The starchild suggests that this is a new possibility that has simply never been available until now, but it WILL solve the values alignment problem.ġ. The game begs you to choose the Synthesis option, both through the starchild’s exhortations and the fact that no one but you has to die to achieve it (EDI and the Geth can live). Then, with sufficient Galactic Readiness, you get the Synthesis option. you can send the order to Destroy them and the Citadel and the Mass Relays, which makes sense because they are all part of the same network (although he claims this would destroy all advanced technology, too). You have passed the test, and now you can control the Reapers instead of him, or 2. So when you get to the starchild, he presents two options: 1. It even made sense to view the Citadel as controlling the Reapers in retrospect.

When we find out the Catalyst is the Citadel, it makes sense because we already know that Citadel and the Reapers are intimately connected. Throughout the game we are learning about the Crucible and that it’s a massive source of energy that can, with the Catalyst, be precision-directed against the Reapers. You may ask, “Aren’t they all pretty fantastical?” Yes, but Control and Destroy are consistent with the space magic that we’ve been learning about up until the game’s climax. But the Synthesis ending makes no sense on any level. I think this is all happening in Shepard’s head anyway (“Indoctrination Theory”).

I am not bothered (at least not as much as the rest of the fans) by the superficial resemblance between all the different endings.

Mass effect indoctrination theory 2019