The Didact’s character has been subject to lots of controversy in the Halo community. Many fans have tried to prove that he is given a proper explanation while others argue the opposite. Given that the Didact is the Master Chief’s first true nemesis, I’m intrigued by the fact that very little of the community appears to care about the Chief and the Didact’s relationship given they are direct adversaries. On my first few playthroughs I didn’t recognize their relationship’s development at first. When I started looking at the quotes, I realized that their relationship dynamically changes throughout the course of the game. I hope this will be an enlightening experience as it gave new life and context to quotes I largely misunderstood in Halo 4 for a while.

In the first part of Halo 4, we see a lot of strange occurrences happening when the Chief and Cortana activate and access Forerunner tech causing them to follow a very specific path. After the Didact is released, Cortana makes the comment on how he had been leading them on.

“Chief, please! We've got to go! That...Didact. He manipulated Infinity's signal to get us to release him! Get up!"
-Cutscene, Forerunner, Halo 4

It definitely gives you the feeling that the Chief was used. A means to an end. A tool. The Didact felt the same way. His prejudice against humanity blinded him, and because of that, he treated the Chief accordingly and discarded him when the Chief had finished his usefulness.

"The Forerunners... have returned. This tomb… is now yours."
-Cutscene, Forerunner, Halo 4

However, the Didact never expected the Chief to survive. When he had discovered his survival, he had no such time to address that matter as he needed to focus on the big picture: Infinity. I think it can be inferred that during the Didact’s absence of direct involvement in the story, his views of Chief had changed as he no longer saw the Chief as a discarded tool. It didn’t change much though, as the Didact still didn’t see the Chief as a threat.

He was simply intrigued that the Chief refused to give up in the face of impossible odds.

"Your actions tread between honor and foolishness."
-Gameplay, Shutdown, Halo 4

Regardless, the Master Chief pushed on, ignoring the Didact’s comments on his progress. By this point, the Didact had become personally affected that the Chief blindly continued his crusade. He would try and persuade the Chief with logic and reasoning that his actions were futile. He knew there was no way Chief could win, and tried to talk some sense into him as a fellow warrior.

"Do you truly believe these theatrics can prevent my departure? Embrace your sad fate and retain your nobility. I am already beyond you."
-Gameplay, Shutdown, Halo 4

The Master Chief knows his priorities though. Ever since he was a kid, he refused to lose at anything. This gave the impression to many who knew the Chief that he was incredibly stubborn.

"Crazy fool! Why do you always jump? One of these days, you're gonna land on somethin' as stubborn as you are! And I don't do bits and pieces!"
-Cutscene, Arrival, Halo 3

And he was. Towards the end of the level Shutdown, the Didact was beginning to realize that. He still thought he persuade the Chief with logic and reasoning. So he proceeded to issue an ultimatum to him: Stop now and live. If you continue, you will suffer the consequences.

"You will relent, human, or you will perish. All in life is choice. And your day to choose has come."
-Gameplay, Shutdown, Halo 4

For the Master Chief, giving up on humanity was not an option, so he pushed forward and stared death in the face, refusing to look away. Choosing to go to his death in an attempt to defeat the undefeatable impressed the Didact greatly. The next time we hear from him, he confirms that, but also confirms the Chief will die.

"You impress me, human. Your singular valor will be preserved and studied, once your Composition has been completed."
-Gameplay, Composer, Halo 4

However, the Didact had never accounted for what the Librarian’s imprint could have done. Despite facing extreme brutality and atrocities, the Chief still continued on. It is at this point that the Didact’s views of the Chief makes a colossal shift. He finally recognizes the Chief as a direct threat, and considers him unbeatable by indirect means. So, he would stall him until he could address him personally.

"Where reason does not stop you, perhaps force can at least delay you."
-Gameplay, Midnight, Halo 4

The Didact succeeds in stalling the Chief and fires the Composer on New Phoenix. Knowing he has won, he directly notes the Chief’s stubbornness to accept defeat.

“You persist too long after your own defeat.”
-Cutscene, Midnight, Halo 4

But now that he has completed his task, he is free to address the Chief directly. This scene is very telling of the current status of their relationship. Whereas before, he simply called the Chief ‘human’, he now calls him ‘warrior’. The great thing about the Didact’s actions and word choice at this point is that it shows he consideres Chief as a worthy adversary. An equal. When he prepares to attack the Chief, he waits until he is turned around before making his move.

“Come then, warrior. Have your resolution.”
-Cutscene, Midnight, Halo 4

Again though, the Didact fails to account what the Librarian could have done, and did do. This ends up resulting in his defeat as Cortana shackles him in hardlight. Something that is very obscure though, is that the Chief and Cortana both failed to take into account the Didact’s own stubbornness. Just as Johnson predicted back in November of 2552, it was only a matter of time when John ran into someone as stubborn as him.

Just as he predicted, John would be fragmented emotionally as he would suffer extreme losses. He failed to completely safeguard humanity, and most importantly he failed to save and protect Cortana.

“One of these days, you're gonna land on somethin' as stubborn as you are! And I don't do bits and pieces!"
-Cutscene, Arrival, Halo 3

The next time around, the Chief and the Didact are going to be treating each other very differently as both have proven their worth to each other. The Didact will no longer just be shrugging off the Chief as he has had intimate experience with how resourceful the Master Chief is. It’s personally hard to say how the Chief will act towards the Didact now. One thing’s for sure, things will be different next time around.

Quote

One thing’s for sure, things will be different next time around.

Didact got a knife in his eye.

Chief got his helmet crushed.

Good read. I didn't catch any of this.

Cheat could probably put this as a featured article if you sent the link to him, or posted it in the article thread.