Hello everyone, and thanks for clicking the Topic link 
Before I start this review I would like to state that due to the limited space in the topic name text field I will put a ~~ at the end if plot spoilers shall be mentioned. You have been warned. aLso, this is my first ever review piece so be gentle xD~~**
For those who have not yet seen Episode one click here.
Now unto the review:
For a long time Halo fans have wanted a true live-action interpretation of the Halo universe, and so far all they have had are small vignettes used for promotional purposes without the pieces ever going into much detail about what is happening in the scene.
Forward unto Dawn changes this by introducing us to a tangible cast of characters, but in order to reassure us, the first scene foreshadows the events just before the start to Halo 4, with Cortana transmitting a distress beacon which is picked up by the UNSC Infinity.
We are then thrown back 30 years to when Thomas Lasky, an officer in training, is handling yet another Insurrectionist training mission. The first thing we see is Lasky’s fear and discomfort with being held in cryo-sleep and thrown straight into hell. This is wear we first see Lasky as a human being, by constantly looking for a peaceful to end the battle, and goes on to dis-obey orders.
Now for acting, Tom Green is very easily able to portray the character of someone who really is at war with themselves as well as at war with their class mates. It is clear to see how much he doesn’t fit in with the rest of his class.
Throughout the episode, countless reference are made to past and future Halo Lore, sometimes in the most discreet of ways. For example, how many of you noticed the UNSC marching song during a sweep of the school?
[spoiler]
When I die please bury me deep!
Place an MA5 down by my feet!
Don’t cry for me, don’t shed no tear!
Just pack my box with PT gear!
’Cuz one early morning 'bout zero-five!
The ground will rumble,
there’ll be lightning in the sky!
Don’t you worry, don’t come undone!
It’s just my ghost on a PT run!
[/spoiler]
There are also major fore-shadows to the Chief such as at the start of one seen where a sign for the school is vandalised with the phrase “Forward unto Death!” in red paint.
It is not till the end of the episode do we see our first signs of Covenant activity, just after Lasky has had an update from his ODST brother on Jericho-VII (Which by judging by the year, could have been the Master Chiefs first major mission). After all the lights have gone out, we can clearly see a flash of Covenant text followed by what appears to be a drop-pod falling through the atmosphere.
Overall, I believe that Forward unto Dawn will make for a compelling, and worthy addition to the Halo Lore, and I hope the show itself will fore-shadow the possibility for a possible feature-film in coming years.
Eco’s Rating (Subjectivity at its best) 8.5/10
Gotta give them something to work for haven’t you 
-Eco
This has been allowed as a separate topic due to its nature