I feel like there's a subliminal analogy with Bungie being Oryx. They take us along for an "ups 'n' downs" year one, then bring us back to year two and dump us into it. We're just shells of ourselves...(actually just poorly drawn, black & white versions of our old selves). They're even so blatant as to have the Taken captains "throw" wool over our eyes.... It all has very dark humor.