Why does everyone like Lair of the Shadow Broker?

Personally, I like Shadow Broker because it's a lot of fun to play. I like ME2/3-Liara better than ME1 with her annoying constant fainting, even though the transition could've been better. Her character development happened mostly in a comic and that is never good. Then again, Liara is not even remotely a favourite character of mine, so I don't care too much about it.

It's true with the comic, it still seems like there's a transmission missing, but you'll get more insights into her motivations and see how everything went down. The thing for me is, I suppose I can get behind that crap like what happened with Shepard dying can change people a lot, so I think I'm really forgiving in regards to Liara's character development. I'd take radical character change over a character having no development at all. For example, I know some people hate Jack's transition from ME2 into ME3, but personally I love it because it makes so much sense to me. Different folks and all

And welcome to this crazy place, hope you'll enjoy your stay

I think what I find jarring about all ME2 DLC was there's absolutely no voice for squadmates. They're ALL silent. Even in Arrival, Joker was voiced by a different actor.

LOTSB is popular because it appeal to Liara's fans.. and there's squadmate respec panel in it

I like it because the Liara romance scene on the Normandy is my favorite scene in the trilogy. I do agree though that her character development is unbelievable from a shy, introverted archaeologist to a successful information broker on what's essentially "white collar" Omega. That criticism is more directed towards ME2 than LotSB specifically, however. LotSB actually has her exit the Illium role to something a little more fitting for her. Liara being the shadow broker, which is a very isolated job, is more believable than working as an information broker on Illium. The latter requires more open ruthlessness, working well with people, etc.

But let's be honest, the "shadow broker" isn't realistic in general. No single person could handle all the (often evidently mundane) secrets of an entire galaxy! They wouldn't even be able to handle just earth's. Yet somehow in ME3, Liara has time to do this and also be a squadmate on the side?!

People don't seem to take much issue with unrealistic and/or unexplained personality shifts in characters. Wrex is a fan favorite yet the Wrex you meet in ME3 acts nothing like the one in ME1 or even ME2; without adequate explanation.

I'm curious in what way he's inconsistent?  Wrex was a progressive even in ME1.  All the dialogue about what went down between he and his father proves that to be true.  Honestly, I assume the time he spent with Shepard convinced Wrex he ought to give reformation on Tuchanka another shot.  Also, his contribution to the defeat of Sovereign had to give him a greater level of prestige even on places like Tuchanka.  Simply put, his words carried greater weight with more people that it had in the past.

It's DLC and it's fun to play it. It also adds some fun different playable dimensions to the Liara romance depending on when you do and if you're cheating on her and who you're cheating with. It also gives some great perks.

the Shadow Broker DLC is my 2nd fav MET DLC, despite hating the blue Asari who shall not be named, with the passion of thousands of burning suns.

I like the DLC for it's fun gameplay (the office building opening, the skycar chase followed by a mid-boss fight, invading the Shadow Broker base/ship and the main villain (great cinematic and a nice surprise too) and it's story aside who becomes the new Shadow Broker afterwards.

I liked LotSB because Liara ninjamanced my femShep in ME1, and her freaky behavior in the DLC made it easy to break up with her

Other than that, I agree with others that it was fun to play. I liked the car chase sequence, and the SB's space station had an immersive atmosphere for me. It really felt like Shepard could have gotten blown off the top of the station with any misstep.

When Shepard asks her why she gave her/his body to Cerberus, the asari wil say, "was I suppose to let my friend die...". Hold up. Where's this friend stuff coming from? When Shepard tells her that he/she would throw her back in the volcano, I doubt Sheprd wants to be friends. Mine didn't. The other thing is if someone told me they would throw me back in a volcano, I wouldn't call that person a friend. As far as the dying thing. Shepard is already dead. So what is she talking about?

After getting to her apartment, Shepard's armor is seen in a glass case on display like its a trophy. Then Shepard's DNA is all over the apartment.  Had Shepard never been brought back, what exactly would she have done with the DNA? She has serious mental problems.

During the car chase, she whine like a little baby. So much for that so-called ruthless crap. That's because there's nothing ruthless at all. Why was this character a squadmate?

I will say Vasir I liked. Too bad couldn't have her and kill the t'soni.

After fighting Vasir, there is 3 paragon interrupts. Why couldn't there be 3 renegade interrupts?


After the broker throws his desk, Shepard believes its mre important to keep the asari safe. Why? What if Shepard has a LI? Is the asari more important? I guess so going by the scene. I know if I was  Thane, Garrus, Miranda, Jack, Jacob, Tali, I would end the relationship right away since Shepard cares more abut the asari. It could have an effect in ME3 where Shepard encounters them with them having a different tone of voice.

After the broker is defeated, the asari cries like a baby. Why didn't she cry after all the others that were killed? Nothing ruthless about the character at all.

Then she says she can finally help you stop the reapers. What? There was nothing stopping her in the first place. That's right. She was obsessed with finding Faron. Really? A lot of good that's going to do when the reapers show up

Once on the Normandy, she hands Shepard's dogtags. I won't get into details about that, but here's what I posted about that in another thread

She mentions that it her birthday soon. Shepard says he/she will get her something. Liara will  say, "You're alive again. I got everything I want." What? Javik? I need you in my cabin to throw someone out the airlock

Just before leaving, Shepard has a what-the-crap hug. Why wasn't there an option to hug her or not ? The player got that option after the broker was killed.

Overall the dlc is crap. Apparently Bioware wanted the alien to be more important then anyone, including Shepard's mother. The other thing is that Shepard isn't able to ask questions. I would be curious why Bioware didn't allow Shepard to ask questions? Is it because they didn't want to cause any friction between the alien and Shepard?

I actually agree with pretty much everything you said here, despite enjoying the DLC anyway. Liara is Shepard's 19-year-old clingy girlfriend/annoying former roommate in this DLC. I want to do Liara's full romance at some point because I do like her in ME3, but it's going to take some insane headcanoning to get through this episode and have Shepard still want to romance her.

I especially agree with you about Shepard's inability to ask questions. The ruse in the apartment was so obvious, and yet Shepard is forced to be gullible about it.

I still say the same, nearly word-for-word, about the dlc each time I comment about it
So if someone else did the same as Liara, you wouldn't have a problem?
That's a poor comparison.
I would guess the biggest reason is the player gets to ask the geth about that whereas with the asari, that question can't be asked. I do agree it is strange a geth would take the armor and put it on its platform.

I would say Bioware was playing it safe. Maybe in the next game the player will have the opportunity to not recruit all squadmates, kill them, tell them to get lost or say I don't like you to their face

My Shepard would have thrown the stowaway in the lava. I would have left her on the planet. My Ryder would be pissed, turn her over to Nexus security to explain why she used Initiative property to put the pathfinder and another squadmate life in danger

In ME1, she is required, but can be rescued at the last possible moment.

In ME2, she can be avoided. 

In ME3, she is seen after the first two dreams and is required for Thessia. There's no reason for her to show up after the first two dreams.

Regards to the stowaway. I would have made her an option to recruit or not.