Mass Effect 3's Mind Blowing HIDDEN ENDING - Indoctrination Theory Revisited in Legendary Edition
10,703In today’s video, we’re going to do a deep dive on Indoctrination Theory in Mass Effect 3. We’ll be taking a look at the evidence, as well as some new details uncovered in Mass Effect Legendary Edition, as well as the trailer for Mass Effect 4.
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0:00 Introduction
1:25 Indoctrination Theory Explained
4:02 Shepard's Position Changes After the Blast
4:39 Shepard's Armor Changes
5:34 Why Does Harbinger Leave the Battlefield?
7:23 Finding the Bodies of Ashley and Kaidan?!
10:12 Shepard Has Unlimited Ammo
11:04 Anderson Inconsistences on the Citadel
13:03 This is a Different Citadel Command Center
14:00 How is The Illusive Man Suddenly So Powerful?
15:26 What Does Indoctrination Sound Like?
16:36 Clues from Shepard's Dreams
21:20 Shepard's Wounds are Inconsistent
22:47 The Catalyst is Harbinger
24:48 Shepard ONLY Survives in the Destroy Ending
27:53 If It's All a Dream... Then What Actually Happened?
29:16 Conclusion
MASS EFFECT 3 - HOW TO UNLOCK THE LAST SPEECH OPTIONS WITH THE ILLUSIVE MAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93J_KzlAVx0
MASS EFFECT 3 - WHAT HAPPENED TO EVERYONE ON THE CITADEL?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzv-e7kYu90
WHAT IF SHEPARD DOESN'T INVITE ANYONE TO CITADEL DLC PARTY?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Rot8yRtwlE
WHAT IS INDOCTRINATION THEORY?
Indoctrination theory states that the ending sequence we see in the final 20 minutes or so of Mass Effect 3 is only happening in Shepard’s head. The turning point is when Shepard is hit with Harbinger’s beam and goes unconscious. Everything after that is a dream, with the Reapers attempting to indoctrinate Shepard. The choices you make during this dream can either see Shepard succumbing to indoctrination or overcoming it.
The conversation with Anderson and The Illusive Man represents two states of mind for Shepard. On one hand we have the Illusive Man, representing indoctrination and the Reapers’ will. While Anderson represents resistance to the Reapers and freedom.
Meanwhile, the catalyst or starchild is actually an embodiment of Harbinger, trying to trick Shepard and indoctrinate him. He speaks positively of the control and synthesis solutions - which would both benefit the Reapers - and discourages destroy by arguing technology organics rely on would be wiped out by the Crucible, which may even be an outright lie. We cannot trust the catalyst as it speaks for the Reapers and has its own goals apart from Shepard.
If you buy into the Reapers BS by choosing synthesis or control, then Shepard is fully indoctrinated. But if you choose the destroy ending, then Shepard’s mind remains his own.
REFERENCES
CleverNoob Indoctrination Theory Documentaries
PART 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSE0osxQvA8
PART 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_emXh4PKE5U
Chris Davis - Mass Effect 3 Critique / Defense of the Ending
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfCBsSF-x9c&t=4800s
Game Theory - Proving Mass Effect's Indoctrination Theory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy7hablpAhg
Bioware Writer Denies Indoctrination Theory
https://www.thegamer.com/mass-effect-ending-indoctrination-theory-shepard-canon/
Mass Effect 4 Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg-Ctg6k_Ao
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