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[sth128]

So everyone hates the Catalyst. Nobody can explain why it didn't just activate the Citadel relay in the first game if it controls everything. Why does it look like the kid that's been haunting Shepard's dreams? Why why why?

The answer? The Catalyst does not actually exist.

Let's look at the Crucible: which civilization was the last to build and improve its design? The Protheans. Javik specifically said that their technology communicate through neural interface. The Beacons transmit thoughts and ideas directly into its users instead of telling them the message via words and sound. Therefore, I posit that the Protheans integrated this technology into the Crucible as part of its control interface.

What was the last thing we see before Shepard meets the Catalyst? Shepard collapses and a bright flash engulfs the screen. When this happens, Shepard's mind is directly linked to the Crucible control and everything we see is happening in Shepard's head. Immediately after the flash the Citadel arms open fully. The moment Shepard interfaced with the Crucible, the activation sequence had begun.

Each option we see is the symbolic representation of its consequence. In Destroy, Shepard uses a weapon to literally destroy a power conduit. In Control, Shepard takes hold of two control pillars. In Synthesis, Shepard embraces the Crucible beam and becomes one with everything.

So what is the Catalyst then, if it doesn't actually exist? The Catalyst is actually Shepard's doubts and fears. From the start of his journey, the child has been haunting Shepard, that humanity may not survive the war, that he might fail in his mission. We see this in Shepard's recurring nightmares.

The child is a way for Shepard's mind to make sense of the ordeal. He is essentially dreaming up the Catalyst to explain away why things are the way they are. Shepard doesn't question its logic because nobody thinks dreams are weird when they are dreaming. If Shepard has a low EMS, the Catalyst asks "why are you here", as if his doubts and fears know that Shepard hasn't done everything possible to bring the galaxy together.

"Wait, but how does this fit into the Control ending", you ask? "Doesn't Shepard replace the Catalyst"?

No he doesn't. You cannot replace something that never existed. When Shepard chooses Control, his consciousness (still linked to Crucible) is embedded in a data burst and sent out across the galaxy to overwrite the core programming of every Reaper. Once taken Control, Shepard's mind literally exists in every Reaper. He becomes the "collective intelligence of the Reapers". This explains why you need to fire the Crucible in the Control choice. After all, if you are just taking over control from the Catalyst, you can just send out instructions the same way the Catalyst did, without the need of a giant blue bubble.

My hypothesis eliminates the inconsistency between previous games and this one since nothing is really controlling the Reapers and the Catalyst really is just the Citadel, and not a translucent kid living there. All insanities spouted by the Catalyst are just the inner conflicts of an unconscious mind exhausted from war and injury.

Furthermore, there is no secret room on the bottom of the Citadel tower with three retractable catwalks just waiting for someone to dock a Crucible. The collective efforts of the Cycles before us did not forget to include an activation switch and instead relied on its user shooting up the place. The hypothesis is not as extreme as to disclaim the existence of everything (ie. IT), but not as naive as to take everything at its face value.

It is, dare I say, the perfect solution...

[Train00]

Dude the catalyst does exist.

Modifié par Train00, 13 juillet 2012 - 05:32 .

[sth128]

TL:DR version:

The Catalyst room we see at the end is a manifestation from Shepard's mind interfaced with Prothean technology they added to the Crucible. The Catalyst is the personification of Shepard's doubts and fears.

Modifié par sth128, 13 juillet 2012 - 05:39 .

[sth128]

Train00 wrote...

Dude the catalyst does exist.

Only in Shepard's mind. Not in reality.

[Train00]

sth128 wrote...

TL:DR version:

The Catalyst room we seen at the end is a manifestation from Shepard's mind interfaced with Prothean technology they added to the Crucible. The Catalyst is the personification of Shepard's doubts and fears.

How do you know that?in my playthrugh of ME3 i never found any proof to that!

Modifié par Train00, 13 juillet 2012 - 05:36 .

[wantedman dan]

Interesting hypothesis, OP.

[sth128]

Train00 wrote...

sth128 wrote...

TL:DR version:

The Catalyst room we seen at the end is a manifestation from Shepard's mind interfaced with Prothean technology they added to the Crucible. The Catalyst is the personification of Shepard's doubts and fears.

How do you know that? Did you ask shepard about it?, cause in my playthrugh i never found any proof to that!

Read: "Hypothesis".

None of it exist. Everything is fiction. This is a hypothesis that can serve as an alternate explanation for the events we see near the end. And if you never saw Shepard passing out or the bright flash that immediately followed, you might want to check your eyes or your memory.

The plans for the Crucible were found on Mars in a Prothean archive. Is there evidence that Protheans put them there? How would I know? It's just inferred.

[Errant_Geth]

I want to believe this, I really do.

[Tyramius Zhan]

I like this theory - and its new from what i have seen (sorry if its not, many too many topics/posts out there). basically states that what we saw in the EC endings is true, but that the StarBrat was just a figment of Shep's mind. From an outsider looking in, they see Shep interface with the control panel after the "I'm proud" moment with Anderson, then one of three color blasts emit out of the Citadel/crucible resulting in the endings we saw, or seeing nothing happen as the Crucible extinguishes itself (Shep rejecting) and cycle continues to death of our cycle.

Not ideal to the endings I wanted, but it's the first time I saw the "it was a dream" sort of argument without having it be that it was the Reapers doing it through IT. I think I will adopt this as my head-canon.

[cyborg2501]

I agree with your line of thinking, but I think the Catalyst would then be more accurately described as "the neural link between Shepard and Crucible that controls the crucible's actions". The crucible cannot activate without the catalyst. The interface could be compared to the Geth consensus level where things were put in a familiar form for Shepard so he could understand how to accomplish more abstract actions.

[cyborg2501]

Furthermore, Shepard is able to activate Prothean technology by being in close proximity to it (prothean beacons, etc) since he has the Cipher and can make sense of it. Perhaps he activated the Crucible just by being there, and the reason he was able to use it was because the interface was of Prothean design and he could make sense of how to use it (in his own way).

[sth128]

cyborg2501 wrote...

I agree with your line of thinking, but I think the Catalyst would then be more accurately described as "the neural link between Shepard and Crucible that controls the crucible's actions". The crucible cannot activate without the catalyst. The interface could be compared to the Geth consensus level where things were put in a familiar form for Shepard so he could understand how to accomplish more abstract actions.

Well Shepard sees the child as the possibility for failure. If Shepard is interpreting everything as an image, the collective Reaper force would manifest itself as this kid that Shepard failed to save (or even coax out of the air duct).

As for the Geth consensus thing, kind of. But since the Crucible is of organic origin, Shepard sees things as more real life like, and not floating blocks of... tetris?

[Baa Baa]

I like this

[Leonardo the Magnificent]

While this is all rather interesting, it renders the refusal ending the very epitome of fail and makes all of the Catalyst's expository dialogue pointless.

[Applepie_Svk]

This theory of your is more like IT or DT... LoL´ed

[Shaigunjoe]

That is an interesting hypothesis, and ties in well with the dream sequences. After all shep does pass out before seeing the catalyst.

Though I never thought the catalyst existed before, I just thought it was in the mind of the future generations retelling of Shepards story, I still like the different perspective though.

Modifié par Shaigunjoe, 13 juillet 2012 - 06:06 .

[sth128]

Leonardo the Magnificent wrote...

While this is all rather interesting, it renders the refusal ending the very epitome of fail and makes all of the Catalyst's expository dialogue pointless.

When was the refusal ending not an epitome of fail? Your forces are wiped out and the Cycle continued. The collective knowledge and essence of humans, Turians, Asari, etc. are turned into a new Reaper and then destroyed by the next Cycle.

And the Catalyst, along with all its dialogue, have been the focus of hatred by those who dislike the ending. Look around the forum and you'll see dozens of threads claiming "the ending would be 100 times better w/o the Catalyst".

My hypothesis aims to achieve that goal by offering a different interpretation instead of simply denying the events that happened in the game.

[sth128]

Applepie_Svk wrote...

This theory of your is more like IT or DT... LoL´ed

Uh... No.

IT specifies that Shepard is under the influence of the Reapers (ie. Indoctrination) and that none of the events occurred after being blasted by Harbinger (well I haven't read the new IT, this is before EC I guess).

My hypothesis posits that Shepard interfaced with Prothean technology and the events we see at the end occurred in a virtual setting. The Crucible still fired and the effects real. It's just that the Crucible activation doesn't require Shepard shooting up the place.

[cyborg2501]

Leonardo the Magnificent wrote...

While this is all rather interesting, it renders the refusal ending the very epitome of fail and makes all of the Catalyst's expository dialogue pointless.

Unless the catalyst's expository dialogue was simply the extent of Prothean knowledge about the reapers that was being passed to Shepard through the link... Like the prothean VI, sort of

[Eain]

I like it. Far more plausible than IT, not as necessary but still fitting enough for headcanon. I'm a fan.

[Leonardo the Magnificent]

sth128 wrote...

Leonardo the Magnificent wrote...

While this is all rather interesting, it renders the refusal ending the very epitome of fail and makes all of the Catalyst's expository dialogue pointless.

When was the refusal ending not an epitome of fail? Your forces are wiped out and the Cycle continued. The collective knowledge and essence of humans, Turians, Asari, etc. are turned into a new Reaper and then destroyed by the next Cycle.

And the Catalyst, along with all its dialogue, have been the focus of hatred by those who dislike the ending. Look around the forum and you'll see dozens of threads claiming "the ending would be 100 times better w/o the Catalyst".

My hypothesis aims to achieve that goal by offering a different interpretation instead of simply denying the events that happened in the game.

Previously, refusal was the rejection of the Catalyst based on the abhoration of compromise with the Reapers. Noble, yet ultimately foolish. In this theory, Shep basically goes full on moron and says "LOL, NOPE" as he tricks himself into rejecting his only shot at defeating the Reapers.

Your second point is a matter of subjectivity and still does nothing to remove the Catalyst or his dialogue. It instead just turns it into clutter.

[sth128]

cyborg2501 wrote...

Unless the catalyst's expository dialogue was simply the extent of Prothean knowledge about the reapers that was being passed to Shepard through the link... Like the prothean VI, sort of

That's one way to interpret it. Personally I simply attribute the sort of inevitability Catalyst displayed toward organic / synthetic conflict as Shepard's fear and doubts, as well as what Harbinger said at the end of "The Arrival".

After all, Shepard saw what happened to the entire Hammer force when Harbinger arrived. Shepard even lost the one person he could almost rely on: Anderson.

To me, the Catalyst just sounds like Shepard's inner-conflict telling him "nothing can stop the cycle, there is no other solution, blah blah blah".

Maybe it's just Bioware being lazy and not including any visual difference, but if you have a low EMS, the Catalyst tells Shepard that the Crucible is "severely damage", but we don't see any difference with a high EMS.

The really bad ending where Earth is incinerated is just Shepard not having the will to control the energy release because he is doubting himself too much. It's like when someone feel physically sick when they are under extreme stress. If the Crucible activation is dependent on the state of mind, then conflicting thoughts can probably screw up the process.

[sth128]

Leonardo the Magnificent wrote...

Previously, refusal was the rejection of the Catalyst based on the abhoration of compromise with the Reapers. Noble, yet ultimately foolish. In this theory, Shep basically goes full on moron and says "LOL, NOPE" as he tricks himself into rejecting his only shot at defeating the Reapers.

Just as fear sometimes turns someone away from an assured victory. It's not so much as "going full retard" thing as falling victim to his own fears. It's basically a "no I am going to fail, I can't do this" ending. I mean, worst case scenario, Shepard chooses Control and flies the Reapers into the sun: boom they're all dead and the Geth live on. Refusal is just a coward's choice because he's unwilling to sacrifice either himself or someone else.

Besides, isn't that exactly what happened? Liara becomes the true hero because her idea of preservation is what allowed the subsequent victory.

Your second point is a matter of subjectivity and still does nothing to remove the Catalyst or his dialogue. It instead just turns it into clutter.

Well duh, nothing can actually remove the Catalyst or his dialogue (except Bioware). Whether or not my hypothesis turn it into "clutter" is irrelevant. It's not like the Catalyst and its dialogues are as of now, pure artistic gold accepted and loved by all.

At least my way turns it into clutter only Shepard can see and hear.

Modifié par sth128, 13 juillet 2012 - 06:22 .

[Skyrix]

It's a pretty cool hypothesis. I kinda like it. Too bad we know for certain and beyond any doubt that it's not what happened, because I like it a little more than what really did. Even if this was the story that the game told, though... I mean, it would still be very easy to write something so much better to end the series on.

[Applepie_Svk]

sth128 wrote...

Applepie_Svk wrote...

This theory of your is more like IT or DT... LoL´ed

Uh... No.

IT specifies that Shepard is under the influence of the Reapers (ie. Indoctrination) and that none of the events occurred after being blasted by Harbinger (well I haven't read the new IT, this is before EC I guess).

My hypothesis posits that Shepard interfaced with Prothean technology and the events we see at the end occurred in a virtual setting. The Crucible still fired and the effects real. It's just that the Crucible activation doesn't require Shepard shooting up the place.

Problem is that Crucible isn´t prothean technology, Citadel isn´t too... even if it was than it doesn´t explain why we haven´t chance speak with something like a Vigil and not little ******-Catalyst, and still if even Protheans implanted into Crucible their own beacon pattern it - then we would need some kind of beacon which would be created by Protheans themselves for this purpose, but ony artifacts - beacons which has some kind of intel about Crucible were Mars archives and Thessia - we didn´t recieved anything special than little chat with VI and blueprint.

Even if let´s say found something useful than Protheans would made it more understandable or less artistic - just push tha button and blew them out of space, but Catalyst himself pressent as Reaper agent which is more fitting into IT or DT, I doubt that Protheans would start worship these which stay behind their exticntion unless they would be indoctrinated...

Modifié par Applepie_Svk, 13 juillet 2012 - 07:09 .