User blog comment:The Shadow User/Is there a chance for Romance?/@comment-743796-20101015125409

The only two characters who would be in the third game and are absolutely certain to have survived both ME1 and 2 are Ashley/Kaidan (whichever survived Virmire) and Liara. Every other squad member can be killed off if all the incorrect decisions are made in the game. Even Shepard could die.

As for a Samara romance, although she follows the Justicar Code, the Code doesn't prevent a romantic relationship, as said by her in the "Romance" conversation late in the game (or after the game ends)... but she chooses not to go through with one.

As for Thane's supposed "miracle cure", even though the use of Deus ex Machinae (plural) are sometimes used in films, they don't work in the games. Moral of the story for the ME universe: YOU (the player) are the "Gods out of the machine". As good as Thane was, he wants to die... so let it be. If Thane survives the events of ME2, then create a "space funeral scene" or likewise, do it for all those who died in the suicide mission.

Deus ex Machina only works if the situation is absolutely hopeless, That a "godly or higher power" is needed to resolve it. The Matrix Revolutions had an actual character called the Deus ex Machina (leader of the machines) who was able to plug Neo back into the matrix to fight Smith. At the end of "Dodgeball", Vince Vaughn's character brought in a chest (literally called Deus ex Machina) that contained $5 mil. in order to buy off Globogym. Lastly, in "Click", Morty the Angel of Death returned Mike to the Bed Bath and Beyond store to give him a second chance after he died in the future. See where this is going?