Capitano Segnaposto said:
RJ 17 said:
Capitano Segnaposto said:
Exactly! And with the amazing Indoctrination theory (Which I still believe, regardless. Hell, it makes more sense than anything else!) I am eagerly playing through all the games again with that theory in mind.
I do agree that the Indoctrination Theory does wrap up a lot of holes left open by the Literal Interpretation, however there's still too many holes in the IT for me to accept it as valid. Though I do think the parallels between Saren and The Illusive Man are too solid to ignore, the only real difference between them is that Saren wanted to appease the Reapers while TIM wanted to control them. However, both became absolutely obsessed with Indoctrination towards the end of their lives, both thought their actions were for the greater good, and both can be talked into blowing their own heads off.
Quick question, what are the plot-holes to the indoctrination theory anyhow? I keep hearing about them but no one goes into specifics >.<
The plot-holes with IT are as follows:
<spoiler=Problems with IT>1: Perhaps the biggest one is that the IT implies that the series/Shepard's story doesn't end with the end of the Reapers. If the IT is true, then that means that 2 out of the 3 possible endings lead to Shepard losing and the Reapers winning. This itself is flawed because if Shepard loses and the Reapers win, why is the Star Gazer scene (which implies that Shepard was indeed the Galactic Jesus who killed for your sins and saved the galaxy forever and always) still playing even if you pick one of the endings that leads to Shepard becoming Indoctrinated and thus losing the war?
2: It has been argued that everything Shepard sees after making his choice are just hallucinations and images of victory that the Reapers show Shepard in order to placate him. Weeeelllllll if he picked the right choice and broke free from Indoctrination...why bother showing him such images when he's moments away from regaining consciousness and seeing "Oh shit...everything I just saw was a dream...we're still getting out asses kicked!"?
3: As I mentioned, the IT implies that the war isn't over. Even if Shepard does pick right and breaks free...since everything that happened after Shepard gets blasted apparently happens in his head, doesn't that mean that none of the endings actually happen? The Reapers are still out there reaping and killing the crap outta everyone. Shepard has been mortally wounded and is currently laying in a pile of rubble, the entire galactic fleet was betting on a gamble with the Crucible, they could hold the Reapers off while the Crucible was being put into place, but everyone knew that in a straight-up battle even the entire galactic fleet would crumble before the Reaper fleet. If the IT is true, the Crucible was never fired, the battle to gain access to the Citadel was never won, and the Reapers essentially do what they do best.
In short, as choppy and full of holes as it is, the Literal Interpretation is the only interpretation that actually allows for an end to Shepard's story and the war with the Reapers.