Mass Effect 2 - What Happens If You WARN SIDONIS??? (Garrus' Loyalty Mission)

In this video, I'll show you what happens if you warn Sidonis during Garrus’ loyalty mission, Eye for an Eye.
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During Mass Effect 2, Garrus will ask you to help him deal with a personal matter related to his time in a merc gang on Omega. One of his crew members, Lantar Sidonis, lured Garrus’ team into a trap, which led to all 10 of them being killed. Garrus asks Shepard to take him to The Citadel so he can locate Sidonis and kill him.
Since the first Mass Effect game, Garrus has always been a bit of a renegade. His side quest in Mass Effect, involved a similar mission to track down and kill someone who evaded justice. In that case, it was a Salarian doctor named Saleon, who performed unethical experiments and organ harvesting for personal profit.
Shepard’s leadership can influence Garrus to a more paragon path or cater to his more renegade sense of justice.
After tracking down Harkin on The Citadel and setting up a meeting with Sidonis, Garrus and Shepard take a skycar to the meeting point. At this moment, Garrus is dead set on killing Sidonis and nothing Shepard says can convince him otherwise. The pain and heartache in Garrus’ voice is palpable as he entertains the thought that Sidonis would evade justice for his crimes.
Once Shepard arrives at the meeting point, we have two options - Let Garrus Take the Shot or Warn Sidonis. If you choose to warn him, Shepard will keep standing between him and Garrus' scope. You will have several opportunities to change your mind and allow Garrus to take the shot during the conversation. But if you continue talking to him, you will be presented with a paragon dialogue choice to convince Garrus to let him go.
Should you warn Sidonis or let Garrus kill Sidonis? The choice is up to you, depending on your roleplaying preferences. Either way, you will gain Garrus' loyalty.

[@joshuabenitez3260]

What I never understood is that a guy just got sniped in public and everyone around just kept going about their day like it's normal.

[@ServantOfOdin]

True. I always found this the most odd thing. If it were Omega, no one would bat an eyes for sure... But the Citadel? mmmhhh... Smells weird.

[@joshuabenitez3260]

@@ServantOfOdin My thoughts exactly.

[@mrgaudy1954]

@@ServantOfOdin Sorry, that was me

[@young50ny]

Because they were on the dark version of citadel so I guess shit like that happens on the daily

[@incognito3817]

He dies in front of *The* Commander Shepard though. Just Spectre business nothing to see here.

[@youraverageinternetperson4323]

I like sparing Sidonis, partially because it leads to one of my favorite lines in the series. "It's so much easier to see the universe in black and white. Gray? ...I don't know what to do with gray"

[@spiderz5145]

That’s... relatable.. And true.

[@voken1380]

@Kisa Vorobianinov Garrus’ team are dead before the loyalty mission takes place regardless if you spare him or not

[@AntharTrue]

@Kisa Vorobianinov statistics say, if you spare sidonis - He saves people and sacrificies himself. If you spare sidonis 10 times, he will save more people and sacrifice himself 10 times If you spare Sidonis 500 times - Nothing will change cause your argument over a video game is brainless lol

[@Hotobu]

@Kisa Vorobianinov This is the dumbest pseudointellectual drivel I've read today, but it's early. I doubt anything will top this though.

[@Hotobu]

@Kisa Vorobianinov 🤣🤣🤣That was tantamount to "I'm rubber and you're glue." Even your comebacks are banal. Seriously, just stop. Read what you initially wrote and ask yourself do you *really* think there was anything remotely profound about it whatsoever (the answer should be "no). If what you wrote was food it would have the nutritional value of cardboard.

[@Kold-Kanadian]

there's some cut content in ME3 where if you spare SIdois he would have gone out of his way and saved Garrus' family on Palaven by sacrificing himself ensuring their safety off world. shame we didn't get that in the end

[@mitchelldavis1180]

This was head cannon for me for the longest time

[@Kold-Kanadian]

@@mitchelldavis1180 it was a head cannon for many people for a time

[@cbhensoncbhenson5515]

Honestly I bet they didn’t do this because so many people just let Garrus kill him.

[@Mattjammar]

@@cbhensoncbhenson5515 could've at least been an email.

[@ericlouderback9928]

I would have preferred this

[@beefjerky007]

For the longest time, I always just let Garrus shoot Sidonis. Recently I’ve started warning Sidonis, and it makes the loyalty mission a LOT more interesting in my opinion.

[@SirBigWater]

Especially with depending on what you say to him and how you handle Dr. Heart in ME1, he'll mention it in this.

[@madcap3450]

I used to always let garrus shoot him because I knew you could fuck up other loyalty missions like exposing Talis father not earning her loyalty so I was scared of not getting his loyalty and losing him

[@hounsdjentlow3074]

@@madcap3450 wait, saving sidonis can fuck up your other loyalty missions?

[@madcap3450]

@@hounsdjentlow3074 no

[@MrManowar6]

It offers a bit of development for Garrus

[@stellarm9882]

too bad they rushed ma3 imagine they could have just made a short conversation in wich garus finds out sidonis helped his father and sister get off palaven or maybe just a small side mission with him oh well ...

[@guilhermehank4938]

Garrus: that changes nothing...but thanks Sidonis: its...the least I could do.

[@worlondawnstrider7477]

Actually there is a me 3 specter terminal report, or galactic new report, can't remember, but it says sidonis gave his life to save a number of civilian lives.

[@guilhermehank4938]

@@worlondawnstrider7477 kind of reminds me that guy from Jack's loyalty mission if you let him live. Turns out he dies while fighting reaper forces using his bionics to save several children who were able to be rescued to safety thanks to his efforts. Really shows how these guys weren't so bad

[@madcap3450]

Rushed mass effect 3? Mass effect 3 has more written dialogue than the previous two combined. Theres only so much you can cram into one game

[@tamilashultz9676]

Yes. Saving Sidonis should have led to a positive in Mass Effect 3. A side mission that doesn't happen if you let Garrus shoot him.

[@CedricCaffa]

I was always scared too lose Garrus’ loyalty so I never did it

[@pablofigueroa1140]

Me too, i cant say no to garrus

[@FuddlyDud]

As did I XD

[@TheDapperDog402]

Same for me.

[@mmora2865]

Ditto

[@jthrasher93]

You gain his loyalty regardless.

[@Arthus850]

I just couldn’t let Garrus go down a dark path. I saved Sidonis. And I’m glad I did.

[@TheKisj]

But vengeance tastes so sweet

[@Arthus850]

@@TheKisj So do a lot of poisons. And revenge is like a poison. It can take us over, and before you know it, can turn you into something ugly. (I totally didn’t steal that from Spider-man 3)

[@TheKisj]

@@Arthus850 totally 😏

[@spartin001full]

Ya I couldn't bring myself to let Garrus do it.

[@Shadowbreaker1989]

It was just a temporary thing, lol.

[@okeman7614]

Who else is waiting for the Legendary Edition to come out and replay the trilogy?

[@SuBruoNL]

I already started... wish I was better at waiting

[@TacticalLeo]

Me. I’m gonna play as femShep this time around

[@christianoperez8224]

i already pre ordered it and i’m counting down the days, i already have all 3 mass effects and play through all the time but i’ve never had any of the dlcs so i’m really interested to experience that

[@eduardmart1237]

The games are good already. I am afraid legendary edition can make them only worse.

[@WolfyFancyLads]

Honestly, I want it cos it's easier getting the DLC that way. :P I looked into buying each and they always seem to lack a bunch on content, so I'm hoping this gives me every important DLC (missions and such, not cosmetics) out there.

[@ord4everX14]

I'm surprised you omitted one small part.. If you contradict your advice you gave Garrus when it came with dealing with Dr. Heart, he will actually mention how what you are telling him is different then what you said in that situation. Just a detail I remember that I thought was cool.

[@Robidu1973]

It's always great when NPCs actually do remember. It doesn't let them come across as stupid.

[@Lemontarts01]

I recently did it. It may have been removed from LE. Because garus had none of that dialogue. And I definitely killed the guy in the first game, but not sidonis

[@IIJOSEPHXII]

I've just let Sidonis get away and I let Garrus kill Dr Heart in the first game. In the conversation immediately after the left dialogue choice says, "Trust your heart" but Shepard says "You gotta go with your instincts." I'm playing the vanilla versions on the 360. Don't know if he'll mention Dr Heart later

[@IIJOSEPHXII]

​@@Lemontarts01 I've just let Sidonis get away and I let Garrus kill Dr Heart in the first game. In the conversation immediately after the left dialogue choice says, "Trust your heart" but Shepard says "You gotta go with your instincts." I'm playing the vanilla versions on the 360. Don't know if he'll mention Dr Heart later but he didn't just now.

[@kajana4988]

In a way it's a loyalty test for Shepard. Do you do what he wants, what he asked you to or do you do what is better for him but risk his friendship? Garrus is acting out of grief and anger. Making Garrus deal with what happened, instead of making Sidonis the scapegoat, is better for Garrus. Sidonis isn't a bad guy just weak, and if given the chance he'd take it back even if they did kill hIm. And I believe that if Garrus does kill him, one day he'll regret it. A real friend does what's best for you even if you don't want them too.

[@WackRusDud]

"Revenge is a fool's game" after all

[@Robidu1973]

@@WackRusDud Especially because it's the entry point to a vicious cycle: Act out of revenge, and you most likely are going to trigger a counterrevenge. Try to defuse a situation where feasible, and the chance for things to settle down are significantly higher.

[@hugostiglitzracing866]

thats a good point

[@MrAwrsomeness]

That's a female world view and doesn't hold weight to reality.

[@gerstein03]

@@MrAwrsomeness that's sexist and completely untrue

[@Idhart]

I didn’t even hesitate to let this dude feel the floor, lol.

[@madingo02]

I dont care what anyone says... Garrus is my boy. I've lost count of the times I've replayed this trilogy buy Sidonis never lives.

[@itsCaptainEli]

Ones true friends do what their friends need, not always what they want. If you Let Sidonis talk Garrus sounds like he knows he wouldn't want to have taken the shot.

[@thedankgnasty1890]

​@madingo02 Garrus doesn't want to take the shot once he learns the whole story of what happened. When someone's your boy, you tell them that sometimes what their doing isn't the right thing. Garrus even agrees with that after the mission if spare Sidonis. He was bloodthirsty, acting like a killer before the mission started. Sidonis didn't want to do what he did, and neither does Garrus.

[@ogxh0018]

​@@thedankgnasty1890 thats the big load of crap. Sidonis sold out his boys for himself. If it was for his family, I'd understand but for himself and he very well could have warned Garrus of the setup too, seeing as the mercs actually let him go and had to get ready to kill off their crew. Coward always hits the floor

[@thedankgnasty1890]

@@ogxh0018 damn all I hear is a bunch of yapping. I'd rather make Garrus a better person than a murderous vigilante.

[@AndriaTheKobold]

hearing a turian say "fuck", for some reason it makes me snicker.

[@Amellifera.]

I warned Sidonis. I think this decision is an important part of Garrus' growth as a character, if you decided to be his moral compass in ME1. Garrus is a good person at heart, but he had an immature view of right and wrong, law and order in the first game. A frustrated C-sec officer that wanted justice fast, didn't like rules getting in the way? Old story trope, but common in real life. And how many good people strayed down the wrong path trying to do what they believed to be good things? Garrus started with endangering a bystander, doctor Michel, to take down a criminal. He argued for shooting down Saleon's ship, even though there were hostages aboard. What would he be doing at the end of his life, sacrificing dozens to hunt down one thief? So I challenged his views every discussion and convinced him to arrest Saleon. I was so proud of him when he understood at the end, and said exactly what I thought he should do, which is to "find the right way", not "the fastest way". I saw he had a lot of respect and admiration for Shepard, and thought of them as a mentor. In ME2 I didn't judge him for being a vigilante on Omega. Vigilante justice seemed like the only kind of justice anyone would be given on that lawless rock. I haven't seen what he'd done there, beyond defending himself from mercs after they wiped out his friends. He claimed his team didn't involve civilians, so that was an improvement over his attitude in ME1. I trusted him for the time being. I didn't plan on stopping him from getting his revenge on Sidonis, he was grieving and I didn't know the details of their story. I didn't know who Sidonis was or what became of him; a high profile criminal now, maybe? I waited to learn more before making judgement. But once the mission began, I was growing increasingly uncomfortable by how Garrus was behaving; bloodthirsty, obsessed and ruthless. It reminded me of Zaeed whose mission I've done before (and I knew Garrus was leagues above Zaeed as a moral character, which only made me more concerned for him). I wasn't one to cry for a PoS like Harkin getting roughed up, but I did stop Garrus from busting his cap at least. Don't shoot unarmed people. When it came to the finale, I gave Sidonis an opportunity to speak (something I probably wouldn't have done if he wasn't unarmed, in a public space, and Garrus wasn't seeing red), and learned that he was coerced by the mercs to betray his team. Through blackmail or torture, I don't know, but either way it was something that Garrus didn't care to find out or didn't tell Shepard. Was Sidonis lying? Garrus called him a coward, not a liar. So he was a man coerced to betray his friends and ruined by the guilt he felt. Garrus wasn't there to bring him to justice, he was looking for revenge so he could find closure and stop grieving. I believed in that moment that taking the shot was the easy, fast way to closure. Letting Sidonis go, forgiving, was the right way. If Shepard is stubborn enough, it is Garrus' decision to let Sidonis leave. The only thing Shepard forced him to do is to listen to the other side of the story and think it through before he pulls the trigger. Whether Sidonis is spared or not, Garrus will find peace and be loyal to Shepard. Closure isn't something in question during this mission, but whether Garrus learns something is. He admits as much, even though more mature than in ME1, he says that he still tends to see the world as black and white, doesn't know what to do with grey. But even when he's so angry and hurt, he does trust Shepard even when he doesn't trust himself. Whatever you, through Shepard, believe is healthier for him, what path he should take, he will trust your judgement, same as he did in the previous game.

[@bend6919]

In the comic Mass Effect: Homeworlds it's revealed that one of the major reasons for Garrus' strained relationship with his dad is because he released a suspect in Garrus' C-Sec case after he found out Garrus was engaged in coercion, witness tampering and assault to get it solved. Even before we meet Garrus he was on a one-way road to become an abusive, corrupt officer, not because he wanted money or perks but because he wanted to solve crimes. Garrus joined Shepard because he was excited to work under a Spectre and do as he pleases outside the rule of law. Maybe it was also an opportunity to one-up his strict father and show him he can get things done without following the rules. I like to think that Shepard succeeded in then setting Garrus on the right path, when his father failed through the turian harsh parenting method of putting his son down and telling him "you're not good enough for me". Shepard succeeded through friendship and telling Garrus "I care about you and I believe this is what's best for you". It must have given Garrus pause that the two biggest authority figures in his life who have a completely different relationship and approach with him are telling him the same thing: "Do it the right way, not the fast way" Btw, in the comic it's shown that Sidonis was tоrtured.

[@Amellifera.]

@@bend6919 Thanks for the comic recommendation. Reading it, ironically, made this situation a lot more black and white. I don't see how anyone can view Sidonis as anything else than another victim in this crime, with Garrus admitting that he was pushing his team too hard which may have led to the tragedy unfolding. This didn't change my initial guess that Garrus was just making Sidonis an easy scapegoat onto whom he can unleash his anger and grief - this only further reinforced it. And the scary thing is, if you didn't see the hints that something was off about Garrus, if you let him take the shot instantly, you'd never know any of it. You'd end the mission thinking you've dropped a worthless traitor (who for all you know could have sold out his team for money) and made Garrus happy, simple as. But what you actually did is help murder a man who was pushed too hard, captured, beaten and forced to betray his friends and grieving just as much as Garrus, if not even more, while living in fear that Garrus will one day hunt him down and kill him. I don't see how killing him is the right thing to do. I don't see how a friend would let Garrus continue down this dark, ruthless path. I like this loyalty mission because it's the only one when you have to make this kind of choice with incomplete information. When Mordin is about to shoot his assistant, or Miranda kill her friend, or Jack shoot another test subject, you know everything there is to it and killing them wasn't even the main objective, so the choice is easy. But with Garrus you have to pick up the hints during the mission and then basically have Shepard stand in the way of his personal objective, in the literal crosshairs of a furious, emotionally unstable turian. I remember my heart racing, anxious that Garrus would never forgive Shepard and I would lose his loyalty as I made my choice. But when Sidonis explained himself, I knew it was the right way even if it would cost us our friendship. Thankfully, Garrus cooled off and though so too, even thanked Shepard for being there for him at his lowest, judging the situation when he himself wasn't in the right state of mind to do so.

[@VANTARTS]

what is this? essay club?

[@WolfyFancyLads]

This is basically the second "hardening" mission Garrus has, the first being the doctor in ME1. I feel that taking the shot makes Garrus more vigilante than protector. But, as you said, it doesn't affect anything, so it's more just a personal view than gameplay based.

[@Attacker12369]

I always warned Sidonis because in his position would any of us act different in a life or death situation. While he shouldn't escape justice, death would of been a quick of an escape for him. And if Garrus kills Sidonus he's is evading justice and become the very thing he hates.

[@Commanderhurtz1]

I think this is the best take I've read thus far. If you think about it, even if Sidonis is responsible for people dying, killing him here defenseless would really be murder...Thus Garrus becoming a murderer himself.

[@spartin001full]

@@Commanderhurtz1 yep.

[@conradkorbol]

What Justice? No court would prosecute you for saving your own life by telling someone info. The mercenaries are the criminal sidonis didn’t do anything wrong. It’s so fucking weird. I love garrus and the doctor in the first game deserves to die so do the mercenaries but sidonis is basically Innocent.

[@gbBakuryu]

There is no due process though in omega. The only option they have if they want Sidonis to pay is to take him prisoner themselves, or kill him. It would be different if Sidonis killed Garrus's men on the citadel or a lawful place.

[@Attacker12369]

Conrad Korbol In my mindset justice can be a lot of things, but on the rarest occasion it should be murder. For Sidonus, he will always have to live with the fact that his choice killed 10 men. I’m not saying that “oh I would of died rather than give them up” but it’s that after he told them the location he made sure Garrus wasn’t there rather than everyone. His guilt and pain from it is his justice, he shouldn’t be given the easy way out

[@talmadgeskeen8166]

to me it doesn't feel right for garrus to be on a path of renegade. i always lead him to path of paragon

[@gamingcasually9748]

Of course it is, do you think his armor is blue by chance?

[@jthrasher93]

I usually warn Sidonis and save him. I feel it gives Garrus more character development and it feels more satisfying.

[@amz7828]

I warn Sidonis, tell him what Garrus is up to and then let Sidonis decide. He confesses, regrets and decides to let Garrus kill him. So my Shepard stepped aside and let Vakarian take the shot. And, tbh, it was my first playthrough and I didn't wanna risk losing Garrus loyalty

[@jthrasher93]

@@amz7828 That's fair. My best friend has been playing ME a lot longer than I have and he had no idea that letting Sidonis live can also gain Garrus' loyalty until I told him. The only way to not gain his loyalty is to not do the mission at all.

[@frostburn3736]

Killing Sidonis: Revenge Sparing Sidonis: Redemption Talking with Sidonis and then killing him: Mercy (My choice)

[@jasonmillsom2981]

Me too I think it's good for Garrus to understand what sidonis was going through

[@kuronanestimare]

I finally talked with him and then let Garrus take the shot after on my Infiltrator playthrough and will definitely do it on my Engineer. Garrus gets his revenge, and Sidonis is given the release he craves without the same pain he would have if we just murdered him straight up.

[@Robidu1973]

@@kuronanestimare If you let Sidonis live, he is eventually going to turn himself in to C-Sec. I've had it happen some time after the Suicide Mission: You can hear a news report on the Citadel about it.

[@dr.science_0177]

@@Robidu1973 yea but it's outside council space so probably no charges would be put on him.

[@Robidu1973]

@@dr.science_0177 Confirmed. It's quite literally what is being said at the end of the news report.

[@goodman8545]

After seeing Zaeed's loyalty mission, I'm now always afraid to get in the way of anyone's revenge.

[@RbkARI]

You can still earn Zaeed's loyalty if you have enough Paragon points.

[@ladyselin35]

Difference with Zaedd Garrus nevet bosses you around. Even in anger he listens you and respects you. Zaedd was trying to be first in command. Sorry there wont be a two command in a team.

[@shaniatreyu9303]

@@RbkARI Or Renegade. It's so much satisfying to warn Zaeed that you will leave him to die if he doesn't get his shit together. Zaeed will respect your attitude and become loyal to you.

[@Rendarth1]

Same.

[@bruh297]

@@RbkARI are you for real? I have 40% of hero points or paragon points I don't know how they're called, and I can't have a dialogue with him. I need more points?

[@prototype2909]

As much as I love Mass Effect I always had the feeling that playing Renegade wasn't right. Because especially in ME 1 and 2 you save the galaxy anyway but you are simply being an asshole doing it. It never had the same impact as in Kotor 1 where you can choose between the Republic and the Sith Empire. That made an impact in the end at least in my opinion. I hope I didn't step on anyone's toes.

[@guilhermehank4938]

I think the problem is that some renegade choices go from pragmatic and logical to borderline cartoonish evil that goes into self sabotaging territory. Like the samara loyalty mission choice and many many others in ME2 and 3

[@carlbradley3175]

That's why you avoid strict paragon/renegade decisions at every opportunity. You don't need to make 100% paragon and renegade choices, just a plurality of whichever path you want to be your 'defining' one. That's how I play, at least. Normally a renegade Shepard who will still do paragon things, especially in more personal cases re: squad

[@NathanMUFCfan]

In my mind, a spectre that is trying to save the galaxy can't do it in a boy scout like manner. The game allows you to do it, but I can't imagine it in my headcannon. A full on paragon Shepard doesn't make sense to me. Neither does a full on renegade, either. I like a mix a both. I prefer to be more of renegade at the beginning of the series and then make more paragon choices nearer the end. I prefer my Shepard to act like a renegade when dealing with people that get aggressive towards him. Dealing with someone that's pointing a gun at you or making any kind of threat shouldn't be treated in a paragon like manner. I also prefer him to act like a renegade when he needs to get information out of someone when they initially refuse to tell you. With your crew when they need someone to talk to, I think paragon makes much more sense. It also does when dealing with people with mental health issues. I think the game panders way more to paragon and it makes renegade look worse. There are almost no scenarios where playing as a paragon will see anything negative happening. There should be some consequences for trying to deal with some scenarios in a paragon like way.

[@paulheenan9098]

@@NathanMUFCfan The morality scale being so simplistically black and white is why they got rid of it in Andromeda and just let you make a decision based on what you think is right, not forcing you to choose between the "good" and "bad" options. I liked this system better because it made Ryder's personality and morality a lot more fluid than Shepard's.

[@NathanMUFCfan]

@@paulheenan9098 Yeah, that's one thing I really liked about Andromeda. I didn't like the game that much, but they made big improvements to the dialogue wheel. I hope that with the new Mass Effect, they don't throw out everything new from Andromeda. They should keep the dialogue wheel at the very least. I can only think of one negative scenario in the whole trilogy that will happen if you pick paragon in every conversation. Kelly Chambers will be killed by Cerberus. Many people will die if you pick renegade for everything. You shouldn't have been able to try and be diplomatic and win in every circumstance.

[@grilledleeks6514]

I love warning sidonis, then saying you cant help him after the paragon interrupt. It lets both him and Garrus take a breath before both accepting why it needs to happen. Sidonis even thanks shepard as you step out of the way for the shot. Great dramatic flair if you play it right

[@deontaeavila3514]

Arousingg

[@DrMattaconda]

I still wish we got a solo Garrus game where he's basically Jack Bauer in space.

[@jasonmillsom2981]

I'd play the shit out of that

[@gatts1989]

Bioware, P L E A S E

[@SaintJoseph911]

Archangel returns from the dead

[@Kreze202]

Honestly I want to either play as Garrus with his 10 man team with Sidonis or as your own customizable character that was a part of the 10 man team that ends up dying.

[@CircusofPython]

Or even a prequel where you play as a C-Sec Garrus who can be renegade/corrupt or paragon/rule following

[@josephmandes4764]

Im just sittin here like, “there are people who DIDNT warn sidonis?” 💀

[@josephmandes4764]

I mean, i did 100% paragon playthroughs and obviously warning sidonis is a paragon option so

[@Sotka_ot_grudi]

@@josephmandes4764 for 90% renegade walktrough i dont warn him ;)

[@JetWarrior]

I did a paragon run and still didn't warn Sidonis. This was one time where I felt that my crewmate needed this. Plus...I was afraid if I warned Sidonis, I'd lose Garrus's loyalty.

[@josephmandes4764]

@@JetWarrior i feel that. Honestly sidonis was a shitty person so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The only redeeming quality was he regretted it in the end

[@lobal2]

Uh, I have played ME2 probably 2 dozen times. He never makes it out alive. Dude is a traitorous scumbag that sacrificed 10 people to save his own life.

[@obsidian_phoenix7312]

I always warned Sidonis. Garrus hates injustice so I'm not letting my man murder a guy in cold blood.

[@Zomdra]

Are you kidding? Garrus and his gang literally murdered people for their crimes all the time on Omega, it was their whole thing, the Shadow Broker files even describe the sometimes sadistically ironic ways he murdered them (sabotaging a saboteur's environment suit, killing a smuggler with a weapon he'd smuggled, forcing a drug dealer to OD on his own drugs etc.). Executing Sidonis is exactly what Garrus would consider justice.

[@Unknownusername1004]

@@Zomdra especially if for the entire ME1 playthrough agree with his militant eye for an eye no shade of gray meaning for justice. If someone does some ridiculous shit they deserve it back to them just as hard. Its an authoritarian way of thinking but he had that mindset from the beginning even from the first citadel saren investigation

[@KingRogue]

@@Zomdra No Garrus only did those things because he started becoming more brutal and killing criminals is not comparable to a just who was just scared and didn't want to die that's not justice that's vengeance

[@darkmaguire9656]

@@Zomdra yeah I just let garrus kill him on my first playthrough, it felt incomplete when I let him go like literally he betrayed a lot of people so yeah

[@KingRogue]

@@darkmaguire9656 it's not like he betrayed them because he felt like it

[@savaged49]

Love how you are doing all these videos years after the game but as the legendary edition gets announced. Like you had this idea years ago but now is the best time.

[@Fernanda-bs6sy]

I always save Sidonis. It didn't feel in character for my Shepard to let her friend do this. It is also the best option for Garrus from a character development perspective, imo.

[@diehgo_sp]

Yesterday I was playing the Arrival and at the station entrance I was wondering what happens if I stand there until the countdown reaches zero but I wasn't willing to wait two days and 3 hours for it.

[@MrSpartanspud]

If it reaches 0 you get a game over.

[@undyne1]

You get a game over and have to repeat the mission again from your last save point if i remember correctly.

[@TheOneEV2]

You get a game over, but with a twist. *SPOLIERS* You see a very quick ending video, of what can only be Reapers invading earlier than expected. And of course no one is ready, and the images shown are dark, gloomy, and filled with destruction. If Dan were to do a video on it, he should most definitely slow down the ending there to show off as many frames of this video, since it's quick, as possible. It's very interesting to see, regardless.

[@diehgo_sp]

@@TheOneEV2 Technically I get an alternate ending. It's great that BioWare cares about such details despite most of people won't even see it, as I said it takes a lot of time.

[@toomanyaccounts]

you don't want two days. its four hours

[@Lelouchxzero1]

Garrus wouldn't hesitate to help us get revenge if the situations were reversed so I always let him take the shot.

[@lordsodapop4101]

Same

[@regben2057]

Yup, me too

[@conradkorbol]

Sidonis isn’t evil. He snitched to save his life. He is no guilt ridden for life. The mercenaries made everyone a victim.

[@lordsodapop4101]

@@conradkorbol it’s not about sidonis it about how you want your best friend to feel do you want him to get his revenge (I always let him) or not which isn’t bad either

[@conradkorbol]

@@lordsodapop4101 so if your friend murders people you will let them cuz it’s your homie?

[@ManWithCrowbar]

"What a shame... He was a good man... What a rotten way to die." JC Garrus Denton probably

[@SangTheCryptek]

Daaamn the original game looks so much rougher than I remember

[@lordofthegeckos533]

I prefer letting Sidonis live. Garrus actually seems to feel worse about killing him than letting him go.

[@dubbeking]

I let Garrus shoot him the first time since I was scared to death of losing his loyalty, but it didn't feel right. Shepard's icy demeanor and Sidonis' feeble panic when he realized he'd been set up just disheartened me a bit. On replay, I stopped him and don't regret it at all. Seeing his real survivor's guilt and Garrus taking the high road, even bitterly, left my relationship with him feeling much more developed, and less dark.

[@Phoenix8492]

I typically play Paragon Shepard, so my thoughts on sparing Sidonis is that while Garrus wants to bring justice down onto evildoers, this act would not be justice, but revenge. Revenge is rarely just. To also bounce off of Big Dan’s conclusion, to allow Garrus to kill Sidonis seems more like Garrus performing an assisted suicide, and the only one remaining who has to suffer the deaths of Garrus’ team is Garrus himself.

[@spartanq7781]

This is really a better version of Garrus' mission in ME1.

[@ryanseijuro5279]

In my recent playthrough i let garrus kill him. Yeah it wouldn't bring garrus squadmates back but sparing sidonis won't either. At least now both of them can have peace. Sometimes paragon shepard's decision to save everyone just because felt unrealistic. Like he stopped his friend's quest for revenge out of sheer pity and yet get angry at being grounded for killing millions of batarians at the start of ME3

[@WebbanationX]

That shot after the talk is such a clean as fawk scene. "No more sleepless nights" *BLAP*

[@EvergreenJess]

For me, I always warn Sidonis because killing him just makes his pain go away. Letting him live is a far worse punishment because he lives with severe survivors guilt. He considered these people his friends and he sold them out to save his own life (which is something most people would do). He feels such immense guilt that he can barely function enough to live. And saving him triggers one of my favorite quotes: Shepard- "The lines between good and evil blur when we're looking at people we know."

[@nautikient2151]

Big Dan The Man🔥

[@_KRose]

"Ten men are dead because of him!" "Will killing the eleventh bring them back?" Perfect. Love that line. Interestingly, I think there might be a glitch with this line on the Legendary Edition. No matter how high my Paragon is, I always get the other line. It's like the Paragon check line doesn't exist anymore.

[@hinata1ize]

Why do you love it though? Genuinely, I don't get that argument bc just bc we can't save those lost doesn't mean that we should let the one who took them go. To me, that's like asking "why do we arrest terrorists? Will that make the bomb unexplode?" Since he can't be arrested to ensure proper punishment (though killing 10 ppl would probably result in the death penalty anyway), what else do we do?

[@ariezon]

@@hinata1ize legally he would've been sentenced penalty, but logically letting him go to relive those memory every night and never get away from it is far worse fate than a quick death.

[@SenorBigDong69]

@@hinata1ize vengeance is bad, mmmkay?

[@hinata1ize]

@@ariezon I get making him suffer longer. I don't get loving the line about the men not coming back regardless.

[@hinata1ize]

@@SenorBigDong69 To you, perhaps. But if someone canonically killed Tali I'd bet you'd want them dead.

[@alphaprimus7794]

From a point of view of personal evolution and character building, after watching this, I now believe that sparing Sidonis is the best way to handle the mission. As many others before, I have always let Garrus take the shot thinking that it wouldn't be possible to get his loyalty otherwise. And who wouldn't want to secure Garrus' loyalty.

[@ShadowDuty7]

You misspelled evolution as corruption.

[@darthlazurus4382]

If you haven't read the comics, Sidonus didn't have any choice. He was tied to a chair and beaten before he made the call.

[@rustyjones7908]

I did not know that.

[@Delimon007]

He did have a choice, you always do.

[@zangona7111]

Love your content big D You got me to replay mass effect

[@scorpioperk1137]

Imagine what could have been with ME3 if it wasn't rushed. Sidonis could have been at the very least a war asset, someone who protected civilians escaping Palaven, or even better from a story stand point, been in the Citadel DLC. Hear me out, Garrus would get a message from him asking to meet at the bar. He asks you to come with for moral support if nothing else. Once there and they get past the silence of the the first round of drinks, Sidonis tells Garrus everything. How they threatened him with not just his life, but the life of a lover, who he found out after he betrayed Garrus was killed anyways. He regrets not being able to save his team or his love, but Garrus hunting him down gave him the motivation do a bit of hunting himself. He asks Garrus and you to help him hunt down the person who killed his lover. And Unlike Sidonis, this person IS an actual stain that should be removed with extreme prejudice.

[@Norinia]

He saves Garrus’s family in the next game. I’m not sure what becomes of them if Sidonis doesn’t save them.

[@legendgamer676]

I think warning Sidonis is the right choice. Garrus is a good person, he doesn’t need revenge to make up for anything. He’s better than that. ❤️

[@legendgamer676]

@Commander Shepard Thanks Commander

[@warchilledgaming6789]

“Gray…I’m not sure what to do with gray” There has never been a more true statement referring to our world

[@J-Hue]

An even bigger issue people are facing is trying to look at things as gray to avoid dealing with the very real consequences and responsibilities of black and white situations.

[@DerNomade1871]

Hehe a badass alien renegade, more than enough reason why Garrus is my favorite character

[@chriskoloski32]

I'm kinda shocked at how many people didn't try to go through the paragon route

[@CommanderShepard-wq3wo]

The guy got 10 good men killed, men who were trying to make Omega a better place for the good civilians that live there. Just trying to get by. And that’s 10 families without their father because of that little sh*t wanted to save his own skin. He could’ve talked to his team, tell Garrus about his situation. Obviously they were more than capable at handling the situation If they kidnapped his family, maybe I could understand

[@nekorei2023]

​@CommanderShepard-wq3wo but the thing is they probably didn't kidnap his family, it seemed like he just wanted to saved himself (i would hvae understand if he was weak but he wasn't) . And you get an email from one of wives in garrus's team

[@outcast4087]

I thought that killing Sidonis would be the only way to earn Garrus' loyalty, hence why I was afraid to warn him. Now that I know that you earn it regardless, and that Sidonis feels guilty (and not just a little bit - he is literally being haunted by his own actions), I know I would spare him, give him a chance to redeem himself. Especially since Garrus himself says that he still feels the good in him. This is not what I would have done if I was in Shepard's place, but it's what I would do if I could see the future and consequences of my actions.

[@revanchists]

So much better to spare him. That's character development

[@Drakenvlieg]

Brandon Keener did an amazing job bringing Garrus to life. I love all the small nuances. Like the _"niiiice outfit"_ on the citadel dlc 😂

[@thatguyluke242]

I never warned sidonis Never wanted to risk not getting his loyalty

[@agustinniveyro5741]

same

[@Mikk2s]

Thanks for your videos big dan!

[@DJET723]

Sometimes death is a kindness. This is especially applicable here

[@GeoRyukaiser]

I'm glad they fixed the broken glitchy background in this mission in the legendary edition.

[@keymaster7323]

This scenario is (among other ways you can look at it) a test of Shepard's leadership. Do you go along with Garrus and let him have his way because you're worried he'll be mad at you? That he'll stop being your friend? Or do you stand up, draw a line in the sand and set the example? Do you lead?

[@federicoricca2512]

I love how the mission almost screams "Sidonis is innocent!" But you can just kill him.

[@guilhermehank4938]

He is still guilty but the mission makes it clear that his existence now is pure mental agony. In a way he is already being punished by becoming a guilt filled wreck and turning himself in to be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Death would just let any punishment on this world impossible. If sidonis didnt regret a thing and was a complete psycho, then the shot would be more justified

[@conradkorbol]

Sidonis didn’t kill anyone. His life was threatened and he wanted to escape. The mercenaries are the ones to blame. Sidonis is a victim. This is some weird snitches get stiches if you let Garrus kill him

[@samsmith4242]

@@conradkorbol snitches deserve stitches in Sidonis’s case. He betrayed his allies. His team. His friends. Personally, I think the remorse but could have been better. With Sidonis asking Garrus to shoot him when Shepard convinces him to spare him. Making it actually feel like he’d be worse off living

[@conradkorbol]

@@samsmith4242 so he should have been tortured and killed by the mercenaries instead? Most people who undergo torture give up. Most, not all but like 99%. So the fact is that he didn’t do anything morally wrong. All of them risked dying when they went vigilante. Sidonis didn’t pull the trigger. Sidonis chose to not die or be tortured.

[@conradkorbol]

@@samsmith4242 this is a mission where I feel all options made me feel bad.

[@yaboyhazard3277]

When I first did this quest I didn’t even know you could warn sidonis

[@cianosullivan6521]

I like to compare this mission to Zaeeds. Both men want revenge but for different reasons. Zaeed wants to kill Vito because he double crossed him, but Garrus wants to kill Sidonis because he believes he let his team down and thinks he needs to make amends for it. You have the option to spare the revenge target in both missions. However the morals are different. In Zaeeds mission Vito gets away if you stop to save the workers from the fire making sparing Vito the moraly good option, but in Garrus's mission there is no moraly clear option, Sidonis only betrayed the team to save his life and not just for power unlike Vito. Its more of a question of wheter or not we think betrayal deserves the same punishment even if the motive was forgivable. I always choose to spare Sidonis because of the line Garrus says afterwards. 'Its easy to see the world in black and white. Grey, I don't know what to do with grey'.

[@noegonzalez4918]

Lol he's like "this is big Dan, I should go"

[@MrHaloman95]

I was practically looking for this video and coincidentally you have posted it today lol

[@pileoweirdness]

I like to take more of a backseat role during loyalty missions. I see myself more as a means to an end for my squadmates, if I'm going to ask my squadmates to go to great lengths to help me, I usually make sure they get what they think is best for them. like here, if Garrus thinks he would get closure by killing Sidonis, who am I to say no?

[@0oDanngaro0]

Loving your content. Hope you can make more videos on cut content. I found your Mordin and Grunt video extremely interesting. I didn't know about it although I thought I had explored nearly everything on Mass Effect

[@troywinston]

Nice. I just did this one yesterday, and went the paragon route. Lovin' ME: LE!

[@DeadMeat991]

I would never do that to Garrus. Also, I never got that stock cliche line ''killing him won't bring them back...'' This must be the weakest refute against vengeace of all time. If you know someone is above lawful punishment, why let them go about as they please?

[@FuchsiaRosa43]

damn ive seen ur channel grow loads recently u deserve it these videos r amazing like im learning stuff i never knew

[@1fishmob]

Originally, it was planned that if Sidonis was spared, in ME3, Garrus would have received news that his family were saved on Palevan by Sidonis and were evacuated safely. If he died in ME2, Garrus' family would have straight up died. It's a shame they didn't keep that in.

[@kk28262484]

When I tried to persuade Garrus to spare Sidonis, he spoke along the line "You taught me to kill". Not sure if it's due to me telling Garrus to kill Doctor Heart (that's his name?) in ME1. Anyways I really don't want him to go down the dark path anymore so I spared Sidonis. Garrus wasn't in his right mind and I believed he would regret his decision later on

[@cbhensoncbhenson5515]

Yeah that dialogue depends on if you were overall more renegade in your interactions during ME1, not just how you act in the Dr. Saleon mission. If at the end of ME1, Garrus talks about applying to become a spectre again, that means you were more renegade. If you’re more paragon in 1, I believe he says he’s going to try and rejoin C-sec.

[@Zeephon]

Good video: informative, no BS straight to the point and good editing. Keep it up!

[@skullton3292]

I just took Gerrus' word for it. If he says this guy is bad and needs to die then I trust him.

[@andrews.5212]

Frankly i believe the good thing is let them talk and let garrus kill him anyway. Betrayal must be repaid.

[@HegeRoberto]

I always warned him in my playthroughs. Garrus been through a lot, but I knew cold revenge without answers won't give him peace. I had to at least have Sidonis tell us WHY he did it.

[@boneidol6151]

I always did both. Warned Sidonis then when he expressed a desire to die I let Garrus take the shot.

[@revaniac]

Thank you for those clips

[@banditodorito3130]

never even thought about sparing him and i’m a paragade every time, me and my best friend Garrus are gonna be badasses together

[@PhantomDragon1475]

Why would you ever pick this? Sidonis is a traitor. He shouldn't get off because he feels bad AFTER he sold ten other people out to save himself.

[@DarKGameR177]

What I said on the Arrival DLC video... 😔 oh well at least you showed all the 4 options even though 3 of them are the same as the renegade choice... Keep it up! 👍

[@ghosterino]

This is one the best moments in Mass Effect 2

[@superphantom100]

I always play Paragon and I never warned him before becouse I believed Garrus that he deserved it and didn’t want to lose his loyalty. Now knowing what happens if I play again I’ll go this option instead. I didn’t realize that there wasn’t any negative consequences for not letting Garrus take the shot.

[@LuchoGamingLB]

Hi Dan, I was part of the ME2 and ME3 Testing Team. If i'm not mistaken, if you spare Sidonis, you would receive a message in the message terminal in ME3 in which Sidonis died helping a group of people against Reaper forces. Sorry I do not remember exactly the wording.

[@LuchoGamingLB]

Found it. www.reddit.com/r/masseffect/comments/b1bjdp/does_sidonis_actually_die_in_me3_or_is_this_apart/

[@Zyo117]

IIRC that group of people was Garrus's family, and that content was cut from ME3 before final release.

[@zero_chevalier]

As many in the comments, I just can't say no to Garrus. Thanks for showing things I never could or would.

[@SunBunz]

I helped convince Garrus not to kill Dr. Heart, (despite the outcome, he dies anyway) but I knew my boy Garrus would do the right thing again. He’s got a good heart, and knows revenge doesn’t really solve anything. I love that dinosaur-man. ❤️

[@SonicaKuroiTenshi]

someone else love 7:37? I played this part like that, warn Sidonis and help Garrus spare his life. The sweet touches there, his reply, I love it

[@heramaaroricon4738]

I didn't even know you can stall with talk. I always thought he would get suspicious and run away if I try to keep talking to long. DUCK!

[@shadowwriter4538]

I let Garrus take the shot. Felt that it was the better means to give him closure (plus I thought I would lose his loyalty if I didn't).

[@F0xdash]

Garus is the kind of renegade that's renegade because he need shepard to be paragon. he's a good boy, he just need the right guidance

[@sunsetbridge322]

Huh, I didn’t know that’s what warning Sidonis did. I thought it just sabotaged him and you fail the loyalty mission.

[@frankieseward8667]

You already got the achievement so you passed.

[@brunoluz3989]

In shadow broker DLC, in Garrus dossie, is show that Garrus have write the name of all the squad inside his armor, even the name of Sidonis, but if you let Sidonis alive, he will erase sidonis name

[@wingking8673]

If they didn’t cut me3 content sparing him would be my choice. But it was not included I’d warn him and say I can’t help you that way he chooses death instead of running. “No more sleepless nights for either of us”

[@assordante2205]

Garrus was fighting the urge to pull a renegade action the entire time, that sniper scope wasn't trained on the back of Shephard's head for no reason.

[@channelname1982]

that’s not renegade that’s brainless 😭

[@resoody2]

Man, I couldn’t get out of the way fast enough. 🤣

[@commandershephard5019]

i would never chose to save him

[@LoreChaplain]

I know that if I was in that position wanting revenge that badly then all I want is a friend willing to go that far without second-guessing me either. Let me bear the weight of my choice, just have my back on this. I always let Garrus shoot Sidonis, no chance to speak, I don't care if he's sorry or if he regrets it or not. Garrus asked for blood, so blood is due and that's all I need to know. We'll sort it out later over drinks or something

[@maartenboy37]

No way I'm letting that bastard live! No more sleepless nights for either of us is just to damn poetic anyway.

[@miketacos9034]

"Grey... I don't know what to do with Grey." Garrus clearly doesn't like Dragon Age.

[@Banana_boat]

I've never done this before so thank you for this.

[@ROrneli]

I like how stone cold Sheperd is when a bullet just went right by her head and Garrus could had as easily killed her lol

[@yaratv2000]

Nope, i go for killing Sidonis, he did kill many soldiers and betrayed the squad, also Garuss' family can be saved without Sidonis's help.

[@mickeyj5922]

Such a shame Sidonis wasn't used in ME3. A random scene of him helping civilians on the Citadel, or volunteering in some way with Garrus struggling too control himself would've been great. Also anyone else see the comparison between Sheps' team and Garrus'? 10 man team, all could be dead by the end.

[@rodrigolemos3043]

I always thought my TV was causing the shadows problems in game.

[@Apollad2]

watching this, i just realized I've never had the true paragon response on this mission. Don't know how though as i try to be paragon XD