Kaidan Alenko is a human Sentinel and a Systems Alliance Marine. While serving aboard the SSV Normandy, he is a Staff Lieutenant and head of the ship’s Marine detail. He’s also an initial member of Commander Shepard‘s squad in the video game franchise Mass Effect, with different ways to explore the relationships depending on how the player chooses to interact with the non-playable characters. The franchise’s expansive open-world adventure is renowned for its extensive and detailed story and universe.
The interactions you have with the characters are completely varied, allowing you to experiment with the way you interact with the world around you. Only a handful of friendships in the game allow for a romantic venue to be explored, which carries over to Mass Effect 2 and 3.
Franchise creators added same-sex relationship options in the 3rd installment, which started a conversation about LGBT issues in video games and within the franchise as well. If you choose to start the game as female, Kaidan is attracted to her from the start, letting it slip that he finds female Shepard beautiful. Throughout the first game, Kaidan assists you in missions, at one point almost sharing a kiss with female Shepard. Towards the end of the first game, Kaidan tells her he enjoyed serving alongside her and (with the right dialogue choices) tells her that she makes him feel human, though their relationship does not develop much from here.
In Mass Effect 3, male Shepard is able to recruit Kaidan and explore a romantic relationship that, creators state, is the most rewarding relationship compared to the other option by a large margin.
Kaidan is sensitive, reserved, and reflective. The relationship he has with male Shepard is that of a strong friendship that naturally progresses to romance, and he is definitely the most developed and well-rounded secondary character. Their story arc takes several turns in the span of the 3 video games. You chose his fate on several occasions, having the option to save or kill him, fight on opposing sides, and both go through emotional isolation.