User blog comment:The Milkman/Madness and Genius/@comment-2228120-20121208125451

I'd say that the biggest shortcoming of the IT is the absolute lack of data to support it. Getting Shepard indoctrinated, or at least temporarily mind-controlled, might have been an interesting plot twist, had it been implemented. Unlike ASOIAF, where there is a clear set of hints and clues allowing you to figure out the mystery of Jon Snow's parentage if you read carefully, there is zero evidence that Shepard is getting indoctrinated. We know that indoctrination is subtle and happens during a prolonged period of exposure, which Shepard never had. The longest he ever was close to a Reaper artifact was those two days he spent unconscious in Arrival, and that would be hardly sufficient for someone so strong-willed to even cause a minor breach. That supposed "indoctrination pulse" released by objest Rho is cr*p - never before or afterwards was indoctrination described as being emited in pulses. Also, it was not the cause of Kenson's indoctrination, either, because she and the rest of the crew had been indoctrinated long before while being around object Rho for too long and it is pretty clear that this is what happened ever since Shepard finds out that the thing is just lying there without any shielding.The sole purpose of the pulse was to incapacitate Shepard so that he could be taken prisoner - and besides, since Shepard's activity in Arrival is not canon, quite a couple of players would have no basis for indoctrination at all. Harbinger claiming that it will have Shepard's mind is just big talk and wishful thinking, as well as all those "you will know pain" and "I will destroy you", none of them happening. Shepard is never shown hearing voices in his head while awake, or his memories and goals being confused like with the number of people we saw at various stages of indoctrination. All in all, no prolonged exposure, no symptoms of indoctrination - Shepard was never indoctrinated.