There were a lot of choices for characters for M. At one point I thought about doing Morrigan from Dragon Age, but felt that I needed to give her a bit more time than I feel I have right now. So, instead I decided to go with a different franchise that we loved from around the same time and settled on Mordin Solus from Mass Effect. Mordin was introduced in Mass Effect 2 as the Salarian scientist who had worked on the genophage project against the Krogan. Mordin believes in doing the right thing, but believes that there are multiple paths to get there. He is not motivated by the heart, but by logic and truth. If the end will make things better then how you get there is okay. The genophage is a good example because they seriously altered the course of Krogan history and even culture by changing their biology, but the Krogan would have spread and destroyed like locusts if they had not been stopped. It was a situation that did not have many good answers and Mordin came up with a solution and stands by it. At the same time he is open to discussion about a different way.
Ends Justify the Means
Mordin is very practical in his thought processes and is often looking for solutions, and is willing to accomplish the goal regardless of cost. He encompasses the thought process that many of the Salarians have in that it is not how you get there, but where you end up. They are scientists that are willing to push the moral and ethical boundaries for what they feel is the greater good. In the end it is about the problem that needs to be solved or the solution that is presented not the actions that brought them there. It is actually reminiscent of early scientific discovery that we know. Many important discoveries came about because of questionable practices and in the end we talk about the great outcome, not the morally questionable journey. Mordin is the same and he sees that there are multiple paths to take to the same outcome. He wants to do the one that causes the most good, but understands that some might have to be harmed along the way.
Adaptable
The part that makes Mordin not just some scientist on a power trip is that he does a lot of research and is willing to listen to every side. He does not make a decision casually or lightly, he does it understanding the full weight of his decision. He would prefer not to take lives and to be able to accomplish the task by following the moral high ground, but is not afraid to get his hands dirty if the task requires it. Part of what makes Mordin likable is the fact that you feel that you could have a true and honest conversation with him and if presented with the facts might be willing to change his mind. He is not stuck in one position, he is always changing and adapting his perceptions based on the information provided to him. It makes him open to new possibilities and ideas and not closed off based on any of his own biases, partly because that is just not how he thinks.
Fangirl Moment (SPOILERS)
So I just want to have a brief moment to talk about how much I love Mordin. He was such an interesting character in the Mass Effect games and just brought a fresh perspective to the situation. A scientist will always look at things differently and Mordin is no exception. Now what happens to Mordin completely depends on choices that you make in the games. For me he survived the second game, but because I felt that the genophage needed to end Mordin ended up getting killed making that happen. The moment with him in the tower was heartbreaking. I tried so hard to make everyone survive, but at the same time this was a decision I felt had to be made. I appreciated that Mordin, who was instrumental in its creation, took such pride in trying to stop its continued existence. Many of the characters are so good in the Mass Effect games and Mordin definitely brings a different perspective and a little bit of joy with his interpretation of “I am the very model of a Scientist Salarian”.
Comparative Geeks 