Il Divo wrote...
As someone who romanced Ashley during my playthroughs, I can imagine that she must have been going through several complex emotions at the time. To start, she thought you were dead for two years. So next thing you know, she's hearing rumors that you're alive (spread by the Illusive Man) and working with a known terrorist organization which she opposes. The first time she sees you in two years is a result of the Collector attack and she is forced to consider that you have not attempted to make any contact with her at all in that time.
I could picture her having any number of emotions at the time: anger, despair, regret, etc. Bioware chose to focus on 'anger/betrayal' in her case. It's not the best answer, but neither the worst. Ashley doesn't seem the type to fall apart completely anyway, imo.
Though to an extent I agree with hypothetical contextualizing in order to rationalize the reactions of one's LI, however the failure of that dynamic lies in one of the central tenets of all successful relationships - empathy. Prior to the meeting all my Shephard could think of was Kaiden, almost pining for him, thinking that at least her stalwart companion, her best friend and her lover would be there for her, one of the very few people she had ever let her guard down against -- a bright ray of hope in the midst of this permeating darkness in her life. My Shephard would not have cared had he moved on and was seeing other people, she's intelligent enough to realize that her "death" and the intervening years will have changed the context of his life; however though physical situations might change, intimate emotional bonds are not severed quite so easily, especially in just 2 years.
In this regard Kaiden's reaction was throughly shallow and selfish, his lack of regard for what she had been through and how she had survived, his vituperation and denouncement of her as a lackey of Cerberus without even a thought for how this could possibly have come to pass, knowing full well the tribulations (sole survivor) Shephard had faced at the hands of Cerberus and how she had so passionately campaigned to bring them down for their heinous actions; knowing also the love, regard and respect she had for her crew and the numerous sacrifices she had made for them, for the galaxy at the cost of her own life. Could not Kaiden, her lieutenant (let alone her friend and lover) even attempt to rationalize things from her perspective being so intimately aware of the core beliefs, principles and passions that drive Shephard? Was the touted relationship that hollow and Shephard's love and regard for Kaiden "that" nonreciprocating?
And the email did not seem so much as a clumsy attempt to make amends but more an overture of a guilty conscience. She's embarking on a "suicide" mission to battle the collectors - he knows this - would that really warrant such a casual response, taking for granted her chances of survival and the opportunity of a "segued" relationship.
All this and the multitude of other interactions that occur through out the game made me feel so detached from my character and I can't help thinking (from a role-play) perspective that it all felt surreal to Shephard too. And let's face it, the root of this "detachment" and "disillusionment" lies in the forced narrative that compels Shephard to act as she does in ME2. It just reeks of bad writing without having paid heed to the character development and narrative of the first game. From the story itself to the actions and re-actions of your comrades and NPCs from the original game, it almost seems that none of your pivotal actions had any "meaningful" impact and your role as a friend, lover, hero and savior of the galaxy was merely superficial.
Modifié par Fhaileas, 18 août 2010 - 12:18 .
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