Halo season 2 opens much like the first. A seemingly mundane scenario on a faraway planet breaks into a brutal action set piece ripped from the games. It wants to summarize the series' creative direction in its opening sequence but can't live up to the promise. In season one, John saved a local. This time, he watches one choose to die rather than lose her home. While not enough has changed, the season premiere suggests a better show hiding behind season one's derivative mess.