#ml brandy

WHAT's amatonormativity and WHY is it bad?

By definition amatonormativity is "the set of societal assumptions that everyone prospers with an exclusive romantic relationship". So, perhaps based on this you could've guess that it harms mostly aromantic/non-partnering and polyamorous people, but, to be honest, amatonormativity makes everyone's life miserable (yeah, even non-aspec's lives).

Unwillingness to get out of a toxic relationship, because "it's better to have at least this asshole, who beats me up/abuses me, than being single" arises from the direct influence of amatonormativity. A system in which married people receive lots of privileges compared to single people, a system, in which people in relationships are statistically healthier and in a better financial position, than single people, is built by amatonormativity. The idea that a person outside of a relationship is somehow defective, something is wrong with them, they suffer and dream of finding their Other half (because by yourself you cannot be a whole person), was invented by an amatonormative society.

All these things harm people both psychologically (accepting abuse) and physically (it is more difficult to maintain health and financial situation), and they especially harm people who do not want romantic relationships in any form. And this is why it is necessary to fight against amatonormativity, in media too, especially in media for children.

Miraculous positions itself as a very progressive show. Indeed, there are things that Thomas Astruc's team, in my opinion, has done really well in their show, buuuuut... as soon as we start talking about aromanticism... Uhhh... Well...

Yes, maybe you'll say that I'm asking too much of a show whose tagline is "the power of love is always so strong!" No, I'm not! ! !!! I've already explained, why amatonormativity is bad! And normalizing amatonormative ideas in society harms both the WHOLE society and its most vulnerable groups (people from the aro-spectrum).

Representation

The show pays a lot of attention to the representation, and - oh my God! - there is a canonical representation even for the aromantic folks.

Allow me to introduce you... Alix Kubdel! Yaaaay!

*the crowd cheers*

Okay, I'll be honest, this time the writing team did a really good job. Alix for real is a character that any teenager can associate themself with! She's so... Uh-huh... Well, she loves... Well, ummmm... let me chek my notes real quick... (nervously flipping through a notebook)... uh, guys, give me a second, I'll find it...

Yes, of course, you don't look a gift horse in the mouth, and any representation is good, but... Let's be honest. Among the other characters, it's hard for me to name a more raw and uninteresting one. Alix, baby, I love you, I can see your potential, but it seems like the writing team... doesn't want to write more about you?

Or is it, that they don't know what to do with her?

In the season 6 some characters were given a littke more depth: Nath, Ivan, Zoe... and Alix could easily be one of them! The "Dark Castle", which, I suppose, intended to be an Alix-centered episode, could show us a little more of her. How is she living inside the Burrow? What's her sorrows, what's her joys? Her hobbies? Her conflicts? Anything???

Instead, we've got an episode about Marinette being silly and another reminder that "YoU sHoUlDn'T pLaY wItH tImE oohh!!!".

And "don't worry, I'm fine" from Alix in the end. No conflicts, no emotions, nothing.

It's unfair and it looks from my prespective like this: "okay, we've made an aromantic character, hooray! But... what can we do with her? Ah, right! Let's put her in the some intertemporal space, isolate her from the rest of the cast and forget about her!". Do they not know what to do with a character, without using a romantic plot?

This is bad! This reinforces the idea in the head of non-aromantic people that the aromantic characters are too boring (right, Vivienne?), and this is wrong!

They could have made an episode about how strong the power of love is for Alix, just... different kind of love! For example, the platonic love. Familial love. Your love to your hobbie or job, make an emphasis on this, wrap it up in the moral of the episode!

Or show that not all people call it love, not everyone likes this word, not everyone is comfortable with it. Call it Passion. Call it Hobby. Devotion. Acquaintance. "Love" is not suitable for everyone, it is not a beautiful force for everyone, and it's not wrong! Someone can't love anything, but they are passionate about something, enjoying something, interested in something. And that's not a bad thing. This is also a power.

Idk why they desided to simply dipose of her, but, once adaing, as an aromantic person, I hate it.

Amatonormativity in the episodes

There're probably many examples of it in the early episodes, but I want focus on season 6.

Sleeping Syren

The episode was mostly fine? I like that they made Ondine realize that she shouldn't throw a tantrum, because her boyfriend didn't want to kiss her. She even said that even if Kim never kisses her, it will be fine. That's cool.

Though, I don't like that in the end the writers made Kim magically realise that he actually wants to kiss with Ondine. It's kinda reinforces the idea "if you're a really good, patient partner, one day yours suffering will be rewarded and your dumb problematic partner will kiss you". Eeehh... They didn't even made her wait for it, so the moral "don't force your partner to kiss you, please" becomes less visible.

Also, Ondine didn't even got punished for her actions? Even a little? She just somehow realised that her behaivior was bad, and... that's it? I'm not asking writers to put her in the prison, beat her to death or smth like that, no! But shouldn't they at least give a lecture from Ladybug? No?

That's not really good, but, as I said, mostly everything's fine. So let's move to the episode, that made me lose my shit.

Sadnansi

WHAT THE FUCK WAS THIS????

DO I EVEN NEED TO SAY HOW BAD THIS WHOLE NORA x BRANDY (what's his fucking name?) PLOTLINE IS?

Nora needs time to heal after her toxic ex, so she doesn't want to hear anything about love right now. It doesn't bother her, it doesn't hurt her, she seems fine and even pretty happy before the main squad decides that "oooooooh!!!! you can't live without ✨✨✨✨✨✨love✨✨✨✨✨✨!!!! we should help Nora to get together with this guy!!"

Or maybe we should let people decide for themselves who they are to each other? No?

"But he's the only person she tolerates!" Okay??? So what??? Doesn't mean she wants to have anything romantic with him.

"Can't you sees how they look at each other!" Friends can look at each other HOWEVER THEY WANT. I would kill for my friends, still, doesn't mean I want to kiss them or go on a date.

"But he's an ideal man!", "Oh, she's so oblivious!", "Nora will never say she loves him". SO. FUCKING. WHAT? She was fine with that in the beginning of the episode! When Nino suggested they're a couple, she wasn't blushing or showing "yeah, I love him, but I'm ashamed" emotion, she was just a little angry and that was it. SHE WAS OKAY. WHY DO YOU MAKE A PROBLEM OUT OF NOWHERE.

And my absolute favourite "okay, Sadnansi, let's see what you will do, when I'll trew a person you, as you say, don't love, from the EIFFEL TOWER". Okay, Alya, let's see, what you will do, if I'll trew your bestfriend Marinette from the Eiffel tower. Holy shit, she saved her!!!?!?!?!???????? Oh my god, Alyanette canon confirmed, guys, that's crazy.

This review is dedicated to @bugoutreviewgirlie, whose ML liveblogs I’ve always enjoyed… and who inadvertently tipped me off about this episode’s early release. I wasn’t expecting this one to drop until Wednesday, and I would have missed it if I hadn’t chanced upon her post announcing that the episode was up on .to and she was getting to work on her review. That was my signal to do likewise.

Okay, hold up. Last episode, Marinette dropped the letter in quantic space because she knew that neither she nor Adrien were ready to handle disclosure of the contents. Now she’s gonna do the exact opposite? Whatever happens next better do a damn good job of explaining why she’s suddenly reversing herself. Oh, and Mari’s operating under the assumption that Adrien won’t dropkick her once he realizes she was hiding the truth, like she’s been afraid of all this time. And, of course, I want to know how Anansi of all people is responsible for this development.

The title screen made me think Anansi had an appointment with Dr. Psiquat, and the hair makes me think Brandy’s related. Nevertheless, I love his character design: the curly hair, the freckle explosion, the floral peace sign embroidered on the jacket, all of it. Brandy’s a fine man, and what a good boyfriend he would be.

If you’re blanking on Kuki, he was the victim du jour in “Transmission”, the season 5 episode where Scarabella and Kitty Noire had to step in for LB and CN because they were too verklempt about their secret identities interfering with their relationship. Kuki also received a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it reference in “Illustrhater” way back at the start of this season.

The moment Alya mentioned “Cook Fu”, I knew Uncle Wang was involved. Perhaps, as Kung Food, he invented the practice.

Marinette devising a convoluted plan to get two people to express their romantic feelings for each other?

I always thought Nino had a close shave cut… or did he have waves all this time, and the new animation engine is rendering it as Nathanaël Bronn originally intended?

Cotton candy looks solid and well-structured, but since it’s spun sugar, it falls away to nothing the moment it’s exposed to moisture or heat. Plus, its exotic colors are the result of food coloring. It’s a surprisingly on-point metaphor for sweet deceptions that don’t hold up to scrutiny.

Anansi thinks the game is pointless, but even she recognizes the inevitability of Marinette. Welcome to “Fib or No Fib”, where the rules are made up but the points matter.

Alya’s sudden and unbothered explanation about her family history does more than explain why Anansi doesn’t resemble her sisters in looks or temperament. It symbolizes how easy it is to think you know everything about someone, except you don’t. Later on, it explains why Alya has this thing about the truth at all times and all costs… and maybe why she was briefly in therapy, as revealed in “Wreckless Driver”.

Oh shit, it worked?!? Until later on, we find out it didn’t, although it wasn’t Marinette’s fault.

Everyone needs a friend like Alya in their life to snap them out of self-deception, provide some outside perspective, and call them out on their bad behavior when necessary. But that’s what makes it so tragic that Marinette can’t tell Alya everything... or rather, she feels like she can’t. And everyone needs a friend like Tikki with whom you can talk about your problems over a little tea.

Marinette’s drawing this portrait to make Adrien feel a little better before she breaks his heart, but what’s the point if she’s just going to do the latter anyway? Is this gesture really for Adrien… or really just for herself, a futile attempt to assuage her guilty conscience? Is she right to blame Gabriel, or is the problem Marinette’s obligation to Gabriel?

Was Gabriel a good father, or was he a monster? Yes. And any portrait or representation of Gabriel that ignores both the light and the shadow doesn’t tell the whole truth. In the end, Marinette realizes that if she keeps lying to Adrien, even with the best of intentions, she’ll be just like Gabriel. Her excuses and self-deceptions are paper-thin… or at least not as strong as that portrait paper. (I’m guessing it’s 100% cotton rag if it tolerates all those erasures without ripping.)

At this point, an akumatized villain showing up was like a fresh summer breeze. Oh, and she’s just knocked over the Eiffel Tower! How quaint, really takes me back.

If this akuma scenario seems familiar, it’s basically the flipside of “Zombizou”, only with hatred and aggression (a Rage Virus) rather than affection.

Once again, Alya’s good at calling people’s bluff.

I couldn’t immediately tell what the akumatized object was. It wasn’t until the end of the ep that I realized it was a radish rose.

Sometimes love is awkward. Sometimes it’s downright frightening. Not everyone is ready for it when it shows up, especially if you’ve been burned before. But turning your back on love entirely hurts even more than heartbreak.

Okay, at least now I understand Marinette’s decision. And she understands that she’s in for a bad time, but it’s the right thing to do. It always was. This secret is killing her. Maybe Adrien won’t be as mad at her when he realizes why she lied, how much it hurt her to do it, and that telling him the truth was an act of love.

I admire Alya’s attempt at a crime scene diorama. She’s close to sussing out the truth about the night in question. The trouble is, what will she do when she has eliminated all which is impossible and discovers the improbable truth?