#and the practice confession scene in Glaciator 2

[sparklingcubes]

When I first saw the Marichat kiss scene in Elation, I was very shocked. Like, not in a "omg finally they're in love with each other and kissed 😍" kind of way but more like, "holy shit I can't believe the writers just make Marichat, the Platonic side of the LS with capital P, where it consist of Marinette, who are obviously known to be down for Adrien, and Chat Noir, the biggest Ladybug simp ever, kissed lovingly and tenderly as if they have been wanting to do this since forever" kind of way.

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

I think a more charitable interpretation of the statue scene being when Adrien first fell in love with Marinette is that he’s lying.

I think contextually with the way his expression is animated the moment Adrien started to see Marinette differently was when he practiced her confession with her as Chat, but Adrien can’t tell her that. So they picked another scene from the show for him to lie about as a cover.

This isn’t to absolve the show of bad writing. It’s extremely telling that the romantic leads interact so infrequently out of the mask that the statue scene was their go to.

It also doesn’t help that we rarely get any insight into how Adrien thinks. Meaning we only have on screen actions to go on regarding his unreliability as a narrator and as a superhero.

(Post that spawned this ask or possible this one, not 100% sure since both reference that scene)

While this is obviously not what canon was going for, I utterly adore this as a simple fix to the problem. What a lovely idea that could have been perfectly in line with the show's humor. Just have Kagami ask Adrien when he started feeling like this for Marinette, leading him to flashback to:

The Glaciator balcony scene, but oops, can't talk about that one, he was Chat Noir

The Weredad confession and date, but oops, once again, can't discuss that because he was Chat Noir

The Glaciator 2 confession to "Buttercup", but oops, he's once again Chat Noir

Could even throw in an Evillustrator flashback, but once again, he can't talk about that because he was Chat Noir!

Between each flashback we see Kagami getting ever more impatient so Adrien finally just blurts out something about the wax museum based on a poster behind her head and the rest of the episode is him having to pretend that the awkward almost kiss was the moment while Marinette, Luka, and Kagami all look at him like he's nuts. It could have been amazing! You could also do a variation where the flashbacks happen throughout the episode as Adrien remembers his favorite moments with Marinette, but he can never talk about the real memory because it was with the wrong him.

Then again, that would probably eat up the whole 20 minutes, leaving no time for an akuma attack, so it wouldn't work for Miraculous as every episode has to have a fight in it, but that's not an argument against this idea. It's just another argument for why a romance is poorly suited to an episodic formula show that's incredibly strict about being both of those things!

[theerurishipper]

Season 4 and 5 made it just so difficult to truly believe that Marinette really loves her Kitty. The Fandom and show can scream about vague soft eyes and "she loves her kitty so muuuuuuch! <3" however they want, but it says alot about Marinette's character that this vague "I love my kitty" never really gets any more specific.

Saying "I like you / I want you around" doesn't mean anything whne the actions themselves paint the picture of her basically taking Cat Noir for granted and not thinking a single second about his actual well being or his perspective in any of this.

It's like in Glaciator 2 where a good part of the episode Marinette spends either screaming at Cat, manhandling him however she pleases and even invalidating any of his emotions by screaming in his face that HIS emotions don't matter in any of this, this is about HER and her only when she used him not knowing Marinette is Ladybug against him by secretly forcing him to practice with her her confession for Adrien.

She's literally screaming at him that his emotions are irrelevant to her. She just wants him to do whatever she wants and however she wants it bc apparently thats the only way she can stand being around him. And that she got in season 5, how Lovely.

And then later when Cat voices that he thinks Ladybug can't stand him anymore because she screams at him and gets seriously physical Marinette is like "No, no, that doesn't mean she hates you <3"

When, like, yes Marinette. Under anything resembling to normal morality you constantly reducing him to a rag doll, screaming, insulting, replacing him, leaving him behind on the battle field for your own and your friends' benefit and brushing him off would be a perfectly reasonable thing for another person to view as a bad thing. Only YOU would demand of someone to view that as unparalleled depictions of fondness, and that hasn't changed much by Elation.

Her ignoring his discomfort in the kissing scene (closing her eyes again) and then almost turning into Cat's enemy for daring to tell her "no" one time is one unnerving sight to behold. She basically immediately went back to season 4 mode the moment she didn't get what she wanted. I don't even want to imagine what she would have done to him by impulse if that moment had happened in Ladynoir (I hate how CONSISTENT this is...)

and even by the end of the episode she's still only asking him to validate her when he brings her back.

And well, then she leaves.

It's difficult to actually believe that Marinette really values Cat Noir alot. It feels much more like she values and likes how little genuine efforts she has to make in their dynamics to reach a normal standard, and that he's just the most convenient person for her regarding any kind of ugly dirty work or her worst tendencies not coming with regular circumstances. So of course she would like that.

If I had an anger problem, I would probably like the person too who had to learn from me that that's "perfectly reasonable behavior" they should view as GOOD in a dynamic bc i like using them as rag doll, punching bag and tool.

But just because I personally would find comfort in a person accepting that I can do that to them as my way of "showing affection" doesn't it mean that that's a good thing to make soft eyes about.

But the show is not GIVING us much more to work with. Marinette only on rare occasions voices anything she even likes about him. It goes mostly unsaid so you can claim whatever you want about her feelings for him.

She likes that he's funny, only that the show isn't showing that alot. If at all. Marinette telling Alya in Hack-San to laugh at his jokes because he likes taht is kinda out of left field because Marinette herself honestly doesn't do it alot. The normal reaction is her being annoyed, shutting him up and even insulting him, down to any kind of "slapstick".

And the most I can remember her having SAID about being in love with him in season 5 was being thirsty about how hot he is. I don't wanna be mean but no wonder Alya basically disregarded Marinette's crush. It's not like she ever named anything serious, and tahts....honestly awful.

With Adrien as Cat Noir there was NEVER a question if he values her for more than her being pretty. He loves her brilliant mind, her determination, her drive to help people. Him complimenting her for being pretty was just the cherry on top.

But only towards Joan of Arc did she mention that she likes his loyalty, but that got ruined by her straight up AGREEING with her whne she insulted Cat and the "loyal" part was only to save her own face. She literally agreed with someone insulting Cat right in front of him and only said "yeah, but he's LOYAL" which of course made him insecure. He couldn't see Joan of Arc, how many people are there and what the insult was Ladybug just agreed with. He can't defend himself and saw that Ladybug literally WON'T.

So which one is it, Marinette? Is he hot or a runt who's lucky he's loyal? Why was Joan's opinion of you the whole episode the only thing you actually cared about to the point where you were fine with throwing the person you love oh so much to the dogs again? And Cat looking bad and humiliated again was barely an afterthought to you, as long as it wasn't YOU?

If she actually loves and value him then why is she still treating him as if he merely spawns into existence for akumas or her entertainment and benefit as her care taker? Why isn't Marinette trying to make up for how she used her civilian side to make him do whatever she wants several times by now, as if she never even conciders how this will look like once they reveal (I would loose sleep if I did that to a person!)?

Why was she still perfectly fine with him being completely isolated and having no one in a case of emergency, meaning she always continued letting him run the risk of ending up the way he did in the season 5 finale? Cat being found as a civilian by Hawkmoth was from day 1 one of the most obvious things that could happen and even after 2 what if episodes this fate of his was never actually avoided, because Marinette always just prioritized getting HERSELF out of the equation more than him truly being safe.

That's a risk she was apparently from start til the end perfectly willing to take.

5 entire seasons and the only safety thing she cared about in their dynamic is that if he gets caught and is at the villain's mercy, he does so as quietly as possible so she isn't bothered by it and can close her eyes, cover her ears and go "Lalala".

If Marinette in any of these 5 seasons thought Cat deserved help too than she sure never acted like it, and in fact demanded the complete opposite for her own comfort.

How am I supposed to believe that Marinette loves and values Cat Noir as a person when non of that or his entire personhood goes beyond what little she wants for her own comfort? If you love a person you would actually want them save and not remain in harms way but accept that you shouldn't be asked to care about that? Or remain completely isolated in the dangerous lives you lead without being allowed to ask muvb of anything from you support wise?

Or constantly ditched on the battle field, being done who knows what to so YOU and your friends are fine while you execute the actual plan with the others.

You would ask questions if they're okay and if they need help too, and not just take any half an indicator your being given to write off any concern because you apparently don't actually wanna think about any of that.

You would actually think about them in any decision you make because this is not just about you and their well being should mean something to you. You would tell them things so you don't risk them getting hurt by having to find out themselves the worst way (and here leading to akumatizations).

You would let them made their own choices, have agency and not just when you're forced to. You wouldn't casually execute a plan to trick them into revealing their important secret identitiy to two people without their consent or knowledge, and ESPECIALLY not when the god damn angry authority figure, who already doesn't lie your partner, would fucking use it to get rid of them behind YOUR BACK TOO.

You wouldn't want physical harm being done to them instead of even being a main source of it, and never taking accountability for that while demanding to never get touched and spoken to in a single wrong way. You wouldn't want that they accept that you don't owe them anything as their LEADER but they owe you EVERYTHING because you said so and can't handle anything else in a "partnership".

(Only to feel sorry about it for 2 minutes when you loose everyone else but, well, not really I guess? Or else she would have tried making up for it in season 5 more than just surface level stuff that was once again mostly for HER benefit anyway. But more than that never happened)

You wouldn't want to think they're stupid for not thinking like you and draw the line at any "back talking" you're being given bc you apparently concider anything else but absolut obedience and blind faith as your little puppet as you being "disrespected". So they must walk around you like on eggshells and only talk in soft compliments and supportive words cause who knows how you would react otherwise?

Dude, no wonder Ladynoir is fucking dead. Good for Adrien, and I hate that we've come THIS far. Such a thing is one of the last things I ever wanted to say when I started watching the show. Now I can't be angry taht Ladynoir is fucking dead and Cat Noir didn't made it out of the partnership for the finale, because wtf else was this supposed to result in??

I just cannot fathom the type of "Love" and fondness Marinette supposedly has for Cat Noir. Whatever fondness she feels for him gets drowned out by other 20 red flags about her not actual treating him like a real person.

And man, I HATE that...

Yeah, literally. This is probably harsher than what I think, but it's more or less my thoughts on the matter.

Thank you for your ask!

[generalluxun]

I'm surprised that anyone could've gotten any enjoyment out of that wax scene, I could barely get through it just from the second hand embarrassment alone >.< (although that might just be bc I've got pretty bad social anxiety) in terms of emotional sincerity on Marinette's end I much preferred the whole "Buttercup" thing from Glaciator 2 (?), where Marinette practices her confession on Chat Noir. At least in that episode she's actually aware of her audience and I actually quite enjoyed the dynamic they had going on in those scenes

The whole point of that scene was her not being honest, right up until the end. She is sincere for a brief moment... Then poof it's gone and we never see it again ^^;

[gale-gentlepenguin]

Not sure if it has been done but Glaciator 2...

Gale poorly explains: Glaciator 2

(Paris having all of the ads now have LADYNOIR KISS) Ladybug: WE ARENT A COUPLE!

Chat noir: But we do look cute

Ladybug: Oh no I forgot, I need to take out the trash (Yeets Chat noir into trash bin

(Decimates Glaciator then yeets trash can on roof)

Ladybug: (Annoyed) So what were you saying earlier?!

Chat noir: Okay I over stepped with a joke when you werent in the mood. To apologize I will just stop flirting and just move one. I am sorry

Ladybug: (Still angry) Good

(Cue depressed adrien montage)

Alya: You cant make me delete my babies

Marinette: Do it.

Alya: (Removes all the ladynoir photos)

(More depression)

Shadowmoth: Oh damn there is a MEGA DEPRESSED KID. I gotta capitlize on th... its adrien. Wow, what a mood killer. He should be home anyway.

_____________________________________________________________

Marinette: GASP! DEPRESSED ADRIEN! I GOTTA CAPITALIZE ON THIS. I need to find the gift for this occasion.

Adrien: Oh hey marinette.

Marinette (Dream mode): I got this for you

Adrien: A pottery wheel?

Marinette: NO! WRONG GIFT. (Yeets in trash and runs)

Adrien: Marinette's right, I need to throw out my feelings.

(Kagami pulls Marinette into car)

Kagami: Your attempts to seduce adrien are garbage

Marinette: The f***

Kagami: You need a practice boy, There are books about it (hides manga)

Marinette: Thats actually a really smart idea

________________________________________________________

Gabriel: Hey Son... are you okay?

Adrien: Yes father.

Gabriel: Okay good.

(Adrien leaves)

Gabriel: I am gonna treat myself for being such a caring father. (Places father of the year mug on standing desk)

Adrien: Okay I need to obliterate every billboard in Paris, the last thing I want to become is my father.

_________________________________________________________

Marinette: Oh look, its chat noir. Since he is so in love with Ladybug he would be the perfect person to practice on

Tikki: (the only one aware of the f***ed up situation) why is he here though

Marinette: Cats like rooftops. HERE KITTY KITTY

Chat noir: Marinette? Whats up?

Marinette: I need to confess to you

Chat noir: But I am not in love with anyone.

Marinette: (missing his internal crisis) Perfect I can use you as practice.

Chat noir: Okay

(Cue cringe confession)

Chat noir: That is cringe

Marinette: Really? You of all people calling it cringe?

Chat noir: (Proves why its cringe)

Marinette: Damn it, youre right, want to take a break.

Chat noir: Im down

(Cue not date that Andre ice cream man thinks is date)

Marinette: Heartfelt explanation on why its hard to confess

Chat noir: Heartfelt explanation on feelings for ladybug

(Umbrella scene)

Andre: as Ladynoir trash I MUST RECTIFY THIS INJUSTICE!

Glaciator: THIS IS A NOTP!

Chat noir: Marinette go hide.

(Cue car chase)

Chat noir: Ah Ladybug, my associate who I fight crime with

Ladybug: Okay I am going to need you to cut that s*** out right the f*** now.

Chat noir: But you said.

Ladybug: Look, I just want you to not push things when I tell you to stop. If its too much, I will let you know. If I say stop, you stop. Deal?

Chat noir: That is reasonable and probably should have been said 10 minutes ago, you know how the salters are

Ladybug: Just drive

(Glaciator is defeated)

__________________________________________________________

Adrien: So I learned I shouldnt give up on Ladybug, but I should probably ease up on the jokes about being shipped with her

Plagg: Probably

__________________________________________________________

Kagami: Marinette MY PLAN WAS BAD! I JUST FINISHED THE MANGA AND...

Marinette: Manga? Did you seriously use manga as a reference for real life.

Kagami:... Yes

Marinette: You sweet summer child, dont do that again. This is the real world not a manga or tv show

____________________________________________________________

BONUS:

Nathalie: Sir, a Mr. Kubdel is calling about a mug you stole

Gabriel: Tell him to f*** off

[ladybugs-and-black-cats]

Just a Thought…

I was just thinking about “The Reveal” and…I always imagined it would be happy with both of them so overjoyed to know how close they’d been to each other this whole time and to laugh about their ridiculous love square, but…what if it’s not…?

Marinette will realize that she threw ADRIEN into a trash can!

Adrien will realize that MARINETTE shut him out, pushed him aside, and made him feel replaced!

This has the possibility for such angst! (I hope it’ll include some callback to the confession practice in Glaciator 2, though, because…honestly, I live for that scene!)

[depressed-teacup-inc]

Why is this romantic again?

Glaciator 2 is absolutely infuriating!!!! Hooray….

But before I start criticizing this episode, let me say the two things I liked about this episode!

1. Gabriel is kinda maybe half a dad, and it’s too little too late, but I respect that so much (like he looks better then marinette in this episode, at this point, I would not mind Adrien betraying Ladybug with Gabriel, as toxic as Gabriel is)

2. Chat Noir moving on!

Listen I love Chat Noir, but if I’m being completely real with y’all, he is obsessed with Ladybug. He does need to move on and distance himself from Ladybug, and I’m proud that he tried this episode!

…NOW LETS DISCUSS WHY IN COMPARISON TO MARINETTE THIS IS BULLSHIT!!!

And for that let me list Marinette’s behavior throughout this episode!

1. She treats Chat Noir like absolute garbage and physically hurts him when he shows mild excitement about them being seen as a couple (I understand frustration but she has no fucking right to do this, especially mid battle!) and everyone is just saying it’s comedy??? THATS NOT HOW YOU TREAT PEOPLE!

(Little note that she threw him into a literal trash can only to kick him out of on the roof top and scream at him. Again, I understand frustration but this is like a million red flags sewn together to a huge red flag)



2. this�� this entire scene.

And like. For the life of me, I do not get how this show has justified this. The lesson in this episode is that you shouldn’t give up on your love and that no script can help with confession. But that’s not what marinette should have learned!!!

She needs to learn that Adrien might not react exactly how she wants him to! And that he’s his own person! Literally she got furious at Chat for not reacting the way she wanted him to and asking her what should he do, because all she expects from Adrien (and Chat) is to admire her and immediately say yes! THATS FUCKED UP!!!! This entire script is super ironic because this is marinette literally telling Chat to not think about himself when she’s the one guilty of that crime!

And when the confession practice (obviously) doesn’t work out? She cries and has chat comfort her and tell her to not give up.

…because if you’ve been stalking a guy for ages kids, instead of moving on or learning to treat him like a person, you should just keep insisting, hurt everyone around you, and when it eventually falls apart? Cry and everyone will comfort you.

(Note: Have you noticed Marinette only starts treating Chat nicely when he’s absolutely compliant and becomes a “yes” man for her? No? Cuz apparently the Marichat “date” was distracting)

And to too it all off? She never once apologized and Adrien is just roped into loving Ladybug. AGAIN.

This episode is basically Hack San but everything wrong and messed up with the love square!!

Both are in love (unhealthily so) with the other (not true self, don’t even bring that shit near me) and when Chat noir tries to move on or be happy (because god forbid marinette would be criticized for her behaviors and be forced to move on! She only half tries to do that when Adrien breathes the same air as another woman) he is also given shit for moving on, is forced to comfort marinette and tell her she is completely in the right (because again, his forbid she’d be called out and forced to develop) and is roped back in with Ladybug.

…why is this supposedly a romance again? The only good thing I’m getting out of this is that Gabriel I-drink-my-son’s-tears-for-breakfast Agreste is better then Marinette and that Kagami is a manga fan

[flightfoot]

Rating each Marichat episode of Miraculous by its Marichat content

4. Weredad

This one left a lot of Marichat fans feeling cheated. We finally get another Marichat episode, and it’s emphasizing that Marichat would never happen? It felt like a slap in the face.

Still, it had some good things going for it. Marinette automatically jumping to “I have to pretend to be in love with Chat Noir to solve this problem!” again was hilarious, along with her getting mad that Chat had, apparently, gotten over Ladybug enough to date her as Marinette instead XD. And Chat was so kind and gentle in his rejection, if slight self-aggrandizing, wanting to do his best not to hurt her, and fighting as hard as he could to rescue her when the akuma struck.

3. Evillustrator

Ah, the episode that spawned the ship. Chat Noir amps up his act in an effort to impress Marinette, while she sasses him. She also helps him figure out how to get out of the trap Evillustrator set, it’s great XD. Unfortunately the actual Marichat content only lasts about two minutes though, but it’s a glorious two minutes!

2. Glaciator

Ah, Marichat balcony scene, my beloved! Like with Evillustrator before it, they only spend a small portion of the episode together - only three minutes.

But in those three minutes, the two of them open up about their feelings for their crushes, Chat dropping his Chat act, allowing Marinette to see, for the first time, that he isn’t goofing around when he’s declaring his love for Ladybug - he’s as serious about it as she is with her feelings for Adrien. They bond, and he even gets to take her to the romantic set-up he created, talking through his feelings about Ladybug not showing up. It’s the most vulnerable she’d ever seen him up to that point, and allowed for her, as Ladybug, to have a heart-wrenching talk about their feelings and status.

1. Glaciator 2

Andre appears to the be Patron Saint of Marichat, as much as he ships Ladynoir instead. This episode had the most Marichat we’ve ever received, clocking in at 8 minutes dedicated to their interactions, over a third of the episode. 

It had it all. Marinette calling Chat noir like an actual kitty, over-the-top theatrics and comedy with the practice love confessions, and heart-wrenching talks about their feelings, about figuring out what to do about the feelings for their crushes. Heck, they even went to a movie together AND had an umbrella scene! It is by far the best Marichat episode we’ve gotten to date.

[star-ocean-peahen]

Okay so like. I was watching Glaciator 2 today. And my dad happened to be in the room (I was at the scene where Marinette practices confessing to Chat Noir)

and. my dad. laughs at it

now, my dad has a veeeeery specific sense of humor. its basically monty python and the occasional butt joke. most generic comedic scenes (and indeed jokes my family makes regularly) don't even make him smile (plus he hasn't been laughing at anything lately)

but fuckign miraculous ladybug did it???

[concernedbrownbread]

Glaciator 2 could've just had Marinette practice confessing her feelings to Kagami. Why didn't it? She was right there.

(But I admit, that was a very cute Marichat scene.)

[love-the-little-wonders]

Miraculous Ladybug Season 2 Timeline *UPDATED*

I made a post about this before but now it has all of the first half of season 2 in reasonable order!

The Collector: -takes place right after Volpina

Despair Bear: -this is the first time we hear the romantic music in the background - Marinette and Adrien slow dance with each other and are comfortable with one another to be close (*swoons*) - Alya and Nino dance together as a couple

Prime Queen: -the romance music track plays again -Ladybug and Chat Noir pretend to be in a relationship first time -Ladybug shuts down Chat’s advances thinking he’s not serious

Glaciator: -Alya and Nino established as a couple since they get ice cream together (and Nino is possessively holding Alya) -The last time Chat saves Marinette is when they fought The Evillustrator and they interact -Chat also saves Marinette from being attacked in “Gamer” but there is not much communication -Ladybug begins to take Chat’s affection for her seriously after hearing his confession as Marinette -First time we see Andre

Robustus: -Hawkmoth loses control of an akumatized victim for the first time - We learn what happens if the miraculous are combined from both Master Fu telling us and Hawkmoth expressing his desire for it

Gigantitan: -We see Andre the ice cream seller again as part of the girls’ scheme to get Marinette and Adrien together revisiting the idea of Marinette wanting to share a lovers ice cream with Adrien -This is the second time that Hawkmoth loses control over an akumatized victim -Ladybug is possibly flirting with Chat Noir. She knows now that his feelings for her are real after his confession in “Glaciator”. -After listening to Marinette rambling about food, Adrien is a bit thrown off but  suggests going with Marinette to eat. He wouldn’t mind being in her company

Riposte: -Adrien is growing fond of Marinette’s quirkiness and smiles at her during the fencing tryouts (so adorable!!!) -Adrien blows an air kiss to Ladybug. (The power of love always so strong~) -Adrien tells Kagami that he thinks Marinette is a great “friend” and Marinette overhears him say that

Gorizilla: - I would like to think that Gorizilla happened before Befana because Adrien brought up the bracelet that Marinette gave him and his bracelet to her wasn’t mentioned. -We see Wayhem for the second time. The first time is in Glaciator. -Gabriel and Adrien bond and have an overdue father son moment. - Marinette has grown so much!!! She’s able to have basically normal conversations with Adrien. Bless

Captain Hardrock: -Gabriel is monitoring Adrien’s piano practice now after finding out he snuck out in Godzilla -Luka is introduced!!! I am LIVING. -This love square is now a…cube of sorts? (Adrinette, Ladrien, Marichat, Ladynoir, Adrigami, Ladygami, Marigami, Lukanette, Lukadrien, Ladyluk) idk it’s confusing but there’s love all around. - More overdue father son bonding (Gabe step up yo game)

Befana: -This is the third time we hear the romance track music. Marinette mentions that this is her favorite song. The first time we hear it is when she is dancing with Adrien during Despair bear. -Chat saves Marinette once again and they feel comfortable around each other to banter -Adrien gives Marinette a handmade friendship bracelet (*sigh* just a friend Agreste) -Befana back talks to Hawkmoth lol. His control over his victims is slowly slipping throughout the season

Dark Owl: - Ladybug and Chat Noir de-transform in front of each other with their eyes closed -Tikki and Plagg discover each other’s chosens for the first time upon seeing the two transform -One of Ladybug’s earring is taken and her transformation begins to slowly come undone. She needs both earrings for her transformation -Hawkmoth’s desire to change the past is mentioned again -After watching the last scene from Gorizilla, it can be assumed that Hawkmoth wants to bring back/ save Emilie who is being held in that chamber (gathered from observation, not confirmed)

Sapotis We see Marinette in her Pjs from Godzilla (just gonna leave this here for no reason) Prior to this episode, there hasn’t been any mentions of Rena Rouge or anything else of the miraculi It is mentioned that Gabriel knows that the Guardian is in Paris These details point to more plot driven episodes to come This wraps up the “first half” of season 2 so again, good place to have more plot driven stuff given the parallel to Volpina’s ending

I may have missed some things but overall, this seems like a consistent order. Now we just gotta wait for the next half of season 2!

[ladymerveilleuse]

Just realized that after Glaciator 2, if Adrien ever thinks of this scene he might decide she was practicing for Buttercup with what she did think was a statue. Her initial practice attempts at a confession speech are similarly dramatic. If he ever had concerns about her explanation that she knew it was him but still suddenly pushed boundaries in that way, this might help.

"#bushy try not to bring up puppeteer 2 all the time challenge" no I don't think you should. I think everyone needs to talk about this episode more because it's such a great episode but people always overlook it

YOU HEARD IT HEAR FOLKS I HAVE BEEN ENABLED

I've talked AT LENGTH about why Puppeteer 2 is the best episode for adrinette development since Origins, but there was one scene I didn't mention.

That's right folks

IT'S TIME TO DISSECT THAT SCENE

Here's the most important thing: THIS SCENE BROKE THE TENSION BETWEEN THEM

Marinette was struggling to be honest with her feelings because she was nervous around him, while Adrien was afraid of her disliking him.

This scene made them become actual friends. Yes, they were friends before this. But in this one they became closer than ever before, more than just classmates.

Read more because I am going to include screenshots and rant about this episode till the end of time hehehe

Okay, for starters, remember what the mindset of our two leads is right now. You have Marinette who has been thinking about her relationship with Adrien and her inability to confess and talk about her feelings.

Meanwhile, Adrien is desperate to be her friend. The idea that they aren't, that she doesn't even like him is devastating to him. Remember, friends are so important to Adrien (I would even argue his friendships are even more important to him than his romantic relationships). More than that, Marinette was his first friend. (At least the first one he called a friend).

LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIS EXPRESSIONS THERE.

H E A R T B R O K E N

To have thought Marinette didn't see him the same way, would have hurt him so deeply. So he does what he thinks he has to show her that yes, he is a friend. And Adrien totally knows how friends work Agreste decides that ahhh yes I'm going to play a prank on my very good friend. Afterall, it's how Plagg makes me feel better, so this will work to help me make Marinette feel better. (using English dub here cause I can't speak French but if folks wanna let me know what the differences in dialogue are here please do)

(adrien my sweet summer child you)

Then we have Marinette, who is sooooooo deep in her spiral of being unable to communicate and Adrien her feelings, she's reached a point where she isn't even sure if she can anymore. That's why she did it, she wanted to role-play to prove to herself she can (and if anyone is here to blame it's Tikki for encouraging her, #evil tikki)

She's already siked herself out to the point where when she does see Statue Adrien, her head is in that impulsive I need to prove I can do anything state.

She also really does love Adrien, and being in such high emotions all day of course she's going to be a little lovesick when she sees statue him

And this is all extremely in character for her.

Marinette is hopeless and impulsive to a fault, missing social cues at times but more importantly she thought she was safe here. She was under the impression Adrien was a statue and what perfect timing because she needed to practice!!!! So she takes advantage of the opportunity and does her most Marinette scene of all time. She romances a statue. And remember SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS SAFE HERE.

Salters like to blame this all on Marinette but the reality here is Adrien was just as much at fault as she was.

And so comes the most Marinette of scenes in the entirety of the show. This right here, is her character. Impulsive, silly, dramatic, but with love and a heart several sizes too big.

And she is acting like a 14 year old girl with a crush. Please give her some slack and let her live her life my dudes.

(also you are lying if you say you wouldn't have done exactly the same thing she did and try to kiss the statue I know some of you also kissed posters or pictures or made out with a pillow don't even try to lie)

(side note the animation in this episode is some of the best of the season like holy heck the eye details this scene is worth it for the animation alone)

Like it baffles me that people can call themselves Marinette stans and hate this scene, because it's so her!!!

Not to mention even Adrien felt bad about the prank, rightfully so. But he didn't get upset with her because he understood she wasn't doing something to hurt him. No instead he wants to comfort and reassure her because remember, Adrien genuinely cares for Marinette and wants to be her friend. He moves past her embarrassing antics because he is an empathetic soul who gets it and wants to help Marinette as well. He also recognizes he was also at fault here and rightfully apologizes too.

Then, they actually sit down to talk about it and communicate (although Marinette doesn't explain her true feelings because she is embarrassed, and who can blame her)

And at the end of the day, this is a show meant to be lighthearted and humorous and fun. This was a fun scene that really encapsulates the lighthearted nature of the show. It also shows off these characters in fun ways. Adrien gets to show off his jokester side, which he doesn't often get to do as Adrien. Meanwhile, he gets to see Marinette be a dramatic disaster and more than that they get to break the ice and become real friends.

But also, this scene is a wonderful opportunity for you, the viewer to overcome your own fears.

There's a type of therapy called Exposure therapy where we support someone with extreme anxiety by showing them through a hierarchal ladder that they can manage and deal with their anxiety, that it is possible to sit with anxiety and face it as opposed to just avoiding it.

In fact, avoidance makes everything so much worse.

The thing I hear most from people who hate the statue scene is that they don't watch it. The thing I hear that baffles me is they have never watched it because they are scared of the scene. Some people are so certain they will hate it, they skip the episode entirely or never watch the scene.

And by doing that, you are pretty much just affirming your fears. You are telling yourself that you are going to be uncomfortable and thus you don't even try.

You are basically being Marinette, too afraid to try.

Except Marinette is at least trying to face her fears, and this episode, she even does a little bit. She doesn't confess the full extent of her feelings, but she does share some of her thoughts and is able to overcome her anxiety to the point where subsequent episodes she can talk to Adrien and even confess.

Marinette, a 14-year-old fictional character, can face her fears. Why can't you?

I implore you if you haven't watched the episode, convinced that you can't handle the cringe, try. Just get through it. Think of it as a moment of exposure. Think of it as the first step to face a fear or anxiety you've always had.

Then, once you've watched it once, that's great! You did it! You watched it! I am so, so proud of you! Facing a fear is extremely terrifying, but that first step is crucial! Watch it once, and then do it again and again until it's no longer cringe. If it's hard to watch again, maybe ask yourself why? Why is this 30 second scene so tough to handle? Does it remind you of something in your personal life? Or are you afraid that it will remind you of something?

I cringed too when I first watched it, but I never skipped it. And now, it's one of my favorite scenes because it is so quintessentially Marinette that it has to be. To love a character is to love all of them, even their worst. But more importantly, learning how to love someone's faults is the first step to loving them truly, and the first step to help someone love themselves.

Remember, Adrien, the person who was in the damn scene, still cares about Marinette. If you like the characters, maybe it's time to take a page from their book and try it out yourself. Try a bit of exposure therapy, and see how it might feel.

[gale-gentlepenguin]

Glaciator 2

Plot: Ladybug and Chat noir are named couple of the year. Ladybug is not having it, Chat noir decides to try and move on, meanwhile Marinette decides she needs someone to help her confess to her "buttercup"

Akuma: Glaciator returns, and while I think his first attack was more iconic. This episode uses him to full effect and it has a great opening and Closing with him.

Character Development: Adrien and Marinette get incredible development. Its the first time we see Adrien legit breakdown from heartbreak and the lead up to it is just shattering. Marinette and Chat noir's practice and Movie break are also incredible scenes that delve into the characters, both a great balance of Comedy and emotional connection. The umbrella scene afterwards is the second best umbrella scene in the series (dont @ me). And it is pure gold for Marichat shippers. This is the episode that really shows how effective Marichat as a side of the lovesquare is. Also Marinette finally being real with her confession is a wonderful scene and THAT is how a confession by her should be done.

Connection to other episodes: This builds on a lot of the previous episodes, from Glaciator, Oblivio, prime queen. This episode really addresses how Chat noir feels about Ladybug, and also how Marinette views Adrien. Also the reveal of Adrien saying how chat noir was more of a persona and not his true self actually enhances the scene in Lies when Kagami points out his chat noir pose wasnt really him. Which was proven true.

Overall Rating: 10/10

Now some people do think Ladybug was a bit harsh with Chat noir and I totally get that, but I dont think its as bad as everyone said it was. I think it lead to the plot and crux of the episode quite well. And some people think it just looped back to right where it started by the end, but I think Adrien's feelings for Ladybug evolved. He is going to ease up the persona of Chat noir. This is the second best episode of the season so far.

[flightfoot]

Glaciator 2.

8. Glaciator 2: Best Marichat episode we’ve ever had! The first two minutes are painful, and I’m still a little bugged by the trash can, but they set up what came later. Adrien’s fine with annoying Ladybug, but he does NOT want to actually hurt her. He does have trouble dealing with the strength of his feelings, but he’s TRYING. The confession scene was pretty funny, especially when thinking about Marinette practicing her confession to Adrien on Adrien. And the movie theater scene showed that Marinette DOES understand why she self-sabotages her confession so often, she just can’t stop herself from still doing it, even understanding her reasons. Glad that she realized she needs to talk from the heart, instead of just rehearsing things. The lesson Chat learns as well, as far as figuring out boundaries, is a good one as well. She tells him to stop, he needs to stop, but otherwise it’s probably okay. He doesn’t give up on winning her over, but he DOES decide to just try being himself more, instead of leaning as far into the Chat Noir role. I do wish that Marinette had a better understanding of Adrien and Chat Noir though, it didn’t really seem to get through to her that Adrien being sad was bad, not just an opportunity (though I am glad that she wanted to cheer him up), and it didn’t seem to occur to her that Chat might not be in great shape after she went off on him earlier.