User blog comment:Garhdo/Extended Cut - opinions?/@comment-4888147-20120627084330

I thought the Extended Cut was fantastic! Pretty much all the glaring plot holes present in the original ending (at least, the ones I cared about, were filled. Full disclosure: I didn't mind the original endings too much, in terms of the thematic resolution (e.g. the nature of the catalyst & the three choices). My gripes with it were the lack of closure and detail, and the EC addressed all of that.

I went for the Destroy option first time around, because I wanted my Shepard to live. Went the Synthesis route this time, and I don't think I could go back to Destroy again, for the simple reason that EDI's monologue was fantastic and pretty emotional, IMO. I feel that Bioware definitely intended 'Synthesis' to be the 'best' ending, especially when you get that cameo of maskless Quarians (nice touch!). Sure, Shepard may have survived Destroy, but (s)he (may have) committed genocide to do it. And control, while the epilogue was very neat, felt kind of creepy. Shepard the omniscient intergalactic (benevolent) dictator? o.O

I read some comment where people griped about the 'Refuse' option, saying it was a 'slap to the faces of angry fans' because it was significantly shorter, and Reapers win this cycle's war. However, I think Bioware did the right thing, in preserving the original endings. They answered fan complaints of not being able to shoot the Catalyst in the face or tell him to 'get stuffed;' and that was the consequence. Besides, it's not implied utter failure in "Refuse," because the female Stargazer says that it was due to the intel gathered by the last cycle that enabled peace in their present, implying that the Reapers were eventually defeated (possibly through another Shepard-like figure making the decision ours refused to).

Finally, Bioware also addressed the emotional aspects of the ending. First, there's the touching parting scene between Shep and his/her LI during the Conduit run (I actually cheered at that scene, since that was the first resolved plothole). And, of course, Shepard's memorial. Yes, I choked up when Garrus hugged EDI (which I'm pretty sure is only available in Synthesis, again - extra stuff implying the ideal ending).

Bioware stayed true to their original intent for the trilogy's conclusion (the theme is SACRIFICE! I was never hoping for a HEA, and those who wanted to see a Shep/LI reunion post-Destroy can always go to Fanfiction.net), and I think many other fans will have had their faith restored in the company. Haters will hate, but those truly still dissatisfied w/ the EC really are ungrateful, entitled brats.