I love that in your theories, speculations & discussions, that you take into account other peoples ending choices (as someone that didn't pick destroy), already done/repeated narrative beats (clone in ME3) & lore... Most people seem to ignore these things to fit their wants instead of what the game/story reasonably & believable needs... I agree with you that I only want Shepard back if done right & respecting choices. Which despite what people say, can be done with creative writing & world details.
it’s very important that people remember that destroy isn’t everyone’s choice and that just because it is the most popular it doesn’t make it automatically canon, I try to be unbiased as possible so I’m not excluding anyone!
@@kalaelizabeth This is why you've quickly become a favourite Mass Effect/Bioware content creator! Everything is well researched, covers a diverse & wide aspect of things in relation to the lore, world building, players, game creation, dev teams, etc, from an unbiased point of view, whilst also giving your own fair opinions...You've also built a community that is mostly very welcoming, nice & respectful to each other... Keep up the good work! :)
It makes more sense to me that Liara would have collected a comatose Shepard from the ruins on earth and put her into cryo stasis to heal and preserve her until a time when she was needed again.
I personally think it's gonna be tough for them to continue the mass effect storyline without making the destroy ending cannon. But if they do somehow bring shepherd back I think the best role for them in the new game would be as a character you meet maybe far older than they were in the trilogy and not as a character you play maybe like a mentor/role model. This gives you a way to reminisce and hear about choices you made in the trilogy without putting a whole bunch of pressure on the writers to make the new games all about Shepherd.
One of the things that needs to be understood what the Citadel DLC, it's not just a "fun, lighthearted" storyline. When following its narrative and the gathering of your companions past and present, what's it all about? It was about them in relation to your Shepard before going into the battle to end all battles with the Reapers. It wasn't just a fun romp of hijinks and heartfelt moments with your crew. It was a send off, it was saying, goodbye.
Thank you for your video and for your opinion! I'm very glad to hear that there are people who want Shepard back. Too many now say "let him die". I really want to play as my Shepard again
If I were writing fanfic, I'd have a Racni Queen offspring find Shep in the Keeper protein vats in the bowels of Citadel ruins. There it rescues him/her and nurses them back to health like what happened to the injured Asari pilot in ME2. I would be happy if the start of ME5 was initially 4 years after the war and Shep took over Admiral Hackett's role for a new protagonist to interface with.
I know the citadel dlc and the clone was kinda a joke, but it brought up great questions about what makes shepherd, shepherd. Kinda wish you could have saved the clone and got emails about them becoming their own person. I wouldn't even minded the clone showing up as a secret kind of ending. Something like "I was made to replace you if you failed. Let me take your place, let me be Shepherd, just this once." Then the clone makes your rgb decision. Sacrificing themselves so shepherd can enjoy the peace they fought for.
As much I want Shepherd to return , I don’t think it would be feasible half of your squad mates would have passed away / if you didn’t get their loyalty during ME2 a lot of unknown variables. However they could do Dark horse comic like at the beginning of ME2 to make all the important decisions for ME5. Who knows if BioWare wants to or not. If Ryder does return some of the team could stop being in the game like Drack retired to be grandfather to Kesh & Vorn offsprings etc
I think you have to take into account that 45% of the players got the last breath Shepard ending. I say this because I didn’t get that until my 3rd play thru. The first 2 times I didn’t choose that ending because I wasn’t invested in Shepard so to speak but my 3rd and 4th play thru was all about Shepard. So I think the 55% of the player base that didn’t choose shep survive ending were 1 time play thru players or a percentage like me that didn’t know what ending to choose. I hope this makes sense
Shepard’s story is complete. Whether he/she lives or dies based off your choices (for me destroy w/breath), their story is over. I wouldn’t want to play as somebody else’s clone. Like you said the Citadel dlc showed that clone Shep is just a body. He/she is not out Shepard. Unfortunately I think BioWare might feel pressured to bring Shep back with a half-assed storyline (like cloning) because they think that will make the game successful. Personally I want Ryder and his/her story to continue.
Liara could have imprinted his consciousness during their last psychic joining at the London field HQ. Though that would borrow a concept from Star Trek.
Also, Javik's people stored vast knowledge via touch. Like in The Beacon, and he sensed crew from ME2 in the material of the ship. Could he and Liars worked out a way to store a copy of Shepard's mind. (ala Spock ST:2 and ST:3).
Cloning Shepard would be a rip off, because it wouldn't truly be him. That means Shepard never got the happy ending he so deserves. It would just be some identical lookalike that's enjoying all the spoils and his woman after everything he sacrificed. OG Shep or no deal.
They bring back the clone Shepard...lets Bioware bring back all the companions so they can slowly bring back ' the Commander Shepard " through dialogue , side missions , cut scenes , etc and you rebuild Shepard while filling in the needed info for the clone. Get Shepard back and all the original crew....work it in around the the over arching story...
I don't want Shep back. They seemed so exhausted at the end, let them rest. I chose synthesis and I don't want that ending overwritten. Just give us Andromeda 2 and let us finish Ryder's story, I say.
Ever since I first finished ME3, and having done all 4 possible endings (though always with very high assets), I've been aware of 2 ways Shepard could return and it not be a "fake". 1) Destroy, with high assets, just needs some healing. 2) Control, clone and use the mental imprint of the real Shepard, would not be too unlike EDI in Dr Eva's body (added this: As long as Shepard did not reject "mind melding" with Liara (multiple opportunities), nor refuse to help Legion in the server that was attacking the Quarian Live-ships, supplemental 'data' taken directly from Real-Shepard's consciousness could be used to help a new clone to fully connect with Real-Shep's life). Synthesis does not lend itself to a reasonable return, nor does the Rejection. (I shot The Catalyst first chance I got)
Shep's clone had the personality they did cause of Brooks. She was the one that found the clone when she was associated with Cerberus. She also was the one to program the implants to give the clone it's personality. That being said, I find it highly improbable that someone will clone Shep again (what happened to the one from the DLC?) If the clone did return, that's probably the one that would be used. I tend to agree that Shep will not return in any significant manner.
I don't want Shepard again. "Shepard's story has ended" and I stand by that quote. If I wanted to play as Shepard again, I will play through the trilogy again, for the 12th time. Because that was Shepard's story, fighting the Reapers, a galaxy level threat. Even if Bioware continues the story from the Destruction Ending, what does Shepard have to fight now, something for a welfare check? If Shepard stopped a super-unsurvivable extinction event, with lasers, explosions, and clever one linears, wouldn't whatever they fight post Reapers seem mundane to both them and the player? Why would I want my Shpard to continue fighting instead of letting them go, either a respectable death or a well-deserved retirement? Shepard may be a great soldier of valor and nobility or a ruthless die-hard badass, but they're still human. And even they were tired of the fight, once the biggest war, not just of their career, of their life is over, it's done, they don't go and take a nap and say "I expect a cup of coffee and a loaded rifle when I wake up," they'll relax somewhere nice and tropical, and live off the royalties from the vids. Because that's what Shepard deserves. Or at the very least, my Shepards deserve. You all can say that Mass Effect 3's ending was the worst and pray that your Shepard canonicaly survived. As for me I thoroughly enjoyed my shared journey with all the Shepards I made. And though the end wasn't great, it was my last choices for my Shepards and to me that's satisfying enough.
People keep forgetting the walk away ending (the war continues). I still can’t get past Shep taking a direct hit from a reaper, especially the first one. He’s fresh out of jail then went to fight an entire day with no signs of injuries, lol
1. Body - Cloning. 2. Mind - Project Lazarus (They had to have mapped the layout of his neurons to do all the memory recovery stuff they mention). 3. Soul/nature - It was codified and broadcast to all sentient things in the galaxy by the Crucible, so possibly every, but likely many things will have his nature imprinted into their very being.
I just wanted to say you have a really soothing voice meaning it catches people's attention. I also chose to destroy ending and romanced Liara, with my Femshep, but also classified her as a war hero having parents and her mother got stationed to help build the crucible so will they also bring her mom back? I hope so incase Femshep and Liara getting married it would be fitting to have her mom at the wedding. Those are really great theories but here's another one I have Maranda survives so I'm sure when they find shep Liara and her would most likely mend shep's body like do some medical mending and healing. Maranda has the knowledge and she's with the Alliance sorta. I still think everyone is coming back since it will be after four years in passing but that's just me.
Love the content. It’s also important to note that BioWare needs to play it relatively safe with the next Mass Effect. The legendary edition just proved that Shepard and the Normandy crew IS mass effect. If the next game flops, Mass Effect will be shut down because from EAs perspective, the last good performing games in the franchise are over 10 years old. In other words, they know for a fact Shepard will sell, but they can’t guarantee anyone else will. It’s a huge gamble for them to not go with Shepard, but either way the games toast without a good story
There is another way to bring Shepard. would need to come back. The Leviathan. The still think they are the apex race but were defeated by their "Reapers" and that kept them in check didn't want Shepard to leave. Then said they would only fight to regain their place. So yes Shepard now in charge of the Reapers could create a body for herself to help save the universe
Like I commented on in the shepard child video. This could be worked as a backstory. Like the Sole survivor/ War hero/Ruthless to help shape Shepard return for new players as well as honoring old. Liara would be the lead choice in trying to bring Shepard back. As the shadow broker Shepard back. Even if she was not shepard love interest. Remember, in mass effect 2, she supports Shepard choice of love interest after the tour of Normandy 2. So, how might these play out. 1. Synthesis. It could be the laziest to explain. Shepard DNA was spread to everyone so everyone in effect would have access to DNA in theory. Of course, you could end up with a Shepard clone war that way as well. (It could also be a way to explain a Shepard daughter or child to the game. But again, the mother would still need to be female or Asari to give birth) 2. Control. With Shepard already with the Reapers, she could contact Liara to help find the DNA to build a body for Shepard to transfer into, thus, bring back the Shepard before she died so old players can keep "their Shepard" plus Shepard would have knowledge on how to rebuild the Geth as well. sence the Quarians would most likely have no interest in sharing that knowledge. This might be the most probable way to bring back Shepard from the end of Mass effect 3. 3. Destroy. This would be the hardest one to come up with the DNA for clone. Which is why you see Liara "searching" in the trailers so far. But who would have the resources after the Reaper war to build not just a Shepard but a the mass relays? Liara is clearly the front runner based on the teasers, but they are called teasers for a reason. So let's think about who could have the money, knowledge, and connections to clone Shepard 1. Liara (obviously) as the shadow broker she is set up to be possibly the most powerful person in mass effect. If she was Shepard love interest in prior, she would also want Shepard back no matter how much time had passed. 2. Aria T'loak. If there is one person capable of stepping up to Liara to be the most powerful person in the galaxy post Reaper War, it's Aria. Plus, she would have the ability and interest in taking control of Cerberus as fast as possible. Remember, it was Cerberus who to Omega what better revenge for Aira than taking control of them and would also explain what Aira was doing during the Reaper battle. Plus, during Mass effect 3, there were many hints about how Aira really felt when it came to Shepard. If it was a race for control, what better way for Aira to show Liara "the one rule on Omega" 3. The Alliance, if their was a threat to the galaxy post Reaper War, yes, I could see them bringing back Shepard. But I saved them for third because I think their first reaction would be soldiers die so honestly, it would probably have to be a direct threat to humanity as opposed to the galaxy for the Alliance to clone Shepard
The teaser trailer is a bit misleading. I don't know if they are trying to search for shepherd or if shepherd is already there and they are part way through the mission. I mean, if the full party is just looking for shepherd it's hard to start the game as him. Unless the scene playing out is part way through the game and shepherd is out of sight somewhere.
Shep went out with his boots on. Let the man rest, has he not done enough for y’all! Maybe I’m just a weirdo. But my guy said he was tired, said he was done with the responsibility. But people keep insisting that he comes back from the dead to do what they want. For people who say they love Shep, y’all aren’t very nice to him. That’s like the people that pray to God on Sundays. Y’all expect him to work on his day off? Not nice. I digress. Great video, great content! I value your opinion even though I disagree with it!
Clonin could be advanced in this timeline, however what would make it better is if tha clone was from his seed not just his DNA, & it’s birthed… in Liara…. From Ashley’s kid wit Shep
Idea I thought of is the body of Clone Shepard from Citadel DLC returning but with Reaper implants and the diminished mind of Harbinger. Could be reason for Liara’s search, only a Shepard can beat a Shepard (the Harbinger Shepard who wants to make the green ending canon…but under his reign!)
The fact is that there is no point in bringing the shaperd back, his story is over, he fulfilled his mission, saved humanity, his arc was very well closed, why spoil everything by bringing him back? Good stories come to an end, and our desire for more and more is what gets in the way.
The graph, correctly read, shows Destroy as the most popular ending. It's not 3 on 1, it's 4 individual stats. It's also first playthroughs only. (sorry but it's quickly turning into a pet peeve of mine) IIRC synthesis wasn't even a choice in the OG release, it only showed its ugly head in the extended cut. Personally, a clone Shep is just silly. It makes no sense. I'd like Shep back just to properly pass the torch. Settle down and have those little blue kids. Actually, I have a theory, regardless of your choice, Liara gives you one anyway. Hence, the "gift". People need to grow up and realize not all choices can be possible. Because it's impossible. It would be like getting mad because while playing a LOTR game, Frodo and Sam didn't die on the rock because you thought they should. As far as Gamble goes, if he's told Shep comes back, then Shep is coming back. Which could be a possibility given the failures of Andromeda and Anthem. Great vid Kala! Keep 'em coming! Thanks!
I never thought about the 'clone theory' whenever I express my (admittedly slim) hopes that Shepard will be the next Mass Effect's protagonist. I've pictured Shepard's hypothetical return as just themselves, not a clone. The only way I can picture a 'Clone Shepard' returning; is if Liara and Shepard somehow revive Shepard's Cerberus-made clone from the ME3 Citadel DLC, and reprogrammed the clone's mind to think they're the real Shepard as a decoy off some sort a la Big Boss and Venom Snake in "Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain".
That was great. I really dislike the clone Shepard theory. I've never understood why anyone would want to play as a clone. I think BioWare needs to make some choices canon in order to reset Mass Effect and move forward. I would just chose to look at it as an alternate timeline. As long as they don't canonize a romance. Which I could never see Bioware doing. Thx for the great video, Kala. Have a good one!
assuming the canon ending is one of the 2 where shephard gets absorbed within Reapers... then could it be that despite what the Catalyst AI says, Shephard's DNA / "code" is safe within the Reaper and then somehow can be used to infuse a new clone that wouldn't have the flaws of the one Cerberus created? kinda of a "now you become the real one" thing?
Not every clone has to be a usurping maniac like in the DLC. Who knows how many clones are out there. I think a clone as a squad mate would be really interesting. I'm thinking Ripley style in Alien Resurrection. Maybe its a post Reaper War and original Shepard is dead. We have an abandoned cloning facility and we see what experiments were going on. We find the control clone, and have to explore all the weird and strange hybrids with other races and with reapers that Cerberus was trying to do. We even see in early concept art that they wanted to do some Reaper hybrid tech, and this would be a perfect place for it. For plot and stuff we decide to help clone Shepard destroy the facility. Or maybe they turn on us and take it over and become the new secret leader of Cerberus.
Shepard nostalgia being what is is, BioWare are going to be in a tough spot with the story - whichever way they choose to go will have some fans disappointed. With that in mind, I do wonder why BioWare actively teased Shepard's return (or at least the search for Shepard) in the trailer though?.. they must have known that that scene would set off a wave of speculation, if they intended a new protagonist - why draw attention to the possibility of a return? That teaser actually sort of convinced me that Shepard will have some part to play in the new game - what that part is - who knows?
I don’t know about clone Shepard or Shepard some how surviving for 500 to 800 years. As much as I love and adore Shepard, I think I’d prefer a new protagonist. I don’t want Shepard done dirty
@@SeverusHunt yes, absolutely there may be genetic material to clone Shepard, I just don’t want Shepard to be the protagonist of the next mass effect game as the chance of them doing Shepard dirty is too big
The Lazarus project could of had a beneficial side effect that made Shepard biologically immortal. Who knows how dead cells react to all those strange chemicals put into him.
this makes me think of a scenario: Shepard wakes up, gasping. Their enhanced body bleeding, but repairing itself despite massive trauma. Think of a scene similar to that at the start of ME2 where you see Shepard's body be kicked into working, but this time it's automatic. I can imagine that the new game could have some story elements about Shepard losing themselves, considering their body as ingenuine and that they're losing humanity. After the trauma of the Reaper War there could be a large emphasis on survivors guilt and struggle with identity as the story turns to dark matter or something else... leading Shepard to feel hopeless that, even after defeating the Reapers, they're just a soldier. And you can't defeat physics.
@@SpectreSaunders I’m a synthesis guy! Maybe Shep could be a sentient AI/ Engram! The one on the Citadel sounded 7% more like Shep, imagine what EDI could do if you don’t destroy her!
@@angel8fingers I'm a synthesis guy too :) I'm not saying these things aren't possible, but I think from a writing point of view they'll probably most likely not do these things if they do a new protagonist (Which I'd prefer them to do)... I just think some of the theories people come up with for Shepard returning are either narratively a bit of a stretch &/or already been done before... I guess we'll find out in the coming years though!
In my opinion there would not be a need to clone Shepard. I mean given a life expectancy of ~150 years and Shepard being 32 years old during ME3 (lets just assume the destroy ending including Sheps survival becomes canon). So there would be plenty of time left for him to kick some enemies behind - and raise a bunch of little blue children ;)
My choice was synthesis.. I think I'm still recovering.. honestly I really don't want Shepard to die.. didn't want him to die.. it really felt unfair to get so far and be told.. yeah either you kill an entire synth race, making all of priority rannoch a waste and Legions sacrifice a waste .. you would kill EDI who was a fairly vital team mate who had come a long way themselves in their understanding and essentially destroy joker emotionally.. the Geth and Quarians were finally at peace and even working together .. control didn't seem entirely right either since you literally just spent the entirety of ME2 and ME3 saying no it's not possible including having just killed or convinced the death of a man bent on the idea of killing the reapers.. or by accepting things as they are .. or following in the steps of Legion who learnt everything that led to his choices from you, you sacrifice yourself .. and everyone and everything lives.. in fact all life is just vastly improved .. synthetic and organic.. across the universe for the life of one person.. it wasn't what I was expecting.. after Tali begging for you to come back to her.. your promise to Garrus to retire at a bar somewhere.. even leaving Javik to a questionable end.. not to mention a really fancy apartment that was left to you by Anderson.. everything felt set up for Shep to just .. win.. come home and finally just be able to rest and put his feet up.. or in the sand.. or just have something of a good life with their romance whoever it might be or even just being a super eligible bachelor.. I don't really mind not playing as Shepard again .. but honestly.. I just wish that he got to live his life somewhat not as an everlasting tragedy from start to finish.. where the only end where they live is one where they sacrificed an entire race , a friend and teammate, the fan fiction post ME3 where Liara has 3 daughters or Ashley had a son with Shepard is not something I could or would ever accept as anything towards Canon.. this shit has me so beaten up inside I haven't been able to turn on my ps in days now and still has me all kinds of f'd up inside..
It would have to be through Liara with her Shadow Broker resources and Miranda. She put him back together once already so... the thing is, they would need to keep Shepard in stasis until the Galaxy was repaired enough to do it. Say 600 years?? By then technology might even be more advanced than before Cerberus did it. Plus with Geth, Reaper, and maybe even Prothean tech it should be much easier to do.
Rant ahead... They can't possibly honor all three ending choices AND bring back Shep. If Shep is coming back there's only one choice they can honor...the one that saw Shep take a breath at the very end. Considering the teaser showed Liara walking on a destroyed reaper I'd say they're going with destroy and Shep is very likely coming back. That teaser also ends with "Mass Effect" will continue. "Mass Effect" (with no subtitle) IS Commander Shepard's story. BTW it won't be Mass Effect 5, ME:A isn't ME4. There is no Mass Effect 4....yet. To everyone upset their non destroy ending probably won't be referenced going forward. I'll remind everyone that you can kill Shep in Mass Effect 2 yet 3 still came out with Shep alive and well. Your canon isn't always the game's canon. The ending choice for 3 was just that, a choice to add to reply value, something fun for the fans. They likely added the breath scene and the love interest NOT putting Shepard's name on the Normandy's memorial wall on purpose should they want to continue. Well friends... "Mass Effect will continue"...my guess is they're taking the road they set up. Destroy will be canon and I'm fine with that. I did all the endings multiple times over so I don't have ONE canon. I'm fine with them picking one if it means more Shep and company.
Isn't it a known fact that a human clone would be (whenever it happens IRL) just a genetic copy of a person, and not the exact same person with the same personality and experiences? I mean, that was the whole point of the Citadel DLC and even the tv show 'Orphan Black' lol. But no, I don't think that would be the BioWare's choice for the next game. I can see the appeal, but unless Liara's mind melding is capable of copying Shepard's mind completely as a backup, I can't see how the Geth would have such technology to interface with a human brain and copy Shepard's 'self'- Cerberus clearly didn't as we saw with Shepard's clone.
If Bioware goes the clone route, I don't want Shepard's consciousness, in my mind that would completely defeat the purpose of the clone. I think the story that can be told would be more interesting with a new Shep. You have a new protagonist that has their life/expectations written for them since their conception and the clone chooses to reject them. This flips your expectations of what Shepard was going to be. Meaning this Shepard isn't the same as the one that answered to the Alliance or the Council. This isn't the same Shepard that has his goals set on the Reapers. No. This new clone is looking for their true purpose and becomes the hero because they decide to stop chasing Shep's shadow like the Citadel DLC clone. This way you can have Meer/Hale return, but have the Shepard experience still be fresh. New allegiances, new potential growth for the character such as motivations and philosphies.
I just want to say that I respect you for always making the case to respect the choice of those of us who didn't pick the Destroy ending. The idea that the "perfect" Destroy ending is canon is such a foregone conclusion for many, every time I point out that I wouldn't like it if my ending was erased, I end up in a discussion with someone trying to convince me that my choice was wrong. No, I don't think the Reapers are going to attack organics again if I chose the Control ending, no matter what your head canon says! I digress. Thanks for caring about us Kala! I hope we both like the next game.
Thank you! I try to be unbiased when I approach things because it’s important to take the entire fanbase’ s choices into account! Don’t want anyone to feel excluded 😊
I must say after all these years, I like Control a lot more in retrospect. Reaper Shep helps rebuild a bit then commits mass reaper suicide, so easy really... especially if you don't buy the star kid's theory and believe Shep is ethical.. Sure Shep wouldn't be remembered as well, but small price.
@@aknelson229 My thoughts were always with EDI and the Geth. I helped broker a peace between the Geth and the Quarrians, and Legion sacrificed itself believing in all its being that he had a soul, and now that stupid kid wants me to believe that peace between synthetics and organics is impossible? That no one synthetic life was worth as much as an organic one? I wanted an ending that didn't undo everything I had done, and Control was the only ending that left everybody else unchanged. I had to sacrifice my Shepard for that principle, something I didn't enjoy doing at all. I really hope it wasn't for nothing.
I feel the statement that Sheps clone was a loser is harsh. If it hadn’t been Shepard, Sheps clone would have pulled it off. And it wasn’t Shep that beat his clone, it was 100% the assistant VI glyph!
I also did Destroy/Liara and would love to see him come back, but I don't see Bioware cloning him. Maybe if Cerberus or some other advanced entity cracked the Prothean stasis tech and snatched his body for revival in a post-rebuild future...? Maybe. I don't think we will see him again except in flashbacks
I honestly don't think Shepard should return. I really just want Ryder to come back as to me it is the easiest way to continue without invalidating choices.
Love these videos but I was thinking what if liara has shepherds memories when given Shepard the "gift" at the end of ME3 maybe somehow she could clone his memories into a physical shepherd
Using a cloned Shepard is just lazy writing if Shepard were to return then only have him/her as a VI/AI interface or as a collection of various vid mails & news clips
So, regarding a Shepard return, I personally think it's evident how much (too much actually) of the fandom sort of idolizes Shepard to the point of trying to impose totally biased "arguments" for a Shepard return. The fact is that Shepard is done. There is no logical and/or realistic way for him to return; and you expose this in this video very well. Many are just trying to find a way to justify a Shepard return that they say/write things like "oh, maybe his cells got imortalized, or developed an inmortality trait", "oh, maybe he just got beemed off onto a very distant part of the galaxy, now unreachable", etc. What is evident here is a clear idolization - the true cult of Shepard. Look I enjoyed playing as commander Shepard immensely. But part of what I think made Shepard great is that he was finite. A human just like us, but the best of us within what the ME Universe has shown us to date. And the fact that he had to at least consider giving up his existance for every other being in the ME universe attests to that exactly. Which is why I think that we all should just be at peace with the end of the Shepard story (not necessarily with how the trilogy ended, considering the rushed ending, lack of closure, etc). Also, and pertaining to my last sentence, that (closure) is the reason I think many can't accept a Shepard death/ending to his story. I mean, after going through soooo much during the trilogy, it all just ended a lil' too quick and vaguely. I think we all need a bit of closure not only with Shepard, but with the crew as well as the state of the Milky Way - post reaper war. If they (game devs at Bioware) manage to do that in the next installment, maybe we all can at least finally start to move on.
They either should bring him back with excellent writing and taking into account of your choices or just dont bring him and his squadmates back at all. Althoug I prefer Shep but if they decide to not "continue" his story then they should choose ryder instead a new random protagonist. At least he has something to build on.
I hope not. It wouldn't be the same. Unless the stakes are made somehow higher than the trilogy. Even that would feel forced. Letting Shepherd rest is absolutely the best way forward. Unless the fandom really wants just a series of endless sad callbacks to the trilogy.
I'm 50\50 on the clone shepard theory it could work but idk I would like real shepard back with everyone endings and choices matter or if they do canonize an ending explain why that sending was canon so everyone can get on board but also I don't mind if shepard is dead is Shepard's story Is done and move on to a new protagonist in the next mass effect game or maybe Ryder if the do a time jump and far of said time jump or not I'm still excited for the next mass effect game and I personally would like more info about the next mass game to get me more hyped.
Personally i would preferer playing a new character... Another way they could bring Shepard back is as a form of A.I and maybe give him/her a synthetic body like the one EDI had. Hell maybe teknologi has advanced enough to the point where they could but an A.I mind of Shepard into a cloned body of him/her That could get rid of the memory and personality problem that the ME3 clone had.
I wouldn't want a clone Shepard, cause it wouldn't be Shepard. It feels like it would be the Citadel DLC again, with one angry and resentful copy who wonders what their place and role really is. With they way I played my SHepard(Synthesis) so is there no way my Shepard is coming back, do have some crazy thoughts on how that could still happen, but my Shepards Story is done. So I don't think Shepard is coming back the Clone way, but that there is an entirely new Protaganist in the ME5. What I can believe is that maybe, and I mean a BIG maybe, there is a Clone of Shepard in MEA, that has been brought by the Cerberus operatives that smuggled themselves onboard as crew, but they aren't Shepard, but just a regular person, that lives and just help build up a new life in the Andromeda Galaxy. This is just a thought I have, but no proof, so it's probably a big NO on that maybe
A theory is that they want to have a Shepard that's grown up, and might be different then the old one, but they need someone who would have been the same. A bit like Alloy in Horizon Zero Dawn. That way (story wise) it *could* happen. What actually will happen is something completely different. What I hope is simply a good story, and we shall see who it is.
Thank you for the video Kala Elizabeth. ^_^ I agree with you about your thoughts on cloning Shepard. I will miss Shepard, but I would not want a clone of Shepard. They can mention Shepard and their choices to the next protagonist in the next game like they do in the Dragon Age series and the Star Wars the old republic series.
Not only would i accept a clone shephard I would accept any amount of retcon, alternative ending, side story, or alternate universe that allows me to go on one more journey with Jennifer Hale as Shephard. But with that said I'm also very open to a new story with a new lead so long as they've learned from their Adromeda mistakes.
The illusive man was control, Seren was synthesis, and Shepard was destroy - all the endings of ME. If we say destroy is cannon - let's face it, it more or less is, we know Shepard survived. Casey Hudson said, "this is not the last you'll hear of Shepard", circa 2012(he said this during the backlash Bioware caused. Fans were "holding the line" - I can't lie, it felt good to see them, eventually, give us what they promised.) - I can't rule out that he said this merely to please the fans. It would be nice to have Shepard in the storyline of the next mass effect, maybe not play as them - but they're there, in game, helping you.
I agree with pretty much everything you've said. If we get Shepard back, it should be because it's good for the story moving forward, and rehashing/rewriting the premise of the best DLC in the entire series is not only a lazy solution, it's very problematic. I also appreciate your thoughts on Control as an ending, because so much of the discussion about the next game always revolves around us canonizing Destroy because perfect Destroy is the only ending where Shepard lives. Synthesis is the only ending where Shepard definitely dies, Control is the only ending where Shepard definitely lives (he/she narrates the extended ending), and perfect Destroy is an ending where it is hinted that maybe Shepard lives. I am definitely in the camp that I would like to see Shepard return as a major part of the story, but I'd feel a lot better if they weren't the protagonist. Mass Effect is a rich universe with a lot of stories to tell, and I want new ones.
Shepard dies in the Control ending too. What is controling the Reapers is Shepard's digitalised copy (basically another clone, but this time with memories). The real Shepard is gone.
One theory I came up with, after watching this video is what if somebody came across a shepherd, barely alive after the citadel and the reapers word striker and put him in a version of a Star Wars band for tanks, and they slowly begin the process of healing him but for whatever reason because all this technology inside of him was damaged, they had to spend the next 10 years rebuilding him piece by piece and replacing technology with organic parts in order to fully restore him, and when he came out, he was left with the world he didn’t recognize and had to adapt to. On the flipside, what is there is a bit of a time jump, and the next Mass Effect game has the child of either Leora and Shepard, or Ashley and Shepard playing as the main protagonist
There are billions and billions of people in ME Universe... Leave Shepard alone, for crying out loud... You wanna tell me that there isn't anyone out there who isn't capable to be a freaking hero?? Shepard marked one era of ME, Ryder marked another (or is going to be marked). Let's play another hero for another series.
Let's get goofy and just say the reason for the first 3 games was a simulation for the cloned Shepard to learn to be Shepard... based on the life of the real Shepard. :)
6:50 Actually, if they decided to use a clone version of Shepard, they could have you interact with your crews family. We could have a whole new generation of companions that are both similar and new to us. They could have similarities to their old counter parts whilst having new quirks and personalities that could make it fun to befriend or romance them all over again.
dont know why but i get the feeling remnant/jardaan may have something to do with shephards return and perhaps the geth. So hear me out, we know geth had mass relays linked and then used as a telescope so its fair to say they might have some ( allthough limited ) insight in whats happening in andromeda. We know theres either new mass relays or a relay ship being build and theres a strong chance they will be more advanced than during the trilogy, wether thats because of leftover reaper tech, technological advancement ( due to timeskip ), cooperation with the geth or a mix of them. Now the jardaan/remnant have been shown to be able to create biological body's ( angaran ) absent a soul and geth before and after the war developed souls but with a mechanical body so even if now they can perceive how organics feel they would not be able to fully experience it because of a lack of compatible body's. Now for the crazy part of this theory: is it crazy to think the milkyway has been able to establish contact with andromeda and they are trying to put shephards soul in a jardaan/remnant created shephard body? Meridian is now under the initiatives control and perhaps with enough time given they can learn to operate it or the geth might. Its also known that Shephard has been inside the geth consensus, melded with liara on multiple occasions and had his dna stored by cerberus...so there have been instances enough for genetical data or his soul to be "copied or saved" in order to facilitate a jardaan/remnant "clone" but with his original soul and i like this idea better than another cerberus clone or revive. Also might explain what liara is looking for, maybe a piece is missing to restore him. Anyway kinda farfetched but i like the idea.
Holy shit, what if the Citadel clone Shepard didn't die (somehow) after falling off the back of SR2...😱 I kind of hope that Shepard is not returned, even after Bioware hurt my heart (repeatedly) during his various interactions with Tali (she was so great and I was really rooting for their relationship). Also, if we can't play "our" Shepard, with all his unique experience and memories across playthroughs, that's going to really really suck.
I hope we don't get a clone tbh, personally I would love it if you could import your ME LE save into the ME5, and during a big mission where you are trying to solve a mystery around Shepard you find logs or video footage (like we got on Eden Prime in ME3 with Javik) but have these "flashbacks" be playable, and you get to play as Shepard again and maybe even experience things post ME 3 but way before ME5 (it has to have a massive time jump in order for ME:A to fit in), or maybe even get to experience things from before ME1, imagine if we got a playable flashback as Anderson during the first Contact War!!!
To be perfectly fair having clones Shepherd will not work for me. In all fairness Shepard’s the story has concluded. I want a new character and new romances and skills too. But I would love to see incidents where they show actual videos or documentation of your shepherd success against the REAPERS!! To even go a step further and have the character to the new agonist the offspring of Shepard! Maybe even see Commander Shepard in her old age with his or her love interest. Towards the end of the game or at the beginning to send you off the new story and adventure!! The N7 program is renamed the Shepard Academy!! Something that give the player the satisfaction of all your achievements as the player. And actually see a statue of Commander Shepard in whatever way you played him or her in the image that she created. Instead of calling him a whore, Commander Shepard, but Admiral Shepard!
In the sneak peek video, we see Liara walking through the snow and finds the fragment of Shepard's N7 helmet then smiles. She knows she is in the correct vicinity. I predict she keeps searching to find enough of Shepard, frozen, to start a regeneration project, using Shadow Broker technology. So, maybe not so much a clone but more like actual regeneration tissue like a lizard growing back it's tail etc. It's far fetched but Liara is the Shadow Broker and nobody knows the full extent of her reach.
I know it is not the case this time around but we could see Shepard in a later prequel game. I would like to see that. It could be a game with three mini campaigns, the one you play is based off the background choices you make one, being the sole survivor against the sand worms or versus the pirate of the blitz, I forget the third option. For background. It could also have a different beginning like Dragon age depending on if you are an Earther, colonist, or spacer. Another nice prequel option Would be Anderson and/or Ashley's dad during the 1st contact war against the turians.
Now this is the Legendary edition. In the 360 edition, the Destroy ending was chosen by a larger margin. So it would be interesting to compare the avg. ages of those who played in 2012 to 2021. It was a different time.
That's true... But who played through all three games and made the choice. Many outcomes were difficult to obtain without a save file from previous games. Most people didn't really "choose" as a not all three choices are available without significant playthrough of all content. I don't even know if the option to save the geth and quarians is available without a save file.
Another way to bring them back is if the Geth have a copy of them from Shepard’s time in the consensus, and they brought them back for a problem that could only be solved by them. It also gives BioWare a Shepard that canonically doesn’t know how ME3 ended.
The problem with this is once again, the endings and various choices, if you chose for the Geth to persist and survive, they've merged with the Reaper tech and with the Destroy ending it establishes the Geth would be wiped out, their consensus--those memories and stored data is geth in of themselves as geth are software not hardware--when accessing geth memory databanks you're accessing the geth directly themselves, that's what made dealing with them so damn difficult oft leading to them taking over systems of those who tried datamining them. If you chose not to spare the Geth, they're so weakened much of what data they have stored would have been annihilated along with them, ie because their data is themselves, and once again if going with the Destroy ending on top of that, they're still even in a far worse off situation. Furthermore, just on a logistical level, ME3 was one of BW's most successful games ever made regardless of how one may feel about its endings, so just completely nullifying its conclusions would be the last thing they'd want to do.
I'd propose 3 life paths to coincide with the 3 endings. Destroy (she was badly injured and perhaps the Cerberus technology could repair the damage or even vastly prolong her life beyond normal human), Synthesys perhaps overtime her consciousness becomes aware and she creates a perfect copy of herself as she subconsciousness would view herself Like manifesting a clone. Control maybe have her a bit be responsible for her clone again in come engineering way. Cyberpunk did a decent job of 3 different life paths and i think there would be a way to do it maybe even stay kind of vague on the magic technology tricks. I would need good enough detail or context but I could stomach a tiny bit of vagueness in exchange for getting my Childhood hero a proper happy ending.
I love that in your theories, speculations & discussions, that you take into account other peoples ending choices (as someone that didn't pick destroy), already done/repeated narrative beats (clone in ME3) & lore... Most people seem to ignore these things to fit their wants instead of what the game/story reasonably & believable needs... I agree with you that I only want Shepard back if done right & respecting choices. Which despite what people say, can be done with creative writing & world details.
it’s very important that people remember that destroy isn’t everyone’s choice and that just because it is the most popular it doesn’t make it automatically canon, I try to be unbiased as possible so I’m not excluding anyone!
@@kalaelizabeth This is why you've quickly become a favourite Mass Effect/Bioware content creator! Everything is well researched, covers a diverse & wide aspect of things in relation to the lore, world building, players, game creation, dev teams, etc, from an unbiased point of view, whilst also giving your own fair opinions...You've also built a community that is mostly very welcoming, nice & respectful to each other... Keep up the good work! :)
No, it is not jarring because if you remember correctly shepherd goes on a mission with legion And he makes a copy of shepherd
It makes more sense to me that Liara would have collected a comatose Shepard from the ruins on earth and put her into cryo stasis to heal and preserve her until a time when she was needed again.
Agreed
I personally think it's gonna be tough for them to continue the mass effect storyline without making the destroy ending cannon. But if they do somehow bring shepherd back I think the best role for them in the new game would be as a character you meet maybe far older than they were in the trilogy and not as a character you play maybe like a mentor/role model. This gives you a way to reminisce and hear about choices you made in the trilogy without putting a whole bunch of pressure on the writers to make the new games all about Shepherd.
W take
One of the things that needs to be understood what the Citadel DLC, it's not just a "fun, lighthearted" storyline. When following its narrative and the gathering of your companions past and present, what's it all about? It was about them in relation to your Shepard before going into the battle to end all battles with the Reapers. It wasn't just a fun romp of hijinks and heartfelt moments with your crew. It was a send off, it was saying, goodbye.
Thank you for your video and for your opinion! I'm very glad to hear that there are people who want Shepard back. Too many now say "let him die". I really want to play as my Shepard again
If I were writing fanfic, I'd have a Racni Queen offspring find Shep in the Keeper protein vats in the bowels of Citadel ruins. There it rescues him/her and nurses them back to health like what happened to the injured Asari pilot in ME2. I would be happy if the start of ME5 was initially 4 years after the war and Shep took over Admiral Hackett's role for a new protagonist to interface with.
I know the citadel dlc and the clone was kinda a joke, but it brought up great questions about what makes shepherd, shepherd. Kinda wish you could have saved the clone and got emails about them becoming their own person. I wouldn't even minded the clone showing up as a secret kind of ending. Something like "I was made to replace you if you failed. Let me take your place, let me be Shepherd, just this once." Then the clone makes your rgb decision. Sacrificing themselves so shepherd can enjoy the peace they fought for.
As much I want Shepherd to return , I don’t think it would be feasible half of your squad mates would have passed away / if you didn’t get their loyalty during ME2 a lot of unknown variables.
However they could do Dark horse comic like at the beginning of ME2 to make all the important decisions for ME5. Who knows if BioWare wants to or not.
If Ryder does return some of the team could stop being in the game like Drack retired to be grandfather to Kesh & Vorn offsprings etc
Destroy ending of 3, shepard still lives, so no need to 'bring him back'
I think you have to take into account that 45% of the players got the last breath Shepard ending. I say this because I didn’t get that until my 3rd play thru. The first 2 times I didn’t choose that ending because I wasn’t invested in Shepard so to speak but my 3rd and 4th play thru was all about Shepard. So I think the 55% of the player base that didn’t choose shep survive ending were 1 time play thru players or a percentage like me that didn’t know what ending to choose. I hope this makes sense
The frozen Shepard after that last breath still the only one that makes sense to me
The only remaining cloned Shepard is Conrad vernier trying to get a free drink
I just want Shepard back for one more story. Please I just want their story to be properly closed.
I’ll be honest another clone Shepard would be a lazy cop-out.
Blue ending has Shep with Reaper mind, could upload that to a Clone using Reaper Tech...
"Assuming direct control of this unit."
Shepard's consciousness lives in Liara
Shepard’s story is complete. Whether he/she lives or dies based off your choices (for me destroy w/breath), their story is over. I wouldn’t want to play as somebody else’s clone. Like you said the Citadel dlc showed that clone Shep is just a body. He/she is not out Shepard.
Unfortunately I think BioWare might feel pressured to bring Shep back with a half-assed storyline (like cloning) because they think that will make the game successful. Personally I want Ryder and his/her story to continue.
Liara could have imprinted his consciousness during their last psychic joining at the London field HQ. Though that would borrow a concept from Star Trek.
I had the same idea. 🤔
I like this...
Also, Javik's people stored vast knowledge via touch. Like in The Beacon, and he sensed crew from ME2 in the material of the ship. Could he and Liars worked out a way to store a copy of Shepard's mind. (ala Spock ST:2 and ST:3).
Cloning Shepard would be a rip off, because it wouldn't truly be him. That means Shepard never got the happy ending he so deserves. It would just be some identical lookalike that's enjoying all the spoils and his woman after everything he sacrificed. OG Shep or no deal.
I concur. Unless there was some sort of engram, VI thing involved.
They bring back the clone Shepard...lets Bioware bring back all the companions so they can slowly bring back ' the Commander Shepard " through dialogue , side missions , cut scenes , etc and you rebuild Shepard while filling in the needed info for the clone. Get Shepard back and all the original crew....work it in around the the over arching story...
I don't want Shep back. They seemed so exhausted at the end, let them rest. I chose synthesis and I don't want that ending overwritten. Just give us Andromeda 2 and let us finish Ryder's story, I say.
Ever since I first finished ME3, and having done all 4 possible endings (though always with very high assets), I've been aware of 2 ways Shepard could return and it not be a "fake". 1) Destroy, with high assets, just needs some healing. 2) Control, clone and use the mental imprint of the real Shepard, would not be too unlike EDI in Dr Eva's body (added this: As long as Shepard did not reject "mind melding" with Liara (multiple opportunities), nor refuse to help Legion in the server that was attacking the Quarian Live-ships, supplemental 'data' taken directly from Real-Shepard's consciousness could be used to help a new clone to fully connect with Real-Shep's life). Synthesis does not lend itself to a reasonable return, nor does the Rejection. (I shot The Catalyst first chance I got)
The control ending puts Shepherd in charge of Reaper tech, making a new body for himself to inhabit shouldn’t be too hard.
Assuming control.
It worked for harbinger.
the shepard we see at the end of me3 perfect destroy is the clone that survived the fall thats how we keep shepard alive...kind of
Shep's clone had the personality they did cause of Brooks. She was the one that found the clone when she was associated with Cerberus. She also was the one to program the implants to give the clone it's personality.
That being said, I find it highly improbable that someone will clone Shep again (what happened to the one from the DLC?) If the clone did return, that's probably the one that would be used.
I tend to agree that Shep will not return in any significant manner.
I don't want Shepard again.
"Shepard's story has ended" and I stand by that quote. If I wanted to play as Shepard again, I will play through the trilogy again, for the 12th time. Because that was Shepard's story, fighting the Reapers, a galaxy level threat. Even if Bioware continues the story from the Destruction Ending, what does Shepard have to fight now, something for a welfare check? If Shepard stopped a super-unsurvivable extinction event, with lasers, explosions, and clever one linears, wouldn't whatever they fight post Reapers seem mundane to both them and the player? Why would I want my Shpard to continue fighting instead of letting them go, either a respectable death or a well-deserved retirement? Shepard may be a great soldier of valor and nobility or a ruthless die-hard badass, but they're still human. And even they were tired of the fight, once the biggest war, not just of their career, of their life is over, it's done, they don't go and take a nap and say "I expect a cup of coffee and a loaded rifle when I wake up," they'll relax somewhere nice and tropical, and live off the royalties from the vids.
Because that's what Shepard deserves.
Or at the very least, my Shepards deserve.
You all can say that Mass Effect 3's ending was the worst and pray that your Shepard canonicaly survived. As for me I thoroughly enjoyed my shared journey with all the Shepards I made. And though the end wasn't great, it was my last choices for my Shepards and to me that's satisfying enough.
People keep forgetting the walk away ending (the war continues). I still can’t get past Shep taking a direct hit from a reaper, especially the first one. He’s fresh out of jail then went to fight an entire day with no signs of injuries, lol
1. Body - Cloning.
2. Mind - Project Lazarus (They had to have mapped the layout of his neurons to do all the memory recovery stuff they mention).
3. Soul/nature - It was codified and broadcast to all sentient things in the galaxy by the Crucible, so possibly every, but likely many things will have his nature imprinted into their very being.
I just wanted to say you have a really soothing voice meaning it catches people's attention. I also chose to destroy ending and romanced Liara, with my Femshep, but also classified her as a war hero having parents and her mother got stationed to help build the crucible so will they also bring her mom back? I hope so incase Femshep and Liara getting married it would be fitting to have her mom at the wedding. Those are really great theories but here's another one I have Maranda survives so I'm sure when they find shep Liara and her would most likely mend shep's body like do some medical mending and healing. Maranda has the knowledge and she's with the Alliance sorta. I still think everyone is coming back since it will be after four years in passing but that's just me.
Rider could bring shepard back with meridian if they had his body
Love the content. It’s also important to note that BioWare needs to play it relatively safe with the next Mass Effect. The legendary edition just proved that Shepard and the Normandy crew IS mass effect. If the next game flops, Mass Effect will be shut down because from EAs perspective, the last good performing games in the franchise are over 10 years old. In other words, they know for a fact Shepard will sell, but they can’t guarantee anyone else will. It’s a huge gamble for them to not go with Shepard, but either way the games toast without a good story
There is another way to bring Shepard. would need to come back. The Leviathan. The still think they are the apex race but were defeated by their "Reapers" and that kept them in check didn't want Shepard to leave. Then said they would only fight to regain their place. So yes Shepard now in charge of the Reapers could create a body for herself to help save the universe
Wish the clone didnt die in the DLC, could have been an interesting dynamic
I think it would be great to have clone Shepard as a companion in the game and his loyalty mission could have something to do with Cerberus.
Like I commented on in the shepard child video. This could be worked as a backstory. Like the Sole survivor/ War hero/Ruthless to help shape Shepard return for new players as well as honoring old.
Liara would be the lead choice in trying to bring Shepard back. As the shadow broker Shepard back. Even if she was not shepard love interest. Remember, in mass effect 2, she supports Shepard choice of love interest after the tour of Normandy 2.
So, how might these play out.
1. Synthesis. It could be the laziest to explain. Shepard DNA was spread to everyone so everyone in effect would have access to DNA in theory. Of course, you could end up with a Shepard clone war that way as well. (It could also be a way to explain a Shepard daughter or child to the game. But again, the mother would still need to be female or Asari to give birth)
2. Control. With Shepard already with the Reapers, she could contact Liara to help find the DNA to build a body for Shepard to transfer into, thus, bring back the Shepard before she died so old players can keep "their Shepard" plus Shepard would have knowledge on how to rebuild the Geth as well. sence the Quarians would most likely have no interest in sharing that knowledge. This might be the most probable way to bring back Shepard from the end of Mass effect 3.
3. Destroy. This would be the hardest one to come up with the DNA for clone. Which is why you see Liara "searching" in the trailers so far.
But who would have the resources after the Reaper war to build not just a Shepard but a the mass relays? Liara is clearly the front runner based on the teasers, but they are called teasers for a reason. So let's think about who could have the money, knowledge, and connections to clone Shepard
1. Liara (obviously) as the shadow broker she is set up to be possibly the most powerful person in mass effect. If she was Shepard love interest in prior, she would also want Shepard back no matter how much time had passed.
2. Aria T'loak. If there is one person capable of stepping up to Liara to be the most powerful person in the galaxy post Reaper War, it's Aria. Plus, she would have the ability and interest in taking control of Cerberus as fast as possible. Remember, it was Cerberus who to Omega what better revenge for Aira than taking control of them and would also explain what Aira was doing during the Reaper battle. Plus, during Mass effect 3, there were many hints about how Aira really felt when it came to Shepard. If it was a race for control, what better way for Aira to show Liara "the one rule on Omega"
3. The Alliance, if their was a threat to the galaxy post Reaper War, yes, I could see them bringing back Shepard. But I saved them for third because I think their first reaction would be soldiers die so honestly, it would probably have to be a direct threat to humanity as opposed to the galaxy for the Alliance to clone Shepard
The teaser trailer is a bit misleading. I don't know if they are trying to search for shepherd or if shepherd is already there and they are part way through the mission.
I mean, if the full party is just looking for shepherd it's hard to start the game as him. Unless the scene playing out is part way through the game and shepherd is out of sight somewhere.
Shep went out with his boots on. Let the man rest, has he not done enough for y’all! Maybe I’m just a weirdo. But my guy said he was tired, said he was done with the responsibility. But people keep insisting that he comes back from the dead to do what they want. For people who say they love Shep, y’all aren’t very nice to him.
That’s like the people that pray to God on Sundays. Y’all expect him to work on his day off? Not nice.
I digress. Great video, great content! I value your opinion even though I disagree with it!
Clonin could be advanced in this timeline, however what would make it better is if tha clone was from his seed not just his DNA, & it’s birthed… in Liara…. From Ashley’s kid wit Shep
Personally, I only want to see Shepard physically return in a prequel, but either way, I know I'll love this game! Great video!
Idea I thought of is the body of Clone Shepard from Citadel DLC returning but with Reaper implants and the diminished mind of Harbinger. Could be reason for Liara’s search, only a Shepard can beat a Shepard (the Harbinger Shepard who wants to make the green ending canon…but under his reign!)
Been enjoying the content on your channel.
thank you so much!
I hope they DON’T bring Shepherd back. Let them Rest In Peace 😂😂😂
The fact is that there is no point in bringing the shaperd back, his story is over, he fulfilled his mission, saved humanity, his arc was very well closed, why spoil everything by bringing him back? Good stories come to an end, and our desire for more and more is what gets in the way.
The graph, correctly read, shows Destroy as the most popular ending. It's not 3 on 1, it's 4 individual stats. It's also first playthroughs only. (sorry but it's quickly turning into a pet peeve of mine) IIRC synthesis wasn't even a choice in the OG release, it only showed its ugly head in the extended cut. Personally, a clone Shep is just silly. It makes no sense. I'd like Shep back just to properly pass the torch. Settle down and have those little blue kids. Actually, I have a theory, regardless of your choice, Liara gives you one anyway. Hence, the "gift". People need to grow up and realize not all choices can be possible. Because it's impossible. It would be like getting mad because while playing a LOTR game, Frodo and Sam didn't die on the rock because you thought they should. As far as Gamble goes, if he's told Shep comes back, then Shep is coming back. Which could be a possibility given the failures of Andromeda and Anthem. Great vid Kala! Keep 'em coming! Thanks!
I never thought about the 'clone theory' whenever I express my (admittedly slim) hopes that Shepard will be the next Mass Effect's protagonist. I've pictured Shepard's hypothetical return as just themselves, not a clone.
The only way I can picture a 'Clone Shepard' returning; is if Liara and Shepard somehow revive Shepard's Cerberus-made clone from the ME3 Citadel DLC, and reprogrammed the clone's mind to think they're the real Shepard as a decoy off some sort a la Big Boss and Venom Snake in "Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain".
That was great. I really dislike the clone Shepard theory. I've never understood why anyone would want to play as a clone. I think BioWare needs to make some choices canon in order to reset Mass Effect and move forward. I would just chose to look at it as an alternate timeline. As long as they don't canonize a romance. Which I could never see Bioware doing. Thx for the great video, Kala. Have a good one!
assuming the canon ending is one of the 2 where shephard gets absorbed within Reapers... then could it be that despite what the Catalyst AI says, Shephard's DNA / "code" is safe within the Reaper and then somehow can be used to infuse a new clone that wouldn't have the flaws of the one Cerberus created? kinda of a "now you become the real one" thing?
Not every clone has to be a usurping maniac like in the DLC. Who knows how many clones are out there. I think a clone as a squad mate would be really interesting. I'm thinking Ripley style in Alien Resurrection. Maybe its a post Reaper War and original Shepard is dead. We have an abandoned cloning facility and we see what experiments were going on. We find the control clone, and have to explore all the weird and strange hybrids with other races and with reapers that Cerberus was trying to do. We even see in early concept art that they wanted to do some Reaper hybrid tech, and this would be a perfect place for it. For plot and stuff we decide to help clone Shepard destroy the facility. Or maybe they turn on us and take it over and become the new secret leader of Cerberus.
Shepard nostalgia being what is is, BioWare are going to be in a tough spot with the story - whichever way they choose to go will have some fans disappointed.
With that in mind, I do wonder why BioWare actively teased Shepard's return (or at least the search for Shepard) in the trailer though?.. they must have known that that scene would set off a wave of speculation, if they intended a new protagonist - why draw attention to the possibility of a return?
That teaser actually sort of convinced me that Shepard will have some part to play in the new game - what that part is - who knows?
I don’t know about clone Shepard or Shepard some how surviving for 500 to 800 years. As much as I love and adore Shepard, I think I’d prefer a new protagonist. I don’t want Shepard done dirty
If there is genetic material, then Shepard can be cloned even 50,000 years after ME3
@@SeverusHunt yes, absolutely there may be genetic material to clone Shepard, I just don’t want Shepard to be the protagonist of the next mass effect game as the chance of them doing Shepard dirty is too big
The Lazarus project could of had a beneficial side effect that made Shepard biologically immortal. Who knows how dead cells react to all those strange chemicals put into him.
Now that argument could have some merit.
But as Kala said, how does that work for the other ending choices where Shepard hasn't got a body anymore due to Control & Synthesis?
this makes me think of a scenario:
Shepard wakes up, gasping. Their enhanced body bleeding, but repairing itself despite massive trauma.
Think of a scene similar to that at the start of ME2 where you see Shepard's body be kicked into working, but this time it's automatic.
I can imagine that the new game could have some story elements about Shepard losing themselves, considering their body as ingenuine and that they're losing humanity. After the trauma of the Reaper War there could be a large emphasis on survivors guilt and struggle with identity as the story turns to dark matter or something else... leading Shepard to feel hopeless that, even after defeating the Reapers, they're just a soldier. And you can't defeat physics.
@@SpectreSaunders I’m a synthesis guy! Maybe Shep could be a sentient AI/ Engram! The one on the Citadel sounded 7% more like Shep, imagine what EDI could do if you don’t destroy her!
@@angel8fingers I'm a synthesis guy too :) I'm not saying these things aren't possible, but I think from a writing point of view they'll probably most likely not do these things if they do a new protagonist (Which I'd prefer them to do)... I just think some of the theories people come up with for Shepard returning are either narratively a bit of a stretch &/or already been done before... I guess we'll find out in the coming years though!
In my opinion there would not be a need to clone Shepard. I mean given a life expectancy of ~150 years and Shepard being 32 years old during ME3 (lets just assume the destroy ending including Sheps survival becomes canon). So there would be plenty of time left for him to kick some enemies behind - and raise a bunch of little blue children ;)
My choice was synthesis.. I think I'm still recovering.. honestly I really don't want Shepard to die.. didn't want him to die.. it really felt unfair to get so far and be told.. yeah either you kill an entire synth race, making all of priority rannoch a waste and Legions sacrifice a waste .. you would kill EDI who was a fairly vital team mate who had come a long way themselves in their understanding and essentially destroy joker emotionally.. the Geth and Quarians were finally at peace and even working together .. control didn't seem entirely right either since you literally just spent the entirety of ME2 and ME3 saying no it's not possible including having just killed or convinced the death of a man bent on the idea of killing the reapers.. or by accepting things as they are .. or following in the steps of Legion who learnt everything that led to his choices from you, you sacrifice yourself .. and everyone and everything lives.. in fact all life is just vastly improved .. synthetic and organic.. across the universe for the life of one person.. it wasn't what I was expecting.. after Tali begging for you to come back to her.. your promise to Garrus to retire at a bar somewhere.. even leaving Javik to a questionable end.. not to mention a really fancy apartment that was left to you by Anderson.. everything felt set up for Shep to just .. win.. come home and finally just be able to rest and put his feet up.. or in the sand.. or just have something of a good life with their romance whoever it might be or even just being a super eligible bachelor.. I don't really mind not playing as Shepard again .. but honestly.. I just wish that he got to live his life somewhat not as an everlasting tragedy from start to finish.. where the only end where they live is one where they sacrificed an entire race , a friend and teammate, the fan fiction post ME3 where Liara has 3 daughters or Ashley had a son with Shepard is not something I could or would ever accept as anything towards Canon.. this shit has me so beaten up inside I haven't been able to turn on my ps in days now and still has me all kinds of f'd up inside..
It would have to be through Liara with her Shadow Broker resources and Miranda. She put him back together once already so... the thing is, they would need to keep Shepard in stasis until the Galaxy was repaired enough to do it. Say 600 years?? By then technology might even be more advanced than before Cerberus did it. Plus with Geth, Reaper, and maybe even Prothean tech it should be much easier to do.
Rant ahead...
They can't possibly honor all three ending choices AND bring back Shep. If Shep is coming back there's only one choice they can honor...the one that saw Shep take a breath at the very end. Considering the teaser showed Liara walking on a destroyed reaper I'd say they're going with destroy and Shep is very likely coming back.
That teaser also ends with "Mass Effect" will continue. "Mass Effect" (with no subtitle) IS Commander Shepard's story. BTW it won't be Mass Effect 5, ME:A isn't ME4. There is no Mass Effect 4....yet.
To everyone upset their non destroy ending probably won't be referenced going forward. I'll remind everyone that you can kill Shep in Mass Effect 2 yet 3 still came out with Shep alive and well. Your canon isn't always the game's canon. The ending choice for 3 was just that, a choice to add to reply value, something fun for the fans. They likely added the breath scene and the love interest NOT putting Shepard's name on the Normandy's memorial wall on purpose should they want to continue. Well friends... "Mass Effect will continue"...my guess is they're taking the road they set up. Destroy will be canon and I'm fine with that. I did all the endings multiple times over so I don't have ONE canon. I'm fine with them picking one if it means more Shep and company.
Isn't it a known fact that a human clone would be (whenever it happens IRL) just a genetic copy of a person, and not the exact same person with the same personality and experiences? I mean, that was the whole point of the Citadel DLC and even the tv show 'Orphan Black' lol.
But no, I don't think that would be the BioWare's choice for the next game. I can see the appeal, but unless Liara's mind melding is capable of copying Shepard's mind completely as a backup, I can't see how the Geth would have such technology to interface with a human brain and copy Shepard's 'self'- Cerberus clearly didn't as we saw with Shepard's clone.
I agree, completely... I would love to see them bring Shepard back, but not at the cost of compromising who Shep was in the trilogy.
If Bioware goes the clone route, I don't want Shepard's consciousness, in my mind that would completely defeat the purpose of the clone. I think the story that can be told would be more interesting with a new Shep. You have a new protagonist that has their life/expectations written for them since their conception and the clone chooses to reject them. This flips your expectations of what Shepard was going to be. Meaning this Shepard isn't the same as the one that answered to the Alliance or the Council. This isn't the same Shepard that has his goals set on the Reapers. No. This new clone is looking for their true purpose and becomes the hero because they decide to stop chasing Shep's shadow like the Citadel DLC clone.
This way you can have Meer/Hale return, but have the Shepard experience still be fresh. New allegiances, new potential growth for the character such as motivations and philosphies.
I just want to say that I respect you for always making the case to respect the choice of those of us who didn't pick the Destroy ending. The idea that the "perfect" Destroy ending is canon is such a foregone conclusion for many, every time I point out that I wouldn't like it if my ending was erased, I end up in a discussion with someone trying to convince me that my choice was wrong. No, I don't think the Reapers are going to attack organics again if I chose the Control ending, no matter what your head canon says!
I digress. Thanks for caring about us Kala! I hope we both like the next game.
Thank you! I try to be unbiased when I approach things because it’s important to take the entire fanbase’ s choices into account! Don’t want anyone to feel excluded 😊
I must say after all these years, I like Control a lot more in retrospect. Reaper Shep helps rebuild a bit then commits mass reaper suicide, so easy really... especially if you don't buy the star kid's theory and believe Shep is ethical.. Sure Shep wouldn't be remembered as well, but small price.
@@aknelson229 My thoughts were always with EDI and the Geth. I helped broker a peace between the Geth and the Quarrians, and Legion sacrificed itself believing in all its being that he had a soul, and now that stupid kid wants me to believe that peace between synthetics and organics is impossible? That no one synthetic life was worth as much as an organic one?
I wanted an ending that didn't undo everything I had done, and Control was the only ending that left everybody else unchanged. I had to sacrifice my Shepard for that principle, something I didn't enjoy doing at all. I really hope it wasn't for nothing.
I feel the statement that Sheps clone was a loser is harsh. If it hadn’t been Shepard, Sheps clone would have pulled it off. And it wasn’t Shep that beat his clone, it was 100% the assistant VI glyph!
In a conversation with Garrus ( bridge shooting up in the Citadel) Garrus mentions Sheppard being Cryoed for 50.000 years.
Look people Shepard is gone time to move on
I also did Destroy/Liara and would love to see him come back, but I don't see Bioware cloning him. Maybe if Cerberus or some other advanced entity cracked the Prothean stasis tech and snatched his body for revival in a post-rebuild future...? Maybe. I don't think we will see him again except in flashbacks
I honestly don't think Shepard should return. I really just want Ryder to come back as to me it is the easiest way to continue without invalidating choices.
"A clone Shepard can pay a CAT-6 soldier to fire a gun, march up a hill, but you can tell them to believe."
-Admiral Hackett (Paraphrased)
Love these videos but I was thinking what if liara has shepherds memories when given Shepard the "gift" at the end of ME3 maybe somehow she could clone his memories into a physical shepherd
Using a cloned Shepard is just lazy writing if Shepard were to return then only have him/her as a VI/AI interface or as a collection of various vid mails & news clips
So, regarding a Shepard return, I personally think it's evident how much (too much actually) of the fandom sort of idolizes Shepard to the point of trying to impose totally biased "arguments" for a Shepard return. The fact is that Shepard is done. There is no logical and/or realistic way for him to return; and you expose this in this video very well. Many are just trying to find a way to justify a Shepard return that they say/write things like "oh, maybe his cells got imortalized, or developed an inmortality trait", "oh, maybe he just got beemed off onto a very distant part of the galaxy, now unreachable", etc. What is evident here is a clear idolization - the true cult of Shepard. Look I enjoyed playing as commander Shepard immensely. But part of what I think made Shepard great is that he was finite. A human just like us, but the best of us within what the ME Universe has shown us to date. And the fact that he had to at least consider giving up his existance for every other being in the ME universe attests to that exactly. Which is why I think that we all should just be at peace with the end of the Shepard story (not necessarily with how the trilogy ended, considering the rushed ending, lack of closure, etc). Also, and pertaining to my last sentence, that (closure) is the reason I think many can't accept a Shepard death/ending to his story. I mean, after going through soooo much during the trilogy, it all just ended a lil' too quick and vaguely. I think we all need a bit of closure not only with Shepard, but with the crew as well as the state of the Milky Way - post reaper war. If they (game devs at Bioware) manage to do that in the next installment, maybe we all can at least finally start to move on.
They either should bring him back with excellent writing and taking into account of your choices or just dont bring him and his squadmates back at all. Althoug I prefer Shep but if they decide to not "continue" his story then they should choose ryder instead a new random protagonist. At least he has something to build on.
I hope not. It wouldn't be the same. Unless the stakes are made somehow higher than the trilogy.
Even that would feel forced.
Letting Shepherd rest is absolutely the best way forward. Unless the fandom really wants just a series of endless sad callbacks to the trilogy.
I'm 50\50 on the clone shepard theory it could work but idk I would like real shepard back with everyone endings and choices matter or if they do canonize an ending explain why that sending was canon so everyone can get on board but also I don't mind if shepard is dead is Shepard's story Is done and move on to a new protagonist in the next mass effect game or maybe Ryder if the do a time jump and far of said time jump or not I'm still excited for the next mass effect game and I personally would like more info about the next mass game to get me more hyped.
Personally i would preferer playing a new character...
Another way they could bring Shepard back is as a form of A.I and maybe give him/her a synthetic body like the one EDI had.
Hell maybe teknologi has advanced enough to the point where they could but an A.I mind of Shepard into a cloned body of him/her
That could get rid of the memory and personality problem that the ME3 clone had.
You know you're the Queen of Mass Effect, rt? Everyone cite your theories and points out your videos. Thanks for such a great job.
I wouldn't want a clone Shepard, cause it wouldn't be Shepard. It feels like it would be the Citadel DLC again, with one angry and resentful copy who wonders what their place and role really is. With they way I played my SHepard(Synthesis) so is there no way my Shepard is coming back, do have some crazy thoughts on how that could still happen, but my Shepards Story is done. So I don't think Shepard is coming back the Clone way, but that there is an entirely new Protaganist in the ME5.
What I can believe is that maybe, and I mean a BIG maybe, there is a Clone of Shepard in MEA, that has been brought by the Cerberus operatives that smuggled themselves onboard as crew, but they aren't Shepard, but just a regular person, that lives and just help build up a new life in the Andromeda Galaxy. This is just a thought I have, but no proof, so it's probably a big NO on that maybe
A theory is that they want to have a Shepard that's grown up, and might be different then the old one, but they need someone who would have been the same. A bit like Alloy in Horizon Zero Dawn. That way (story wise) it *could* happen. What actually will happen is something completely different. What I hope is simply a good story, and we shall see who it is.
Thank you for the video Kala Elizabeth. ^_^ I agree with you about your thoughts on cloning Shepard. I will miss Shepard, but I would not want a clone of Shepard. They can mention Shepard and their choices to the next protagonist in the next game like they do in the Dragon Age series and the Star Wars the old republic series.
"A Clone Shepard? Well that's just lazy writing."
-Deadpool (Paraphrased)
Not only would i accept a clone shephard I would accept any amount of retcon, alternative ending, side story, or alternate universe that allows me to go on one more journey with Jennifer Hale as Shephard. But with that said I'm also very open to a new story with a new lead so long as they've learned from their Adromeda mistakes.
The illusive man was control, Seren was synthesis, and Shepard was destroy - all the endings of ME. If we say destroy is cannon - let's face it, it more or less is, we know Shepard survived.
Casey Hudson said, "this is not the last you'll hear of Shepard", circa 2012(he said this during the backlash Bioware caused. Fans were "holding the line" - I can't lie, it felt good to see them, eventually, give us what they promised.) - I can't rule out that he said this merely to please the fans.
It would be nice to have Shepard in the storyline of the next mass effect, maybe not play as them - but they're there, in game, helping you.
I agree with pretty much everything you've said. If we get Shepard back, it should be because it's good for the story moving forward, and rehashing/rewriting the premise of the best DLC in the entire series is not only a lazy solution, it's very problematic.
I also appreciate your thoughts on Control as an ending, because so much of the discussion about the next game always revolves around us canonizing Destroy because perfect Destroy is the only ending where Shepard lives. Synthesis is the only ending where Shepard definitely dies, Control is the only ending where Shepard definitely lives (he/she narrates the extended ending), and perfect Destroy is an ending where it is hinted that maybe Shepard lives.
I am definitely in the camp that I would like to see Shepard return as a major part of the story, but I'd feel a lot better if they weren't the protagonist. Mass Effect is a rich universe with a lot of stories to tell, and I want new ones.
Shepard dies in the Control ending too. What is controling the Reapers is Shepard's digitalised copy (basically another clone, but this time with memories). The real Shepard is gone.
One theory I came up with, after watching this video is what if somebody came across a shepherd, barely alive after the citadel and the reapers word striker and put him in a version of a Star Wars band for tanks, and they slowly begin the process of healing him but for whatever reason because all this technology inside of him was damaged, they had to spend the next 10 years rebuilding him piece by piece and replacing technology with organic parts in order to fully restore him, and when he came out, he was left with the world he didn’t recognize and had to adapt to. On the flipside, what is there is a bit of a time jump, and the next Mass Effect game has the child of either Leora and Shepard, or Ashley and Shepard playing as the main protagonist
There are billions and billions of people in ME Universe... Leave Shepard alone, for crying out loud... You wanna tell me that there isn't anyone out there who isn't capable to be a freaking hero?? Shepard marked one era of ME, Ryder marked another (or is going to be marked). Let's play another hero for another series.
If he has the memory of the original, then good)
Only the clone in the Citadel DLC didn't have Shepard's memory.
Let's get goofy and just say the reason for the first 3 games was a simulation for the cloned Shepard to learn to be Shepard... based on the life of the real Shepard. :)
6:50 Actually, if they decided to use a clone version of Shepard, they could have you interact with your crews family. We could have a whole new generation of companions that are both similar and new to us. They could have similarities to their old counter parts whilst having new quirks and personalities that could make it fun to befriend or romance them all over again.
dont know why but i get the feeling remnant/jardaan may have something to do with shephards return and perhaps the geth. So hear me out, we know geth had mass relays linked and then used as a telescope so its fair to say they might have some ( allthough limited ) insight in whats happening in andromeda. We know theres either new mass relays or a relay ship being build and theres a strong chance they will be more advanced than during the trilogy, wether thats because of leftover reaper tech, technological advancement ( due to timeskip ), cooperation with the geth or a mix of them. Now the jardaan/remnant have been shown to be able to create biological body's ( angaran ) absent a soul and geth before and after the war developed souls but with a mechanical body so even if now they can perceive how organics feel they would not be able to fully experience it because of a lack of compatible body's. Now for the crazy part of this theory: is it crazy to think the milkyway has been able to establish contact with andromeda and they are trying to put shephards soul in a jardaan/remnant created shephard body? Meridian is now under the initiatives control and perhaps with enough time given they can learn to operate it or the geth might. Its also known that Shephard has been inside the geth consensus, melded with liara on multiple occasions and had his dna stored by cerberus...so there have been instances enough for genetical data or his soul to be "copied or saved" in order to facilitate a jardaan/remnant "clone" but with his original soul and i like this idea better than another cerberus clone or revive. Also might explain what liara is looking for, maybe a piece is missing to restore him.
Anyway kinda farfetched but i like the idea.
Holy shit, what if the Citadel clone Shepard didn't die (somehow) after falling off the back of SR2...😱
I kind of hope that Shepard is not returned, even after Bioware hurt my heart (repeatedly) during his various interactions with Tali (she was so great and I was really rooting for their relationship). Also, if we can't play "our" Shepard, with all his unique experience and memories across playthroughs, that's going to really really suck.
I hope we don't get a clone tbh, personally I would love it if you could import your ME LE save into the ME5, and during a big mission where you are trying to solve a mystery around Shepard you find logs or video footage (like we got on Eden Prime in ME3 with Javik) but have these "flashbacks" be playable, and you get to play as Shepard again and maybe even experience things post ME 3 but way before ME5 (it has to have a massive time jump in order for ME:A to fit in), or maybe even get to experience things from before ME1, imagine if we got a playable flashback as Anderson during the first Contact War!!!
To be perfectly fair having clones Shepherd will not work for me. In all fairness Shepard’s the story has concluded. I want a new character and new romances and skills too. But I would love to see incidents where they show actual videos or documentation of your shepherd success against the REAPERS!! To even go a step further and have the character to the new agonist the offspring of Shepard! Maybe even see Commander Shepard in her old age with his or her love interest. Towards the end of the game or at the beginning to send you off the new story and adventure!! The N7 program is renamed the Shepard Academy!! Something that give the player the satisfaction of all your achievements as the player. And actually see a statue of Commander Shepard in whatever way you played him or her in the image that she created. Instead of calling him a whore, Commander Shepard, but Admiral Shepard!
I don't want a clone Shepherd. I want the real Shepherd or no Shepherd at all!
100% with you on this one
exactly... we need a new protagonist.
I would be fine if there is a Clone or Backup for Legion somehow, but Shepard noway i wouldnt really like that
You know what I hope 🤞 comes in mass effect 4 is the romance where you can cuddle just like in mass effect 2
In the sneak peek video, we see Liara walking through the snow and finds the fragment of Shepard's N7 helmet then smiles. She knows she is in the correct vicinity. I predict she keeps searching to find enough of Shepard, frozen, to start a regeneration project, using Shadow Broker technology. So, maybe not so much a clone but more like actual regeneration tissue like a lizard growing back it's tail etc. It's far fetched but Liara is the Shadow Broker and nobody knows the full extent of her reach.
I know it is not the case this time around but we could see Shepard in a later prequel game. I would like to see that. It could be a game with three mini campaigns, the one you play is based off the background choices you make one, being the sole survivor against the sand worms or versus the pirate of the blitz, I forget the third option. For background. It could also have a different beginning like Dragon age depending on if you are an Earther, colonist, or spacer.
Another nice prequel option Would be Anderson and/or Ashley's dad during the 1st contact war against the turians.
Now this is the Legendary edition. In the 360 edition, the Destroy ending was chosen by a larger margin. So it would be interesting to compare the avg. ages of those who played in 2012 to 2021. It was a different time.
That's true... But who played through all three games and made the choice. Many outcomes were difficult to obtain without a save file from previous games. Most people didn't really "choose" as a not all three choices are available without significant playthrough of all content.
I don't even know if the option to save the geth and quarians is available without a save file.
I think the clone in Citadel DLC at the end when letting go is just a reference to The Mummy Returns.
Another way to bring them back is if the Geth have a copy of them from Shepard’s time in the consensus, and they brought them back for a problem that could only be solved by them.
It also gives BioWare a Shepard that canonically doesn’t know how ME3 ended.
The problem with this is once again, the endings and various choices, if you chose for the Geth to persist and survive, they've merged with the Reaper tech and with the Destroy ending it establishes the Geth would be wiped out, their consensus--those memories and stored data is geth in of themselves as geth are software not hardware--when accessing geth memory databanks you're accessing the geth directly themselves, that's what made dealing with them so damn difficult oft leading to them taking over systems of those who tried datamining them. If you chose not to spare the Geth, they're so weakened much of what data they have stored would have been annihilated along with them, ie because their data is themselves, and once again if going with the Destroy ending on top of that, they're still even in a far worse off situation. Furthermore, just on a logistical level, ME3 was one of BW's most successful games ever made regardless of how one may feel about its endings, so just completely nullifying its conclusions would be the last thing they'd want to do.
I'd propose 3 life paths to coincide with the 3 endings. Destroy (she was badly injured and perhaps the Cerberus technology could repair the damage or even vastly prolong her life beyond normal human), Synthesys perhaps overtime her consciousness becomes aware and she creates a perfect copy of herself as she subconsciousness would view herself Like manifesting a clone. Control maybe have her a bit be responsible for her clone again in come engineering way. Cyberpunk did a decent job of 3 different life paths and i think there would be a way to do it maybe even stay kind of vague on the magic technology tricks. I would need good enough detail or context but I could stomach a tiny bit of vagueness in exchange for getting my Childhood hero a proper happy ending.
Another solid video Commander
If the next game is set after ME3 then the devs will HAVE to colonise one of the three endings.