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Caution: I am a supporter of the Indoctrination Theory. Opinions and explanation herein will contain such support.

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Yup; that's right; I finally decided to just make a journal about this because I wanna go on record with my reaction to the tumult of skewed and messed-up explanations that I've seen/heard/argued.


Ok; let's start with the key points that are very easy to explain; yet are somehow in 'contention'.


1. Mass Effect 3 was rushed; and sold to gamers as an 'Incomplete Product'.

> Apparently people have forgotten the old standby of a 'Cliffhanger'; where the story trails off and the big TO BE CONTINUED slaps up on the screen.

ME3 was finished; the answer is painfully obvious: The 'Destroy the Reapers' option appears as your SOLE option if you don't have your Readiness high enough; meaning. point-blank; that THE DECISION IS A KEY STORY POINT; and as such, NEEDS THAT SPECIFIC OUTCOME for the CONTINUATION; REGARDLESS. The other two options when your readiness is higher make sense; but only if you put yourself in the Reaper's mindset: Shepard is the go-to guy, and lynchpin in rallying all the other races behind him against the Reapers. Indoctrinate him; and you essentially have him hand over a ton of lives on a platter. Given that Shepard's reputation would proceed him; having him as an agent to seek out any other allies if his fight against the Reapers 'failed'; he'd be like a damn beacon for the last remnants of advanced sentient life in the universe.


2. The Indoctrination Theory is only 'Fanon', and as such; is irrellevant.

> Oy... That's right; keep that nose up there in the clouds; you're all so much more intelligent than any writer that could ever devise any subtle plot twist that could f*ck with you to no end... No... NEVER... </sarcasm>

The people who dismiss the Indoctrination Theory have very much in common with people who believe they could never be hypnotized: That ignorance (or outright arrogance) leads them to accept some of the stupidest things without thinking. Not only does the Indoctrination Theory explain SO MUCH; it also gives the series the most epic mindf*ck quality.


3. Bioware's DLC is to 'fix'/'change' the Ending.

> No. No, you third-grader with no concept of thinking 'outside the box'. The DLC will change NOTHING story-wise. It is to CLARIFY the ending; no doubt to tap into what so many fans have been saying (see #2). If you played through the end; and took EVERYTHING at face value; ignoring the fact that you are dealing with a race capable of COMPLETELY F*CKING WITH EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR MIND; then congrats; you are a prime candidate for Indoctrination. Please step up to the Podium and attempt to 'Control' the Reapers.

Proof positive: Quote from BioWare's recent DLC FAQ:


What can fans expect from the Extended Cut DLC?

For fans who want more closure in Mass Effect 3, the DLC will offer extended scenes that provide additional context and deeper insight to the conclusion of Commander Shepard’s journey.

Are there going to be more/different endings or ending DLCs in the future?

No. BioWare strongly believes in the team’s artistic vision for the end of this arc of the Mass Effect franchise. The extended cut DLC will expand on the existing endings, but no further ending DLC is planned.

What is BioWare adding to the ending with the Extended Cut DLC?

BioWare will expanding on the ending to Mass Effect 3 by creating additional cinematics and epilogue scenes to the existing ending sequences. The goal of these new scenes is to provide additional clarity and closure to Mass Effect 3.



Now; let's tackle that grand mindf*ck that is the ending, shall we?

Alright; as it stands; each ending has essentially the same outcome; Sh*t blows up, the Normandy crashes, and the galaxy is summarily F*cked. More specifically; the Mass Effect Relays detonate; screwing FTL travel anywhere in the galaxy.

First off; No. If all that happened; most of life would have been obliterated along with the Mass Effect Relays.

The energy released alone would be tantamount to a Supernova; and thus would just about roast every system that had one. On top of that; the Reapers would be doubly screwed; seeing as that's how they get around...>.>


Now comes the biggest and most crazy-ass thing that hit me like a ton of bricks out of nowhere:

Think of what the Catalyst says for just a moment. It tells you that it was given the task of preventing Synthetic Intelligence from being created by advanced Organic Life; so it created the Reapers to 'harvest' Organics that have advanced too far. "Preverving" them in their own twisted way; while allowing lesser species to flourish and advance; beginning this great cycle... and it can't stop it without Shepard's intervention.

Seems a little off to me that Shepard alone is the key to stopping the grand cycle of things; but this is where the mindf*ck really begins...

Up until this point in the game; it's obvious Shepard is in a delusional state (I mean hell; he got hit with a beam from freaking Harbinger for god sakes), but it's this that makes even me take a step back and go 'wait a minute'... Ok; let's say the catalyst DID create the Reapers; why would it need outside help to stop them? And on top of that; why would it need outside help to be a willing participant in their destruction by destroying itself via the Crucible? There's one nagging part to this that just screams SETUP!; and that's the FORM the Catalyst takes. Why the Boy? Why look exactly like someone Shepard had been Hallucinating about?

Answer:

The only way it all makes sense; is that the Catalyst is either some weird mastermind scheming to control all; (which would make a lot of sense, if you take into context his claim of 'creating the Reapers'; meaning he'd have full access to ways to mess with Shepard's mind); or, the more likely event that he's a representation of the Reapers; as a final stand to fool Shepard into full indoctrination. Taking elements previously established from Shepard's thoughts and memories, in an effort to confuse and manipulate him to their end.

As for all three endings being exactly the same: Here's one SPECIFIC and WELL-ESTABLISHED plot point that everyone is not focused on: This is a representation of a battle going on in SHEP'S MIND. Hel-LO people! Mass Effect Relays detonating; desperate times; loved ones in great danger... all terrible things... All humongous Risks that Shepard must think about...Causes of dread and worry... and nightmares...< < (Key point there). Shepard makes one final decision; the fate of everything in the balance; but he's in the mental Grip of the Reapers; who are responding to his every emotion; his every thought; and providing him with a strange, and mystically 4th-wall-breaking insight: Think critically; how the HELL would Shepard see any of those extraneous things? How would he know the Normandy was crashing? How would he see the whole Mass Effect Relay system blow up? Simple: the Reapers trying to play on his worst fears, in one last ditch effort to screw with his mind. That; or the Reapers were making plans on what to do (if Shep chose one of the other endings), and he sees them while tapped in...

Like I've said before; The universe isn't f*cked; but the Reapers are big enough dicks to make you think so.


That constitutes my full opinion thus far. As mentioned before, there is an extended cut DLC to further explain the ending to ME3 out this summer. I will stand firm on this opinion until then.

Thank you for your time.