[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Next topic: a few questions for people who are defending the ending:

Spoiler!

What was your take on the part with the Normandy fleeing the explosion? How did my crew, who just minutes ago were in London for the ground battle, end up on the Normandy? Did Joker just abandon the fight against the Reapers in orbit to pick them up from the surface? If so, how would he know to do that? Why would Joker leave the battle, and why would my other companions agree to join him in retreat rather than continue fighting? Doesn't that seem out of character for all of them?

Even if I can get behind the starchild sequence (and I certainly have other problems with that section), I can't think of any reason that is logically consistent with the setting and characters to explain how my squad would suddenly appear back on the Normandy and Joker would flee the fight. The game provides no explanation for this. How is that not objectively bad storytelling?

Spoiler!

All I can say is that I saw Joker and EDI and Liara step out of Normandy. I don't think the whole crew is meant to be there. If that were the case, it might be more problematic. Between saying goodbye to her in London and the end, there's plenty of time for her to get back on Normandy, so it's a question of logistics and motivation.

I did the final charge with Garrus and Ashley. I assume they were either killed or lying wounded somewhere in London.

The first point I'd emphasize is that it wasn't "just minutes ago". Between goodbyes and the end, there's at least an hour even in game time, which can be significantly more in narrative time. The time that you spend actually playing is not the time that passes in the story, but even the time you spend playing is enough for a person to get back on Normandy.

I can see Liara getting back. She's not doing anything on Earth as far as I can tell. I can see others getting back too. The ones you take with you on the mission are a different story and also those who are clearly there to fight in the assault like James, I assume.

I'd say it would have been better if they had clarified these things, but I suspect they were worried that it would affect the pacing of the final sequence. This is a matter of good faith, basically. They can easily come up with a reason why someone was on the Normady. You and I can too. I don't think it counts as a plot hole unless you can show that such and such a person could not have possibly been on board in that playthrough. Everyone gets a person stepping out in the end for whatever reasons.

Joker fleeing the explosion is straightforward to me. Once the thing blows up, you run. You have to remember that the distances are so vast that they do have time to observe what's about to happen and try to outrun it. I don't understand why people insist that it's him fleeing the fight. It honestly makes no sense to me why people keep repeating this criticism.