History Heartwarming / MassEffect2

* In the "Arrival" [[DownloadableContent DLC]], even after Shepard is forced to kill over 300,000 people, Hackett still gives them total support. He tells them that they will have to face trial for the deaths and the batarians will be out for their blood but says that he'll do everything he can to stall both of those for their sake. He even tells them to keep their report of the mission because he doesn't need to read it to know Shepard did the right thing.

** Jack's romance. When she confronts you, she finally breaks down and cries, overcome by the idea that for the first time in her life, ''[[YouAreWorthHell someone genuinely loves her]]''. Knowing Jack finally found someone she can love and be with, without having to worry about back stabbing or abandonment, is wonderful. The scene reaches its crowning moment with her lying in Shepard's arms... with a peaceful smile on her face.

*** And yet another one when you finish Tali's quest. You get to joke with her about going back in and getting her exiled 'if you want.' Just seeing the strength of their relationship, represented by such a single two line dialogue, is one of those little human elements which makes the game hit so close to home.

*** FridgeBrilliance: If you think about it, Wrex is probably the only one of the old crew who would honestly believe Shepard ''hadn't'' actually died. Having seen first-hand what Shepard has lived through and knowing how unbelievably tough they are (and being unaware that humans, unlike krogans, do not have redundant nervous systems), Wrex wouldn't be surprised in the slightest for Shepard to show up out of the blue. The only thing missing from his greeting was a hearty "What the hell took you so long?"

** Oddly, the Renegade option is almost better then the Paragon one for his mission. Partly, anyway. To summarize, Conrad is harassing a bar due to being told by an "undercover cop" that it's smuggling red sand. When you talk to said cop, you can either trick her into trying to extort the bar in person and getting herself arrested, or stand up for Conrad to her.

*** Watching the other scenarios in which members died, there's a big difference in Miranda's reactions. In the ones in which people are dying, she looks distressed, but the more you go through the game in the "Everyone Lives" ending, her smile gets bigger and bigger. Remember, ''she'' was the one who predicted it would be a suicide mission before they set out, and ''now'' she's beginning to realize ''everyone is going to live'' and is ecstatic about it. Gives more weight to her resignation if she's there when Shepard tells TIM he's going to destroy the Collector base.

** This becomes HarsherInHindsight ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' when Thessia falls. Maybe Tuchanka was a safer place to keep Charr's family since he knew that, in the event of a war, Thessia would not last long against the weight of an invasion and he would gladly fight to ensure his family was safe. Then their whole story turns into a TearJerker when you discover Charr's body and the final message he'd left for Ereba, having been part of the scouts Grunt's Aralakh Company was sent to investigate. The heartwarming silver lining here is that Ereba ended up on the Citadel and opened a store called... "The Blue Rose".

* In the Lair of the Shadow Broker, inviting Liara up to your cabin for drinks, and possibly restarting your relationship. Or just talk like good old friends.

*** Then there's reminiscing with Liara aboard the Normandy. Liara asks Shepard how Shepard really feels about the mission 'not just what you tell your crew'. Shepard has three options; [[ThePollyanna admit that there's always hope, despite the odds against them]], [[KnightinSourArmor do some]] much needed [[IronWoobie (and deserved) venting]] or [[NotSoStoic admit that deep down Shepard is just as scared and worried as everyone else]]. In all three responses seeing Shepard lets their guard down and act so vulnerable just highlights how much Shepard trusts Liara.

* In "The Arrival" [[DownloadableContent DLC]], even after Shepard is forced to kill over 300,000 people, Hackett still gives them total support. He tells them that they will have to face trial for the deaths and the batarians will be out for their blood but says that he'll do everything he can to stall both of those for their sake. He even tells them to keep their report of the mission because he doesn't need to read it to know Shepard did the right thing.
** If Shepard does Arrival after destroying the Collectors, Hackett will knowingly say, "Besides, I don't think this is a Cerberus ship anymore, is it?"
* In "The Lair of the Shadow Broker" [[DownloadableContent DLC]], if Shepard is in a relationship with Thane, his dossier will have an extra entry. It's a letter that's to be delivered to Shepard when he dies. Before meeting Shepard, he had been looking for a quick death while making the galaxy a better place. In the letter, he says that he is willing to face an agonizing, slow death to spend a few more months with Shepard and to protect her in every way possible. He thanks her for awakening him again and hopes that she will be able to overcome the pain of his death. He ends by saying how much he loves her and pleading with Arashu to give her guidance. The last line, however, will bring tears out of any person who qualifies as human, "[[TearJerker I will await you across the sea.]]"

* In [=ME1=], Wrex was a tired, jaded cynic who outright stated that he'd given up on his people even being worthy of saving. Shepard can talk to him about the genophage, his family, and krogan culture and history, and demonstrate respect for what was lost by helping him reclaim his family armor. And then Shepard dies...and Wrex, within two years, ''goes back to Tuchanka and leads his clan to peace'' whether they like it or not. He creates a neutral zone, safety for females and children, cooperation between disparate clans and reborn reverence for krogan spirituality and tradition because he believes those things worth fighting for again. [[VideoGameCaringPotential You did that.]]

** Just to hammer that home: he's a [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy krogan]] who recites ''poetry'' to try to win his girlfriend back. The asari also mentions she was worried he was only seeing her so he could have children without worrying about the genophage. She explained to him that if they did have kids, they would always be asari. He told her he'd love their girls no matter what color they were.

*** This becomes HarsherInHindsight ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' when Thessia falls. Maybe Tuchanka was a safer place to keep Charr's family since he knew that, in the event of a war, Thessia would not last long against the weight of an invasion and he would gladly fight to ensure his family was safe. Then their whole story turns into a TearJerker when you discover Charr's body and the final message he'd left for Ereba, having been part of the scouts Grunt's Aralakh Company was sent to investigate. The heartwarming silver lining here is that Ereba ended up on the Citadel and opened a store called... "The Blue Rose".

** Turns into a Tearjerker in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', when Thessia falls. Maybe Tuchanka was a safer place to keep his family since Charr knew that, in the event of a war, Thessia would not last long against the weight of an invasion and he would gladly fight to ensure his family was safe. He is revealed to have died doing so, being part of the scouts Grunt's Aralakh company was sent to investigate. The heartwarming silver lining here is that Ereba ended up on the Citadel and opened a store called... "The Blue Rose".

*** Perhaps Aria had Shepard's morale in mind more than the wellbeing of a random nobody (in [=ME3=], Aria makes it clear that she considers Shepard's success crucial for the survival of the galaxy and is willing to help however she can). Perhaps ''any'' asari would be moved to compassion for the victims of an ardat-yakshi. Perhaps Nef's mother was so desperate to thank Shepard that she ''went to Afterlife and asked,'' and Aria was impressed by her courage. Regardless, it's an incredibly selfless and humane gesture from the Queen of Omega.

** Just to hammer that home he's a [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy krogan]] who recites ''poetry'' to try win his girlfriend back. The asari also mentions she was worried he was only seeing her so he could have children without worrying about the Genophage. She explained to him that if they did have kids they would always be asari. He said he'd love their girls no matter what colour they were.

** Turns into a Tearjerker in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', when Thessia fell. Maybe Tuchanka was a safer place to keep his family since he knows in the event of a war, Thessia would not last long against the weight of an invasion and he knows he will gladly fight to ensure his family is safe. And dies doing so, being part of the scouts Grunt's Aralakh company was sent to investigate. Heartwarming is that she ended up on the Citadel and opened a store called... "The Blue Rose".

*** In fact, if you've done the Cerberus missions in 1 he makes a point to say that he's ''worried'' about Shepard and the way he says it makes it clear he isn't worried about them changing but about what they have to shoulder if they're willing to work with Cerberus.

* The Paragon conclusion to the sidequest you get from Shiala on Illium. A very bitter asari named Erinya has put the Zhu's Hope colonists in a drastic legal bind, and as much as admits that she's doing it because of a vendetta against non-asari. If you press her, she'll explain that she lost her bondmate in the original geth uprising, and her daughters in the Battle of the Citadel. (For a bit of extra punch, the daughters are implied to be two very minor side characters from the first game--the asari manning the embassy desk, and the one welcoming you to the Consort's chambers.) The calm genuine sorrow and sympathy that Shepard expresses in the conversation and convincing Erinya that her family wouldn't want this is beautiful. And it clearly has an effect on Erinya, who goes from cold, controlled, and bitter to bawling her eyes out.

** A bit of FridgeLogic: Grunt's loyalty mission is actually one of the most heartwarming loyalty missions overall regardless of the player's actions. When he first awakens, he claims he has no clan, no name, no real identity to speak of, only taking the name Grunt because it was a word that had no meaning to him. It's only during his loyalty mission that he starts using his [[PunctuatedForEmphasis I! AM! KROGAN!]] battle cry. He knew ''of'' the Krogan prior to that, he knew that biologically he was created as a Krogan, but as a [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Proud Warrior Race]], it wasn't the genes that made one Krogan, it was the battles they fought. In a way, Shepard completed the work that the warlord Okeer set out to start: create a genuine ''Krogan'', not just cloned shock troops descended from Krogan stock.

** When Uvank attempts to recruit Grunt after having done nothing but mock him, Shepard, and Okeer, Grunt angrily defends the latter two, even referring to Okeer as his father. This is especially heartwarming since up until this point, he's had nothing but apathy or mild contempt for his creator.
* Any moment you help an alien race, especially those who believe Humans aren't the sweetest fruit in the basket. It shows that there is more to Humans than most species might think.

** Or in the case of Tali, Liara asks Shepard about planning to build a home for Ms. Vas Normandy (Tali).

** Samara's dossier lists the items she has as bequeathments. Among them: baby clothes, a birthing crèche, and a "Happy Birthday Mom" travel mug. She loves her children, even the one she has to hunt down.

* The BigBad of '''Overlord''' is an autistic man whose brother strapped him into a VI to communicate with the geth. David is shown beforehand to be extremely sensitive to noise, a common autistic trait; intentionally subjecting him to the constant sensory overload of thousands of minds and voices is ''horrific.'' A ''Paragon'' Shepard will pistol-whip his brother without hesitation and threaten to kill him if he ever tries to contact David again. That's gotta be, what, Shepard's fiftieth CMOH?

--> '''Grunt:''' It's not Okeer's hate, and it's not who they are--it's what they ''did.''

* A subtle one: There is a sidequest involving finding out whether or not there are fish in the lakes on the Citadel's Presidium. To find out, you talk to a turian groundskeeper. Throughout the conversation with him, he's very friendly and clearly proud of his job. He's helpful and answers all your questions in a cheerful manner. When you leave, he tells you to check out the flowers if you have the time, because they're coming in nice this year. This is one of the few, if not the only encounter with a character who is not somehow connected to the military, or Cerberus, or thieves, or pirates, or slavers, or any other organization. He's just an honest, hard worker who likes what he's doing.
** Depending on how you feel about eating animals, giving a fish to the krogan can count too, as the krogan's eyes light up with joy and crows that he's the first krogan ''ever'' to have a Citadel fish to eat. He's just so damned ecstatic and childlike, giving the money for a new weapon to Shep for the fish because it's just WorthIt.

* In "The Lair of the Shadow Broker" [[DownloadableContent DLC]], if Shepard is in a relationship with Thane, in the dossiers he will have an extra entry. It's a letter that's to be delivered to Shepard when he dies. Before meeting Shepard, he had been looking for a quick death while making the galaxy a better place. In the letter, he says that he is willing to face an agonizing, slow death to spend a few more months with Shepard and to protect her in every way possible. He thanks her for awakening him again and hopes that she will be able to overcome the pain of his death. He ends by saying how much he loves her and pleading with Arashu to give her guidance. The last line, however will bring tears out of any person who qualifies as human, "[[TearJerker I will await you across the sea.]]"
* The fact that Garrus and Tali [[UndyingLoyalty join Shepard's suicide mission]] in the second. Garrus is never even asked by Shepard to join but just makes himself at home and is willing to overlook Cerberus if Shepard is. Tali makes it very clear that she despises Cerberus and would like nothing more than to see them destroyed, but is still willing to work with them for Shepard's sake. It's a perfect indicator of how much they trust them and how unfailingly loyal they are to Shepard, believing that their cause is a good cause even if they have to work with a shady organization. They not only want to follow them but also to protect and help a good friend.

* [[http://youtu.be/zrZu3BsnaYw Mordin's sex talk]] re: Shepard and Tali. In the midst of the talk, for a moment Mordin's usual [[BunnyEarsLawyer Bunny Ears Salarian]] eccentricity lifts. It's with what really does sound like genuine, sober concern that he says dalliance with Tali could kill her. Then he goes back to being his usual self. There's the impression that he deliberately invoked OOCIsSeriousBusiness and wanted Shep to take this seriously because, well, it ''could'' kill her.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLWzmeI1QWc Mordin has one of these for Garrus]], as well. This one is a little more humorous, what with its added warning against chafing. His exclamation at the end that he's offering help out of friendship and his duty as a doctor is the hilarious cherry on a scene that could be ''extremely'' awkward, followed by his heartfelt encouragement for Shepard to find comfort wherever possible. Given the [[SuicideMission goal]] of their expedition, it's very sweet overall.

** On the subject of Garrus' recruitment mission, near the end of it, he gets shot in the face by a mercenary gunship. The last shot in the stronghold is of Shepard kneeling over him while he lies in a puddle of his own blood and begins choking on blood as well. The next scene has Jacob soberly reminding a worried Shepard that despite having done everything they can, they can't promise her friend's survival. As if on cue, Garrus walks into the room, with a grafted and bandaged gash on the right half of his face, and her face just lights up at the fact that he's alive and walking and talking that quickly. This combined with the Paragon choice of both of them having a laugh about his new scars just feels nice after all the trauma and uncertainty not five minutes before.

* If Shepard had an Earthborn origin, one news item mentions that somebody's started a scholarship fund in your name to help kids get out of gangs on Earth.

*** At the end of Thane's romance scene where he is crying openly, admitting that he is afraid of death once again now that he has someone to live for. Quoted: "I consider my body's death and a chill settles my gut. I am afraid, and it shames me." "Thane... be alive with me tonight." They kiss. This is so beautiful it almost - and has - made people cry.

** Three words:
--->'''Tali'Zorah vas Normandy:''' (quietly) [[UndyingLoyalty Thank you... Captain]].

* Two krogan talking on Tuchanka. And one of them thinks that one of the children living in the females' camp might be ''his'' son.

* Playing Paragon in ''Mass Effect 1'' was enjoyable, but really pays off here. Hearing on the news net that after 2 years of work and loss of political clout, Chairman Burns (the UNC hostage Shepard rescued), managed to get reparations for Biotic victims of the L2 implant. The letter Shepard got from him thanking them for showing him what he had to do was icing on the cake.

*** The email from Samesh Bhatia - in the first game, you had the option of helping him retrieve his wife's body, a marine who died on Eden Prime, from an ObstructiveBureaucrat: he's opened the restaurant she always dreamed of having, her picture hangs on the wall, and Alliance soldiers eat for free. In his words, it's the least he can do to honor her and the soldiers who died fighting for humanity. [[ManlyTears Excuse me.]]

*** To hammer the point home, this is a high-class asari woman who loves her krogan beau ''so much'' that she went to ''[[DeathWorld Tuchanka]]'' for him.

--->'''Shepard''': And if you weren't jeopardizing anything?\\

---->'''Tali''': Just so you know, I'm running a fever, I've got a nasty cough, and my sinuses are filled with something I can't even describe... and it was totally [[WorthIt worth it]].

** All of [[{{Adorkable}} Tali]]'s romance is adorable. Her stuttering and MotorMouth tendencies when you first start showing an interest in her, her stunned and almost grateful reaction when she hears Shepard return the feelings she's been hiding since their first meeting, and all the way through to her determination to show herself to Shepard (even if it means her suffering allergic reactions to... well, everything).

'''Tali''': If it were just me? You risked your own life to save the colonists on Feros two years ago. Nobody else could have saved them. I watched your face as Chief Williams/Lieutenant Alenko died on Virmire. I watched you [[TheDeterminator stand strong against everything]] the galaxy threw at you. I [[HopelessSuitor watched you for so long]]... and I never imagined that [[ICantBelieveAGuyLikeYouWouldNoticeMe you'd ever see past...]] [[TheFaceless this.]]

---> '''Bailey:''' Boys, take Kolyat and his father back to the precint. Give them a room and as much time as they need.\\

*** Then there’s reminiscing with Liara aboard the Normandy. Liara asks Shepard how Shepard really feels about the mission 'not just what you tell your crew'. Shepard has three options; [[ThePollyanna admit that there's always hope, despite the odds against them]], [[KnightinSourArmor do some]] [[HurtingHero much needed]] [[IronWoobie (and deserved) venting]] or [[NotSoStoic admit that deep down Shepard is just as scared and worried as everyone else]]. In all three responses seeing Shepard lets their guard down and act so vulnerable just highlights how much Shepard trusts Liara.

* The romance paths for Tali, Garrus, Thane and the Paragon versions for Jack and Miranda certainly qualify. The focus for them isn't even on the sex, it's all about trust and how far they have come. Some of the most touching moments of the romances are:
** Tali's stunned and almost grateful reaction when she hears that Shepard returns the feelings she's been hiding since their first meeting.

** Thane's realization that he has yet something to live for after meeting Shepard and the subsequent "awakening" that brings back the fear of death.
** Jack and Miranda reaching out beyond the layers upon layers of defense mechanisms and bitterness they have each constructed to realize that Shepard is being genuine and doesn't just want to use them. Listening to what they say really tugs on the heartstrings, and shows how well [=BioWare=] can make characters that you truly feel for.
** ''Especially'' Garrus' loyalty mission. Not until then do you really understand what Yeoman Chambers said about "wanting to give him a hug and tell him everything will be all right":

** Also:

** For Miranda's romance, if you choose the "No promises" option, you see a very emotional Miranda who gives you a little smile when she hugs Shepard.
** Shepard finally seeing Tali's face for the first time is just golden.
*** All of [[{{Adorkable}} Tali's]] romance is adorable. Her stuttering and MotorMouth tendencies when you first start showing an interest in her, all the way through to her determination to show herself to you, even if it means her suffering allergic reactions to... well, everything.
---->'''Tali''': Just so you know, I'm running a fever, I've got a nasty cough, and my sinuses are filled with something I can't even describe... and it was totally [[WorthIt worth it]].
** Also during Tali's romance, she explains part of her why she fell so head-over-heels in love with Shepard, which is absolutely ''awesome'' as a Paragon type. It also shows that, while the RescueRomance aspect of their relationship kick-started her feelings for him, there's [[IronWoobie plenty to love him for anyway]].
--->'''Shepard''': And if you weren't jeopardizing anything?\\
'''Tali''': If it were just me? You risked your own life to save the colonists on Feros two years ago. Nobody else could have saved them. I watched your face as Chief Williams/Lieutenant Alenko died on Virmire. I watched you [[TheDeterminator stand strong against everything]] the galaxy threw at you. I [[HopelessSuitor watched you for so long]]... and I never imagined that [[ICantBelieveAGuyLikeYouWouldNoticeMe you'd ever see past...]] [[TheFaceless this.]]
** At the end of Thane's romance scene where he is crying openly, admitting that he is afraid of death once again now that he has someone to live for. Quoted: "I consider my body's death and a chill settles my gut. I am afraid, and it shames me." "Thane... be alive with me tonight." They kiss. This is so beautiful it almost - and has - made people cry.

** Even if they don't form a romantic relationship and only become friends, Paragon Shepard's kindness is enough to make Jack completely change the direction of her life and go from a broken psychopath bent on nothing but revenge and hatred into a respected (if unconventional) trainer at an elite academy who genuinely cares for her students. That's got to evoke at least a few warm fuzzies in even the most jaded soul.

** Even though it's not a "romance", taking romantic paths with Samara reveal a tender side to both her and Shepard. She can say that, in all of her years, Shepard is the first one to ever touch her.

* Seeing the picture of Shepard's romantic interest from ''[[VideoGame/MassEffect1 Mass Effect]]'' for the first time as it lights up on their desk. And later, before embarking on the final, presumably one-way trip through the Omega 4 relay, seeing Shepard giving the picture one last, long look before marching off to give a RousingSpeech to their crew. It's even more poignant if it's Kaiden, Ashley or (pre-Shadow Broker DLC) Liara, as none of them are available, and they'd just had a tense exchange with them on Horizon.

** Also displays her UndyingLoyalty to Shepard as she talks about how they're one of the main reasons that she came back as Shepard (and Joker) help give her that stability.

** Paragon Shepard and Tali hugging after they [[StuffedInTheFridge find]] Tali's dead dad, which stops Tali's crying.
*** The Renegade version of the trial is just as awesome. To quote from the [[Awesome/MassEffect Awesome Moments page]], "...the Renegade solution to Tali's trial manages to be just as awesome, wherein Shepard probably shows more honest anger than they ever have up until that point in the series. Shepard gets '''pissed''', tells the Admiralty Board the entire trial is nothing more than "political bullshit" (yes, those are pretty much the exact words used) to their face, tears them down for dragging a member of their crew into something like this for their own agenda, angrily exposes their real motives behind the trial, gets the whole crowd on his side, renders the whole board speechless and shames them into finding Tali not guilty. Made even more awesome by the capper to Shepard's whole rant against the Admirals:"

** Oddly enough, the ''neutral'' action is right on par with both Renegade and Paragon actions at this point... provided you'd let the quarians, rather than Cerberus, take in Veetor. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXIH0RzxrlQ you can choose the "Rally the crowd" option in which]], both Kal'Reegar, who had already testified to the admirals, and Veetor'Nara, who's barely recovered from some ''serious'' PTSD, stand up for Tali, essentially telling the admirals to screw themselves. And Reegar flat-out calls them assholes - the ''admirals of the quarian flotilla''!

** Also during her personal mission, Shepard and Tali are talking about her father died trying to keep the promise of building a house on the quarian homeworld, in one of the dialogue option we have Shepard promise to Tali that: If her father couldn't keep that promise, they will.

*** Just as heartwarming if it isn't the start of a relationship. Then it's just Shepard being AFatherToHisMen.
*** Or [[FatherToHisMen Mother To Her Men]]. Either way, heartwarming.

** What makes this one so heartwarming is that Wrex has the single strongest reaction to seeing Shepard alive again. Everyone else ranges from mild shock, happiness, anger, to apathy, but Wrex is ecstatic to see his friend alive and well.

*** FridgeBrilliance: If you think about it, Wrex is probably the only one of the old crew who would honestly believe Shepard HADN'T actually died. Having seen firsthand what Shepard has lived through and knowing how unbelievably tough they are (and being unaware that humans, unlike krogans, do not have redundant nervous systems), Wrex wouldn't be surprised in the slightest for Shepard to show up out of the blue. The only thing missing from his greeting was a hearty "What the hell took you so long?"

'''Weapons Merchat''': Okay! I'll go tell him the truth!\\

* The asari on Illium who gives you a message from the rachni queen. Every single word is pure gratitude and devotion... A GondorCallsForAid scenario in [=ME3=] is likely to be highly awesome.

** Even if you ''didn't'' romance Liara in the first game, you still gotta appreciate all the crap she went through for you.
*** Out of everyone on Shep's team, Liara has to be the most dedicated; she went through all this effort, with no guarantee that it would succeed, at great personal cost and risk, asking nothing in return and ''still'' willing to help however she's able when it's all over with the Shadow Broker. All the stuff she's given is nothing short of humbling, especially if there's no romantic motive.

*** Watching the other scenarios in which members died (none of ''mine'' ever did in any playthrough), there's a big difference in Miranda's reactions. In the ones in which people are dying, she looks distressed, but the more you go through the game in the "Everyone Lives" ending, her smile gets bigger and bigger - remember, ''she'' was the one who predicted it would be a suicide mission before they set out, and ''now'' she's beginning to realize ''everyone is going to live'' and is ecstatic about it. Gives more weight to her resignation if she's there when Shepard tells TIM he's going to destroy the Collector base.
* When we met Wrex in [=ME1=], he was a tired, jaded cynic who outright stated that he'd given up on his people even being worthy of saving. Shepard talks to him about the genophage, about his family, about krogan culture and history, demonstrates respect for what was lost by helping him reclaim his family armor. And then Shepard dies...and Wrex, within two years, ''goes back to Tuchanka and leads his clan to peace'' whether they damn well like it or not. He creates a neutral zone, safety for females and children, cooperation between disparate clans and reborn reverence for krogan spirituality and tradition because he believes those things worth fighting for again. [[VideoGameCaringPotential You did that.]]
** If you want to talk about Shepard's impact on Wrex: In [=ME1=], he was desperate enough for a genophage cure, ''any'' genophage cure, anything ''resembling'' even a twisted mockery of hope for his people, that he was nearly willing to shoot Shepard point-blank to salvage it. Then, two years later, Maelon turns up offering a cure...for real, this time. No cybernetics, no indoctrination, no slavery to the Reapers. Wrex turns him down flat because his experiments are cruel and unethical. Because the genophage needs to be cured, but ''not like this.'' Shepard ''changed'' him.

** Which, in the third game, actually helps in favor of peacefully resolving the quarian/geth war.
* Listening to Tali's journal entries on Haestrom gives you a beautiful picture of a strong, clever, resourceful young woman out in the world, doing things her way... and using your actions and her time with you as a touchstone and source of inspiration (even [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Shepard's "nice job" with the mining laser]]). You changed her life for the better, and it really shows.

* When asked why it used a chunk of Shepard's armor to repair itself, Legion quietly says "...There was a hole..." If you persist, asking why Legion had to use YOUR armor, its head flaps freak out and it stares at Shepard for a long moment... and then responds with, [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove "No data available..."]]

* Speaking of Joker, despite being a not-so CovertPervert DisabledSnarker, he shows genuine distress every time someone dies. First shown with Ashley/Kaiden on Virmire. In the sequel, if Shepard [[KilledOffForReal dies]] a second time, his reaction borders on a TearJerker.

* Playing Paragon in ''Mass Effect 1'' was enjoyable but the real reward came in ''Mass Effect 2''. Hearing on the news net that after 2 years of work and loss of political clout Chairman Burns, the UNC hostage Shepard rescued, had managed to get reparations for Biotic victims of the L2 implant. The letter Shepard got from him thanking them for showing him what he had to do was icing on the cake.
** All the Paragon emails in [=ME2=] are wonderful: you really get the sense that you're making the universe a better place, whether on a grand scale or one person at a time.

* On the Citadel, you can aid a quarian who has been accused of pick-pocketing a volus. The volus and the [[CorruptCop C-Sec officer]] think she's guilty based solely on the fact that she's a quarian. If you find the volus' missing credit chit, he will refuse to apologize and the officer will threaten to run the quarian in for vagrancy. A Paragon interrupt lets you unleash a little well-deserved righteous fury on the both of them, calling them out for their mistreatment of the girl. When the cop threatens you in turn, you intimidate him by letting him know you are (or were) a Spectre. The officer and the volus run away with their tails between their legs.

** It's even more touching when you remember salarians rarely live past 40 while asari live past a thousand, making his fear of being forgotten (form his point of view) justified. It's implied his stepdaughter's dad was ALSO a salarian, but died of old age before he could raise his daughter (meaning she was raised by the one we overhear). It makes it even more touching as she explains how she loves him and considers him her father too.

** Even if they don't form a romantic relationship and only become friends, Paragon!Shepard's kindness is enough to make Jack completely change the direction of her life and go from a broken psychopath bent on nothing but revenge and hatred into a respected (if unconventional) trainer at an elite academy who genuinely cares for her students. That's got to evoke at least a few warm fuzzies in even the most jaded soul.

* One of the ways Fem!Shep can greet Garrus at the beginning of his recruitment mission is just heartwarming and adorable. She sounds so happy to see him.

** Taken [[UpToEleven up to eleven]] when you meet him after succeeding in the recruitment but taking the time to walk around.

** Even before that, freeing the queen from her containment cell. Even if Wrex is there to tell you that you're making a ''grave'' mistake, from the solemn glance downwards, to hearing that music swell up as Shepard activates the release sequence, couldn't be further from that sour, yellow note her kind had endured in the past.

*** Not really "neutral," since you get a boatload of Paragon points for that or any of the "nice" options, Charm or otherwise.
*** FridgeBrilliance: You get Paragon points for the 'neutral' option because you had to make Paragon choices in order for that option to even exist.

** Additionally a [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments Crowning Moment of Funny]]. Chakwas' rendition of Jenkins is AWESOME! And she ends up passed out on one of the beds afterwards.
** And for the hat trick, partial TearJerker. Chakwas talks about how she needs stability, as most of the people she has encountered have died or moved on.

** Listen to Joker's voice during the previous two lines--the guy sounds like he's on the verge of choking up. If ever there was any doubt that Joker's love for and dedication to the Normandy is genuine, they're laid to rest here.

** Listen to Joker's voice during the previous two lines--the guy sounds like he's on the verge of choking up. If ever there was any doubt that Joker's love for the Normandy rivals Shepards, they're laid to rest here.