"His thoughts" not "My thoughts"
And while they provide "reason and direction" there is no emotional connection. No sense of belonging. No attachment. This is an AI who essentially uses Shepard's diary as a guide on what to do. No more Shepard than the Shepard VI
Even better. Emotional connections make one prone to irrationality and conflict necessity with compassion.
Stannis the Mannis approves of the lack of it. As do I.
I try to keep in mind that the catalyst is still searching for a solution to the problem. The crucible has never been attached to the citadel in the past, and no other organic ever got as close to the catalyst as shep did. shep "altered the variables" and so opened up new possibilities for a solution. The catalyst does explain what will happen next, and thanks to the EC its explanation has a little more depth to it, and it's like in those old 'choose your own adventure' books:To destroy the reapers, turn to page 67To control the reapers, turn to page 92To merge with the reapers, turn to page 137To do nothing or to shoot the catalyst, turn to page 1.There's no fifth option to fill in the blanks, so 'because the game said so' is all we've got to go on.
Sorry I probably should have been more clear: I don't mean that we didn't get an explanation as to what will happen if we choose each option, we clearly did. What I'm saying is we never get any sort of explanation as to WHY these options are being presented to us in the first place. Why is the catalyst just entrusting us with this and not making a decision on it's own? Isn't that what it's programmed to do? The fact that it suddenly turns to you and tells you to decide what happens next is kind of the equivalent of saying "**** it, I just can't be bothered with this anymore!" which for a human being maybe would have been understandable but to an AI that was created for this sole purpose? No.
The only explanation as to the why that we're given is that Shepard "altered the variables" but what does this even mean?? It just sounds to me like a complete cop-out. Like the writers are pretty much saying "look, just go with it ok." The catalyst could very well have just not lifted Shepard up on the lift, and either the cycle would continue or the Catalyst would be free to choose it's methods and experiment with other possibilities.
Well... I look at it as, the catalyst came up with its best solution - the reapers - and it has never found another way that works better than that. Limitations of a synthetic mind? Perhaps.Sorry I probably should have been more clear: I don't mean that we didn't get an explanation as to what will happen if we choose each option, we clearly did. What I'm saying is we never get any sort of explanation as to WHY these options are being presented to us in the first place. Why is the catalyst just entrusting us with this and not making a decision on it's own? Isn't that what it's programmed to do? The fact that it suddenly turns to you and tells you to decide what happens next is kind of the equivalent of saying "**** it, I just can't be bothered with this anymore!" which for a human being maybe would have been understandable but to an AI that was created for this sole purpose? No.
The only explanation as to the why that we're given is that Shepard "altered the variables" but what does this even mean?? It just sounds to me like a complete cop-out. Like the writers are pretty much saying "look, just go with it ok." The catalyst could very well have just not lifted Shepard up on the lift, and either the cycle would continue or the Catalyst would be free to choose it's methods and experiment with other possibilities.
Well... I look at it as, the catalyst came up with its best solution - the reapers - and it has never found another way that works better than that. Limitations of a synthetic mind? Perhaps.
I do think that once the crucible connected to the catalyst, the 'new' possibilities were revealed, and it lifted shep up because it couldn't make the choice. It clearly thought synthesis was the best answer, but it didn't try to stop shep from choosing any of the options.
The bold part, that's precisely where I have a problem.
The Catalyst has existed for millions if not billions of years.
It has seen countless cycles.
In terms of your life span, your power and your intelligence, you are basically an insect to them.
This is made so clear in your first encounter with Sovereign.
Here are just some quotes:
"Rudimentary creatures of blood and flesh. You touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding."
"There is a realm of existence so far beyond your own you cannot even imagine it. I am beyond your comprehension. I am Sovereign."
"Organic life is nothing but a genetic mutation, an accident. Your lives are measured in years and decades. You wither and die. We are eternal, the pinnacle of evolution and existence. Before us, you are nothing."
"My kind transcends your very understanding. We are each a nation - independent, free of all weakness. You cannot grasp the nature of our existence."
You kind of get the jist on what these beings think about humanity.
Then all of a sudden, this all powerful, incomprehensible, eternal AI basically throws it's hands up and says "I don't know what to do anymore! You, squishy 30 year old thing, make the decision for me!"
Sovereign was an arrogant SOB though. It was his function to intimidate organics and make them lose hope.The bold part, that's precisely where I have a problem.
The Catalyst has existed for millions if not billions of years.
It has seen countless cycles.
In terms of your life span, your power and your intelligence, you are basically an insect to them.
This is made so clear in your first encounter with Sovereign.
Here are just some quotes:
"Rudimentary creatures of blood and flesh. You touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding."
"There is a realm of existence so far beyond your own you cannot even imagine it. I am beyond your comprehension. I am Sovereign."
"Organic life is nothing but a genetic mutation, an accident. Your lives are measured in years and decades. You wither and die. We are eternal, the pinnacle of evolution and existence. Before us, you are nothing."
"My kind transcends your very understanding. We are each a nation - independent, free of all weakness. You cannot grasp the nature of our existence."
You kind of get the jist on what these beings think about humanity.
Then all of a sudden, this all powerful, incomprehensible, eternal AI basically throws it's hands up and says "I don't know what to do anymore! You, squishy 30 year old thing, make the decision for me!"
Sovereign was an arrogant SOB though. It was his function to intimidate organics and make them lose hope.
The catalyst was capable of choosing, clearly because it encouraged synthesis over anything else. What I mean is it's incapable of enacting the choice.
Harbinger was just as arrogant.
The Catalyst had every reason to be just as arrogant, after all these are supposed to be vastly superior, vastly more powerful, vastly more intelligent beings, at least this is the way they are presented throughout the entire Mass Effect narrative (before ME3.) These are the beings that created the Citadel and the mass effect relays! Two constructs that every organic civilization that ever came afterward never fully understood.
Even if you want to make an argument that the Catalyst wanted snythesis, but it couldn't do it unless Shepard freely chose it, why would it just allow Shepard to also destroy or take control of the Reapers?
According to the Catalyst, it's sole purpose is bringing order to the organics vs synthetics conflict. Also according to the catalyst, if you chose Destroy then eventually all AI would rebel against their creators and all organics will die. So essentially, that means the Catalyst would have failed it's only mission. Why did it not get a Reaper to shoot down Shepard before he chose destroy? Hell, why would it even risk that happening in the first place by bringing Shepard up? As the Catalyst says itself, Synthesis was inevitable anyway, it is going to naturally happen anyway. So why would an AI risk failing it's core programming by giving an organic the opportunity to blow it up, thus making it so that organics will all die out before synthesis can happen naturally?
It makes 0 sense no matter how you try to spin it.
That's one of the reasons I like the ending. All of a sudden pure logic and computation aren't enough to make a judgement. So the Catalyst turns to the player's reasoning and belief system to decide....
Then all of a sudden, this all powerful, incomprehensible, eternal AI basically throws it's hands up and says "I don't know what to do anymore! You, squishy 30 year old thing, make the decision for me!"
That's one of the reasons I like the ending. All of a sudden pure logic and computation aren't enough to make a judgement. So the Catalyst turns to the player's reasoning and belief system to decide.
But... that... makes no sense.
It's the equivalent of a human being not being able to make a decision and turning to an ant to make the decision for it.
That's one of the reasons I like the ending. All of a sudden pure logic and computation aren't enough to make a judgement. So the Catalyst turns to the player's reasoning and belief system to decide.
I believe the phrase was used by the Catalyst was 'I can't make them happen'.
The Catalyst let's you know flat out what it (and BW by general proxy) think is best: Synthesis.
However, it acknowledges that it cannot physically select which solution that can be chosen with the Crucible.
It's telling Shepard to choose because he's the only person who can physically enact a change (or not if you're a stupid person).
It tells you what it thinks is best according to the problem it set out to solve, but likely acknowledges that you might feel differently (something the game doesn't really allow Shepard to elaborate on).
I believe the phrase was used by the Catalyst was 'I can't make them happen'.
The Catalyst let's you know flat out what it (and BW by general proxy) think is best: Synthesis.
However, it acknowledges that it cannot physically select which solution that can be chosen with the Crucible.
It's telling Shepard to choose because he's the only person who can physically enact a change (or not if you're a stupid person).
It tells you what it thinks is best according to the problem it set out to solve, but likely acknowledges that you might feel differently (something the game doesn't really allow Shepard to elaborate on).
The thing is that it also says Synthesis is inevitable.
So just keep the cycle going long enough for Synthesis to happen naturally.
Why would an AI that only deals in science and numbers risk being destroyed and thus failing its prime directive just because it wanted things to happen a little faster?
I can even accept that maybe the Catalyst would have been fine with Control being chosen. EVEN THOUGH Control is basically an unknown, an AI that deals in logic, science and numbers should not be risking something like that either. But we'll let that slide. What's preposterous is the idea that the Catalyst would EVER let you pick Destroy, since that automatically means it will fail it's main objective, the only reason it exists and was created for. The Catalyst tells you as much. Why didn't it just kill you as soon as you started walking down the Destroy platform? It could have just asked a Reaper to zap you right then and there.
EDIT: Not to mention that before you even enter the beam of light, the Catalyst orders the Reapers to kill you so that you won't make it into the Catalyst. Even Marauder Shields tries to ensure this, but fails. And in a matter of about 10 minutes it's had a change of heart, and wants you to come up after all, and wants you to make a decision for it?
The thing is that it also says Synthesis is inevitable.
So just keep the cycle going long enough for Synthesis to happen naturally.
Why would an AI that only deals in science and numbers risk being destroyed and thus failing its prime directive just because it wanted things to happen a little faster?
I can even accept that maybe the Catalyst would have been fine with Control being chosen. EVEN THOUGH Control is basically an unknown, an AI that deals in logic, science and numbers should not be risking something like that either. But we'll let that slide. What's preposterous is the idea that the Catalyst would EVER let you pick Destroy, since that automatically means it will fail it's main objective, the only reason it exists and was created for. The Catalyst tells you as much. Why didn't it just kill you as soon as you started walking down the Destroy platform? It could have just asked a Reaper to zap you right then and there.
EDIT: Not to mention that before you even enter the beam of light, the Catalyst orders the Reapers to kill you so that you won't make it into the Catalyst. Even Marauder Shields tries to ensure this, but fails. And in a matter of about 10 minutes it's had a change of heart, and wants you to come up after all, and wants you to make a decision for it?
Because it consents that doing so wouldn't solve its problem now that it knows that its current solution is sub-optimal. Destroying Shepard would likely mean destroying the possibility of synthesis.
Also, logic, science, and numbers do not necessitate a lack of risks. It has likely accepted that it has done everything in its power to prevent its dilemma from occurring and understands the implication that its problem and solution may not be a relevant concern at the moment.
The Crucible hadn't docked with the Citadel. It still had full instrumentality and faith in its current solution. Add the Crucible. It receives new data and adjusts its parameters accordingly.
Because it consents that doing so wouldn't solve its problem now that it knows that its current solution is sub-optimal. Destroying Shepard would likely mean destroying the possibility of synthesis.
Also, logic, science, and numbers do not necessitate a lack of risks. It has likely accepted that it has done everything in its power to prevent its dilemma from occurring and understands the implication that its problem and solution may not be a relevant concern at the moment.
The Crucible hadn't docked with the Citadel. It still had full instrumentality and faith in its current solution. Add the Crucible. It receives new data and adjusts its parameters accordingly.
Regarding your first paragraph:
Destroying Shepard would give them an opportunity to let the cycle continue, and the possibility that another race would build the Crucible and also make it to the catalyst is also possible, so they would once again have the possibility of someone picking Snythesis. You know what guarantees that they will fail though? Just letting Shepard destroy them. Don't want to destroy Shepard before he's made up his mind? Fine. Only destroy him once he starts walking down the longgg pathway that leads to the Destroy option. Too much for this supremely intelligent AI to handle?
As for the second and third paragraphs:
Let's just consider the logic, science and numbers then.
1. Synthesis is inevitable
2. Organics simply have to exist long enough for synthesis to finally happen
3. Organics will not live long enough if the Catalyst is destroyed
It's not a matter of risk anymore. it's a matter of certainty. If Shepard chooses Destroy, synthetics will eventually kill all organics. The catalyst clearly believes this. So there is no reason whatsoever that it should have allowed Shepard to continue with the Destroy option. On the other hand, the catalyst is also certain that synthesis is inevitable, as long as all organics are not wiped out before then. So just continue the cycle and make sure all organics are not wiped out before then. You don't need to do math to see that that is clearly the most efficient and logical thing to do.
The thing is that it also says Synthesis is inevitable.
So just keep the cycle going long enough for Synthesis to happen naturally.
Why would an AI that only deals in science and numbers risk being destroyed and thus failing its prime directive just because it wanted things to happen a little faster?
I can even accept that maybe the Catalyst would have been fine with Control being chosen. EVEN THOUGH Control is basically an unknown, an AI that deals in logic, science and numbers should not be risking something like that either. But we'll let that slide. What's preposterous is the idea that the Catalyst would EVER let you pick Destroy, since that automatically means it will fail it's main objective, the only reason it exists and was created for. The Catalyst tells you as much. Why didn't it just kill you as soon as you started walking down the Destroy platform? It could have just asked a Reaper to zap you right then and there.
EDIT: Not to mention that before you even enter the beam of light, the Catalyst orders the Reapers to kill you so that you won't make it into the Catalyst. Even Marauder Shields tries to ensure this, but fails. And in a matter of about 10 minutes it's had a change of heart, and wants you to come up after all, and wants you to make a decision for it?
I think the catalyst says that synthetics destroying organics is inevitable. It says synthesis is the pinnacle of evolution, and that's why it encourages shep to choose it. Synthesis can't happen naturally because synthetics wipe out organics before they ever reach that point of evolution.
And I don't think the catyalyst has a change of heart so much as the crucible connecting to the citadel opens up new possibilities. Before the crucible docks which it can't do until shep enters the citadel and opens the arms -- why not kill harvest all the organics? That is the reapers' purpose, after all.
See... corporally, the starkid can no more interact with the physical world than Avina could. But compared to us intellectually, it's like a human to an ant... in theory. I'm sure many would disagree 
... Besides which, to effect synthesis, organic 'essence' is needed, and since shep is right there anyway, she makes a convenient guinea pig.
You kind of get the jist on what these beings think about humanity.
Then all of a sudden, this all powerful, incomprehensible, eternal AI basically throws it's hands up and says "I don't know what to do anymore! You, squishy 30 year old thing, make the decision for me!"
The Crucible went into the Catalyst.ini file and turned down the aggression from Over 9000 to 0. 
In the lower EMS where Synthesis isn't available the Catalyst still explains the solutions and doesn't stop Shepard. I think that you are correct that it cannot enact the solutions itself, but still the Catalyst didn't have to help at all. It could have just let Shepard wander around the room until the Reapers destroyed the Crucible.I believe the phrase was used by the Catalyst was 'I can't make them happen'.
The Catalyst let's you know flat out what it (and BW by general proxy) think is best: Synthesis.
However, it acknowledges that it cannot physically select which solution that can be chosen with the Crucible.
It's telling Shepard to choose because he's the only person who can physically enact a change (or not if you're a stupid person).
It tells you what it thinks is best according to the problem it set out to solve, but likely acknowledges that you might feel differently (something the game doesn't really allow Shepard to elaborate on).
Well, the reason why people aren't comfortable with synthesis (other than not understanding what synthesis even implies) is that you are imposing your will (of a barely alive person who just went through hell and now being sweet talked by a machine who created this hell, thus not a person you'd call unbiased) on the entire galaxy. The fact that Catalyst even expects Shepard to make a decision in the light of all that has happened is completely surreal. To me, it feels like it wants to perform an action similar to mass indoctrination (I mean husks and reapers are synthesis, right? Bio-synthetic units) on every organic in the galaxy without their consent.
Yes, EDI and Geth are regrettable. But absolutely not hypocritical. The goal of the final mission to which all organic and synthetics agreed on was the destruction of the Reapers. All knew that it was a long shot and that some/all will die. I honestly don't see how one can say 'nah, Reapers are cool, I wont touch them, instead I'll make you all part machine whether you want it or not!'. It is the matter of choice. Everyone made a choice of going to suicidal mass attack against Reapers. No one made a choice of being made part-synthetic.
Finally, with Shepard alive in Destroy, you can and will communicate the final words of the Catalyst to the organics. Even if citadel and crucible cannot be rebuilt for another blast (which is possible), at least the warning will be given. Organics will have a CHOICE of getting destroyed.
Yes, EDI and Geth are regrettable. But absolutely not hypocritical. The goal of the final mission to which all organic and synthetics agreed on was the destruction of the Reapers. All knew that it was a long shot and that some/all will die.
What I find interesting: EDI expressed fear of being rewritten. Never fear of being destroyed. And yet, in Synthesis ending, she speaks of Reapers with this dreamy voice, almost in awe. She says we might reach the level of existence she can't even imagine.
I find it weird that Control is often considered a Paragon option (I personally think you can't view the choices through that lens, like at all) when the Paragon options about Control are often about how no one can control or is ready to control the power of the Reapers.
Control is renegade IMO, even though there is different dialogue depending on whether Shepard leaned more heavily renegade or paragon overall. Besides TIM (a renegade) being the avatar for that choice, on a low EMS playthrough the only option available to those who kept the Collector base (a renegade decision) is Control. In contrast Anderson (a paragon) is the avatar for Destroy, and the only option available to a low EMS Shepard who destroyed the Collector base (a paragon decision) is Destroy.
Control is entirely consistent with Paragon (I class it as neutral depending on exactly what Shep does with it). It's Paragon Shepard who will bend over backwards to prevent casualties. Rewriting the heretics is a Paragon decision. So is withholding the truth at Tali's trial. Paragon Shepard has no problem interfering with agency as long as lives are saved. Destroy is consistent with Renegade: definite victory and high casualties. It's Renegade in the tradition of BDTS and destroying the heretics.
I'd say Renegade Control - Synthesis - Destroy - Paragon Control would be my choice on the sliding scale from Renegade to Paragon (as presented by the game). Control is THE choice for Renegade Shepard. A very clean cut 'my way or the highway' choice, which I think is very well done. Control for Paragon is not as clear cut however. On one hand allows you to do all the things Paragon Shepard would do (ie save the galaxy through personal sacrifice, rebuild using Reapers, be the galaxy's guardian waiting to clean messes using Reapers, or simply destroy them/leave after clean up is done), and yet it's also the choice I would consider to be out of character for Paragon Shepard. Throughout the entirety of the series Paragon chooses to destroy instead of control (Collectors base, confrontation with TIM) claiming we shouldn't try controlling something that's beyond our understanding (and evil!). So yes, I am on the fence with regards to Paragon Control.
I've been following the last pages with the discussion that Shepard was needed by the Catalyst to make a decision. And while I was initially rejecting this flat out I've come to accept that this very well might be the case after I thought about it like the ending of Terminator 2. Remember that? The battle is won and Sarah and John Conner are alive, the T1000 is ' dead' and their saviour Arnold T800 is still 'alive'. With the mission parameters fulfilled the T800 instructs them to have him lowered into the steel as he can not self terminate.
One could argue that after the crucible managed to dock at the citadel the program of the catalyst got a new set of instructions where it is to give an organic the choice of how to proceed. What bothers me about this is what's been mentioned before that we've got our faces rubbed in the fact, repeatedly so even, that we are beneath them so it's a bit hard to imagine that their core programming allows for an organic to decide the fate or not just all organics, but also the Reapers themselves.
What also bothers me about this that it makes no sense for TIM to be involved in the citadel. As I see it the Catalyst had instructions that as soon as one organic made it into the citadel then that organic would not be attacked anymore. After all he is there is to meet the catalyst and make a choice. Otherwise the Catalyst could have the entrance of the citadel packed with husks, banshees and what more.
This begs the question what TIM is doing on the citadel? To be honest his entire role here is a bit weird. First of all an entire army of the alliance stormed that beam to get to the citadel, but only 2 men, both wounded, make it. And then there is TIM without a scratch on him. While this is possible as he is indoctrinated and would not be attacked by reaper forces, the catalyst basically must have TIM instructed to come to the citadel. But why? TIM serves no purpose. He is indoctrinated and as such can't actually make a decision from his free will so as far as the catalyst and the choice is concerned he has no business on the citadel.
And while you could argue that TIM basically had it right, depending on your preferred ending of course, there was still no point for him to be there. Everything the catalyst would have wanted to know from TIM he could, and basically already had, lifted straight from TIMs brain.
And if an organic is supposed to meet with the catalyst why does TIM try to kill Anderson and Shepard, or rather is allowed to try and kill them as he should be indoctrinated. Still from the talk between Shepard and TIM it's clear that TIM is not fully indoctrinated, but if he is not fully indoctrinated how the hell did he make it to the citadel? For sake of the story I can fore go some discrepancies, but this is a tad much.
Oh, I rewatched a bit of the ending and for the people in favor of a control ending (although the post by Isac23 one page back is an awesome argument against that in itself) and this is what Shepard himself says "You're playing with things you don't understand. With power you shouldn't be able to use.". And while I myself said that the Catalyst doesn't have a reason to lie to Shepard when he presents the choices it seems a bit odd that Shepard would go for an option he was so against when TIM wanted to go for it. I suppose you can argue that Sheplyst would be able to understand things, the thing is that the human Shepard wouldn't want to able to use that kind of power.
As for Synthesis, I hate the glowing eyes and the weird green veins that accompany it but aside from that I've never really understood why so many people have an issue with it. At the time it seemed like the least worse of the 3 options.
Ask the cannibals, husks, banshees and scions what they think of it. Oh and everyone whose DNA you have forcibly rewritten.
This begs the question what TIM is doing on the citadel? To be honest his entire role here is a bit weird. First of all an entire army of the alliance stormed that beam to get to the citadel, but only 2 men, both wounded, make it. And then there is TIM without a scratch on him. While this is possible as he is indoctrinated and would not be attacked by reaper forces, the catalyst basically must have TIM instructed to come to the citadel. But why? TIM serves no purpose. He is indoctrinated and as such can't actually make a decision from his free will so as far as the catalyst and the choice is concerned he has no business on the citadel.
TIM is the ultimate Shepard's ennemy. This is his last battle.
This begs the question what TIM is doing on the citadel? To be honest his entire role here is a bit weird. First of all an entire army of the alliance stormed that beam to get to the citadel, but only 2 men, both wounded, make it. And then there is TIM without a scratch on him. While this is possible as he is indoctrinated and would not be attacked by reaper forces, the catalyst basically must have TIM instructed to come to the citadel. But why? TIM serves no purpose. He is indoctrinated and as such can't actually make a decision from his free will so as far as the catalyst and the choice is concerned he has no business on the citadel.
Anderson was never wounded until he was shot in the stomach on the Citadel. Anderson serves no purpose being on the Citadel. Shepard didn't need him.
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