Amphibiuary 2023

Day 6- Imaginary

I understand it's not uncommon for modern cartoons to start with a simple premise and then start building up a plot later on, but with Ladybug, it feels like they want to have a big story but aren't willing to break away from the base formula of the show. Which is kind of an issue, because the base formula includes having a character press the "revert everything to the status quo" button; aka, if anything of consequence happens, it doesn't actually matter because it'll always be fixed/reversed by the end of the episode. There's essentially little to no plot development , because the forumla literally does not allow for it.

Ladybug doesnt need to have a huge overarching storyline (I honestly enjoyed it more when they weren't so focused on the plot), but it just feels kinda lame for them to dangle all of these different plot threads in front of the audience only to immediately say "just kidding!" and then pretend they never happened. It can come off as very fanfiction-y at times (Oblivio and Chat Blanc come to mind), and they've done the identity reveal fakeout so many times now that when it actually happens, I'm not sure I'm gonna have much of a reaction other than "finally lol". Their lack of dedication to letting anything change in the status quo is SUPER obvious with Chloe.

Chloe has a full redemption arc set up in seasons 2&3 (making her sympathetic, giving her a sad backstory that explains why she is the way she is, making her have moments of lucidation where she admits she's a bad person), only to have her turn evil in the season 3 finale because... she's the mean girl. I'm not even saying Chloe HAD to be redeemed; the idea of having an antagonist try to redeem themselves, only for them to fall even farther, is super enticing to me! The problem is, the show very clearly set up a normal redemption story, and then just changed its mind last second because "she's the Mean one". It's really jarring!

from blood related prompts [accepting!!]

The first sound that echoes through the sewers’ foul walls is that of clapping — slow, rhythmic, impressed. Palms as big as a human’s form, claws thicker than any mortal femur, cracking the silence like breaking bones, reverberating off metal and stone. A frightening sound, a threatening one, musical as the demigod steps forward from the shadows of his altar, dark robes trailing loosely behind him. A featureless, horned head turns this way and that, examining the body of the foolish Tarnished that now lay slain before him. Blood pools around his feet. Claws click-clack in its crimson warmth. “Impressive, but not impressive enough,” he says down to the man’s body as it slowly dissolves to steel ash. “Pity, that thou must die in filth.”

For a moment, then, there is silence.

But then, a new voice shatters the same barrier, and it makes the Lord’s eyes snap up with force enough to be felt. Another Tarnished, is it? So soon after the first? Here, once more, in this foul sewer below the city?

What sort of Grace would guide them here?

It’s almost jarring, however — enough so to keep the Omen’s temper reigned — that the voice seems… concerned. Not prepared for a fight, not even threatening in tone, but simply…

What a fool…

Blood, is it? His own blood? That’s what this woman is concerned about? What a peculiar creature, seemingly concerned for the safety of a God — a creature of ill fate; the overseer of the future Mohgwyn Dynasty. What harm could a few gashes do to the Lord of Blood? Does she not know who he is?

Ah, but of course not. Nobody could.

Such is as Marika intended.