
David Gaider - the lead writer on the first three Dragon Age games and the man frequently credited as the architect of Thedas - wanted people to have very strong reactions towards every Dragon Age 2 companion.
People have passionate opinions, good and bad, about every aspect of Dragon Age 2, from its action-oriented combat to its story that has less to do with saving the entire world and focuses more on a singular city's struggles. When it comes to the sequel's cast, those heated fan reactions were part of the plan.