One more thing I noticed about this choice is that if you pick Ralof, when you’re going through the tower he immediately attacks the imperials. Yet if you go with Halvar, when he sees the storm cloaks before you open the big door to the room he says “maybe we can reason with them” and only fights back when they attack us

Lokir didn't get shot with an arrow for being affraid, he was there because he is a horse thief and he got shot for running away.

We can confidently say that both Ralof and Hadvar make it out of Helgen safely. We can switch sides in the civil war during the jagged crown quest, and the other guy will show up in future missions.

The cut dialogue from Helgen between Elenwen and Tulius said that she demanded "custody of these prisoners" thus saving Ulfric from the block, and Tulius refused. The reason why Tulius was in such a hurry and did not care about whether the player was guilty or not was that he wanted to eliminate Ulfric asap to make it impossible for Thalmor to interfere. In the final version of the game you can't hear them discuss this, but even though it was cut I find it highly likely that their meeting went along those lines. Otherwise why would Elenwen be there.

Technically our name was "prisoner" before we changed it 😅

Lokir’s actual last words
“You won’t kill me” 😂

The Captain saying “forget the list” is why most players side with the Stormcloaks.

While i usually side with the empire, i almost always escape with ralof. Nothing sweeter than curb stomping mrs. "Forget the list"

Bro when I first played Skyrim, when we got into Helgen, and ralof said he used to be sweet on a girl from here, I thought the next sentence still about the girl. "I wonder if vilod is still making that mead". So after the first guy is executed and you hear the man voice (with the name vilod) go "JUSTICE!" I about choked on my air 😂😂. Was like wut. Cooooolld 😂

Hell, I might consider my options after Helgen, but there is NO way I'm not taking down Miss "Forget The List."

To me it's a roleplaying thing. My orc's backstory is that he used to serve in the Imperial Legion. Even if he was about to be falsely executed, his identity as a soldier in the Legion is so ingrained in him that he instinctively sees Hadvar as one of his own. He's just following one of his fellow soldiers in a crisis where he doesn't have time to stop and consider the situation because dragon.

My altmer picks Ralof because she's on the run from the Aldmeri Dominion for having been found "insufficiently loyal to the cause" and "suspected of seditious activities". She's so paranoid she might even convince herself her execution was no accident, but a direct order to general Tullius from the Thalmor at Helgen.

My khajiit isn't paying attention to either Hadvar or Ralof and just runs for whichever door he notices first.

It's rigged the opposite way. When you make the choice, you've been following Hadvar, and he's literally still standing right in front of you. People are shouting all around you. The very first time I played, I didn't even realize following Ralof was an option.

Also people don't seem to mention that Hadvar is respectful towards the player before and after you get sent to be executed, for example if you play as a Dunmer: "Another refugee? Gods really have abandoned your people, Dark Elf." and
"I'm sorry. We'll make sure your remains are returned to Morrowind." Hadvar is respectful towards a prisoner who he should just ignore.

Hadvar just flat out does not have a choice in this. His superior told him him complaint means nothing, so his complaint means nothing. Military wise, him asking was the absolute best he could do, and depending on the ego of your superior, could have even gotten him in trouble. Hell, with how Skyrim is portrayed, an ego driven superior may have made him step to the block just for asking the question.

Him apologizing is the most he can do. He cannot appeal the decision, and attempting to "talk back" or "refuse orders" would never end well for him

First playthrough: Stormcloak = safety

Second playthrough: Imperial = Bigger picture

Third playthrough: Stormcloak = avoids awkward Dark  Brotherhood allegiance conflict. (+bear sneak exploit)

Fourth playthrough: Starts the game as a bandit near Whiterun with Thomas the Tank Engine flying around nearby.

I found the weirdest/worst thing about the grey quarter to be that the 3 altmer living in the city don't live in it, and don't get harassed for being Thalmor spies.

I always choose Ralof because I make my choice based on the little information I have at the beginning, not based on hind sight from a previous playthru.
That doesn't mean I join the stormcloaks tho.

With Hadvar, it’s the opposite actually. He’s the one to notice any sort of discrepancy with you and the list, and even goes an extra step and says that he will make sure your remains are returned to your homeland.

The majority of let's players I've seen end up following Hadvar while not even realising Ralof is an option

If you get to the end of the cave with Ralof wearing imperial armor, no comment from him. If you get there with Hadvar wearing stormcloak armor, he tells you maybe change your fit so you don’t get attacked by imperials on the road.