Why is Kaiden Alenko so popular?

[WaywardHaymaker]

I liked Kaidan, but he was certainly not Garrus. Or Wrex. Or Mordin. Or Liara. Or Tali. Or Kasumi. Or Joker. Or Doc Chak.

I don't know, he was pretty bland. But he was unobtrusively bland and also a biotic. And if he appears on the Normandy in ME2, he wears that pink and white armor that Ashley starts with. I laughed the entire time because it was such a serious moment and he looked like an idiot in that armor.

 

[open trap]

Wow, I thought others liked Kaidan too...him, Liara and Garrus were my faves from ME1.

I don't know why I liked him, I just formed a bond with him (male Sheperd by the way). Although Garrus absolutely kicks his ass in every way.

EDIT: And can someone explain how it's possible to like Ashley? She's such a xenophobic *****.

Spoiler

I absolutely savoured my chance to kill her, and her resulting death.

I loved Ashley, we have the same way of thinking so to speak, sure i didnt hate Aliens as much as her but in my eyes it was always humanity first. I enjoyed every conversation i had with her, shes just my kinde of person. Wow i cant belive im talking about a computer program as if it were human.

 

[Twilight_guy]

Well I'm guessing that that fanfic are probably more popular among girls because guys don't have the same inclination to write or to make up stories focusing around games/establish characters. Now of course as people we tend to write about things that are interesting to us. In a fanfic perhaps a character that we identify with or someone that the author had a crush on or something. If our authors have a female biases and the ladies enjoy kaiden then a larger portion of stories will be written about him. Alternatively, maybe its just a coincidence.

 

[Neverhoodian]

I didn't hate Kaiden, but I did think his character wasn't as defined as the other party members. The only really interesting part was the incident with his former Turian instructor (roundhouse kick FTW!). Ashley may have been a bit too coarse and xenophobic, but at least she was a much more developed character. Besides, you eventually come to understand the reasons for her outspoken opinions, which further adds to the "actual person" vibe.

Spoiler

Maybe I'm a sucker for drama, but I chose to leave Ashley to die precisely because I liked her MORE than Kaiden. It makes the decision and its consequences all the more weighty if it means killing off a character you actually liked.

 

[Arachon]

Popular? To me it seems like everyone hates him.

Anyhow, I choose him as the "romantic interest" for my shepard, because he seemed like the "normal" guy, he wasn't a badass, a war hero or whatever, he was an average-looking guy, got picked on in school, had his faults, but managed to get somewhere on his own. Just felt that he should get the girl for once.

 

[Moghedia]

I used Kaidan as my romance option because my bf (who played a male sheperd) had already done Liara. I never used Ashley in combat because I played a soldier, and therefore had no use for her at all. I played a female (obvs), but I found them both (Kaidan and Liara) attractive.

 

[Mr. 47]

I didn't like him for some reason. Maybe the voice actor is the same as Carth Onasi, who annoyed the hell out of me. :|
I didn't find his story interesting or compelling, just boring. Killed him off with no regrets! ^.^

 

[AlternatePFG]

People liked Carth- I mean Kaiden? That's news to me.

He reminded me of a slightly less annoying version of Carth Onasi from KOTOR (Which isn't saying much). Might be the same voice actor, that's probably it.

 

[StBishop]

Just adding another:
"What, people liked him?"

He was a douche.

I didn't hate Ashley though, so maybe that changes things? Who knows.

[sub]I thought Alistair was a pretty cool guy[/sub]

 

[putowtin]

you see, I didn't know about the choice on Virmire (I know some people had it ruined for them before their first play through) so when the option came up "Save Ash/ Save Kaiden" and I thought if I didn't help him then the bomb wouldn't go off so I saved him.

Besides, I found Ash a bit whiny and I was gonna pull Liara anyway!

 

[Shock and Awe]

I dunno, he was Shepards 2nd in Command, and since it was either him or Ashely... I chose Ashley.
Although he sounded liek a wife in ME2, I thought he was a pretty cool guy

Actually Navigator Presley was the Normandy's XO.

OT: Never really thought Kaiden was that popular. Maybe its because everyone hates Ashley for some dumb reason.

 

[Mekado]

My best guess would be he was the only romanceable human male...


Certainly not his oh-so-bland personality, though he had a nice voice.

(Hackett's voice was better haha...)

 

[Penitent]

Kaiden was the most rational and well-meaning of the cast, and his backstory solidified that. Because of the struggle he'd been through, he can take things for what they really are and speak from the head before the heart. I was fond of coming to him after missions and finding out what he had to say. And on Virmire, the reason I left him with the bomb was because he insisted on it.

Thanks, Kaiden. You're a real bro.

 

[Saviordd1]

i only liked him because he killed that turian with a round house kick to the face. He must be a descendant of Chuck Norris or something.

I'm sorry, what?

OT: I liked Kaiden because he wasn't as annoying as Ashley.

If you listen to his backstory his turian trainer pissed him off so he activated his biotics and kicked him in the face, breaking his neck.

OT: I like Kaiden because the other Romancables are Ashley (Rednecks in space anyone?) and Liara (Way to much of the "innocent" thing going on for comfort) so Kaidan is logical. Hes like a real person honestly, some people will like him, some people won't. You don't ask your coworker why he doesn't like bobby while you do.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

I used Kaidan as my romance option because my bf (who played a male sheperd) had already done Liara. I never used Ashley in combat because I played a soldier, and therefore had no use for her at all. I played a female (obvs), but I found them both (Kaidan and Liara) attractive.

Btw this thread is pretty old...

Kaiden is pretty bland and boring, I'm not sure why any sane woman would pick him over Joker who is awesome.

 

[Sarah Kerrigan]

As a female mass effect player, I romanced him because he was attractive, sweet and a very strong, prideful soldier.

He also was super hot, but I totally digress XD

 

[Zeraiya]

If you want a blatant answer... it's probably because he is one of the only human males in the series that is romancable (Jacob being the second). A lot of fangirls are incredibly shallow and probably couldn't fathom even being interested in an alien species to read or write fanfiction about.

I doubt it has anything to do with his character because Kaidan is actually quite bland in terms of personality. He's very much a 'yes, sir' kinda guy who doesn't question much. He's basically a piece of mancandy meat on a stick.

Personally give me the disfigured alien Garrus with the kickass personality over Kaiden any day =/

And that's coming from a female who fangirls over Mass Effect and reads its fanfiction.

 

[hazabaza1]

Wait wait wait...
People liked Kaiden?!

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

A lot of fangirls are incredibly shallow and probably couldn't fathom even being interested in an alien species.

Woah Woah Woah

Just becuase I'm not keen on aliens doesn't mean I'm shallow.

Garrus has got a great personality (let's face it he's basically Batman) but I can't force myself to find someone attractive that isn't even my own species :| It just doesn't do anything for me.