Summary
Undoubtedly, one of the best features of BioWare’s Mass Effect series is the characters. As eachMass Effectgame largely revolves around its narrative, every character needs to be intentionally crafted in a way that adds emotional depth and nuance to each story, and BioWare has been known to take this assignment rather seriously. In light ofMass Effect’s history, it’s likely the same caliber of characters will be present inMass Effect 4, the next mainline installment in the series, but it may have difficulty topping one particularly beloved character from the original trilogy.
TheMass Effectseries is full of compelling characters — like Commander Shepard, Urdnot Wrex, and Tali’Zorah vas Neema — but none quite compare to Jeff “Joker” Moreau and the unmatched charm and wit he is known for. As the pilot of the squad’s ship, the Normandy, Joker ensures they arrive at their destination safely and efficiently. While his role as the team’s pilot certainly makes him a pivotal part of their success, Joker is much more than a pilot. His extreme charisma and likability make him stand out as one of the more memorable members of the group, and one that can’t be so easily replaced. As such,Mass Effect 4may find itself in a difficult position regarding its pilot.
Mass Effect 4’s Pilot Will Need to Work Hard to Top Joker
Joker Is Known for His Charismatic Personality and Quick-witted Sarcasm
The majority of Joker’s likability stems from his knack for lighthearted, sarcastic humor, even when present circumstances may not warrant it. In fact, his penchant for making light of rather serious situations earned him the nickname “Joker” among his friends, especially those aboard the Normandy. Somewhat appropriately, Joker is played by actor Seth Green, who is widely known for his critically acclaimed stop-motion animated seriesRobot Chicken, which mocks pop culturewith offbeat humor and absurd references. It’s safe to say that Joker and Seth Green were all but made for each other, and this is arguably one of the main variables behind why Joker is such a beloved character in the franchise.
While it’s not unheard of for someone to use comedy as a coping mechanism when faced with danger or otherwise unfavorable circumstances, a major detail about Joker’s character makes this habit of his much more endearing.Joker has a real physical disabilitycalled Vrolik syndrome, otherwise known as “brittle bone disease,” which makes his bones prone to fracturing. The fact that Joker has such a debilitating condition and yet finds ways to make light of even the most dire circumstances makes him even more lovable, especially when his jokes are directed at his unfortunate disease. All this leaves little doubt that Joker would be sorely missed inMass Effect 4.
Joker May Need to Return in Mass Effect 4
Despite the possibility ofMass Effect 4bringing another pilot onto the scene, it may have no choice but to bring Joker back, as it is hard to imagine a new pilot coming close to what came before. Plenty of characters in the series would undoubtedly be welcomed back inthe nextMass Effectgame, but none would arguably garner the same reception that Joker would. The longstanding pilot of the Normandy has proven his worth both as an exemplary navigator and one of the franchise’s best characters, so there is more than enough reason for him to return inMass Effect 4.
Even with Vrolik syndrome, Joker is notoriously one ofMass Effect’s most resilient characters, though even then it will be hard to feature him inME4since there will seemingly be a big time jump. Still, it might be best for BioWare to find a way to let Joker return to the series in the next installment, as if Joker is absent in the nextMass Effectgame, it won’t go unnoticed.
