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[TJBartlemus]

 I created the Waking Nightmare Theory awhile ago, but has generally been strictly in the blogs. So now in response of 500 views on my main blog posts I've decided to move the WNT into the forum for speculation and discussion. (I've mainly just copy and pasted the contents of the blog posts into here, just to let you know.) The WNT was originally created as a support to the IT, and still potentially does, but there is also the possibility for it to also to stand on it's own as a possibility for the end of ME3.

Waking Nightmare Theory (contents)

Part 1: The Waking Nightmare Theory
Part 2: The Extended Cut
Part 3: Evidence 

PART 1: The Waking Nightmare Theory

or those who don't know The Indoctrination Theory's main point was that the end of the game when Shepard is hit by Harbinger's beam, he is sent into a dream like state in which the Reaper's are trying to indoctrinate you. The theory seems sound to me but lacked a  lead up to the dream and explaination why there were so many similarities to earlier in the game. (Riot86's post)

Waking Nightmare Theory: A support theory to the IT by providing an explaination to the similarities in London and is a lead up to the Indoctrination Dream

During the entire portion of Priority: Earth, players could find portions of the game that were similar to the rest of the Mass Effect 3 which would seem coincidental to them as they play. My opinion is that this is not coincidental but instead part of what I believe is a symptom to several factors that are connected to the Indoctrination Theory. In fact during the entire mission, the further you progress, the weirder the game gets. All of course ending with what many believe is the “Indoctrination Dream”. My explanation to the similarities is that as Shepard gets closer to the beam he starts experiencing some form of indoctrination induced narcolepsy. Definition: "Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the control of sleep and wakefulness. People with narcolepsy experience excessive daytime sleepiness and intermittent, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep during the daytime. These sudden sleep attacks may occur during any type of activity at any time of the day." Shepard starts having what I believe is where he is both awake but getting images from his subconscious and not notice it. The difference between Narcolepsy and what I am describing would be that Shepard wouldn't notice the change and be in a "limbo" between asleep and awake. When he finally gets hit with Harbinger’s beam it shoots him into full blown sleep and into the "indoctrination dream". So it is possible that most of what you see is real, but slight details or parts are influenced by the Reapers and are present in your perceptions.

Now what could cause this? In my opinion I would believe that the cause of this could be that the giant beam at the end could also double as an Indoctrination device. This could be proven by 3 things. 1- So far in the Mass Effect series it has been proven that all working Reaper technology has the ability to indoctrinate individuals. 2- The beam is used to move bodies up to the citadel, so why wouldn't it also herd survivors of the initial attack from the Reapers from hiding to be processed??  3- It has been proven that the beam affect's it's surroundings. For example, the rockets you shoot at the reaper. The rockets are affected by the beam because they wouldn't fire straight into the Reaper. Even EDI says that you have to wait till the Reaper is outside of the beams effects. So the beam obviously has some effect on it's surroundings.

Onto Riot86's proof. There are definate similarities between most of the game and London. The most prominent of these were the layout of the bases, and the doors with a husk stuck in them. The layouts were similar because of the relation of the comm center and the fact that the over all mood in both were a sense of calm/ peace. Strange even though you are only a few blocks away from battle right?? The similarities in the living quarters could easily be explained with reused assets, but the husk stuck in the door was odd. Only two time does this occur and in both to the immediate left there is a vent. Only thing different between the beginning and ending husk/door was that the 2nd one's vent was closed and there was a message about a boy on the console next to it. Coincidence?? As well in the room was a bed with a burnt body, which I believe symbolises the fact in your last dream you burnt to death.

PART 2: The Extended Cut

Upon the release of Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut speculations have risen in regard to the controversial content. Many on both sides of the interpretation, either as an Indoctrination Theorist or a literalist, both have taken claims that either side is right.

In my opinion, I believe the possiblity that both could be potentially right in a way. When I wrote the Waking Nightmare Theory, it was to support the Indoctrination Theory. Now in light of what the EC has released, I believe that it could apply to the entire ending and potentially proving both right. (Be sure to see the V.2 of WNT to be able to reference what I'm talking about.) 

*spoilers*
My explaination on the ending is that the Reapers are influencing your perceptions, using indoctrination, in an attempt to convince you to make a choice in the ending that would be favorable to them. When I say them, however it would be more accurate to say the Catalyst.

  For those who don't know, the Catalyst is an AI that was created to solve the synthetic vs organic problem. In order to do this the AI created the Reapers, the first of which were his creators to their dismay. This created the cycles, with the Catalyst's circular logic of "I created Synthetics to kill you to protect you from synthetics killing you." The Catalyst in essence is the combined knowledge and essence of all those he has reaped but the AI portion controls it all. 

 When the Crucible docks with the Citadel, the Catalyst processes the new possiblities made by the implication of the added hardware. As he says in EC, he didn't expect this development. So in the light of this he created a new solution. He recognises that he needs Shepard to make his new solution to the synthetic problem come true. But he can't have Shepard choose what would destroy all has accomplished. So he starts to influence Shepard with indoctrination in some way from a source. According to my last WNT, that source could be the beam that brings you to the Citadel. Even the name Catalyst shows he's trying to fool Shepard. To quote Arian Dynas: "The definition of the word "Catalyst" whom, by definition is NOT a Catalyst. If the literal ending was the intention the whole time, they could have chosen reagent, component, any number of synonyms without the implication that they DIRECTLY defy (the Crucible changed me)" So the Catalyst/Starchild is trying to pose as the thing Shepard has been looking for the entire game in an attempt to get Shepard to listen to him instead of rejecting everything he says.

 During the EC, thereare parts that could potentially prove this theory. I will begin from the start of the new content. In the beam run, if your squadmates survive Harbinger the Normandy will come to evacuate them. During this scene, Harbinger is noted to just watch the Normandy and Shepard. He then allows the Normandy to escape unscathed. A few seconds later he blasts Shepard with his beam (a blast that Shepard shouldn't have survived) then leaves when Shepard gains conciousness. This is proof because it could prove that the Reapers allowed Shepard to get to the end, so he could impliment the final choice. This also could show that the Catalyst is trying to separate himself form the Reapers in Shepards mind. The Reapers want to kill Shepard, but the Catalyst helps him. (This also raises a point that if the Catalyst is the leader of the Reapers, as he claims himself, why wouldn't he try to decieve Shepard?) It could also be said in this way. Harbinger attempt on Shepard's life is to make the situation seem more real and like the Reapers are the bad guy but the leader of them is your friend. 

 Another thing that is a clue to the true ending is the controversial Reject ending. If Shepard chooses this the Catalyst loses his voice he has used and into one that would be similar to Harbinger's. While it is still to be proven if it is Harbinger's voice, the scene shows the Catalyst as he truely is. It also shows that he is frustrated at something. This could be that he is frustrated that he could not manipulate Shepard into making a favorable choice and ending the cycle...the exact thing he was created for. Or he could be angry that now his tool is useless. However this scene is still up for debate.

 The Reapers stance on their motivations for wiping out the galaxy every 50,00 years is also inconsistent witht the rest of the series. In the first and second games the Reapers would only claim that organics and life was a mistake and needed extermination. Then in ME3 when Shepard meets the leader, the Catalyst, he claims that all he is trying to accomplish is to save organics from synthetics. Now why would the leader's opinion be different then those he controls? I believe he is lying to get Shepard on his side. If this is not true then there is a major thing wrong with the writing. A writer does not change the motivations of the major antagonist at the last moment. It would be equivalent to changing the Emperor's motivation in Star Wars from him trying to conquest to him trying to be everyone's friend. NO. It doesn't work like that. To do that it would remove the motivation in the story so far. And that is what Starchild is trying to accomplish. Make Shepard forget his motivation for destroying the Reapers in an attempt to get him to help the Reapers.

 A hint towards the fact the Reapers could be influencing Shepard's perceptions is the form the Catalyst takes in the end of Mass Effect 3. During the course of the game, Shepard has been having dreams about the child he saw "die" on Earth. When Shepard reaches the Catalyst, the AI takes the form of that same child and has the same voice. This is illogical because the AI has never seen this child before. Only Shepard has. This means that to some extent the AI is inside Shepard's mind to get this image. And if it can take images out of his mind, what says that the Catalyst can't put images INTO Shepard's head?? Also remember the Catalyst is the Reapers leader. So in some way, the Reapers are influencing Shepards mind. 

 Not to contradict what I have written, but there is also the possibility that the AI posing as the Catalyst could also be Harbinger. This is possible because of the story plot already. It makes no sense for BioWare to introduce a new character as the leader in the end when you have already associated the Reaper's leader as Harbinger. So why would BioWare change antagonists in the last 5 minutes of the game? Unless they didn't. In the first game there was Sovereign. When he died there was Harbinger. BioWare set up the main bad guy at the end of ME2 as Harbinger. Then they go and move it to TIM. (The Illusive Man) This is without solving the Harbinger problem. In all reality in ME3 harbinger got almost no coverage in the game. I believe this was BioWare trying to move the attention from Harbinger to TIM for the reason that they don't want people to get the connection that the AI could be Harbinger. They want Harbinger seem more of a side character instead of a main one like TIM. So this would make Harbinger more of a behind the screen antagonist who is pulling all the strings w/ TIM as the puppet. The fact Harbinger is the Catalyst could explain how the Catalyst loses his voice and into more of a Reaper one.

[TJBartlemus]

 PART 3: Evidence

Besides the ending of Mass Effect 3 there have been other experiences in the game series of Mass Effect in which a Waking Nightmare has occurred and shown. These Waking Nightmare experiences have occurred to other characters in the series and Shepard was only the last in the series to do so as well. This entry will go into detail and analyze for proof and examples of Waking Nightmares within the Mass Effect series.

Derelict Reaper

 One of the most evident cases of Waking Nightmares are shown to the player in the mission involving the Derelict Reaper. The experiences are told to the player using the logs of the crew as they were slowly indoctrinated and showed symptoms of the indoctrination. Many of the symptoms were described or shown as headaches, seeing images, sharing memories, hearing voices. All of these symptoms are shown when they are awake and aware. Some of the symptoms are consistent with the effects that are placed on Shepard such as the seeing of images and experiencing things from memories. This is proof to the WNT because it details and shows that it is possible for victims of indoctrination to see images placed while awake which is consistent with “Waking Nightmares”. If anything it is a proof of concept that Waking Nightmares being placed are possible.

Arrival 

 The Arrival DLC centers around the Arrival of the Reapers at the end of ME2. During the DLC Shepard encounters a Reaper object named Object Rho which signals the upcoming invasion. During the brief encounter Shepard is exposed to it and incapacitated. What caught my interest in this object was the substance that was floating around the inside. On a closer look it appears that there are glowing blue and dark black tendrils floating and swirling inside. This is interesting because as shown in ME3 black tendrils have been associated with the Reapers trying to gain control on the mind. This is to be expected because the device is a Reaper object, so it makes sense. It also strengthens the idea and association of black tendrils = Reapers. On the blue glowing tendrils, the player has also seen before only once…in the ending of ME3 inside the Catalyst. So is this further proving the Catalyst is indeed a Reaper, because there is a connection to the Catalyst to the Object Rho? The Catalyst is also already related to be the supposed “leader of the reapers”. Most however believe that it is really Harbinger posing as the Catalyst. Something that is interesting is that during the battle next to the Object, Harbinger is able to be heard. So there is a connection already with the Object to Harbinger. There is a connection to the Catalyst to the Object. Is it too much to also connect Harbinger – Object Rho – Catalyst??? So if the Catalyst is not what it seems, it could also potentially point in the direction that not everything on the Citadel is what it seems??

London: FOB

 During Priority: Earth at one point a shuttle containing Admiral Anderson and Major Coats picks Shepard up from a hot zone and transports him to the FOB. The shuttle that picks Shepard up is the UT-47A Kodiak Drop Shuttle used strictly by the Alliance, a shuttle that has been used the entire game up to this point. When Shepard is dropped off however, a closer look inside of the shuttle reveals it as the model UT-47, a shuttle that is used by Cerberus and was the same model that Shepard used all the time in ME2. The main differences which make it possible to determine between these models are the number of seats. In the UT-47A model, it contains 4 seats. In the UT-47, it contains 9 seats. Another determining factor is the fact that in the UT-47 model shuttle that drops Shepard off, it has a Cerberus logo still on the inside.

 The fact the models change is irregular because as far as it has been proven, this type of event has never happened during the rest of the game. As well to the plot in a literal sense it makes no sense for having the change. Looking at it from a WNT perspective however, this event starts to make a lot more sense. One part of WNT claims an idea that what could cause the changes affecting Shepard could be that the beam he is trying to get to could potentially double as an indoctrination device. If true this could explain the sudden change of shuttles. Shepard at the start of the mission was a good distance away from the FOB and the beam. So his perceptions aren’t being affected or at least not to an extent. Thus the shuttle appears as it should. When he is transported to a location much closer to the beam, the effects get stronger and the shuttle transforms to an image more familiar to him, the UT-47 Cerberus shuttle.

 The reason the outside doesn’t change is currently up for debate. The most likely reason could be that if the outside changed it would be too much of a hint that something was wrong when it's supposed to be subtle. And a change from a blue shuttle to a white one would be a MASSIVE hint. An in game reason for the outside not changing could be that Shepard's mind wouldn't allow a change in an object that he knows for certain what it looks like. This is possibly proven to be possible because as shown in the Geth Fighter Squadrons mission and what Legion explains in that mission, “Your mind perceives our world as something familiar.” So the human mind is known to change things to make sense of them or makes details stay the same so the mind doesn't go insane.

 If the change of vehicles is truly a change purposely in the game by BioWare, it is potentially the only time that it is proven and plain that the Reapers are effecting Shepard’s perceptions and changing what he is seeing. It also is potentially proving that at least a portion or all of WNT is true.

[obZen DF]

TJBartlemus wrote...
Onto Riot86's proof. There are definate similarities between most of the game and London. The most prominent of these were the layout of the bases, and the doors with a husk stuck in them. The layouts were similar because of the relation of the comm center and the fact that the over all mood in both were a sense of calm/ peace. Strange even though you are only a few blocks away from battle right?? The similarities in the living quarters could easily be explained with reused assets, but the husk stuck in the door was odd. Only two time does this occur and in both to the immediate left there is a vent. Only thing different between the beginning and ending husk/door was that the 2nd one's vent was closed and there was a message about a boy on the console next to it. Coincidence?? As well in the room was a bed with a burnt body, which I believe symbolises the fact in your last dream you burnt to death.

Did you find that by yourself? Because that's an incredibly good find. Really interesting !

[TJBartlemus]

 There is also an official group of supporters for the Waking Nightmare Theory. If you like the Theory, feel free to join.

Waking Nightmare Theorists

*coming soon* - WNT official video 

[TJBartlemus]

obZen DF wrote...
Did you find that by yourself? Because that's an incredibly good find. Really interesting !

Well originally the proof was shown to me on the IT thread by a person on BSN named Riot86. I just created the theory that's all. For proof I generally give credit if it was not I who found it. I did give him credit didn't I? 

[Conniving_Eagle]

Could you add a TL;DR version?

[obZen DF]

TJBartlemus wrote...

obZen DF wrote...
Did you find that by yourself? Because that's an incredibly good find. Really interesting !

Well originally the proof was shown to me on the IT thread by a person on BSN named Riot86. I just created the theory that's all. For proof I generally give credit if it was not I who found it. I did give him credit didn't I? 

Haha, yes, his name came by in the OP quite a few times. But I have to say, it's an interesting Theory. I really like how you talk about the Catalyst. When I was reading it, I had some sort of feeling about the Catalyst, that if what you're saying is 'true', that I came to like him. Not his character, but his motives and what he's trying to do. Wow, did I just said that???!!!!

[Eryri]

I like this interpretation. Do you think Shepard is interacting with the real Anderson and TIM on the citadel, or are they illusions too?

[TJBartlemus]

Eryri wrote...

I like this interpretation. Do you think Shepard is interacting with the real Anderson and TIM on the citadel, or are they illusions too?

Glad you like it. Currently I don't have an explaination for that. Maybe in a new entry soon. Possibly along with the entry I will write in regards to what proof the Leviathan DLC gives. 

[TJBartlemus]

Conniving_Eagle wrote...

Could you add a TL;DR version?

Possibly....  If I do, it should be sometime soon.

[TSA_383]

Conniving_Eagle wrote...

Could you add a TL;DR version?

Good god this.

Also I think you're probably right about the end sequence being some kind of overlay on reality.

[TJBartlemus]

Pretty much here is the main idea of WNT:

"....as Shepard gets closer to the beam he starts experiencing some form of indoctrination induced narcolepsy. Definition: "Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the control of sleep and wakefulness. People with narcolepsy experience excessive daytime sleepiness and intermittent, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep during the daytime. These sudden sleep attacks may occur during any type of activity at any time of the day." Shepard starts having what I believe is where he is both awake but getting images from his subconscious and not notice it. The difference between Narcolepsy and what I am describing would be that Shepard wouldn't notice the change and be in a "limbo" between asleep and awake." (Thus name, Waking Nightmare Theory)

"So it is possible that most of what you see is real, but slight details or parts are influenced by the Reapers and are present in your perceptions."

(Both taken from first paragraph....)

[Jadebaby]

Conniving_Eagle wrote...

Could you add a TL;DR version?

[Conniving_Eagle]

TJBartlemus wrote...

Pretty much here is the main idea of WNT:

"....as Shepard gets closer to the beam he starts experiencing some form of indoctrination induced narcolepsy. Definition: "Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the control of sleep and wakefulness. People with narcolepsy experience excessive daytime sleepiness and intermittent, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep during the daytime. These sudden sleep attacks may occur during any type of activity at any time of the day." Shepard starts having what I believe is where he is both awake but getting images from his subconscious and not notice it. The difference between Narcolepsy and what I am describing would be that Shepard wouldn't notice the change and be in a "limbo" between asleep and awake." (Thus name, Waking Nightmare Theory)

"So it is possible that most of what you see is real, but slight details or parts are influenced by the Reapers and are present in your perceptions."

(Both taken from first paragraph....)

Thanks for that, but I'll remain a proponent of The Bad Writing Theory. I find it the most plausible.

[The Heretic of Time]

Please change part 3 from "Part 3: Evidence" into "Part 3: Speculation", because that's what it is. You don't have evidence for this theory, just like the IT cult doesn't have any evidence for their theory. Y'all just grasping at straws folks.

[TJBartlemus]

Heretic_Hanar wrote...

Please change part 3 from "Part 3: Evidence" into "Part 3: Speculation", because that's what it is. You don't have evidence for this theory, just like the IT cult doesn't have any evidence for their theory. Y'all just grasping at straws folks.

That's just how I named it...I feel it is both evidence and worthy of speculations. You can perceive it as you want and have your own opinion about it. I won't tell you that you are 100% wrong, cause everyone is allowed to their opinion. I wouldn't recommend that opinion be that you call WNT or IT cults cause both are clearly not. You also failed to disprove what I have pointed out and just said your opinion. BioWare has clearly stated that parts of the game are up for interpretation. So not everything is to be taken literally.

[jasonh10]

The idea that the beam itself is causing Shepard some mental issues is interesting. One thing that might bolster that, at least form my perspective, is how the conduit reminded me of a hugely amplified version of the exits on the geth consensus mission.

[Bill Casey]

This is still IT...

[TJBartlemus]

jasonh10 wrote...

The idea that the beam itself is causing Shepard some mental issues is interesting. One thing that might bolster that, at least form my perspective, is how the conduit reminded me of a hugely amplified version of the exits on the geth consensus mission.

Yeah, I noticed that too. Frankly, towards the end of the game there are weird coincidences all over the place. And the literalist still believe there is NOTHING wrong at all. Talk about major case of denial...

[paxxton]

Howdy folks!

[paxxton]

Bill Casey wrote...

This is still IT...

Yes, this theory is complimentary to IT.

[masster blaster]

I like the WNT, but I think that Shepard is still on Earth, but everything does happen, but it was real, yet at the same time it did not.

[TJBartlemus]

paxxton wrote...

Bill Casey wrote...

This is still IT...

Yes, this theory is complimentary to IT.

Parts of it, yes. It also could stand on it's own as the explaination of the ending without ITas well.  

[shepdog77]

paxxton wrote...

Bill Casey wrote...

This is still IT...

Yes, this theory is complimentary to IT.

Yo dawg, we put an IT in your IT so you could speculate while you speculate.

IT'ception.

[paxxton]

Shepdog, you again. This thread isn't for you. It's serious stuff.