Theories about the remnants. *possible spoilers*

I think that the Remnant visited the Milky Way at some point, and their technology was used in the Andromeda Initiative.

The remnant can also be genetically part of the same species... just like "extinct" races here on earth were/are still part of the human species.  Given that the area we're in is limited to a single cluster, it's not inconceivable that all the sapient species we meet may be genetically related somehow.  It may be that our arrival is the first introduction of species that are truly "alien" (unrelated genetically in any way) to the species that already exist within the cluster.

I honestly don't see how the existence of ancient civilizations arbitrarily means that the story is about a "space Jesus" or that the story can't be about someone "who is important within the pocket of the more personal and contained story within the universe."  Does acknowledging the existence of the Inca mean that a story about South America can't be about something more personal than saving the entire world.

Why can't it be about something, say, akin to the idea that there are only six degrees of separation between all of the peoples on earth despite centuries of evolution and limited interaction among some cultures due to natural boundaries and technological limitations?

With the exception of bacteria, fruit flies, etc., several centuries is a negligible amount on the evolutionary timescale. We're descended from a tiny population that was at the verge of extinction, less than 300000 years ago, so in a very literal sense (not in a sentimental metaphorical sense) mankind really is one big family. Besides all other species under the genus Homo went extinct.

... but more on topic; I hope they do something interesting with the hidden history trope (Atlantis, 'Ancient Aliens', etc.) this time around. It's very prevalent in popular entertainment, and probably for good reason (I mean, you can write pretty interesting mysteries under that rubric); but some more variation is due, I think.

I wonder if the remnant are anything like the spherebuilders in star trek enterprise?

A trans dimensional species that built giant spheres in order to create an energy field that engulfed thousands of light years. This was to alter space to make it more habitable for their species by altering space with the spheres energy field to conform to the conditions of their transdimensional realm. This would have the side effect of killing all other species that existed in this region because the spherebuilders realm was incompatible with milky way life.

Now we have arks on many worlds that seem to be emitting their own energy field and altering the conditions of the  planet and space around it, similar to star treks spheres.

Still doesn't mean that any "ancient alien" theme has to be taken in the same old direction nor does Andromeda's history actually have to precisely mirror our own to be about something different than "finding an ancient tech solution that enables us to win a current war." (which is what the ME Trilogy did with it).  I'm hopeful this story is more about forming aliiances to grow colonies in cooperation with each other than about just shooting everything that moves and using any tech we find to just build bigger, more lethal weapons.

They became the Beings of Light.

This is their technology left over.

We are cosmic pawns.

Even the Reapers and their Intelligence do not reach their level.

They are not just bad guys.

I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out to be something like that; except it reeks too strongly of Star Trek.

Star Trek did that in TOS and TNG alike -- a species 'evolving' to the point where they become immortal disembodied beings. Though once again, you gotta love their conception of evolution: Both TOS and TNG treat it, as though it's something that has a 'purpose'; or, that is a matter of 'progress'. TNG, actually went even farther and did something downright embarrassing, where evolution is the kind of thing that just happens to an individual during his lifetime. A rescued alien guy keeps getting seizures; turns out he's evolving into a light-man ... as if he's a pokemon or something. (Not that I know anything about pokemon, but I seem to remember there being a bullcrap version of 'evolution' there too.)

There are some new age cults and such, that abuse the term evolution similarly. Supposedly we're on the way to becoming disembodied beings, etc.

But anyway; it could be interesting. Especially if they've 'transcended' space and time, and can 'see' simultaneously from outside physical reality, what happens at any point in history, at any location. So maybe they can eventually tell us about the Reaper war, etc. Now that's very likely, of course.....

Has there been any suggestion that the remnant have intelligence? I've not seen a lot but there are all machines correct? But they aren't AI's? Just basically left over machinery.

They're probably closer to VI than actual AI though.

Yeah that what I thought. So basically they are left over machines from a species that disappeared/died out.