Just watched the "new" Mass Effect 3 endings. Given the fact that I wasn't exactly up in arms about them in the first place, even though I agreed that the literal inconsistencies were confusing and misleading, the new endings...
...are pretty good. They deal with a lot of the literal inconsistencies and are filled in nicely with a lot of things like seeing the Normandy escape Earth, and seeing where it crash landed was just a spot to land for repair, only to take off again later.
The 'Synthesis' ending still is a bit too "space magic-ish" for whatever that is worth, but it's still obviously the most harmonious and the one I actually like best because I had a strong connection to Eve's character and the plot points through the entirety of the series regarding the dissonance/harmony between humans and A.I.
The 'Destroy' ending is probably the most straight-forward. I personally didn't like it that much, but I also would have never gone down that path either. Not sure why Garrus would even remotely assume Shepard is still alive though. That part doesn't make any sense whatsoever, although if we were to believe the indoctrination theory to be true, it still makes some sense with the final scene with Shepard still surviving. I still have this gut feeling of "ugh" though, because this of course leaves everything open as a "YO DUDES MASS EFFECT 4, CATCH IT".
The 'Control' ending is probably the best ending, even if it's not the path I would have chosen. I think indoctrination theorists are going to probably think this is the most 'right' ending, possibly alongside the 'Destroy' ending.
The 'Refusal' ending is kind of dumb and unnecessary. I mean, it's alright, but it leaves the most open and doesn't address the direct inconsistencies. Maybe should of had Shepard shoot himself/herself in the head or something for an added kick. It's a little easier to see past this ending if I regarded it as some dumb Easter Egg or something.
Overall, I do like that none of these endings address the absolute truth regarding the indoctrination theory itself. Regardless of it being true or not, these endings (aside from the Refusal) still totally work and clarify a lot of the actual inconsistencies of the ending.
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