Barney Calhoun
This article is about the standalone character. For the generic Black Mesa security guard, see Black Mesa Security Force. |
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| Barney Calhoun | |
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| Biographical information | |
| Homeworld | |
| Function(s) / Belongings | |
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| Physical description | |
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Human |
| Gender |
Male |
| Hair color |
Black (HL), black turning grey (HL2) |
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| Chronological and political information | |
| Era(s) | |
| Faction |
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| Game information | |
| Voiced by | |
| Modeled over |
Scott Lynch (Chief Operating Officer for Valve) (HL2) |
| Designer(s) |
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| Voice sample(s) | |
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- "Now... about that beer I owed ya."
- ― Barney Calhoun[src]
Barney Calhoun[2][3] is one of the main characters of the Half-Life series. He was a security guard at Black Mesa before becoming a key Resistance leader. In Half-Life: Blue Shift, he is distinguished from the Half-Life generic security guard as a standalone character, is given a surname, and an expanded role.
Contents
Biography[edit]
Background[edit]
Barney Calhoun, an undecided major after two years at Martinson College,[4] is employed as a mid-level security officer at the Black Mesa Research Facility, with a Level 3 security clearance and as part of the Blue Shift High Security Unit. He is accommodated in the Area 8 Topside Dormitories.[4] He is friends with Gordon Freeman and Isaac Kleiner,[5][6] who are also employees of Black Mesa.
As a Black Mesa security guard, he is tasked with duties including guarding assigned sections, performing general maintenance, and assisting the science team when required. His "Disaster Response Priority" is to protect the Black Mesa facility and its equipment in the event of an emergency, with secondary priority to safeguard members of the science team whilst his own personal safety is of relatively low importance.[2][4]
On May 9, 200-, Barney received a letter from L.M. about his May 15 reassignment to Blue Shift.[2]
Before May 12, 200-, Barney performed a retinal scan and had his salary increased. His two-day Security Guard Training was scheduled.[2]
On May 12 and May 13, at 08:00, Barney underwent a two-day Security Guard Training under the Miller-based holographic instructor (May 12 is the Blue Shift Hazard Course).[7]
On May 15, Barney is assigned to a 09:00 - 22:00 Blue Shift assignment and reports to Area 3 Medium Security Facilities in Sector C, at 09:00. His shift is to last until August 15.[2]
The Blue Shift instruction manual features the sentence "Buy flowers for Lauren",[2] suggesting that Calhoun had a wife or girlfriend.
Appearances[edit]
Half-Life[edit]
Barney is seen at the very start of Gordon Freeman's tram ride to Sector C, knocking on the Area 3 Security Facilities door. He is not seen for the remainder of the game.
Half-Life: Blue Shift[edit]
On May 16, 200-, at 8:42, Barney starts his tram ride from the Area 8 Topside Dormitories at Black Mesa, to start his second Blue Shift day at Area 3 Medium Security Facilities in Sector C.[2] He arrives there some time before 9:00.
After the Resonance Cascade occurs (at around 9:00), Barney becomes determined to escape from the Black Mesa facility. He locates and frees Dr. Rosenberg, who had been captured by the HECU troops. Rosenberg reveals to Barney his plan of escaping by using an old teleport model. Calhoun helps Rosenberg to prepare everything for successful teleportation. He first travels to the borderworld Xen, where he activates a device needed for the teleporter to work. Barney then locates, charges and delivers a spare power battery to Doctor Rosenberg. At the end of the game Barney, along with Rosenberg and his two colleagues, Simmons and Walter, manages to escape from the Black Mesa Research Facility, and he is described as being "out of range" by the textual summary, as compared to Gordon Freeman, listed as "hired," and Adrian Shephard, listed as "detained".
Half-Life: Decay[edit]
In the ending sequence of Half-Life: Decay, the main protagonists, Gina Cross and Colette Green, are caught in a harmonic reflux. During that time, they hear Dr. Rosenberg saying "Calhoun, you must hurry! We can't keep the portal open much longer!". In the next frame, what appears to be Barney is briefly seen jumping into the portal teleporting him from Xen, as seen in the Blue Shift chapter Focal Point.
Half-Life 2[edit]
After the Portal Storms, the Seven Hour War, and the subsequent Combine takeover, Barney was presumably relocated to City 17 where he signed up for Civil Protection and became an officer as an undercover agent for the Resistance.[1] Working undercover, Barney was able to gain valuable inside information and distribute warnings about upcoming raids or provide misleading intelligence to the Combine though it was likely quite risky to his own safety. At some point before or after his relocation, he also came back into contact with Isaac Kleiner and Eli Vance who had also apparently been relocated to City 17 prior to Half-Life 2 and participated in their Resistance movement.
On one memorable occasion, Barney was assisting with Kleiner's teleport experiments where Kleiner attempted to transport a cat as a test experiment and something traumatizing happened to it. Barney claims to have persistent nightmares about the cat and even mistakes a distant Strider roar as a meow late in Half-Life 2.
By a twist of fate, probably orchestrated by the G-Man, Gordon Freeman is released from stasis into the City 17 Trainstation where Barney happens to be having his shift of Civil Protection duty. A security camera rejects Gordon's identity and Barney is able to 'take him away for questioning', saving him from boarding the train to Nova Prospekt and meeting a horrible fate in the depths of the complex. He then contacts Isaac Kleiner, they have a brief chat about how Gordon could get to his lab safely, then Barney lets Gordon escape through a backway.
Sometime later, Barney and Gordon meet up at Kleiner's Lab. After another teleport mishap that teleports Gordon to several different locations, Barney meets Gordon outside the lab and provides him with a crowbar, and directions to escape on foot to Eli's lab, via the Underground Railroad. Barney then goes back inside Kleiner's Lab, having to look after Kleiner.
Later on, when Gordon and Alyx arrive at Kleiner's Lab from Nova Prospekt, they receive a video transmission from Barney, who needs help fighting the Combine in the streets of City 17.
During the uprising, Barney comes to be the impromptu "field commander" of the Resistance forces and leads the push towards the Citadel in order to rescue Eli Vance. At some point, he is pinned down by Combine Snipers that Gordon, finally reaching him, takes down. Together they lead a team of Rebels into the Overwatch Nexus to disable the Suppression Device. Barney uses his Civil Protection status to unlock several barriers Gordon would normally not be able to pass. After Gordon sets off towards the Citadel again, Barney continues to oversee the later stages of the assault on the Overwatch Nexus, until encountering Dog and following him to Gordon's location. Barney is last seen at the foot of the Citadel, telling Gordon "And if you see Dr. Breen, tell him I said, f*** you!". The swear can be heard completely in the audio file, but is covered in-game by sound effects (the subtitle is censored as well).
Half-Life 2: Episode One[edit]
Barney is encountered late in the game, where he is seen organizing a Resistance push on a train station to escape City 17 before the Citadel self destructs. His appearance is slightly different with minor, untreated injuries to his head as well as small facial hair growth and an overall dirty complexion.
Barney briefs Alyx and Gordon before handing him a replacement crowbar and setting off to round up survivors in that sector of the city. He then waits for Gordon and Alyx in the parking lot between the train station and the hospital. When the duo arrives, Gordon and Alyx help Barney escort several groups of Citizens through significant Combine resistance into the escape trains. He is last seen leaving on a train saying, "See ya when I see ya!", as Gordon and Alyx decide to take the next one to give him and the Citizens time to escape.
Half-Life 2: Episode Two[edit]
Barney does not appear, nor is even referred to, during the course of Episode Two. Given his place as a returning character of note in the series, and that he escaped City 17 ahead of Freeman, he is presumed to still be alive, but his location is unknown.
However, when coming back into White Forest after the Strider battle, he can be heard saying "Good job, Gordon", but is not among the Rebels cheering in the garage. The subtitle appears with Barney's midnight green subtitle color, and uses the Episode One subtitle file, as it cannot be found in the Episode Two file. Marc Laidlaw stated that it was an accident.[8]
Relationships[edit]
Lauren and Joe[edit]
Lauren and Joe were relations of Barney's during the time of the Black Mesa Incident. As seen in the Half-Life: Blue Shift instruction manual, a "To do" list was handwritten by Barney in his "Operating Duties" file featuring information about the game's enemies, weapons, and equipment. It includes "1. Buy milk, 2. Pay water bill, 3. Call Joe, 4. Buy flowers for Lauren, 5. Change oil".[2] Two pictures of a man and a woman can be found in Barney's locker in Sector C; while they probably are initially relatives of Gearbox employees, they may have been intended to be Lauren and Joe.
Gordon Freeman[edit]
Barney and Gordon have been friends since Black Mesa. Both would race into Dr. Kleiner's office via the air ducts when he would lock himself out. Barney would save Gordon from a miserable fate at Nova Prospekt, and send him on his way to Kleiner's Lab. The two would later fight side by side in the fierce street fighting in City 17, and escorting people out of the city. Barney also comments on Gordon's relationship with Alyx, calling Gordon a "lucky dog". He still owes Gordon a beer.
Alyx Vance[edit]
Alyx was just an infant at Black Mesa, and it is unknown if he met her during his tenure as a security guard. Nevertheless, he considers her a worthy ally in the human resistance on the Combine-occupied Earth.
Isaac Kleiner[edit]
Barney essentially serves as Kleiner's bodyguard, keeping the Civil Protection away from the area of the secret lab. Before this, as stated above, he would race Gordon to get to Isaac's office when the latter would lock himself out.
Behind the scenes[edit]
- Although initially being the generic security guard from Half-Life, an entire class of throwaway characters on its own, he was retconned in Half-Life: Blue Shift and Half-Life 2 as a standalone character, playing increasingly prominent roles as the series has progressed. He is one of only four playable characters in the series to be heard speaking, and being a generic model with a generic first name turned into a standalone character with a surname, the others being Gina Cross and Otis Laurey.
- At the time of Half-Life's release, the security guard seen knocking on the Area 3 Security Facilities door at the start of the game was not referred to as Barney Calhoun. It was later retconned in Blue Shift, along with expanding what is behind the door. Barney's relationship with Gordon mentioned in Half-Life 2 and its Episodes was also retconned, since good friends would have interacted during that scene in both games.
- At the beginning of Blue Shift, the player may notice strange material in Calhoun's locker: books titled "The Truth About Aliens" (by RH) (Gordon Freeman also has a copy of this book in his bedroom, as seen in Decay) and "Government Conspiracies", hinting that Barney was interested in these subjects. This could also be foreshadowing, since the game centers on aliens and government conspiracies. Also seen in Calhoun's locker are pictures of family members/friends, among them a young woman who might be Lauren (although the pictures are likely that of a relative of Gearbox employees). A box in his locker also reveals, when destroyed, a Chumtoad creature as a small Easter egg.
- In Blue Shift, Barney is always referred to as "Calhoun" or "Mr. Calhoun". His first name is only given in the instruction manual.[2]
- Barney comes across Gordon three times in Blue Shift. He first sees him while he is riding his tram to Sector C, being actually a scene from the start of Half-Life from another point of view. Gordon can then be spotted through a security camera heading to the test chamber. Gordon is finally seen at the end of the game as two HECU soldiers are dragging him away, mirroring a scene from the Half-Life chapter Apprehension.
- Barney's appearance in Half-Life 2 was based on that of Valve's Chief Operating Officer Scott Lynch. In the playable Half-Life 2 leak files, the face texture is nicknamed "scottface", in reference to Lynch.
- In the original Kleiner's Lab introduction and teleportation scenes, Barney appears even more pessimistic than in the final version, expressing even more doubts in very sarcastic and funny remarks each time Kleiner or Mossman say something positive.
- In the playable Half-Life 2 leak files can be found the model of a slightly damaged security guard helmet, named "BarneyHelmet". Appearing as a Metrocop helmet separated in two parts in the retail files and used upon first meeting Barney in the City 17 Trainstation, it was either used as a placeholder early in development or suggests Barney was to have kept his old helmet, as it appears rather worn out, and it would have been seen at some point during the game as an Easter egg.
- The "Now... about that beer I owed ya!" said by Barney at the start of Half-Life 2 is a nod to one of the random security guard sentences heard at the start of Half-Life, "Hey, catch me later, I'll buy you a beer.". However, this sentence cannot be said by Barney himself because there are no interactions with him during Half-Life.
Trivia[edit]
- The original security guard model bore a striking resemblance to actor Don Knotts, so the character was given the moniker "Barney" in reference to Don Knotts' character of Barney Fife in The Andy Griffith Show. Marc Laidlaw gave him the last name of "Calhoun" in reference to the character F.W. Colqhoun from the film Ravenous, said to be a favorite of his.[9]
- At the start of Half-Life, Barney is seen by Gordon knocking on a door with his armor vest and helmet already equipped. As this security guard was retconned as Barney Calhoun for Blue Shift, an inconsistency appeared, Barney obtaining his equipment in his locker only after entering the door.
- At the end of the Half-Life 2 chapter Entanglement, Barney is seen on a monitor holding an Submachine Gun. This is the only time he is seen wielding this weapon in Half-Life 2 and its Episodes, as he is only seen using an AR2 when in combat.
Gallery[edit]
Half-Life: Blue Shift[edit]
Barney's letter of reassignment and Security Shift Schedule.
The Security Shift Schedule, including Barney's Blue Shift in Sector C.
Barney watches Gordon on his way to Sector C.
Gina Cross seen delivering the crystal sample as seen through a security camera at the start of Blue Shift.
Gordon Freeman passing by, through a security camera, at the start of Blue Shift.
Barney's locker.
The contents of the locker.
The box revealing a Chumtoad when destroyed.
One of the two pictures from Barney's locker.
Ditto.
Gordon Freeman as seen by Barney Calhoun at the end of Blue Shift.
The "Out of range" message, closing Blue Shift.
Original Blue Shift cover illustration.
Final Blue Shift box art.
Steam portrait image.
Inside flap of the Blue Shift box.
Steam hero background image.
The loading screen.
Wallpaper based on the box art.
Half-Life: Decay[edit]
Barney briefly glimpsed in Decay.
Half-Life 2 and Episode One[edit]
Pre-release[edit]
Ghostly Half-Life 2 leak texture based on the early Barney Calhoun Combine Guard model, used in the E3 2003 video "Psyche" and the ending sequences of the WC map pack maps
e3_endandhazard01.
Early Half-Life 2 model, with the early Metrocop skin.
Fan-made restoration of the previous model with the textures found in the Half-Life 2 leak and the IHV test used as the base.
Custom Barney model from the leak, to be used for an unknown IHV test.
Barney among Citizens in the Manhack Arcade.
Barney and Kleiner at the original teleport.
Clean Barney in an early version of Episode One.
Retail[edit]
Scott Lynch's picture used as Barney's face texture.
Lynch in 2024.
Half-Life 2 model.
Episode One model.
An undercover Barney taking Gordon to an interrogation room.
Barney revealing himself at the start of Half-Life 2.
Old friends reunite.
Barney instructing Gordon on what to do next.
Barney arriving at the lab.
Alyx, Kleiner and Barney in Kleiner's Lab.
Alyx and Barney watching monitors in Kleiner's Lab.
Barney watching monitors in Kleiner's Lab.
Alyx and Barney at Kleiner's Lab.
Barney at Kleiner's Lab.
Dr. Kleiner announcing Lamarr is debeaked.
Barney about to release the HEV Suit for Gordon in Kleiner's Lab, and get attacked by Lamarr.
Barney being attacked by Lamarr.
Barney congratulating Gordon on his skills.
Dr. Kleiner and Barney watching Alyx get teleported.
Barney instructing Gordon on what to do next.
Barney giving Gordon his crowbar.
Alyx and Kleiner talking with Barney while Dog listens.
Barney operating Combine computers during the battle for the Overwatch Nexus.
Barney being pinned down by Combine Snipers.
Ditto.
Barney reminding Gordon to take down the snipers.
Barney after being rescued by Gordon.
Barney asking if Gordon heard a cat.
Barney using a Combine interface to unlock a Combine lock.
Barney and Resistance members battling with Combine forces.
Barney using a Combine interface to open a Combine Heavy Door.
Barney smiling at Gordon near the Technical Trainstation.
Barney and Alyx discussing their escape plan in the Technical Trainstation.
Barney leaving the Technical Trainstation to an unknown destination.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Other[edit]
Unused Steam emoticons.
List of appearances[edit]
Main games[edit]
- Half-Life (Retcon)
- Half-Life: Blue Shift (First identified as Barney Calhoun)
- Half-Life: Decay
- Half-Life 2
- Half-Life 2: Episode One
- Half-Life 2: Episode Two (Commentary only)
Other[edit]
- Half-Life: Day One (First appearance) (Retcon)
- Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Half-Life 2 Prima Guide
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Half-Life: Blue Shift instruction manual
- ↑ Half-Life 2 credits
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Half-Life: Blue Shift
- ↑ Half-Life 2
- ↑ Half-Life 2: Episode One
- ↑ Half-Life PlayStation 2 instruction manual
- ↑ Marc Laidlaw on Barney's appearance in Episode Two (January 7, 2013)
- ↑ Marc Laidlaw on Barney's name
