Galeās Top 10: Best Episodes of Miraculous Ladybug (as of season 5)
1. This is my opinion, and not absolute rankings. I do hold these episodes in high esteem though.
2. I would love to hear your thoughts on these episodes and what your thoughts on them are in comments or making your own list.
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10. Stoneheart (origins part 2)
Can an episode be carried by a really good scene? The answer is yes. In truth, without the umbrella scene I would put origins part 2 more in the 8/10 category. It has solid characterization, a great look into Marinette and Adrien as characters. Itās a wonderful episode
Then the umbrella scene hits you in the back of the head. It is still to this day one of the most iconic scenes in the show. It only gets better with age. It shows how connected they are and it is a perfect scene. From the musical score to the subtle expressions. This scene alone makes this episode a contender for the best.
It took a while for me to process this episode and evaluate it fairlyā¦ that being said it is easily one of the most emotional episodes of season 5.
It shows the emotional turmoil Marinette and Adrien are going through, as Marinette feels she is in love with Chat noir, while Adrien has fully fallen for Marinette.
The discussion of if Marinetteās love for chat noir is an escape, or if she truly loves him becomes a contentious argument between her and Alya.
Meanwhile Adrien is trying to reach Marinette who is keeping him at arms length now.
The dorky and cute interactions of Marinette and chat noir. Both are just so happy only to have reality crush them.
We see how much Chat noir wants Marinette to love him but doesnāt want to take advantage, and we see Marinette on her wits end, just wanting to be happy and nearly getting akumatized. This emotional peak is something to behold, and it ends with some sorrow. It hurts itās not a happy end.
And I will say the two parter that results from it isnāt the best and that detracts. Itās hard for me to say that season 5 ever hits such an emotional peak againā¦ at least not until much later.
People really fail to grasp why this episode is the best episode of season 2.
It has a genuinely heartfelt and sad man wanting to do better, be better and help others. Seeing how Mr. Damocles character arc grows in later seasons actually helps this age better.
The principal has always had to make compromise after compromise just to keep his job and keep the school in some sort of shape. But deep down he wants to help others and be better.
We get heroes taking pity on him and a humiliation that is still one of the most understandable akumatizations to this day.
Not to mention the genius akuma plan and counter.
Darkowl even almost gets the miraculous not once but twice.
It also has Tikki and Plagg find out who the other holder is, making it an important episode.
In terms of writing and emotional payoff itās one of the best.
There really isnāt much to say that hasnāt been said. I think the best way to describe it is this.
Best intro episode to Miraculous ladybug.
Solid animation, solid characterization and a good flow.
It stands the test of time and just works
Remember how I said emotional highs in season 5?
Protection is simply Adrien and Marinette exploring their dynamic. They both know they like eachother and everyone wants them to finally kiss. But both of them are just not there yet.
It shows how other people can impact the view of oneās own relationship.
But what really stands out is Kagami. Kagami is doing her best to be supportive of her friends but a moment of weakness and manipulation by Lila and monarch we get a heartbreaking fight.
The moment that really sells it for me is after Kagami is deakumatized. Adrien and Marinette check on Kagami who breaks down, poor girl was gaslit and loves them both so much. My heart broke for her.
It is such an emotional episode that explores Kagamiās nature and peak Adrinette energy. Itās truly a marvel of an episode.
Once he was my favorite akuma, this episode is one that still holds weight for me.
Itās the first time we see a character not actively after the miraculous. He only wanted payback for ChloĆ© and even then was ready to abandon it to date Marinette. It showed potential and I love how Marinette shows her guts facing an akuma even without her miraculous.
Itās cheesy in some places, but also helps explore characters, including chat noir.
Also Nathanaelās English dub VA was awesome. To bad after this Nathanael gets relegated immediately to the back.
What really sold me on this was how it showed Hawkmoth as intimidating. Hawkmoth never felt as terrifying as he did in this episode.
This is another episode Iāve talked to death about. Arguably one of the most impactful episodes in the entire series.
Chat blanc illustrated why knowing eachotherās identities was dangerous, how things could go wrong.
We see the Worst Case Scenario.
This is the first time we see Bunnnyx show up trying to PREVENT an event from happening. We see how loving the two can be when together.
But above all we see how far Gabriel is willing to go, seeing the levels of depravity he would go for his wish.
Iāve gone on in detail on why itās a phenomenal episode. But the reason itās number four is because whiles itās impactful it does fizzle in some places. With some touch ups it could be my favorite episode. But being 4th isnāt a bad spot.
This episode sold me on Nathalieās redemption. But above all, this episode speaks to me because it fixed the kwami swap in my eyes.
The episode explored the shifting lovesquare dynamic and showed important development for Adrien and Nathalie.
We learn Nathalieās past and this works sort of as Her final hurrah before just using the time she has left to help Adrien. Her getting the miraculous to get a wish to help the boy. Thatās what she wanted. Itās touching and heartbreaking, because we see Nathalie truly does want Adrien to be happy.
Also seeing Misterbug redeem himself and figure out the lucky charm. It needed to happen and Iām glad. We also got feral Lady noire which was chefās kiss.
I think itās the best we get of Nathalieās character and it really shows how the show can write a redemption if they want to.
This episode is easily the most rewatchable, as it shows the core of both Adrien and Marinetteās characters. It gives us how they would be without their hang ups, their insecurities. It shows how even without their memories, they are heroes at their core.
Iāve talked about this episode in length and in my opinion is the episode that understands the two heroes the best. Also just ALL the lovesquare. Itās beautiful.
This is the best episode of Miraculous ladybug. Itās a bold claim. I took away recency bias and in truth, the episode holds up.
It brings forth all the development and themes from season four and brings it to a crescendo of highs and lows.
Felix gets the peacock in exchange for a all the miraculous he stole from Ladybug.
This is probably the lowest point we ever see Marinette/ladybug.
Her supposed victory was snatched by the one she trusted. She lost ALL the miraculous but hers and chat noirās. She felt that she deserved to be hated.
But Chat noir was there to pull her back up. He was there to show her hope wasnāt lost, that they could fight against monarch, and that Paris believed in them.
It showed us why they were heroes.
With a scene that is ON PAR with the umbrella scene, it truly has an emotional punch that needs to be addressed. And when Astruc said that each episode of season 4 would hit like chat blanc. This episode ended up hitting EVEN HARDER.
It is the best season finale to date, and in my opinion the best episode in the entire series
