55528 réponses à ce sujet

[L0NEWOLF25]

byne wrote...

L0NEWOLF25 wrote...

I just thought of something, how did crewmembers that weren't in your squad get on earth? They weren't even on the same shuttle as you when going to earth and Joker said he was rejoining sword.

I dont know if you're joking because of the way I just did the same thing to Paxxton, or if you just missed my post a second ago where I said that.

Sorry I missed the post, been busy going through the footage of the Extended cut and haven't been paying as much attention as I should be with the conversations going on around here.

[Auralius Carolus]

Salient Archer wrote...

Ok, I’m going to try and bring this up again, but every time I make a point since EC it seems to be ignored or glossed over... so fingers crossed I get my point across this time or at least get some constructive answers. Here we go...

My canon Shepard never met Harbinger and never spoke to him (as Harbinger) in Arrival, rather my Shepard spoke to Harby while he was posing as the collector general.

[as shown in the image below]



Now this raises an issue: If my Shepard never saw Harbinger in his true form how would anyone know what Harbinger looks like? No one ever had any face-to-face contact with him, not even Shepard in this case. So even when Shepard filled his reports how would he be able to describe something that he had never seen? It would be like a blind man trying to describe colour.

I should also point out that during this conversation in Arrival, Harbinger never announces what his name is regardless of what form he takes. Obviously a Reaper wouldn’t name itself considering they have no need for names, this is something we assign to them but regardless, Harbinger is clearly the name Shepard had assigned to this unique Reaper antagonist and would have been the name he gave it when presenting this information to the Alliance, but yet without seeing Harbingers image how would he be able to describe it’s defining characteristics? As far as my Shepard knew it just looked like Sovereign.

Anyway, skip forward to ME3 just before the beam charge and not only does my Shepard show fear at the mention of Harbinger’s name but Anderson also knew exactly which one was Harbinger and that somehow this information was relevant to Shepard (because a regular Reaper wouldn’t be terrifying enough apparently) So somehow without either or them (or anyone for that matter) having any idea what made Harbinger cosmetically different to all the other Reaper types both men and the entire Alliance knew exactly who Harbinger was... So why add more emphasis to Harbinger? any sovereign class reaper would have sufficed, why did Harbinger personally feel the need to be the one to confront Shepard in this final confrontation if they are just a collective intelligence after all?

"We are Harbinger!" Harbinger appoints itself in this case.
www.youtube.com/watch

As to knowing what it looks like, that's one of those convenient plot oversights like when the Council turns on Saren over an audio recording. Really, an audio file in the 22nd Century? As if that couldn't be falsified, especially from a quarian- a race treated with suspicion anyway, and highly skilled in electronics.

In regards to the Alliance knowning of Harbinger- or even how Shepard got a file on it, (refer to ME2 ending)- this is a big question mark. But Harbinger certainly likes to take command of things, and its capacity with thanix canons is impressive; far beyond that of other reapers.

[senshi420]

paxxton wrote...

byne wrote...

masster blaster wrote...

paxxton wrote...

The Space Hamster War Asset made a huge difference in the final battle against the Reapers.

????????

That was a joke. [/EDI]

those twin linked thresher maw cannons are cool too:innocent:

[Rifneno]

byne wrote...

L0NEWOLF25 wrote...

I just thought of something, how did crewmembers that weren't in your squad get on earth? They weren't even on the same shuttle as you when going to earth and Joker said he was rejoining sword.

I dont know if you're joking because of the way I just did the same thing to Paxxton, or if you just missed my post a second ago where I said that.

It's different.  You mentioned how they got OFF Earth, because only the two with you boarded the Normandy.  He asked how they got ON Earth, because the only shuttle they sent off the Normandy in the first place had your 2 squad mates with you.

[Xavendithas]

Crikey, the thread has moved almost 20 pages just since I got out of work...

Anything big being discussed?

[Auralius Carolus]

Xavendithas wrote...

Crikey, the thread has moved almost 20 pages just since I got out of work...

Anything big being discussed?

Still depating features in the EC: animations, Harbinger, logical oversights, etc.

Nothing huge that I've seen.

[Xavendithas]

Auralius Carolus wrote...

Xavendithas wrote...

Crikey, the thread has moved almost 20 pages just since I got out of work...

Anything big being discussed?

Still depating features in the EC: animations, Harbinger, logical oversights, etc.

Nothing huge that I've seen.

Alright. I'll just start playing catch up from where I was earlier.

[paxxton]

Rifneno wrote...

byne wrote...

L0NEWOLF25 wrote...

I just thought of something, how did crewmembers that weren't in your squad get on earth? They weren't even on the same shuttle as you when going to earth and Joker said he was rejoining sword.

I dont know if you're joking because of the way I just did the same thing to Paxxton, or if you just missed my post a second ago where I said that.

It's different.  You mentioned how they got OFF Earth, because only the two with you boarded the Normandy.  He asked how they got ON Earth, because the only shuttle they sent off the Normandy in the first place had your 2 squad mates with you.

Very good point!

[dreamgazer]

Auralius Carolus wrote...

Still depating features in the EC: animations, Harbinger, logical oversights, etc.

Nothing huge that I've seen.

Although, I think most people chatting in this thread have reached the consensus that we should chip in for a speech coach for Harbinger.

[Auralius Carolus]

dreamgazer wrote...

Auralius Carolus wrote...

Still depating features in the EC: animations, Harbinger, logical oversights, etc.

Nothing huge that I've seen.

Although, I think most people chatting in this thread have reached the consensus that we should chip in for a speech coach for Harbinger.

Something I want to know is if everyone else can hear these communications from the Reapers; you hear them on Earth multiple times, from different Reapers, as well as elsewhere. Many of the sounds are different from the noises Sovereign made, which makes me wonder: if Shepard is indoctrinated, and Reapers have the capacity to share thoughts both between themselves and organics, and between multiple organics, if Shepard is slowly being able to discern their speech.

[jgibson14352]

@rifneno i never said i was in more of a position to judge, and i dont know where you got that from. my opinions are just as valid as everyone elses, including yours. i have been keeping up on the post, if look back a long ways i was corrected on the credibility of all the devs in a post that if you want, ill go back and relink, and you can check for yourself. there was never a correction for jessica merizan. i realize shes just a community manager, and im not saying we should trust her implicitly, but either way her words, as a team member of bioware, carry more credibility than any of ours.

Modifié par jgibson14352, 29 juin 2012 - 12:27 .

[Cheesemonke]

I haven't written a forum post anywhere on any site in years but I am in love with IT and feel incredibly compelled to contribute something to this community in the name of greater understanding. To me IT is the only way the ending makes sense. I have seen and studied the clues and the symbolism but even from the very first time I played through the ending, as someone who has experienced all 3 games with an import shep, it just doesn't feel right on a very basic level. I have since spent quite a bit of time in this goliath of a thread reading and played through the EC endings a few times really trying to pick out anything that hasn't been said here already. A few things I don't remember seeing being elaborated on too much (even though they probably have been somewhere):

-When shep wakes up after being transported to the citadel and that strange mechanical defribulator sound goes off his suit also seems to emit a gasous cloud for a moment that then dissapates. Perhaps this leads more credence to the theory this is in fact just his suit jolting him back to life.

-It would seem to me that basically all the bodies in the room you are transported to in the citadel are in fact all ashley williams and kaidan aleknos but with strange paralized stone faces. This has to somehow be trying to instill guilt regarding the decision you had to make on virmire.

-When you are using some of the new dialogue options with the starchild he definitely seems to show some changes in emotional pitch. When he is explaining the 3 options if you choose to reject his logic he definitely shows spikes of anger in his response. If your response is more accepting of what the child says he seems quite happy and your shepards words are far more docile (he seriously seems brain dead in contrast to the rejection responses). Not only that but if you basically never throw the starchild a bone and choose a rejection response every time he is describing one of the 3 desicions he becomes wildly impatient using dialogue he wouldn't otherwise use. For instance after 3 rejections the starchild doesn't seem like he even wants to tell you about synthesis stating something like "Okay there isn't very much time left (since you keep hassling me) but i'll try to explain quickly" To me this seems like the starchild getting pissed because you aren't buying the hallucination.

-Also something that I feel like is HUGE but those structures that everyone talks about in the citadel having the 1m1 markings are clearly SHIP GUNS. I've heard a lot of people saying why would the citadel have human symbols on its architecture and how this all ties into how the whole sequence is manifested from images pulled out of sheps head well not only that but those are all clearly ship cannons sticking out of random places and pointed directly at adjacent walls or off into nowhere making no logically sense whatsoever.

I could be wrong and this all could also be recycled information but you IT'ers have my support!

[insomniak9]

I'm glad someone noticed the 1m1 ship guns.

Also take note that they quite blatantly form the hand-rails on the staircase up to the magical panel room, with the barrels pointing into the room. Bear in mind that this staircase leads out of a room which is also quite blatantly ripped out of the Shadow Broker's ship.

How in any sane persons mind this can actually be the Citadel is beyond me.

Modifié par insomniak9, 29 juin 2012 - 12:32 .

[Andromidius]

Auralius Carolus wrote...

dreamgazer wrote...

Auralius Carolus wrote...

Still depating features in the EC: animations, Harbinger, logical oversights, etc.

Nothing huge that I've seen.

Although, I think most people chatting in this thread have reached the consensus that we should chip in for a speech coach for Harbinger.

Something I want to know is if everyone else can hear these communications from the Reapers; you hear them on Earth multiple times, from different Reapers, as well as elsewhere. Many of the sounds are different from the noises Sovereign made, which makes me wonder: if Shepard is indoctrinated, and Reapers have the capacity to share thoughts both between themselves and organics, and between multiple organics, if Shepard is slowly being able to discern their speech.

Wow, that's actually a brilliant idea.  Isn't TIM able to understand Reaper language based on his contact with that object that changed his eyes?

[jgibson14352]

by far my favorite video explaining indoctrination theory is right here, granted its for the old endings but a majority of the things it covers are still in the EC, and the maker does a fine job of linking to ideas together. 
ive never noticed the guns youre referring to, ill have to check those out. its obvious that the devs didnt want to cover up all the holes, to leave it open for speculation. i can only hope that they plan for more after ending dlc, but i doubt it

[Auralius Carolus]

Cheesemonke wrote...

I haven't written a forum post anywhere on any site in years but I am in love with IT and feel incredibly compelled to contribute something to this community in the name of greater understanding. To me IT is the only way the ending makes sense. I have seen and studied the clues and the symbolism but even from the very first time I played through the ending, as someone who has experienced all 3 games with an import shep,(A) it just doesn't feel right on a very basic level. I have since spent quite a bit of time in this goliath of a thread reading and played through the EC endings a few times really trying to pick out anything that hasn't been said here already. A few things I don't remember seeing being elaborated on too much (even though they probably have been somewhere):

-(When shep wakes up after being transported to the citadel and that strange mechanical defribulator sound goes off his suit also seems to emit a gasous cloud for a moment that then dissapates. Perhaps this leads more credence to the theory this is in fact just his suit jolting him back to life.

-©It would seem to me that basically all the bodies in the room you are transported to in the citadel are in fact all ashley williams and kaidan aleknos but with strange paralized stone faces. This has to somehow be trying to instill guilt regarding the decision you had to make on virmire.

-(D)When you are using some of the new dialogue options with the starchild he definitely seems to show some changes in emotional pitch. When he is explaining the 3 options if you choose to reject his logic he definitely shows spikes of anger in his response. If your response is more accepting of what the child says he seems quite happy and your shepards words are far more docile (he seriously seems brain dead in contrast to the rejection responses). Not only that but if you basically never throw the starchild a bone and choose a rejection response every time he is describing one of the 3 desicions he becomes wildly impatient using dialogue he wouldn't otherwise use. For instance after 3 rejections the starchild doesn't seem like he even wants to tell you about synthesis stating something like "Okay there isn't very much time left (since you keep hassling me) but i'll try to explain quickly" To me this seems like the starchild getting pissed because you aren't buying the hallucination.

-(E)Also something that I feel like is HUGE but those structures that everyone talks about in the citadel having the 1m1 markings are clearly SHIP GUNS. I've heard a lot of people saying why would the citadel have human symbols on its architecture and how this all ties into how the whole sequence is manifested from images pulled out of sheps head well not only that but those are all clearly ship cannons sticking out of random places and pointed directly at adjacent walls or off into nowhere making no logically sense whatsoever.

I could be wrong and this all could also be recycled information but you IT'ers have my support!

A. Agreed. I played the original more than any other singleplayer game I can think of, (5-7 plays through), several runs through the 2nd game, and then this... While each game has it's own style, the 3rd's ending just feels disconnected.

B. It's been discussed lightly, but largely been overlooked. We simply don't know what this is or why it's there. Some say it's a radio going live, others think that- perhaps- an emergency heart reset was installed during Operation Lazarus.

C. Noted in the Original IT debates.

D. This seems to have been noted across the community as a whole; the Starchild can be taunted into showing a different tone- a tone foreign to a simple AI. While EDI may begin to show emotion by the end of the game, she is intentionally conforming to biological standards. Whatever this thing is... I don't know, but I doubt it's being truthful.

E. They do strongly resemble a cruisers mass accelerators, but they aren't the same model. What they are, exactly, is unknown albeit debated.

Anyway, welcome aboard. Feel free to make yourself and home and pitch in. Part of the strength of the IT is that we all have different strengths and weaknesses: one of us will observe something, another will counter, and in the end we have refinement.

Modifié par Auralius Carolus, 29 juin 2012 - 12:41 .

[Riot86]

paxxton wrote...

Rifneno wrote...

byne wrote...

L0NEWOLF25 wrote...

I just thought of something, how did crewmembers that weren't in your squad get on earth? They weren't even on the same shuttle as you when going to earth and Joker said he was rejoining sword.

I dont know if you're joking because of the way I just did the same thing to Paxxton, or if you just missed my post a second ago where I said that.

It's different.  You mentioned how they got OFF Earth, because only the two with you boarded the Normandy.  He asked how they got ON Earth, because the only shuttle they sent off the Normandy in the first place had your 2 squad mates with you.

Very good point!

I have no problem with my other squadmates getting ON Earth...there are several Kodiak Shuttles in the Hangar Bay and I doubt that Cortez is the only one aboard the Normandy who is capable of flying such a thing.

How they got OFF earth however seems to be a mystery...I thought the rest of my squad would be with Hammer too and I doubt Joker had time to come back AGAIN and pick them up as well

[Salient Archer]

Auralius Carolus wrote...

Salient Archer wrote...

Ok, I’m going to try and bring this up again, but every time I make a point since EC it seems to be ignored or glossed over... so fingers crossed I get my point across this time or at least get some constructive answers. Here we go...

My canon Shepard never met Harbinger and never spoke to him (as Harbinger) in Arrival, rather my Shepard spoke to Harby while he was posing as the collector general.

[as shown in the image below]

***image snip***

Now this raises an issue: If my Shepard never saw Harbinger in his true form how would anyone know what Harbinger looks like? No one ever had any face-to-face contact with him, not even Shepard in this case. So even when Shepard filled his reports how would he be able to describe something that he had never seen? It would be like a blind man trying to describe colour.

I should also point out that during this conversation in Arrival, Harbinger never announces what his name is regardless of what form he takes. Obviously a Reaper wouldn’t name itself considering they have no need for names, this is something we assign to them but regardless, Harbinger is clearly the name Shepard had assigned to this unique Reaper antagonist and would have been the name he gave it when presenting this information to the Alliance, but yet without seeing Harbingers image how would he be able to describe it’s defining characteristics? As far as my Shepard knew it just looked like Sovereign.

Anyway, skip forward to ME3 just before the beam charge and not only does my Shepard show fear at the mention of Harbinger’s name but Anderson also knew exactly which one was Harbinger and that somehow this information was relevant to Shepard (because a regular Reaper wouldn’t be terrifying enough apparently) So somehow without either or them (or anyone for that matter) having any idea what made Harbinger cosmetically different to all the other Reaper types both men and the entire Alliance knew exactly who Harbinger was... So why add more emphasis to Harbinger? any sovereign class reaper would have sufficed, why did Harbinger personally feel the need to be the one to confront Shepard in this final confrontation if they are just a collective intelligence after all?

"We are Harbinger!" Harbinger appoints itself in this case.
www.youtube.com/watch

As to knowing what it looks like, that's one of those convenient plot oversights like when the Council turns on Saren over an audio recording. Really, an audio file in the 22nd Century? As if that couldn't be falsified, especially from a quarian- a race treated with suspicion anyway, and highly skilled in electronics.

In regards to the Alliance knowning of Harbinger- or even how Shepard got a file on it, (refer to ME2 ending)- this is a big question mark. But Harbinger certainly likes to take command of things, and its capacity with thanix canons is impressive; far beyond that of other reapers.

Although it never announces itself  as "I am Harbinger" it is "we are Harbinger" it's more like saying "we are the heralds of the coming apocalypse" opposed to an actual title.

As for the data-pad that Joker hands Shepard at the end of ME2 I find that to be circumstantial evidence at best; Im sure that data-pad contained more information on it than just a picture of Harby and I also doubt it had any names relating to any of the Reapers (considering organics name them) and I think it's safe to assume it also contained images about all the other Reaper types too, remember the ending of ME2 clearly shows several distinctly different Reaper designs which would make Harbinger’s unique appearance a moot point. Which leaves Harbinger’s actual appearance only being confirmed for Shepard during Arrival; which in my Shepard’s case never happened because he spoke to the Collector Puppet instead. 

Essentially it’s like one of us being handed an iPad with 20+ images of different people and trying to pick out which one is SubAstris. From the evidence I have I’d assume that SubAstris is a short fat man with a respiratory problem but for all I know SubAstris is really a 6’3” Scandinavian beauty queen olympic gold medalist.

Anyway, Having said all this; maybe they dropped the unique appearance of the other Reapers so n00bs would be able to spot Harbinger instantly and give him a more imposing presence for a thematic perspective, reality defying plot-holes be damned.

Modifié par Salient Archer, 29 juin 2012 - 12:46 .

[paxxton]

jgibson14352 wrote...

by far my favorite video explaining indoctrination theory is right here, granted its for the old endings but a majority of the things it covers are still in the EC, and the maker does a fine job of linking to ideas together. 
ive never noticed the guns youre referring to, ill have to check those out. its obvious that the devs didnt want to cover up all the holes, to leave it open for speculation. i can only hope that they plan for more after ending dlc, but i doubt it

Yes, so far this is THE BEST video on indoctrination I've seen.

[Derp88]

Let's forget for a moment about the additional scenes that Shepard actually made it to the Citadel. My focus is on Shepard's conversation with the Catalyst.

Before the EC, Shepard seemed to be in a daze, where he would seem very passive, very willing to just accept the Catalyst's explanations without question. This was very unlike Shepard, and gave merit to the IT, because Shepard seemingly blindly followed the Catalyst's doctrine, or "solutions". Hence it could be argued that Shepard was indoctrinated.

However, post-EC, Shepard has regained some of his fighting spirit. He now no longer just accepts the Catalyst at face-value. He wants further explanations as to the implementation of Control and Synthesis, and the consequenses of Destroy. Hell, he can even flat-out refuse the Catalyst now if he wants.

So my point is, is Shepard still being indoctrinated if he has the ability to question the Catalyst's "solutions"? I mean, Shepard even asks why the Catalyst is offering these new choices. To be indoctrinated, is to follow a set of beliefs (or a doctrine, if you will) without question. But Shepard is now questioning the Catalyst.

Shepard even says "Let's get this over with" before deciding. Personally, this further empasises the difficult choice Shepard has to make, but because of the sacrifice and repercussions of each. It's a choice he has to make (well, not have to, as he can always refuse ), even though he mkaes it clear he doesn't want to make that decision.

I thought the IT would have been a great way for Bioware to pull an epic twist. Now, after seeing the EC, I don't mind the endings as they are. Enough was shown for me personally to appreciate how hard that decision was for Shepard to make, and Bioware did a pretty good job in showing that Shepard's sacrifice was not in vain.

Would I have preferred the IT? Yes, most likely.
Is it now my head canon? No. Not for me.

I am interested to hear your thoughts on this

[Auralius Carolus]

Salient Archer wrote...
 Although it never announces itself  as "I am Harbinger" it is "we are Harbinger" it's more like saying "we are the heralds of the coming apocalypse" opposed to an actual title.

As for the data-pad that Joker hands Shepard at the end of ME2 I find that to be circumstantial evidence at best; Im sure that data-pad contained more information on than just a picture of Harby and I also doubt it had any names relating to any of the Reapers (considering organics name them) and I think it's safe to assume it also contained images about all the other Reaper types too, remember the ending of ME2 clearly shows several distinctly different Reaper designs which would make Harbinger’s unique appearance a moot point, with Harbinger’s actual appearance only being confirmed for Shepard during Arrival; which in my Shepard’s case didn’t even happen because he spoke to the Collector Puppet instead. 
Essentially it’s like one of us being handed an iPad with 20+ images of different people and trying to pick out which one is SubAstris. From the evidence I’d assume that SubAstris is a short fat man with a respiratory problem but for all I know SubAstris is really a 6’3” Scandinavian beauty queen olympic gold medalist.

Anyway, Having said all this; maybe they dropped the unique appearance of the other Reapers so n00bs would be able to spot Harbinger instantly and give him a more imposing presence for a thematic perspective, reality defying plot-holes be damned.

Well, the way I take it is that each Reaper is composed of- at least- millions of minds at work, contributing to the whole. Harbinger speaks as we, because even though it likely has a sovereign entity at the helm, it is still a plurality of beings. But, regardless, it refers to itself as "The Harbinger" or "Harbinger" multiple times when confronting Shepard is possessed Collectors, so it's only natural that the name stuck.

And as to the last part, it is possible although regretable- I hate seeing things dumbed down. I don't care what it is, a high standard is a good standard. Stupidity or ignorance doesn't have to be a chronic condition; raise the bar, raise the quality and let them learn.

[AragonShadslayer]

Been lurking on this thread for quite some time but looked up the definition of Harbinger and found this.

har·bin·ger/ˈhärbənjər/
Noun:

1.A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another.
2.A forerunner of something.

So I doubt hes naming himself and simply using the word as the definition states.

[Spartas Husky]

Commander Shepard is awesome. Massive blood loss close to passing out from it is nothing. he gets called by the star brat and he suddenly can pay attention to 15 minutes of conversation. Totally believable.

[BansheeOwnage]

Salient Archer wrote...

Ok, I’m going to try and bring this up again, but every time I make a point since EC it seems to be ignored or glossed over... so fingers crossed I get my point across this time or at least get some constructive answers. Here we go...

My canon Shepard never met Harbinger and never spoke to him (as Harbinger) in Arrival, rather my Shepard spoke to Harby while he was posing as the collector general.

[as shown in the image below]



Now this raises an issue: If my Shepard never saw Harbinger in his true form how would anyone know what Harbinger looks like? No one ever had any face-to-face contact with him, not even Shepard in this case. So even when Shepard filled his reports how would he be able to describe something that he had never seen? It would be like a blind man trying to describe colour.

I should also point out that during this conversation in Arrival, Harbinger never announces what his name is regardless of what form he takes. Obviously a Reaper wouldn’t name itself considering they have no need for names, this is something we assign to them but regardless, Harbinger is clearly the name Shepard had assigned to this unique Reaper antagonist and would have been the name he gave it when presenting this information to the Alliance, but yet without seeing Harbingers image how would he be able to describe it’s defining characteristics? As far as my Shepard knew it just looked like Sovereign.

Anyway, skip forward to ME3 just before the beam charge and not only does my Shepard show fear at the mention of Harbinger’s name but Anderson also knew exactly which one was Harbinger and that somehow this information was relevant to Shepard (because a regular Reaper wouldn’t be terrifying enough apparently) So somehow without either or them (or anyone for that matter) having any idea what made Harbinger cosmetically different to all the other Reaper types both men and the entire Alliance knew exactly who Harbinger was... So why add more emphasis to Harbinger? any sovereign class reaper would have sufficed, why did Harbinger personally feel the need to be the one to confront Shepard in this final confrontation if they are just a collective intelligence after all?

This is why http://i3.kym-cdn.co...1/harbinger.jpg
On a more serious note, I think it's just a form of retcon or oversight and a minor one IMO. What does get to me though is the fact that after doing nothing since ME2 Harbinger appears, hits everyone perfectly but misses Shepard a lot, and doesn't say anything. Even though his VA did some random Batarian dude. RAAAAAAAHHHHHH 

[Auralius Carolus]

Derp88 wrote...

Let's forget for a moment about the additional scenes that Shepard actually made it to the Citadel. My focus is on Shepard's conversation with the Catalyst.

Before the EC, Shepard seemed to be in a daze, where he would seem very passive, very willing to just accept the Catalyst's explanations without question. This was very unlike Shepard, and gave merit to the IT, because Shepard seemingly blindly followed the Catalyst's doctrine, or "solutions". Hence it could be argued that Shepard was indoctrinated.

However, post-EC, Shepard has regained some of his fighting spirit. He now no longer just accepts the Catalyst at face-value. He wants further explanations as to the implementation of Control and Synthesis, and the consequenses of Destroy. Hell, he can even flat-out refuse the Catalyst now if he wants.

So my point is, is Shepard still being indoctrinated if he has the ability to question the Catalyst's "solutions"? I mean, Shepard even asks why the Catalyst is offering these new choices. To be indoctrinated, is to follow a set of beliefs (or a doctrine, if you will) without question. But Shepard is now questioning the Catalyst.

Shepard even says "Let's get this over with" before deciding. Personally, this further empasises the difficult choice Shepard has to make, but because of the sacrifice and repercussions of each. It's a choice he has to make (well, not have to, as he can always refuse ), even though he mkaes it clear he doesn't want to make that decision.

I thought the IT would have been a great way for Bioware to pull an epic twist. Now, after seeing the EC, I don't mind the endings as they are. Enough was shown for me personally to appreciate how hard that decision was for Shepard to make, and Bioware did a pretty good job in showing that Shepard's sacrifice was not in vain.

Would I have preferred the IT? Yes, most likely.
Is it now my head canon? No. Not for me.

I am interested to hear your thoughts on this

I still think the ending is mediocre compared to the series as a whole. Honestly, I felt ME3 at large was disappointing, (athough it certainly had some grand moments).

But regarding indoctrination, it can either be a fast and forceful takeover or a slow and steady manipulation of perception. With the slow method, the victim has the potential to resist for a certain amount of time, but his/her perception of things will every so slightly be pressed over time. Forced mood changes will likely also encourage manipulation.

"Indoctrination" often is used in two ways interchangably, though: both the initial process and the end result. Therefore, due to the ambiguity, Shepard may be considered indoctrinated. If you wish to specify, some suitable words include "Oppressed", "Afflicted", or "Influenced".