When Microsoft and 343 Industries released the first season of the podcast “Hunt the Truth” in early 2015 as a narrative tie-in to the “Halo” video game franchise, listeners were captivated by its brilliant moments of suspense and intricate plotline. The popular series peaked at the No. 1 spot on the Games and Hobbies section of the iTunes Podcast Chart, gathering over 6.7 million listeners. The first season’s success naturally generated hype for the second season, and though this journey with “Hunt the Truth” does not quite capture the same brilliance as did the first season, it still delivers an enthralling experience which truly showcases the power of the podcast medium.
The second season of “Hunt the Truth” follows FERO, the mysterious rebel leader featured in the first season. While Season 1 was told in the fashion of investigative journalism, where both the protagonist, Benjamin Giraud, and the listeners uncovered secrets as the episodes progressed, Season 2 is told through flashbacks, in which FERO recounts her journey to an unknown interrogator.
As a central character, FERO is compelling. Throughout each episode, the narrative forefronts to listeners a variety of internal conflicts through eloquent narration. However, some of FERO’s motivations oftentimes feel underdeveloped, as do her turns in judgment. These pivotal story moments lose a degree of their effectiveness because of such narrative deficiencies, but they nonetheless retain their power.
Comparatively, Season 2 contains more explicit action than Season 1, and while action moments are executed in a quality manner, they sometimes come at the expense of slowly mounting suspense — a technique at which the first season excelled. Espionage, corruption and secrecy still remain prominent story elements. Supporting characters are interesting and possess distinguishable qualities, opening forums through which to express powerful themes such as regret and loss, while also adding a dose of humor. The previous season explored more of the background lore of the “Halo” universe in a nonetheless relevant way, but new episodes have more direct ties to the newest mainline game in the franchise, “Halo 5: Guardians,” as it, like “Halo 5,” partially orients itself on the enigmatic, destructive anomalies occurring on colony planets. Of course, it must be noted that, while the story does contain a rather unexpected ending, it is somewhat confusing, at least upon the first listen. Still, it certainly riffs against expectations and is anything but formulaic, capping off the story in a thought-provoking manner.
In regards to audio-storytelling, a common factor that detracts potential consumers is lack of visual accompaniment to animate the narrative. “Hunt the Truth” combats this largely because it possesses incredible vocal performances that truly bring life to the characters, eliciting more sympathy from the listener for various plights. In addition, fantastic overall audio design, embodied by crisp ambient sound effects, allows listeners to form a detailed images in their minds.
While the second season of “Hunt the Truth” does not quite reach pinnacles of brilliance as did the first season, it still packs a substantial amount of emotional power, backed by amazing vocal performances, smooth sound design and a compelling storyline. As a complete package, the “Hunt the Truth” journey is one upon which anyone should at least consider to embark, as it truly showcases the magnificence of a largely neglected medium.
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