The meta explanation for the disconnect with mage Hawke is that it would have been too complicated to script completely separate dialogue trees for a mage Hawke (M & F). I get that, but as a writer, I have to come up with a headcanon for why Julian can wander around Kirkwall unchallenged until the Act II finale. #3 doesn't work for me because Cullen has no reason to cover for Hawke. If he said as he was leaving, "By the way, I'm not going to turn you in this time, but watch it," that would make a lot more sense.
As far as the "mages aren't people like you and me", I've always assumed that it was intentional, just like the "You didn't sound like an elf through the door" line a Tabris Warden can get in DAO. I haven't played the game in ages, so I don't remember the line reading, and I think in this case that makes a huge difference: whether he's acknowledging the reality that mages are different people...or if he's saying, essentially, that they're not human, which is the first step to justifying all kinds of atrocities.
I'd love to talk about "Dissent". Personally, that's one of the most disturbing moments in the game. In character, that's the first time that Julian genuinely loses his shit. Ironically, Anders/Justice turning on Ella was a good thing because Julian had to step back from "Killing all the templars sounds really good right now." I sort of feel that Alrik gets dismissed as "Eh, it was just one bad apple"; but I'm not sure if that's the devs or fandom.
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As far as the "mages aren't people like you and me", I've always assumed that it was intentional, just like the "You didn't sound like an elf through the door" line a Tabris Warden can get in DAO. I haven't played the game in ages, so I don't remember the line reading, and I think in this case that makes a huge difference: whether he's acknowledging the reality that mages are different people...or if he's saying, essentially, that they're not human, which is the first step to justifying all kinds of atrocities.
I'd love to talk about "Dissent". Personally, that's one of the most disturbing moments in the game. In character, that's the first time that Julian genuinely loses his shit. Ironically, Anders/Justice turning on Ella was a good thing because Julian had to step back from "Killing all the templars sounds really good right now." I sort of feel that Alrik gets dismissed as "Eh, it was just one bad apple"; but I'm not sure if that's the devs or fandom.