Mass Effect as a game series has been captivating players since day 1 in 2007. Thanks to its astonishingly well-developed world simply dripping with rich and creamy lore, it’s easy for almost anyone to engage with this epic space opera regardless of interest in gaming as a whole. The series is so magnetic that it’s almost a shame to see it confined to 4 games and a scattering of generally pretty decent novels. Fans have speculated about a Mass Effect movie for over a decade now, but a world this expansive and bursting with untold stories deserves something more. This world deserves a TV show.
Here in the golden age of the small screen, folks all around are slowly discovering the true storytelling potential of the TV show. Ironically, this is happening in a time where a large chunk of viewers don’t even watch these shows on actual televisions, but their structure is still sound. Sure, there’s still plenty of enjoyment to be had with a feature length film, but that slow burn through 22-43 minute episodes and beyond allows for so much more depth and build-up that audiences are catching on to what a full series can do with a story. A format like that is perfect for something like Mass Effect.
So where to start? Well, the obvious choice would be to retell the story of the original trilogy. Frankly, though, that doesn’t seem like the greatest idea. Commander Shepard’s tale has been told, and it’s been told in a way that’s unique to each player who’s experienced it. Shepard’s appearance, gender, and choices are all different depending on who experienced the story, and retelling it as a show would require a concrete canon that would likely fail to resonate with with most fans of the games.
No, a Mass Effect TV show would have to be original. Luckily, its partially-real-but-mostly-fictional Milky Way galaxy setting provides for plenty of opportunities in that regard. So here are a few suggestions.
First off, make it a more intimate story and setting. None of that fate-of-the-entire-galaxy stuff. It’s been done. Something small and focused would serve the lore well. The entire show could take place on the Citadel, Omega, or even Meridian from Mass Effect: Andromeda, since each of those settings is basically a cultural nexus where all the different races can come together in one form or another. (Hey, if they never make another Andromeda game, a show would be an excellent idea to continue the story.) Shows like Babylon 5 and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine have done something similar, and if the potential Mass Effect showrunners wanted to play it a bit safe, that could be an excellent starting point.
Second, characters need to be the focus. They shouldn’t necessarily sacrifice story in favor of some wacky episodic hijinks with no overarching plot… but at the same time, doesn’t that sound kind of cool? How about a newly established mercenary company comprised entirely of scrappy mercenaries who were rejected from other merc bands like Eclipse and the Blue Suns? Viewers could follow them as they travel the galaxy or simply bounce around Omega looking for new contracts. Think of it like Brooklyn Nine-Nine in space and also not cops. Again, just a jumping off point.
Third, and this is probably the most important, set it either before the games or LONG after them. Mass Effect is a series based on choice, and any story set anywhere near the timeline of the original trilogy or Andromeda runs the risk of clashing with decisions made by players in the games themselves. Honestly, given the state of the galaxy depending on the player’s choices at the end of Mass Effect 3, a prequel might even be the only viable option. But maybe if it’s set far enough in the future, where the aftermath all possible endings might eventually coalesce into a largely uniform timeline, some possibilities could arise. Frankly, it might not be worth the trouble to do anything other than a prequel, however.
On that note, why not explore the ideas in Mass Effect: Andromeda? Its initial reception aside, it sets up a vast new galaxy with possibilities out the wazoo. If the game itself never gets a proper sequel, then a series expanding on the setting could not only provide a bit of closure for fans, but also bring in an entirely new audience. The player choices throughout the game are significant, but not so much that a TV show continuation couldn’t conceivably cover all the important ones.
However it happens, it can definitely be done. Netflix’s The Witcher proved just how well this sort of material can translate to an episodic format. Granted, that show is based on the same book series that spawned the Witcher games, but it made sure to steer clear of the games themselves and just focus on elements that couldn’t be influenced by player choice. Again, if hell freezes over and someone actually makes a Mass Effect: Andromeda show, those guidelines could relax a bit, but overall, they’re some good rules to follow.
So if any bored executives are reading this, maybe take a chance on the idea. There’s nothing to lose, except a lot of money and the respect of legions of fans. But hey, it’ll probably look pretty cool.
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