Mass Effect: Should You Put Udina Or Anderson On The Council

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Mass Effect makes Commander Shepard a character whose opinions hold weight. However, there are plenty of situations where Shepard is put in a position where they need to make a decision, but the best choice to make might not be clear at that moment, and the consequences of that choice aren't revealed until later. On the other hand, some situations don't exactly have meaningful consequences or impact on the overall narrative of Mass Effect. In fact, it often seems like most of Shepard's choices aren't as impactful as they might feel while making the choice.

One group in Mass Effect that seems to hinder Shepard more than help them is the Council, which is supposed to have the best interests of the galaxy in mind when they make decisions. While they bestow Mass Effect's Spectre status on Shepard, it feels like they work against Shepard more than they help them in most other cases. That's why the decision to finally have some effect on the Council by placing a new member on it to represent humanity can feel like a turning point, but the reality is that it might not be that meaningful.

What Happens If You Put Udina On The Council

Choosing The Career Politician

Udina is a more typical politician compared to Shepard's other option of Anderson. Because Udina has a rather hostile attitude towards Shepard, it might not feel like he would be an option who would offer help if Shepard requested any, which is frustrating considering how often the Council ignores Shepard in the first game alone. Luckily, there isn't too much that Udina affects in Mass Effect 2 while on the Council.

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The biggest downside would be that he's against giving Shepard Spectre status again, but he can be overruled if the Council was saved in ME1. His hostility lasts into Mass Effect 3, but fades as bigger issues take priority, and he grows frustrated that he's unable to receive support for the Alliance to reclaim Earth after the Reaper invasion in the game's opening. However, his position on the Council in ME3 doesn't make a difference in events that occur regarding the Council.

What Happens If You Put Anderson On The Council

Choosing A Familiar Face

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Picking Anderson over Udina for the Council makes only one change, and it's not that significant overall. If Shepard didn't save the Council in ME1, then Anderson will help Shepard reinstate their Spectre status, even though the new Council is against it. However, having Spectre status or not doesn't make a big difference in-game, and it's easy enough to complete all the missions with or without it. For roleplay purposes, it can be fun to be a Spectre that has returned from the dead or a former Spectre turned renegade.

Unfortunately, putting Anderson on the Council at the end of ME1 doesn't mean that he stays on the Council. He'll be a member for the duration of ME2, but then he'll send Shepard a message saying that he prefers to live a more active life, stating that he's giving his position to Udina instead. He decides that he can serve the Milky Way Galaxy in Mass Effect better by putting his military experience to the test against the Reaper invasion rather than trying to be a politician.

It Doesn't Matter Who You Put On The Council In ME1

The End Result Is The Same

Although it feels like deciding who will represent humanity on the Council is a big deal, it's effectively not a choice with many consequences, if any. Anderson makes becoming a Spectre again easier, but it can still be done by placing Udina on the Council after saving them at the end of ME1, and even not having that status reinstated doesn't change that much. It's also disappointing that Anderson will step down from the position and give it to Udina anyway, but understandable given what Shepard has seen of his character.

Throughout the trilogy, Commander Shepard has to make a lot of decisions, and it feels like who to put on the Council for humanity should be an important choice. Unfortunately, the consequences are rather disappointing, and that makes the decision ultimately become meaningless, because Udina will be on the Council later no matter what, letting the events of the final game play out the same for the Council. Of course, not every choice can feasibly have meaningful consequences, but this one should at least have more impact in Mass Effect.