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From a certain point of view, when I think about it... the IT is brilliant. Simply because it shows that the best of us can still fall to evil. It shows that no one is perfect and that even someone so pure and strong willed as Shepard still has to fight with his heart and mind just as much as with his arms and legs. It would imply that even the mightiest can fall, and the fact that it is that which almost breaks us that defines us (most evident in the 'destroy' ending). Shepard's will almost broke him, but in the end, it is what saved him and the galaxy.
"You are remarkably strong-willed, Commander." - Liara T'Soni
Shepard battling indoctrination throughout his quest against the Reapers is such a harrowing thought. How could he possibly hold up with all the pressure he has, PLUS Reapers trying to take over his mind. It would be a grand symbol of fighting an evil within yourself while also fighting the evil in physical form. The greatest battle.
"Shepard is my battle-master. He has no match." - Grunt
Shepard could never rest. He would literally have to give his everything in order to keep his mind his own if he were to then try and save the galaxy. The IT is fascinating to people because it embodies a mysterious paradigm that sometimes what we think is real, may actually just be our minds playing tricks on us. It is fascinating because it would be the ultimate test of will to deny something so monstrous slowly trying to seep its way into your pysche. All the while you are fighting the external forces of that very thing which is currently trying to invade you internally.
"I just want to know: Is the person I followed to hell and back still in there?" - Kaidan Alenko
Think about it, whether you think the evidence is there or not, the IT is really a neat thing. And it culminates in ME3. Shepard, at the height of his stress and feelings of pressure, is beginning to become weakened through the Reapers continued (as of yet unknown) influence. All throughout the game, as Shepard is struggling and fighting to unite the galaxy an internal war rages inside of him and the only visual manifistation of that is in his nightmares. The boy isn't real, but instead a tool of the Reapers to try and break Shepard's will. Seeing the boy run from Shepard, through a dim, grim, and just downright freaky forest, is without a doubt confusing and wearisome for him. He doesn't know why he's running, he doesn't understand the forest, the voices... all of it is a mystery to him. All he knows is that when he finally catches up to the boy, the boy immediately catches flame and burns before his eyes to Shepard's horror. He then wakes up terrified - worried, that maybe he can't save everyone. That maybe despite his best efforts he can't accomplish what he desires. That maybe... he really can't save the galaxy. This would all weigh heavily on his mind as he tries to UNITE it.
"You cojole, and threaten, and make tremendous sacrifices, until the galaxy realizes it has someone worth following." - Liara
"You think so?" - Shepard
"There's no doubt in my mind." - Liara
And when Harbinger's beam strikes and the ensuing dream takes place (within the IT) Shepard experiences the truest 'test' of will. The Reapers stop at nothing here, pulling no punches, in a last ditch effort to indoctrinate Shepard. And why you say? Why not just kill him? Shepard is an extremely valuable asset. Killing him would provide nothing for the Reapers. But indoctrination? An indoctrinated Shepard could mislead his allies, betray them to the Reapers, and they would be left leaderless and ready to fall. Without Shepard, not only does the Catalyst not fire, but the Reapers can later 'dissolve' Shepard in order to transfer his DNA into a future human Reaper. I'm sure the Reapers are impressed by Shepard (however much they may deny it), and so him as a tool is much more benficial to them, then having him simply dead.
"You cannot escape your destiny, Shepard." - Harbinger
I could go on and on about why I think the IT is so fascinating, and why I believe there is plenty enough to support its case of validity, but the main point stands: Bioware has to explain the ending. And the IT would seemingly be the best avenue to do so (in my opinion). We won't know anything for some time, but for the people who are anti-IT, I encourage you to look deeper into it. It really does make some very valid sense. Now you can argue whether or not you think Bioware will use it, but if you can comb through all the documented findings and gathered information in support of the IT (mainly Acayvos' YouTube video) and you still don't believe it, I would be a little shocked. But alas, everyone has an opinion on the matter and if you don't think its credible I respect your opinion and whatever facts you bring forth to support it.
I just find the IT to be really, really cool because it represents in a way our own deep internal struggles to battle with our own demons. And it's just interesting to see something similar manifest in a much more intense and direct way in Shepard. Our greatest hero.
Ok, nerd rage over.
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Additional thoughts...
Another thing that I did not mention that literally makes ZERO sense in my mind without the IT being true is...
The catalyst. The catalyst is represented as a small, holographic boy. But not just any boy. The EXACT boy that Shepard saw on Earth and in his dreams. Why? Why would the catalyst be... this boy? It makes no sense from a logical stand point. If the catalyst is really some hyper advanced AI created by eons old civilization(s), then wouldn't it be the model of some alien or other form of life? Not the EXACT boy that torments Shepard in his dreams...
Think about it. It is so weird. And literally makes me want to pick up my computer, as heavy as it is, and hurl it out the window. That is if Bioware sticks by this and pulls a "Oh you just don't understand. This was meant all a long and well, see... the boy is..." No. Bs. There is NO logical way to explain that the Catalyst is the same boy in Shepard's dreams other than the explanation that the IT gives.
The Catalyst/Boy
If the IT is true, then it would explain the Catalyst. In the IT the boy is not real. At least, most definitely not real when he enters the locked room on Earth and then is immediately fried by a Reaper laser. Everything after that would HAVE to be hallucinations because there is no way the kid survived that. Personally, I believe he was never real. The beginning of the game shows the boy dancing and playing with his model fighter outside of the window Shepard is looking out of. Coincidence? Not. The boy is RIGHT outside his window. Later we see the boy VERY far away from where he was earlier, on a balcony outside overlooking the city where he then runs inside. My opinion? The boy is luring Shepard. He is drawing Shepard to him.
Shepard defeats the husks on the balcony and then goes inside that same room that was just fried by a Reaper. And then comes this moment...
The "You can't save me" line that makes zero sense for a child.
Seriously, in the face of devastation, all alone, why... WHY would a child tell an alliance soldier, "You can't help me". WHAT?! Ok... calming down. But a kid, all alone, in a duct, in a room that just got BLASTED by a Reaper tells a brave and concerned soldier that that soldier can't help him? Are you getting this guys? Do you see how ludicrous and retarded that little brat must be?! Unless of course... he ain't real. No, this falls back into the hands of what the Reapers are trying to do here. The "You can't help me" line is meant to grab at Shepard's heart, squeeze as tight as it can, and begin the slow internal suffocation of Shepard's mind. "You can't help me", coming from a child would instill such a helpless feeling on Shepard. If he can't help a child, who can he help? This is the Reaper's plan beginning to take effect. Anderson interrupts, and Shepard acknowledges him and looks away briefly, only to glance back into the ducts and see the child is gone. Vanished. Once again... wha? He just skippity dippity crawled away from Shepard as fast as possible? Or... the hallucination was broken.
Many of you will know from seeing Acayvos' IT video on YouTube that this would make a great deal of sense. It is explained in one of the books (although I recommend you watch the YouTube video for a better interpretation) that when an attempt at indoctrination, or hallucination, is broken, there is a brief 'growl' heard. Go back and play that scene, or watch the YT video and you will clearly hear this 'growl'. What is this? Evidence of the break of the Reaper's hold on Shepard's mind when Anderson walked back into the room and interrupted. How can this be explained without the IT? You tell me.
The end sequence and how the Catalyst portrays the 'choices'.
Destroy
When the C (Catalyst) explains the Destory ending to Shepard, he sheds a somewhat disguised negative light on it. He implies that if Shepard chooses it, bad things will happen. The cycle would one day be reborn in some way, that ALL synthetics would be killed because of it, and Shepard would also die. Seriously... watch this: Start at 17:50 and pay close attention to how he paints the Destory ending. "I know you've thought about destroying us" (who's 'us'?!). Sound very positive? No. He also specifically says 'including the geth' and 'Even you are partly synthetic'. Appealing to both Shepard's friends (geth and quarians), and also to imply that Shepard would basically be dying for nothing. At face value based on his explanation, the Destroy choice sounds like homicide for all synthetics and would also gaurantee Shepard's death. Not very positive.
Control
On the other hand, he presents the Control ending. Now this is interesting, because we JUST came from a scene where it was evident that control was not the answer to the Reapers. TIM even admitted this as he put a gun to his head (paragon). So... how could Shepard be so dumb as to take this choice now, after just seeing TIM himself admit he was wrong? Well, he gets a very compelling case presented to him. In that same video above, skip to 18:30 and pay close attention to how the C presents Control. The C goes on to tell Shepard that TIM was actually RIGHT and that the Reapers could be controlled. And that all Shepard had to do was to go over to that blue area (conveniently highlighted in a paragon color) and put his hands on two handles. And BAM he controls the Reapers! Right? Wrong. The C told Shepard that he could control the Reapers just like TIM thought (even after TIM admitted he was wrong!), and that whatever Shepard wanted the Reapers would obey. This is interesting because when Shepard asks, "But the Reapers will obey me?"... there is a pause... and then the C responds "Yes." Why the pause? Because he lied. Just my theory anyway. It seemed... off. The C also tells Shepard that he will die doing so, but presents the death in a 'worthy' manner. As if Shepards death would be worth something... worth controlling the Reapers and saving his friends. This sort of 'worthy' illusion was not done by him when he spoke of the Destroy choice. Interesting? Yes. Also, a note to keep in mind throughout all of this... The C keeps referring to himself, or his entity as 'us'. The Reapers refer to themselves as a nation. Not singular, but plural. Much like the Geth. They refer to themselves as 'us', or 'we'. Coincidence? You decide.
Synthesis
And then we have Synthesis. The choice that is so obvious of its intentions, I shouldn't even have to explain it... but I will! At least in my own light/opinion. The C presents the last option to Shepard: Synthesis. Synthesis between Human DNA and the Reapers/Synthetic. Not just anyone's DNA, but Shepard himself. When the C speaks of Synthesis, his tone changes a bit, another illusion is created. In that same video, fast forward to 19:00 and once again pay attention to he words things and the tone in his voice. The illusion that THIS is the best choice. When Shepard responds with "I... don't know", the C acts suprised, a little frustrated even, "Why not?". Why would he ask that? If he didn't care what Shepard chose, why would he question Shepard's motives. Because he does care what Shepard chooses... The C explains that Synthesis will upgrade and enhance all organic DNA by fusing it with synthetic DNA. Sound suspicious? Good. You're catching on to his lies then. He goes on to say that fusing synthetic and organic DNA is the final evolution of life, and that 'we need eachother to make it happen'. STOP RIGHT THERE! THERE SHOULD BE SIRENS GOING OFF EVERYWHERE IN YOUR MIND! WHAT.. THE... HELL... DID THAT KID JUST SAY?! That the 'best' solution is for synthetics and organics to merge? What the... THINK ABOUT THIS, PEOPLE. What have been the Reaper's goal from the get go? Huh? Yah, to HARVEST organics! Why? We're not sure of their long term goal, but we know they harvest us to make more Reapers. Can you imagine what Synthesis would do? Combining organic and synthetic DNA is EXACTLY what the Reapers want. And who's energy would they rather have more than Shepard's? In that scene, listen to the C's voice and how he's practically screaming 'choose this one! choose it!' to Shepard. He is being SO deceptive with his words, and blatantly lying to Shepard. This is just obvious for anyone looking for it. I admit, initally I did not detect this in my playthrough, but I did detect SOMETHING being off. Something about it all bothered me, and didn't make sense. Which is why I eventually chose Destroy, and realized later I had made the right choice. But this whole scene of the C describing Synthesis almost proves the IT outright on its own. Or atleast it proves that the C is not real, but instead a manipulation of Shepard's mind by the Reapers. The C calling itself 'we' and 'us' and that the best solution is to combine organics and synthetics... obviously the Reapers goals.
Also based on the IT none of the choices were actually what they seemed to be, its all only in Shepard's mind. So the choices in Shepard's dream were not really about the Crucible or its uses, but instead represented the pathways of Shepard's mind that lead to either indoctrination or freedom. The dream represented the Reaper's hold over Shepard's mind. This is all part of the trick. Making Shepard think he was deciding over how to use the Crucible was all deception on the Reaper's part. Instead, this was a visual interpretation of the choice Shepard was faced with... the choice his strong will had afforded him. Does he fall to the lies of Harbinger and succumb to indoctrination? Or does he realize something is not right and chooses to 'destroy' the Reapers and break free from Harbinger's hold?
2 of the choices would have directly given Shepard over to the Reapers. Only one could save him. There is only one way Shepard can break free of Indoctrination: to believe that destroying them is the ONLY way. I believe the boy was a manifestation by Harbinger in Shepard's mind to appeal to Shepard's guilt and sympathetic view towards the boy. Harbinger knew that simply guiding Shepard down a singular path towards indoctrination would not work. Shepard would recognize this and then break free. Instead, Harbinger had to trick him. To give him 3 choices. 2 of which led to the same outcome: indoctrination. And only one led to Shepard's freedom. Why did Harbinger give Shepard a third choice? There are two theories I have for this: A. Harbinger knew that Shepard wouldn't buy that there are only two ways to solve the Reaper threat and neither involved destroying the Reapers. So Harbinger gave Shepard the option to destroy them, but cast a very dim shadow over it discreetly so that Shepard would feel less 'inclined' toward that option. If Harby had simply said, "control us or merge with us", Shepard would have detected that something was not right immediatly break free. Instead, Harbinger had to deceive him. Shepard's will was too strong to simply take him by force. And then there is theory B. (which I lean towards) That the destroy choice simply exemplified the part of Shepard's mind that was still his. He had not been fully indoctrinated due to his incredibly strong will, so this gave him the opportunity to deny all of Harbinger's (the boy's) choices and just 'destroy' the Reapers therefore breaking free of indoctrination. Theory B makes more sense to me because earlier we saw Anderson, and Anderson represents the part of Shepard's mind that is still his own. And when the C first tells you about the destroy option, there is a brief flash of Anderson shooting the system. This would imply that THAT is the option which Shepard himself would choose. And when the C talks about the control option, we see a vision of TIM, representing the part of Shepard's mind that is slowly being conquered by Harbinger. Therefore implying that the control choice is NOT the way to go. And Synthesis which seemed the most direct choice, was perceived as the 'neutral' option. An overall good choice that would be beneficial for all life. Obviously Harbinger thought this would be the choice Shepard might go for, knowing that Shepard most likely wouldn't choose control. This is possibly why the Synthesis choice is the 'direct, down the middle' sort of obvious choice. The one that is straight ahead of Shepard. Obviously Harby was doing everything he could in Shepard's mind to convince him that Synthesis was the best option. However, both Synthesis and Control = Shepard indoctrinated. Only by choosing to destroy the Reapers can Shepard break free from Harbinger's (or just the Reapers in general) hold.
What do you think?
Modifié par Makrys, 02 mai 2012 - 02:59 .
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