Mass Effect Guide: Should You Save Ashley Or Kaidan On Virmire?

[@brainconqueror8095]

Putting aside the characterization, military science dictates that Kaidan should be saved. A Gunnery Chief and a Lieutenant may be equivalent in terms of experience on paper, but Kaidan has had actual fleet deployment experience while Ashley has only been in planetside garrisons. Also, as a stable L2 biotic cross trained as a tech, someone like Kaidan is extremely rare. So he is much more valuable to the Alliance Navy as a whole, and should be kept alive. Ashley is expendable.

[@xLatinAssazzin]

I rather save kaidan he actually pretty cool just like wrex if you talk to him and get to know him

[@johnwotek3816]

The best argument is that Kaidan is the one supposed to prime the bomb, while Ashley is the one supposed to be part of the diversion. Ashley being pinned down is part of the risk of her assignement. Kaidan, on the other hand, if attacked while arming the bomb, see the chances of failure going up drastically. Also, character assassination of Ash in ME3 is enough to spare her a fate worse than death.

[@brainconqueror8095]

@@johnwotek3816 normally that makes sense. However, Ashley has indicated a dislike of aliens and is not Special Forces trained. So I question her ability to properly function as part of a salarian STG team.

[@johnwotek3816]

@@brainconqueror8095 Good argument, tho I'd say it's simply because Kaidan is more qualified, as an officer and a technician, to deal with the bomb. So Ash by default is on Salarian babysitting.

[@brainconqueror8095]

@@johnwotek3816 there is also the fact that despite what Kirrahe says, special forces operatives in general do not want regular infantrymen in their squads because they know that a simple grunt will not be able to keep up with them. The typical assault that Ashley would be used to is a straight frontal assault in which friendly forces have numerical superiority over the enemy. This assault however, is a diversionary attack by forces at a numerical disadvantage. So unless Ashley can suddenly learn guerrilla tactics and keep up with the salarians, she becomes a weak link. Kaidan was already assigned to the Normandy so it is implied that he has prior SF experience. If he went with the STG, he has a much better chance of keeping up with them.

[@scarletpsychowolf3578]

Kaidan and Ashley are what I like to call the "barrack dwellers" cause I've never used them after the first visit to the Citadel and recruiting Wrex, Garrus, and Tali

[@inspiredcamel4388]

I used them to get their achievements

[@AvatarRiku]

I mean of course. It was never even a competition. Now let’s go get my family armor Shepard.

[@galacticquasaur2956]

@@AvatarRiku Of course Dapper Wrex! I must say, pleasent hat you got there by the way!

[@DarthDainese69]

Kaidan’s neural shock is one of my favourite companion abilities

[@ddsjgvk]

Garrus and wres forever

[@edielungreen]

I tried saving Ashley, then couldn’t believe what they did to her in ME3 with the glam job; the weird, shiny blue, Lost in Space pantsuit (why isn’t she wearing an Alliance uniform?); and the serious lack of character and agency. I realized that allowing her to make that sacrifice on Virmire had the gravitas she deserved.

[@kyreegreen9248]

Lol this is exactly why people didn’t pick her even tho she has longer hair in the ME3

[@xLatinAssazzin]

If you save kaiden him and Shepard would actually talk about who will get liara first and also some many people might know if you romance Ashley and lira and Ashley dies there a secret cutscene where Shepard just looking through a window at the planet before it explodes

[@kyreegreen9248]

@@xLatinAssazzin he always look through the window because he loved both Kaiden secretly and Kaiden loved him that’s why he said”I would have followed you anywhere”and Ashley publicly

[@xLatinAssazzin]

@@kyreegreen9248 actually no he doesn't cause if you let kaiden died there no cutscene

[@kyreegreen9248]

@@xLatinAssazzin there is a cutscene for both

[@Grace-jx3ju]

Me: wants to save Ash because I’ve done 3 playthroughs saving Kaidan. Also me: *hates change* “KAIDAN IM COMIN”

[@TrickyTalon23]

So real. Sorry Ashley but I just can’t leave Kaidan behind.

[@nam9085]

I will never not save kaidan, he’s literally one of my favorites

[@Lilacleaf49065]

I always saved Kaiden so when I started legendary I thought I'd go the different route and save Ashley to note the differences. But man, she's annoying and I couldn't do it.

[@alfieshepherd6522]

I pick Kaiden because Ashley's mean to Liara

[@willfanofmanyii3751]

@@alfieshepherd6522 Only because of how you play, Ashley's very nice to Liara by the end of the first game.

[@SagaciousNihilist]

@@alfieshepherd6522 Only because she sees her as a threat, because theyre both interested in Shepard. Her meaness or her racist comment on the Citadel is completely irrelevant unless youre a internally weak person, their relevance as a character and to the story of the game is what really matter.

[@alfieshepherd6522]

@@SagaciousNihilist Your logic there is shockingly dumb if you like a girl but she also likes a black guy and your response to that is to call him a N you're a racist

[@RichardPlush]

Logically, the ONLY reason to save Ashley is if you're romancing her. Kaidan is the superior officer and a biotic. Kaidan has technical, biotic, and fighting skills. While Ashley is a good fighter, she can easily be replaced by another squad mate like James. Personally, I always save Kaidan because he is a steady voice of reason who doesn't let his emotions get in the way of his integrity. He is not part of the 'cult of Shepard' who follows blindly, only if he feels it's the right thing to do. To me, Ashley is brash, rude, and annoying. And I hate what they did with her in ME3. How do you go from Gunnery Chief to Lt. Commander in 3 years? Also, she lost her classic soldier vibe to become another version of 'eye candy'. It demeans her character in my opinion. One time I saved Ash because I wanted to experience her romance. It was the worst playthrough ever, couldn't even finish it.

[@Onezy05]

Reading the comments, it seems like I was the only one who chose to save Ashley lol

[@vegvisir9276]

well Klan saves Klan i guess

[@pyr1412]

I save her every playthrough lmao. Even if I’m running a femshep

[@Derek-no8fu]

@@vegvisir9276 Damn right brother !!

[@nobuflow6800]

@@pyr1412why, i always pick kaiden and i need a good reason to gaslight myself to pick her

[@sergiovictorem4043]

Y seguro solo la salvaste porque tenía buen culo, jaja lol!!!....

[@ChampionOfDorkwall]

I always save the squadmate of the same gender as Shepard, unless I want to romance the opposite-gender squadmate. However, Kaidan is better for the following reasons: 1. He is a biotic, while Ashley is just the lucky version of Jenkins. The spot of a "dumb muscle" is taken by Vega in ME3. 2. He leads a biotic squad between games while Ashley does nothing. 3. He didn't become racist even after a turian ruined his life. 4. If Ashley dies, she won't become a cheap copy of Miranda in ME3.

[@edielungreen]

Yeah, your #4 is why I let her die with dignity on Virmire. She deserves at least that.

[@xLatinAssazzin]

Oh no femanist wouldn't like that lol

[@xLatinAssazzin]

Anyone else wonder what will actually happen if Jenkins didn't get shot

[@alfieshepherd6522]

@@xLatinAssazzin Not much just another squad mate

[@enaxtry]

5. The hidden interesting psychology behind Kaidan that bioware don't serve it to you like they did with Jack.

[@rikikage1689]

Kaidan, He's Carth Onasi for gods sake

[@doomboi2727]

Hell yeah a fellow kotor player

[@shannonfoley8515]

Heck yeah!

[@willfanofmanyii3751]

Even more reason to kill him, lol.

[@amsterdamG2G]

Nice one👍 I'm playing the game for the first time and it feels like it should have been KOTOR 3

[@TrickyTalon23]

Yep that alone was enough for me to make sure he doesn’t die

[@enaxtry]

Objectively- Kaidan is obvious logical choice to save. Biotics- rare. L2 biotic witn minor "side effects" even rarer. His skills are really good. Compaired to a basic soldier - obvious choice. Subjectively- Kaidan's backstory is way more interesting if you actually pay attention and understand psychology (a bit at least. Cuz if you do you will see a lot of hidden things). Physical abused and dangerous experiments on kids vs ...uhm... a high school drama and ordinary family issues. Yeah... Ashley seems to be more "interesting" to a lot of people because she is mean and Kaidan seems boring because he is grounded and mature (voice actors did incredible work for both of them) but for me Ash isn't really interesting at all. Character developement- Ash is space racist in ME1 and in ME3 she is annoying, mean and egoistic. Kaidan is a bro in ME1 and a badass but humble bro in ME3. I love Kaidan, he is one of my favorite characters and it bothers me that people ignores him and say he is boring but I understand their focus goes more towards aliens :D. He and Jack are my otp romance for broshep and I love the chemistry between broshep and Kaidan, it feels real and if you play without mods in ME1 and romance Kaidan only in ME3 you have really strong and believable relationship progress.

[@zaragachizanparo4948]

Imagine if the player was choosing between Garus and Tali instead.

[@RenegadeTrevor]

Omg my heart dropped and started pounding when I read this and it’s not even a choice thank god! jeez bro lmao I was in my head like damn who would it be and I was like wait what I don’t need to think about this! Lmao

[@pyr1412]

I’d choose Tali b/c Garrus would just wind up saving himself 😂

[@RenegadeTrevor]

@@pyr1412 man he’s a beast I believe it! In the second he always leads my second team every time.

[@sergiovictorem4043]

Garrus y Tali? No amigo pensar eso es herejía...

[@hafirenggayuda]

Yeah, this one will be more interesting. It also likely incite war among fans

[@kirashepard5942]

In ME1,i always save the squadmate that is with the sularians... most of the times is Kaiden because i always thought he could provide more support with his biotics and tech, even if Ash ask to be with the sularians and to trust her. (It's not that i trust her, it's just that she isn't the most fit to the task at the moment). Another reason why i let Ash die instead of Kaiden is because after her death, Ash is recognized by the Alliance, Sularians and i think also the council. Givig honor to her family's reputation, having into account her family's history, while Kaiden doesn't recive the same recognition... Many hate Ash but i don't, she may have some rude comments but that's because she has a rough personality. When we confront Wrex, if she gets to shoot him is to save us because Wrex wouldn't hesitate to kill us if he has to, she has our back.

[@thedepressedfatguy4070]

I always end up Sacrificing Ashley just because I usually end up romancing her on accident and don't want to romance her. So I turned Is her into another tragic back story for shepherd

[@farmgirlnicole]

Playing my second play through of legendary and saving Kaiden for the first time this go. I usually don’t play as solider so I liked Ashley’s solider squad “tank” abilities but after I switched to that class myself this time I felt like it was a good time to have Kaiden in ME3

[@HiltTilt]

First playthrough I saved Kaiden, now Ashley. Kaiden was pretty well developed into ME3

[@spyfreakm1]

Ashley sacrificing herself sets itself up as her restoring honor to her family name. Also I'm always a soldier for the heavy armor, making ashley redundant.

[@cadendicky1855]

Kaidan was one of the worst squadmates in the first game, but he became one of the best squadmates in Mass effect 3.

[@billida]

For a biotic Shep he is amazing on insanity mode.

[@wondertyzipp8260]

I actually didn't mind Kaidan in the first game. I found his dialogue really interesting when I spoke to him on the ship. Unfortunately, he just happened to get overshadowed by the alien characters.

[@cadendicky1855]

@@wondertyzipp8260 sorry, this was an old comment, seeing it now, I actually never really minded him at all in any of the games, except maybe ME 2 because his appearance was so brief.

[@wondertyzipp8260]

@@cadendicky1855 oh I can agree with you there absolutely. I hated how short the interaction was with the Virmire survivor on Horizon. Especially if Ashley was the survivor because her approach was so hostile whereas Kaidan was slightly better.

[@loganswalk8621]

If we're talking gameplay Ashley is the more redundant one because in 3 you get James who's geared as a soldier same as Ashley with the different being that James is more of a tank while Ash is more damage and if want a high damage squad mate Garrus can do that job. Meanwhile Kaiden has more utility having both tech and biotic abilities allows for more power combos that any other squad mate.

[@jj_grabes]

Hey could always double the destruction.

[@schattigerKeks]

Saved Ashley once, won't make that mistake again.

[@Leonnie13]

I love Kaiden. He is my main romance choice. I just love Talibrations too much to screw that up. And his romance is kind of sweet. But that isn’t the only reason. From a military perspective he is the more valuable squad member. I do wish you got to keep both though.

[@Joshbots]

No matter how boring Kaiden is, I still pick him over Ashley. Mainly because he doesn’t piss me off

[@arandomcrowe]

I wonder if anybody knows that they can make Kaiden a renegade and Ashley a paragon

[@kanewilson8624]

Look, Kaiden may be vanilla as hell but at least by ME3 he earns some sprinkles (in terms of power upgrades, lore and character development). All Ash gets is lol guess I’m not racist anymore.

[@curajacaster]

Save Kaidan. Not even a hard choice lol

[@curajacaster]

@Ratchet The Lombax wut???

[@TM-nk2du]

Wtf kaidan is so boring

[@jacoryarnett7347]

@@TM-nk2du I rather have or romance kaidan over jacob he is straight up boring.

[@stickplistick3643]

What about all the salarians that are with Ashley?

[@ffann100]

It's kinda hard when you don't know what happens after Mass Effect 1. They are equally interesting in the first chapter. We don't want to pick her mostly because she wasn't properly developed in ME3.

[@ddsjgvk]

I saved Ashley at first but then I just started to save kaidan not only because he was there from the start before Ashley and he's just more useful in the third game you got James so the soldier category is covered and he doesn't have any power is what all bugged and doesn't work

[@majinsnake]

I wanted to keep Ashley for one line she said that was quite amusing at the salarian camp on virmire. "Is it just me, or is it when someone says (With all due respect), they really mean kiss my ass". That was when she argued with Kaidan about who should be selected to go with the salarian team for the attack plan. lolol. True right? On my 4th playthrough. Kaidan had 2 already, Ashley had 1.

[@Hjalmar_an_Craite]

If it only were possible to save both Kaidan and Ashley and leave Liara behind

[@ihateeveryone4270]

😂

[@antonchilinski9729]

liara is seriously the least interesting character

[@me_12-vw1vi]

@@antonchilinski9729it’s so satisfying to see javik roast her and her entire race in ME3

[@sanguinor5609]

I completely forget Kaiden exists after Virmire on every play through lol.

[@Onezy05]

Same. Compared to Ash, I found his characterization to be less compelling

[@GrobarGaming]

The only logical choice of a military commander is to save Kaidan. He's superiour rank to Ashley, tech. specialist and rare L2 biotic without any serious side effects. Ashley, on the other hand, is a sergeant rank grunt, only trained in direct ground contact. And if you allow yourself to choose who's to save based on romancing purposes, rather than reason, you certainly don't act the way any military commander is supposed to.

[@cpltrickie]

I swap between the two of them for every other playthrough even if I'm not romancing them.

[@wentworthmiller1890]

So, uh, what's the difference again?

[@axelnilsson5124]

From what I can tell it really doesn’t matter as they’ll do the exact same things regardless of who you save: they’ll still be with the alliance after the Normandy’s attack, they’ll go to horizon just in time for the collectors abduction, they’ll confront Shepard about working for Cerberus, they’ll be hospitalized by Eva and they’ll protect Udina during the coup which results with either them dying, recruited or given to Hackett

[@rosebud4419]

I've saved Ashley in my play throughs but this time I'm thinking about Kaidan. I'm watching videos hoping one of them can convince me that Kaidan is worth it

[@cervanntes]

I know I'm coming to this late, but thought I'd put in my two cents. When I first played through the game, I based my choice not on meta game logic (because I had no idea what to expect!) but on what logic seemed to fit the situation in the game at the time. We needed someone to help a bunch of salarians in a fire fight and we needed someone to set up and defend a bomb. As a soldier, Ash made more sense helping the salarians with their diversion while as a tech and biotic with some crowd control Kaidan made more sense as someone to set up and keep people away from the bomb. When things started going south and I needed to choose one, I chose Ash. Why? Well, two reasons. First, the job of the diversion team was to buy time to set up the bomb. The bomb was set up so their job was done. However, since some geth were already attacking the bomb position, pulling Kaiden out meant leaving the bomb undefended and therefore created the potential for mission failure if he was pulled out. If it had been possible to save both then yes, I would have saved both and hoped that either the geth failed to disarm the bomb in time or that the Council and Alliance could return in force soon enough to finish the job. Being able to choose only one position to rescue, however, it made infinitely more sense to leave the bomb defense to increase the likelihood of mission success. It was a tough call, but for me it was never about who to save but about which position needed to be held the longest to ensure the highest chance of mission success.

[@romanniouganen5788]

Well saved Ash, because i wanted to save salarians too.

[@crestonchi5427]

Saved ashley, had to start a new ME3 game character to get the Reave we get from kaiden and then never played that new character again.

[@madkabal]

you should save who ever is at the withdraw point. It makes zero sense to go back to the bomb while you are being surrounded by a superior force.

[@matthewshriver5351]

I think I only save Ashley because I always end up sleeping with her at the end haha 😆

[@Patch_5]

god, kaidan is such a better character. ashley always felt off to me. her being species-ist was her BEST feature. but kaidan had actual depth. i really regret saving her. also, me1 romances suck, fight me

[@lma3210]

I’m forever an Ashley stan and romanced her nearly every male playthrough. But saving her on virmire as a female shep or if you’re not romancing her is a waste. Kaiden is much more valuable with his powers, I always found Ashley to be pretty useless in combat.

[@Ray.M.12345]

I save Kaidan because i don't like Ashley.

[@Lord-of-fate-and-order]

I normally go ash as paragon and kaiden as renegade ❤

[@jtparra1896]

Call me soft and/or taking a video game to seriously, but I save Ashley because she is a lot closer with her family (which already has a ruined reputation thanks to the First Contact War and could really use her help in ME3) than Kaidan is with his family. I am aware that she gets awards from if she dies on Virmire (which does help restore some of her family's reputation), but so does her becoming a Spectre (although I know that's mostly because of Udina trying to get another ally for his attempted coup, her Spectre status never gets revoked), but if she's alive she can still be there for them.

[@segevkrespi8609]

Except Ashely being considered as a spectre makes no sense at all. She's not that special, she's just a racist soldier. Kaiden is a biotic and tech specialist, he understands the importance of working with other races. He's a much more logical spectre candidate

[@mawmaw4410]

that's a nice reason :)

[@Rhedosaurus]

Ashley deserves the chance the redeem her family's honor in the eyes of the Systems Alliance. She can't do that if she's dead. Her grandfather did nothing wrong. He put his duty before his pride when he surrendered, in doing so he saved the lives of about 3 million human civilians. Her family being blacklisted by Alliance Parliament was nothing more than political grandstanding in a weak effort to spare humanity's wounded pride over a human military commander's surrender in their first contact with another advanced species.

[@katsnow9256]

I love, that in this video, Kaiden and Ashley are in their *level 1* armor from Eden Prim and Shepard is in full battle gear! Great video thank you! And yes it's my first ever play thru for this game and I'm at the *who do you choose* point! There are other battle buddies I would rather leave behind Fainting Liara,? Never shuts up Tali? What about Grumpy Troll Wrex? Of all the characters in ME1, my favs are Ashley, boyfriend Kaiden and the seriously fun and funny Garrus!

[@cebastianperez3458]

I always save kaidan

[@A007Nick]

I'm reaching the planet: Virmire on "Mass Effect" Episode 13 of my KZbin show, so for those of you who did not yet know what's going to happen soon, minor spoiler alert! one of these two characters is going to die while the other lives by my choice. Either Kaidan Alenko or Ashley Williams. So before I reach the point where I have to make a choice, based on your own votes, which of these 2 companions should I save while the other has to die? Please reply your vote, thank you...

[@rt_huxley9205]

Bros before Hos

[@blackvalio4060]

Kaiden is cannon. Ashley would never in any logical outcome become what she is in 3

[@Olivier-f5j]

Always save Kaiden his skills are way better than Ashley’s. One thing i have with Kaiden is that i feel he should have more biotic powers ,but other than than that he is just way more useful than Ashley.

[@TECHNICALfalcon]

Truthfully never ever saved kaiden outta my 6 play throughs . I like Ashley too much

[@vegvisir9276]

im guessing you have a pointy white hood in your closet at home

[@nateswan9527]

It usually makes sense to save Ashley because she has a lot of combat experience and I develop Garrus enough with decryption. So, Kaiden's powers are redundant, sorry man lol

[@MrTrashRat]

Here lemme help you with gamer language Be a simp Save the boys

[@Nick-4K]

My squad consists of Me, Garrus and either Ashley or Liara. So unfortunately, it was Kaiden's time.

[@xygo6038]

How do you even use the map

[@finnsalsa9304]

I always save Kaidan so that I can romance him as the male Shepard :P

[@ConnerRobertson-r9w]

Ashley seems more loyal tho am i wrong ?

[@princesargon2198]

I like Ashley but she’s pretty racist 😅 she had A LOT to say about my relationship with Liara and the rest of the non human crew, one the of the lines she says is literally “I can’t tell the aliens from the animals” honestly it was that line that convinced me to leave her behind 🙃

[@princesargon2198]

Also I always accidentally romance Ashley in ME1 even tho I’m not trying lol so kinda of an easy way to deal with that little problem also I find Kaiden more interesting and he and my Shepard act like bffs in ME3 (with a bit of bromance mixed in 😂)

[@flowerchild8450]

That’s true but a big part of her character is her overcoming the xenophobia she initially bares towards non-humans and learning to work better with them.

[@willfanofmanyii3751]

You guys act like humans wouldn't act the same way when meeting aliens for the first time, lol.

[@jesussilva201]

I never understood why characters like Tali and Wrex get a pass on making pretty much the same coments that Ashley says Is like: “Omg making retarded coments about the Geth is so funny 🤣🤣 go girl son kirky and cute 🥰" But then Ashley says something about the Turians and people lose their minds

[@jiien6662]

I only saved ash so she can hook up with james in me3😏 otherwise I never talk or use her or kaiden cause I dont like either of them.(Wrex,garris an tali) are my to go to buddies when I do missions)

[@tonystarkironman8707]

I choose kaidan alenko I love his romance female Shepard

[@playboyx60]

I’m in a pickle; While I think Ashley is the better character with a better voice and story there’s a lot about her personality I dislike. I don’t care that she’s racist, nor that she is a religious tomboy. What I hate about her is how they ruined her in ME3. I like Skyrim modding ((CBBE)) as much as the next guy but it’s so out of place in me3. The next issue is that she treats Shepard like crap in me2 and me3 she even hesitated trusting you over udina and she HATES udina. Last annoying bit - in my opinion she’s a bit of a sl*t. First she like Shepard, but if you don’t kiss her butt she’ll go for Kaidan- then she’ll go for James in me3. I don’t really like kaidan cause his voice actor sounds bored ((he sounds better as carth)) he’s just not interesting and what I hate most is unlike Ashley I believe he’s not in me2.. seeing Ashley in me2 felt relief that someone survived.

[@vegvisir9276]

you don't mind racists?....wow...please don't go anywhere near anyone ever.....though i guess you only go outside in your pointy white hood

[@zernaathiefsend1710]

many do not like ashley I like the rivalry he has with shepard in some point. More when I have famaleShep

[@SirAwesome5auce]

I regretted saving her because she became this super obnoxious racist in the later games will definitely save Kaiden this time around

[@Francis_UD]

It makes more sense to save ash as a dude myself 😂😂❤

[@drummerboyatl46]

Over 60 percent picked Ash over Kaiden

[@thomascross8216]

I only save Ashley if I am having a romance with her otherwise, I save Kaiden the rest of the time or most of the time.

[@axelnilsson5124]

I’ll save her every time because of the narrative of Kaiden dying

[@Seraphim401]

I always play as a soldier so I have no need for her.

[@idris2000]

3:28 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@joenesvick7043]

Ash most of the time. She's sofa king hot, my males tend to romance her because my females already romanced Liara (my males may move on to Jack, Miranda or Tali'Zorah in the sequels). Shepard outranks Ash in Mass Effect 3, but seems Kaiden has a higher rank so shouldn't he be calling the shots once he rejoins the Normandy 🤔. He was a Commander, like Shepard, in Mass Effect 2. Mass Effect 3 says he was promoted to Major, so Major outranks Commander right. The journal in the first game says "you are Lieutenant Commander Shepard!!!" Did Shepard even become a full Commander offscreen. Shepard's a spectre, well so is Kaiden, so maybe Kaiden is like Alister in Dragon Age & just prefers following

[@fenrisvermundr2516]

To answer. Shepard is Alliance Navy, while Kaidan is a Marine. Marines cannot assume command of a vessel. As such he would be in command of the Marine Detachment onboard.

[@sgdolt]

Did you really use the title from an MF Doom song to describe a woman’s attractiveness

[@axelnilsson5124]

I feel like narratively you should save Ashley because Kaidan has been with Shepard before the game began along with Jenkins who died in the first mission which does kind of make a slight disconnect between the player and the crews relationship while throughout these games you get more crewmates making a new beginning for Shepard with a new crew and whose relationship you actually follow

[@joevile240]

I don't save Ash or Kaiden. I save Kirrahe.

[@tracyfraser-bingham5823]

right saving him is the real decision you cant change. need him later. now several reasons everyone states here apply on picking ashley or kaidan. people like ashleys family and her relation to them but not how she herself is portayed to many. kaidan many find either bland or mature, and is voiced by same guy that voices Carth Onasi. kaidan is basically a jedi who uses guns, ashley is a goodguy stormtrooper. if going into it with the meta knowledge whoever you send with the bomb and not kirahhe dies, saving kaidan from a military standpoint would make more sense. if you play as if you dont have metaknowledge of virmire (you didn't know that someone was going to for sure die) though, precisely because he is a jedi he is more likely to be with the single marine and at the bomb and ashley would more likely be at kirrahhe. she would not be viewed as useful (not even taking account her family rep, paragon shepard wouldnt do that anyone) and would be placed with a squad to keep her since they still need comms. but in star wars jedi can and often do run right into enemy armies and take out large swathes of them and quite often come out fine. if you play this as if you dont have meta knowledge, paragon shepard would try to save as many as he could. this would mean he would attempt to place people where they would be most useful, regardless of his views on their personality. kaidan would be with a single marine at the bomb, ashley would be with kirahhe's team.

[@seanmahoney-e6e]

I wanted to save Ashley because she had boobs but no one on here thinks it’s a good idea

[@eliziva2218]

Honestly, I don't care about both of them. Ash is more charismatic for me, Kaiden has more broad view on things. But Williams has hard and strict character, Alenko is more kind and also little boring. I usually don't bring them on missions at all. So who dies on Vermire? Ashey. Only because I don't think she suits for spectre promotion. She looks like 100% Alliance soldier. She is not flexible enough and has less experience than Alenko. So it is early for her to be a Spectre. And I let her die.

[@joevile240]

I don't care about either as well. I save Kirrahe. So whoever is with him just happens to be lucky.

[@omega-09]

Better Solution: Ditch em both on Virmire.

[@NoName-ym5zj]

There's one dialogue line that Shepard can say to Ashley, where she describes Kaidan as being the head of the team and Ashley as being the heart, but ... Ashley is just reckless and bigoted, calling her the heart of the team is rich when she has little room for showing mercy and compassion unlike Kaidan who is much more reasonable and compassionate. My dude is both the head and the heart, while Ashley is just an ass.

[@raccoonguy900]

"My dude is both the head and the heart, while Ashley is just an ass" *insert gif of guy writing with fire*

[@dsx968]

Saved Kaiden in my first playthrough and I really can’t stand him. I haven’t spoken to him since the very beginning on this game. He was even more of a tool in ME3. He stays a tool throughout but Ash gets over her xenophobia.

[@JLee1293]

Same here exactly. Listening to his whiny stories was painfully boring and annoying.

[@U.S.CyberSoldier50]

Ashley is the one i always save. !! 😊

[@TallTapper]

so true

[@Metacomet7]

I've sacrificed Kaidan on every playthrough just because I hate Carth Onasi.

[@m3talc0re]

I would've been fine leaving them both on the planet, tbh...

[@darrenwright6476]

Ashley is a racist .. tho a strong soldier. But racist. Kaiden is a sentinel and kind of jack of all trades but with bad interactions. Id say the racism in Ashley puts me off her. As much as a strong soldier would be useful.

[@farringtonsamuel3413]

This happens after the first contact war, her character is normal not racist, what she says is also true because no one helped humanity after the attack on earth , they only helped because there is no choice.

[@jimmybeans1175]

She’s xenophobic, not racist. If we meet aliens in real life and there is conflict; the majority of both races would mistrust the other. It’s instinctual, but without regulation becomes bigotry.

[@flowerchild8450]

@@farringtonsamuel3413 also I think her character eventually grows out of those views

[@willfanofmanyii3751]

@@flowerchild8450 She does, Ashley dislikes Liara upon meeting her and is suspicious of her intentions, but is concerned for her by the time of Benezia's death.

[@jesussilva201]

Brother she basically has all the reason to mistrust the Turians in the same way that colonist Shepard has the same way to hate the Batarians Ashley is not that different to character like Tali or Wrex but somehow they get a pass

[@jdranetz]

I always save Ashley. Her dialog is more amusing. Doinking the sexpot Space Racist.

[@LoganLS0]

I could play this game a 1000x and I will always save Ashley. Kaidan has never said anything interesting ever and is by far the worst squadmate in combat. Ash is a beast in combat and the best romance option in the series by a country mile.

[@spritemon98]

Im saving ashely no questions asked

[@vegvisir9276]

found the Klan member

[@zacktaft]

Bioware has had Ashley in both me 3 take earth back Trailers and she was in one of the me 2 trailers and she had a play arts kai they basically said Ashley is the canon survivor

[@Scoelho83]

I jsut save ash for romance her, both can be easy be replace later. Wrex on ME 2 we find a better krogan and eve we can Legion alter ME3

[@Buadih]

Ashley every time. Kaidan just sucks.

[@АлексейСынок-к4щ]

No

[@TM-nk2du]

True , kaidan is so generic and boring, plus ash is just a baddie

[@maximussaktish]

@@TM-nk2du kaidan is kinda boring but ashley is racist

[@TheShockVox]

@@maximussaktish who grows past that flaw

[@maximussaktish]

@@TheShockVox she hasnt grown when i had to choose her 9r kaidan

[@aneggplant7045]

Normal guy or a racist Hmmm i think i choose normal guy

[@hineighbor]

They're both generic, unremarkable characters

[@JLee1293]

Nothing bothers me more like listening to a man being whiny. I just can't take Kaiden seriously nor relate to his stories lol

[@jonyjonas]

So in your views, men do not have the right to a good mental health by talking to others? You're being ridiculous

[@TheZamaron]

Save Ashley, shes hot. Nuff said.

[@ak102986]

the problem with bisexuality male Shepard is that it break canon and lore without we explanations

[@vegvisir9276]

i choose Kaiden, i don't need an intergalactic KKK member on my team so Ash can go rot

[@rinzlur-k6m]

Save a racist b**** or save your bro 🤔

[@09tacoheadfred]

Hello very good video first

[@dmclegg66]

I always kill Kaidan I just don't care about him I don't like ash that much but shes better than alenko.

[@nico4132]

Ashley 100%

[@Soundwave_Superior.]

I kinda hated Ashley. Shes kinda a racist to aliens

[@vegvisir9276]

yeh, the Normandy doesn't need Klan members

[@AntiSocialismo50]

But she changes in the third game

[@antonchilinski9729]

thats... why i like ashley

[@bokvarv1926]

This Always confused me. We do meet Ashley alive and well in ME3 strange if she was then left behind and died. As to kaiden, I do belive he too is in ME" but I do know for a fact he is in very start of ME2 where you encounter him on a mission and can have a quick dialogue.....so if both are alive in sequal, then the one left behind here manaed to get away

[@havocsquad3262]

I can't stand Kaiden, too annoying and useless. I always choose Ashley

[@vegvisir9276]

guy is too annoying so i choose the KKK member

[@johnblackhead2384]

It doesn’t matter. They’re both whiners who continually prattle on about Cerberus.