The biggest problem with Cullen’s writing in DA:I is not that its inconsistent. It’s the fact that it IS consistent but its presented in a way that’s meant to be endearing.
For example, in DA2 we hear Cullen revel in the power he wields as a Templar when he tells Hawke that the Templars have “control over mages by Divine right”. This is similar to how he will gleefully tell the Inquisitor “let’s see them try to dismantle us now” in Trespasser. Both situations tells us that this is a guy who enjoys being in a position in power.
The key difference here is that in DA2, we’re allowed to react to this in a negative way. Hawke can argue with him. But in Trespasser we’re meant to agree with him because fck the nobles, right?
Another example is how, in DA2, he will state that Templars are fighting a losing battle because more mages are born everyday. Which implies that mages are something akin to rats carrying the plague. The brave Templars are trying to contain it, but more carriers appear everyday.
If you think his mindset is different in DA:I, you’d be wrong.
“First the Templars, now the Grey Wardens. They dedicate their lives to fighting evil, now they serve it"
This is Cullen basically comparing mages to darkspawn. But, again, in DA2 Hawke could argue, disagree or just react in any way. The Inquisitor? Not so much. Its glossed over by the dialogue.
In DA:I, you can barely disagree with Cullen. Much less argue with him. Every other character talks about how great he is even though it makes no fcking sense for that character to do so.
I could bring up other examples but that would make this ridiculously long.
Cullen IS written consistently, but its presented in a way that’s meant to be seen as endearing. And in a disturbing way, it makes sense. When Cullen was introduced in Origins, his writer never intended for him to be popular or seen as cute. She saw him as a character that would potentially r*pe the Warden should he decide that he needed to get her out of his system. This is kinda touched on in Witch Hunt with the two mages who expresses relief that Cullen is gone because he was creeping them out with his staring.
But for some reason, the people playing this game decided to overlook all the bad because…..he was cute? The VA made him seem endearing? Like the very first dialogue has Cullen essentially say “I would’ve killed you, but its not personal and I might’ve felt bad” and fans actually thought it was cute? That his awkwardness was endearing even though what he is saying is fcked up?
No matter the argument, you get some fan going “well, he meant this…” or “clearly, he was referring to this” as if he is this mystical being that only they understand. And they’ll deny even the most basic things. He was a Templar, he was second-in-command, overseeing Harrowing’s and mages being made Tranquil would be part of his job. If nothing else, he would’ve signed the papers that authorized it. But, nope, according to the fans he did nothing like that.
So its not surprising that Bioware basically wrote the same character all over again, but forced the narrative to kiss Cullen’s ass. Because that’s what his fans have been doing since day one.
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