Help me understand Mass Effect's endings?

[WhyBotherToTry]

So I just finished ME3 and there's a few things about the endings I don't understand. What does the Synthesis ending mean exactly? For the Control ending, what happened to the Reapers? Was that explained?
Why did all of the endings result in the destruction of the Mass Relays?
And what was the deal with Joker and EDI crash landing on that other planet?
If anyone understands the endings could you please tell me what they mean? Thanks.

 

[Eddie the head]

Get the extended cut DLC. It's free. That will explain most of it.

 

[Erttheking]

artistic integrity and space magic, that's as good of an explanation that you'll ever get.

 

[Comic Sans]

The extended ending explains most of it. But as for your questions.

1. Synthesis somehow creates a new kind of DNA, causing all like to become partly synthetic, and synthetic life like EDI to somehow become alive. Still doesn't make much sense. Space magic. No more organic vs synthetic life means the Reaper mission is done and they don't fight us and everything is happy happy joy joy.

2. The Reapers become controlled by Shepard's consciousness. They help rebuild the relays then stay and police the galaxy.

3. They retconned them blowing up. The energy just causes the center to break. They get fixed.

4. They changed that too. The engines didn't blow up, and they fly off again later.

 

[Zhukov]

What does the Synthesis ending mean exactly

Space magic combines synthetic life with organic DNA. What does this mean in practical terms? Nobody knows. In the extended cut the characters all seem rather happy about it though.

For the Control ending, what happened to the Reapers? Was that explained?

They become controlled by a new entity created by the Crucible/Catalyst and based on Shepard. In the extended cut they are seen helping with the rebuilding.

Why did all of the endings result in the destruction of the Mass Relays?

Because space magic does that to mass relays... apparently. In the extended cut they are only damaged rather than destroyed, and later repaired.

And what was the deal with Joker and EDI crash landing on that other planet?

Because space magic makes ships crash... apparently. In the extended cut they manage to get the ship airbourne again.

Hope that helps.

 

[WhyBotherToTry]

What does the Synthesis ending mean exactly

Space magic combines synthetic life with organic DNA. What does this mean in practical terms? Nobody knows. In the extended cut the characters all seem rather happy about it though.

For the Control ending, what happened to the Reapers? Was that explained?

They become controlled by a new entity created by the Crucible/Catalyst and based on Shepard. In the extended cut they are seen helping with the rebuilding.

Why did all of the endings result in the destruction of the Mass Relays?

Because space magic does that to mass relays... apparently. In the extended cut they are only damaged rather than destroyed, and later repaired.

And what was the deal with Joker and EDI crash landing on that other planet?

Because space magic makes ships crash... apparently. In the extended cut they manage to get the ship airbourne again.

Hope that helps.

Thanks, that was very comprehensive. But one more question, Why would they want to combine organics and synthetics in the first place?

 

[Zhukov]

[snip]

Thanks, that was very comprehensive. But one more question, Why would they want to combine organics and synthetics in the first place?

Depends who you mean by "they".

I guess the logic is that if organics and synthetics are the same thing then synthetics won't need to kill organics any more.

Bear in mind that you're looking for sense in something that has precious little to spare. I honestly wouldn't bother thinking too hard about it.

 

[mad825]

Thanks, that was very comprehensive. But one more question, Why would they want to combine organics and synthetics in the first place?

To satisfy the little imp in the Starchild's head. You know.

There isn't really a just reason.