I think there will be a more dynamic relationship between John and Cortana seeing as they have become inseparable over the course of the Halo series. If Cortana hasn’t gone rampant, I’m sure she certainly will at some point in this trilogy and in turn may even unintentionally hurt John. Maybe even to the point where he may have to destroy her. Which would destroy him too mentally as they practically grew up together.
The GI article touches on this, it notes that after approximately 7 years smart AI’s such as Cortana fall into ‘unusual patterns of thought, and even into madness’. It would make sense to happen in Halo 4 as 7 years had passed with John in cryosleep and Halo 1-3 took place within the span of 7 months. It is noted that Cortana must deal with her imminent decline, and I speculate that she may even end up hurting John psychologically in the process. Frankie said that Cortana’s relationship with Chief, and the idea of rampancy are going to be very, very important to the whole story. Cortana may end up despising John, or maybe the other way round. We will have to wait and see.
The UNSC could be the ones trying to destroy Cortana, or even capture her. She may have found out something in Halo 4 that she does not want the UNSC to know, such as a super-weapon of some kind. Or heck, maybe the location of the remaining Forerunners that she does not want the UNSC to find and in turn possibly kill. But then again, that may be irrational seeing as the Forerunner did literally bomb the humans back into the stone age a millennia ago and she probably won’t bat an eyelid at their destruction. Although having said that, the creation of Cortana herself did involve Forerunner technology so she may sympathize with them to a degree. This probably won’t happen until later Halo games, if at all.
If the above is true, then John may turn against the UNSC and try and protect her. I know what you are thinking, ‘Why would John turn against his superiors? He is bred for war and war is all he knows’ and it is understandable for you to think that. But put it in this context, would you defend your friend or your teacher, a superior, if he/she is trying to hurt your friend?
> <mark>The UNSC could be the ones trying to destroy Cortana, or even capture her. She may have found out something in Halo 4 that she does not want the UNSC to know, such as a super-weapon of some kind. Or heck, maybe the location of the remaining Forerunners that she does not want the UNSC to find and in turn possibly kill.</mark>
Interesting idea.
I like this point as to me it brings back the relation to Halsey.
We know that Cortana is basically and intended to be an copy of Halsey in terms of knowledge in the form of an A.I. We also know that Halsey has always been a secretive and almost ‘illegal’ character in terms of withholding critical information from ONI and the UNSC. Those of you that have read Halo: Glasslands will know exactly what I mean and also getting at. My point being, Cortana may posses the same traits and encounter the same consequences as her maker.
> > <mark>The UNSC could be the ones trying to destroy Cortana, or even capture her. She may have found out something in Halo 4 that she does not want the UNSC to know, such as a super-weapon of some kind. Or heck, maybe the location of the remaining Forerunners that she does not want the UNSC to find and in turn possibly kill.</mark>
>
> Interesting idea.
>
> I like this point as to me it brings back the relation to Halsey.
>
> We know that Cortana is basically and intended to be an copy of Halsey in terms of knowledge in the form of an A.I. We also know that Halsey has always been a secretive and almost ‘illegal’ character in terms of withholding critical information from ONI and the UNSC. Those of you that have read Halo: Glasslands will know exactly what I mean and also getting at. My point being, Cortana may posses the same traits and encounter the same consequences as her maker.
I know exactly what you are talking about. To me that was one of the biggest revelations from Glasslands. Although Halsey to me always gave off that vibe throughout the series of novels and in Halo Reach, Glasslands had practically confirmed it.
If Cortana is indeed withholding information from ONI/UNSC that would add another dynamic to the relationship between her and John. John may grow to question the motives of his superiors when he learns what Cortana knows, which could be drip-fed to the player as the game goes on.
> > I’d be intrigued to see how John-Cortana reacts with John-Thel.
>
> In what way? The relationships between them?
Yep. I’d bet good money the three meet up at some point. And while it’s easy to think they might all boringly get along, hopefully it won’t be that simple. There’s usually some degree of antagonism between the ‘good guys’ in stories with genuine characters.
> > > I’d be intrigued to see how John-Cortana reacts with John-Thel.
> >
> > In what way? The relationships between them?
>
> Yep. I’d bet good money the three meet up at some point. And while it’s easy to think they might all boringly get along, hopefully it won’t be that simple. There’s usually some degree of antagonism between the ‘good guys’ in stories with genuine characters.
With the presence of Elites in the first mission onboard the ship, it may lead Cortana to question whether she can really trust Thel or not, although John likely will as he fought with him throughout the events of Halo 3. If Thel is indeed present, I can definitely imagine there being personal conflict between the three characters.
> > > > I’d be intrigued to see how John-Cortana reacts with John-Thel.
> > >
> > > In what way? The relationships between them?
> >
> > Yep. I’d bet good money the three meet up at some point. And while it’s easy to think they might all boringly get along, hopefully it won’t be that simple. There’s usually some degree of antagonism between the ‘good guys’ in stories with genuine characters.
>
> With the presence of Elites in the first mission onboard the ship, it may lead Cortana to question whether she can really trust Thel or not, although John likely will as he fought with him throughout the events of Halo 3. If Thel is indeed present, I can definitely imagine there being personal conflict between the three characters.
This is already feeling much more like a real story
> > > > > I’d be intrigued to see how John-Cortana reacts with John-Thel.
> > > >
> > > > In what way? The relationships between them?
> > >
> > > Yep. I’d bet good money the three meet up at some point. And while it’s easy to think they might all boringly get along, hopefully it won’t be that simple. There’s usually some degree of antagonism between the ‘good guys’ in stories with genuine characters.
> >
> > With the presence of Elites in the first mission onboard the ship, it may lead Cortana to question whether she can really trust Thel or not, although John likely will as he fought with him throughout the events of Halo 3. If Thel is indeed present, I can definitely imagine there being personal conflict between the three characters.
>
> This is already feeling much more like a real story
Hahaha, it is indeed. I agree with your antagonist view as well. As per Aristotle’s Theory of Tragedy, an antagonist is both not wholly good and not wholly bad and Thel fits this role.
> > > > > > I’d be intrigued to see how John-Cortana reacts with John-Thel.
> > > > >
> > > > > In what way? The relationships between them?
> > > >
> > > > Yep. I’d bet good money the three meet up at some point. And while it’s easy to think they might all boringly get along, hopefully it won’t be that simple. There’s usually some degree of antagonism between the ‘good guys’ in stories with genuine characters.
> > >
> > > With the presence of Elites in the first mission onboard the ship, it may lead Cortana to question whether she can really trust Thel or not, although John likely will as he fought with him throughout the events of Halo 3. If Thel is indeed present, I can definitely imagine there being personal conflict between the three characters.
> >
> > This is already feeling much more like a real story
>
> Hahaha, it is indeed. I agree with your antagonist view as well. As per Aristotle’s Theory of Tragedy, an antagonist is both not wholly good and not wholly bad and Thel fits this role.
Well, fingers crossed, 343i have already implemented something along these lines. Given how much they’ve been going on about needing a character-driven story, I wouldn’t be surprised.
> > > > > > > I’d be intrigued to see how John-Cortana reacts with John-Thel.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > In what way? The relationships between them?
> > > > >
> > > > > Yep. I’d bet good money the three meet up at some point. And while it’s easy to think they might all boringly get along, hopefully it won’t be that simple. There’s usually some degree of antagonism between the ‘good guys’ in stories with genuine characters.
> > > >
> > > > With the presence of Elites in the first mission onboard the ship, it may lead Cortana to question whether she can really trust Thel or not, although John likely will as he fought with him throughout the events of Halo 3. If Thel is indeed present, I can definitely imagine there being personal conflict between the three characters.
> > >
> > > This is already feeling much more like a real story
> >
> > Hahaha, it is indeed. I agree with your antagonist view as well. As per Aristotle’s Theory of Tragedy, an antagonist is both not wholly good and not wholly bad and Thel fits this role.
>
> Well, fingers crossed, 343i have already implemented something along these lines. Given how much they’ve been going on about needing a character-driven story, I wouldn’t be surprised.
I wouldn’t be surprised either, they did also say that they wanted to ‘humanize’ John and the best way to do so, again with relation to Aristotle’s Theory of Tragedy and that of Arthur Miller’s Tragedy of Common Man, would be to introduce strong feelings that many of us could relate to. Which in turn would make John more ‘human’ to us.
> > > > > > > > I’d be intrigued to see how John-Cortana reacts with John-Thel.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > In what way? The relationships between them?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Yep. I’d bet good money the three meet up at some point. And while it’s easy to think they might all boringly get along, hopefully it won’t be that simple. There’s usually some degree of antagonism between the ‘good guys’ in stories with genuine characters.
> > > > >
> > > > > With the presence of Elites in the first mission onboard the ship, it may lead Cortana to question whether she can really trust Thel or not, although John likely will as he fought with him throughout the events of Halo 3. If Thel is indeed present, I can definitely imagine there being personal conflict between the three characters.
> > > >
> > > > This is already feeling much more like a real story
> > >
> > > Hahaha, it is indeed. I agree with your antagonist view as well. As per Aristotle’s Theory of Tragedy, an antagonist is both not wholly good and not wholly bad and Thel fits this role.
> >
> > Well, fingers crossed, 343i have already implemented something along these lines. Given how much they’ve been going on about needing a character-driven story, I wouldn’t be surprised.
>
> I wouldn’t be surprised either, they did also say that they wanted to ‘humanize’ John and the best way to do so, again with relation to Aristotle’s Theory of Tragedy and that of Arthur Miller’s Tragedy of Common Man, would be to introduce strong feelings that many of us could relate to. Which in turn would make John more ‘human’ to us.
Which leads me to another thing, this would strengthen the impact of John’s downfall if he has one. Which I personally think he will in one way or another. By making John more ‘human’, we grow more attached to him as a character.
