are completey unfamiliar with the franchise, it's done so at the expense of the fanbase it was built on.
Between a significant (and may I say unnecessary) change to the Covenant, significant changes to the Master Chief as a character, and a major retcon of the history of the Spartan II's for the sake of unprompted characterization, this show is cleary not made for fans by any means.
That being said, it is the first episode, and there is a lot of room for improvement. Don't be mistaken, there were definitely several things I think are great (mainly the look of the Covenant, High Charity, Mjolnir Armor), but I think this show will fail its fanbase with the direction it is currently heading.
I hope 343 and the producers will prove me wrong in the long run. Overall, a very mediocre start.