reveriewanders

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Predictions

1. Adrien finds out the truth from someone who is not Marinette. (Late season 6)

2. Cat Blanc return (season 7)

3. Ladybug learns Cat Noir's identity first (s7).

4. Ladybug/Marinette finds out who Chrystalisis is (season 6 end).

5. Adrienette breakup (late s6, early s7)

6. Chrystalisis knows for certain who Ladybug is by season 6 end.

7. Chrystalisis starts targeting Marinette's family to the point she has to come clean about being Ladybug. (Season 7)

8. Alya figures out the truth (season 6)

Hopes, but less likely.

1. Marinette gets, or is almost akumatised repeatedly. I had hopes we'd see a butterfly moving towards her in Rignarazione, but no.

2. Civil War within the Miraculers (I AM BEGGING ON MY KNEES PLEASE). Even if it isn't physical conflict. Perhaps Cat Noir could become convinced Ladybug is aiding and abetting the terrorist Monarch in her secrecy and decides she no longer works for the greater good?

3. An exploration of the corruption within the elite (The Kingdom), and how ordinary people suffer for their benefit (Parisains/the world under Monarch's terror)

4. The Lie is revealed to Paris by Chrystalisis, undermining Ladybug in the public eye, making her a wanted fugative.

First, Marinette and Adrien. The whole lying about the recipe to buy more time with her because he knows she will be very hurt? Except, unlike the recipe, hero Gabriel never existed. I had hopes that this episode would provide Marinette with a better understanding of Adrien's perspective with the imminent death of her grandfather, in that she would rather know the truth, than be consistently told a lie until truth is even more damaging (it's clear her grandad was slowly getting more ill).

The other inverted parallel I see is with Adrien and Gabriel. Adrien encourages Marinette to spend more time with her grandad, and the villain and ending focus on having no regrets and spending time well (with people).

The whole "make sure Adrien remembers the times I tried to be a good father" comes to mind. Except, unlike Roland, he does not truly spend his time wisely with his son. At points he's all "oh I'm dying I should spend time with him" but he is never a good father to the point Adrien is certain something is wrong with the "Gabriel is a hero" (at least until Lady Chaos).

Also, "You don't have to tell me what's wrong if you don't want to" while the rings are right there on her shoulder 💀.

Overall, I really liked this episode. The actuon was good (aside from the fact Cat Noir was sidelined again (baby Cat Noir because he's naive/ignorant/innocent?)). The existentialism and grief and Marinette's grandma worrying about having not spent time with him well enough. Almost made me cry!

Ugh, I adore a guilty Marinette. The introduction part was perfect, building tension that lasted throughout the episode - the will-she-won't-she.

Alya calling her out on the lies was sooo nice to watch, and Marinette finally admitting parts about the secret to her was great to see! Alya really managed to make Marinette see how she could hurt Adrien more by doing nothing. Alya is so close to the truth (post card scene), and I hope she gets it before the season ends.

Loved seeing the parallel to Wishmaker, where Ladybug wanted to get hit by the villain to stop loving Adrien, parallel to Cat Noir wanting to see his childhood dream.

My favourite part was her drawing Gabriel and getting his expression wrong over and over, trying to create a Gabriel that never existed, at least within her memories. The mirror symbolism! It seems she has come to some subconscious acknowledgement that she is becoming like Gabriel, but the key difference is that she is beginning to resent keeping the secret.

I do have a few criticisms.

Firstly, Nathalié standing passively by the door watching Marinette. What happened to 'there is no turning back'? I understand she didn't know, but take a look at the guilt plain on her face and tell me Nathalie didn't know what Mari was planning to do. This at least implies Nathalie resents the secret too and is firmly on Ladybug's side, or the writers were simply too lazy to invoke the Kingdom within an already packed episode.

Next, the kwamis again. Plagg didn't make an appearance, but Tikki almost seemed teluctant to tell Adrien the truth, even though it serves the greater good. As Alya FINALLY put into excellent detail, finding out not from the person who lied is more painful. Hence, Adrien has a greater risk of being akumatised into Cat Blanc (I AM A SUCKER FOR THE FORESHADOWING). Tikki knows the villain knows Monarch is Gabriel, and Tikki knows Adrien is Cat Noir. Is it not reasonable to think that it poses a greater threat to the safety of the people?

I've made it clear what I believe is the best action for the greater good and Adrien, but I was not at all upset by Marinette chickening out in the end upon seeing the frog toy, the only real evidence she has that Gabriel was ever a good person. I think her chickening out really builds the tension towards the final few episodes when I suspect Adrien may find out the truth, but not from Ladybug/Marinette.

Additionally, Tikki knows about the Cat Blanc timeline and Adrien's identity. Would it not be a potentially worse risk of Adrien/Cat Noir being akumatised if he is left to find out on his own? And I imagine learning about who knew the secret would alienate him from Nathalie, Félix, Amélie, and Kagami, leaving him more vulnerable to attack. Lady Chaos reaffirms the danger of his power being used to destroy the world, once again referencing the Cat Blanc episode and hopefully acting as additional foreshadowing.

The greater good is about doing the most good for the most people. In this case, I would argue that it looks like ensuring Chrysalis has the least amount of power over Ladybug and Paris.

The kwamis so far have failed to uphold the principles they are founded for all for the sake of protecting Marinette. In whatever episode, it was when she was stuttering and almost revealing parts of the truth, Tikki suggests she tell Adrien the truth because it is "eating away at you." Not for the greater good or because Adrien deserves the truth, but purely for the self benefit of alleviating her guilt. In Lady Chaos, Tikki fails to voice any criticism, but as Marinette is aware, she isn't a fan of manipulating Adrien. Similarly, Plagg refuses to voice the truth either and lies when Adrien asks it.