#s5ep19

[just-about-nothing]

tara's literally braver than riley ever was and i'll die on that hill a million times over

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

On today‘s episode of „moments in the show that confuse me“, s5ep19 has a piece of dialogue that goes something like this

Marinette: (about how Gabe doesn’t approve of her) He thinks I‘m one of those fans who follows you around everywhere, showers you with gifts and knows all your (Adrien‘s) middle name days

Kagami: Isn‘t that what you used to do Marinette?

Marinette: Yeah but I did it out of love

This scene is so odd because it feels weirdly self-aware but at the same time it really isn‘t? To me it seems like the writers sort of admit that Marinette‘s crush was written like a celebrity crush, but then this doesn‘t go anywhere? It‘s basically just „it‘s the same as a celeb crush but it isn‘t actually🤪“

Like what kind of writing is this? I know I‘m again beimg nitpicky but hey I love hearing your thoughts on the show so do you have thoughgs on this?

I'm honored that you enjoy my rambled! And, yeah, I have a few thoughts on this one. To begin, here's the full quote for proper context:

Marinette: Oh, hey Kagami! How are you? Kagami: Hello, Marinette. I'm fine, thank you. Adrien: I'm sorry, Marinette, it's my fault. I just couldn't talk to my father. Marinette: No, don't apologize! It makes sense that you didn't make it work because that's you! I mean, not you, you but you, as in, not me. Your dad doesn't have a problem with you anymore, he's even become super cool, making you pancakes, giving you all the freedom you need. He's come such a long way and that's amazing. But he does have a problem with me. He feels worried and I would be too if I were him. He thinks I'm one of those fans who follows you everywhere, showers you with hand-knitted gifts and knows every single one of your middle name days. Kagami: Isn't that what you used to do, Marinette? Marinette: Yes... except no! I mean, yes, but I was doing it out of love and, besides, I've changed a lot. Kagami: You are correct. Marinette: Really? You think I've changed a lot? Kagami: No. Well, not that much. But you're right to want to talk to Adrien's father.

This is not a terrible piece of writing. There are pieces of media where this would be genuinely funny. I've previously talked about the fact that Marinette's crush on Adrien is written like a celebrity crush and not a crush on a real person or even a proper stalker obsession. In that post, I also discussed media that features a fan getting to date their celebrity idol:

Whenever stories do the thing where someone meets their celebrity crush and actually gets to know them, there's normally a noticeable shift in their behavior as the character mentally goes, "Oh shit, you're real now." They lose the freedom that came with this being a mere fantasy.

That is the type of story where this dialogue would be funny. A story where Marinette started out as a fan or former fan with an idealized view of Adrien, but ended up viewing him as a real person by the time they started dating. A story where her view of Adrien shifts, but the things she does to show affection don't because it's not exactly weird to want to know everything about your significant other or to want to shower them with gifts. The only concerning thing on the list Marinette gives is "following him everywhere", but she doesn't actually do that in the show, so we're going to ignore that one and focus on the actual problem here.

The problem is that Miraculous never gave Marinette a reality check. There is no point where dream Adrien vanishes to be replaced by real Adrien. The Adrien that she starts dating in season five appears to be everything that she's ever dreamed he would be. He is #boyfriendgoals where he only exists to make her happy. He never shows off his more annoying behavior (and let's be real, Chat Noir can be pretty annoying at times) or spouts any bad puns that make her roll her eyes in a mixture of annoyance and amusement. He is perfection and it's terrible. This is not how you write a solid romance. There's no learning about each others flaws or even meaningful personal growth for Marinette.

We spent four seasons watching her struggle to ask Adrien out only for the resolution to be that he asks her instead. She never has to overcome that personal hurdle. After that, her biggest struggle is being brave enough to tell her boyfriend that she loves him even though he has showered her with love and affection, proving that there is literally zero risk involved here. It's a deeply unbalanced relationship that feels totally unfair to Adrien.

To be fair, there are stories where the Marinette-can't-say-nice-things-to-Adrien plot point could work. However, they're stories where a lot of focus is given to Marinette's trauma and her journey to overcome it. Miraculous didn't do that. Marinette's trauma and Adrien's response to it are handled horribly by every metric because of course they are. This is a formula show that can't handle a plot like this with delicacy and grace.

There's also the issue that, for this plot to work, the romance needs to be way more balanced. We need to be shown why Marinette is an amazing partner for Adrien who just has an area where she's struggling. We need to want them to get past this trial and be together. As-is, it's impossible to support this relationship because there's no substance to it. They're barely even friends before they get together. I have no idea why I should want Adrien to struggle through helping Marinette or why I should want Marinette to work through her issues with Adrien. There are other fish in the sea! Now that the identities are out, she can go back to Luka who she had no issues with!

This all feels very badly written YA or New Adult drama and there's a reason that I don't read those! I don't enjoy wildly unhealthy couples whose main draw is their endless drama and baffling sexual tension. I want couples who I love but, at this point, I can't even summon mild enjoyment for the canon love square.

[nothingtherefornow]

I like this kind of analysis about Felix, and which speculates on the potential motivations behind his actions :)

Although Felix has always acted for his account and loving Adrien did not prevent him from hurting his cousin, I still appreciate Felix a lot because unlike the other antagonists in the series, he is able to question himself.

Not only that but I sincerely believe that Felix is far from being as bad as his uncle, Lila, or even Chloé, and just like with Nathalie Felix is on his way for his redemption.

You know, Felix's "love" for Adrien doesn't really make sense.

In Felix, as well as Risk and Strikeback. Felix seemed to outright hate him. Trying to ruin his social life for no reason, belittling him for being abused by Gabriel. Even though he knows how Sentimonsters and Amoks work

But in Emotion, he claims that he's doing everything he is to protect Adrien and free him from Gabriel. If Adrien truly is a sentimonster, then he's completely incapable of disobedience towards whoever holds his Amok, and Felix knows that.

But Felix's behaviour with another person betrays the Truth. Kagami.

Remember in the episode Gabriel Agreste? We got this image.

That glare. Kagami is slightly wary and suspicious. But Felix seems to outright hate her.

What changed between then and Emotion when Felix insists he loves Kagami and wants to save and protect her?

He discovered she was a sentimonster.

So either Felix recently discovered Adrien is a sentimonster (most likely Risk) or at least that event caused Felix to assume he is.

[scarecrowisms]

watching s5ep19, already feeling like im in a fever dream again. season 4 feels normal compared to this delirium. why the fuck are the ghostfacers here

[eternalproject]

MAIN ROUTE (DRAFT)

■ S5EP19: Day 04: I: Sussmey Another ■ S5EP20: Day 04: J: Elephant Parade ■ S5EP21: Day 04: K: Questioning Numbers ■ S5EP22: Day 04: L: Fly High ■ S5EP23: Day 04: M: Wong Wave

[magic-multicolored-miracle]

Alright, I guess since I was tagged by both @seancekitsch and @santacarlahorrorshow I should remember to do this for real 😅

LAST SONG LISTENED TO Mr. Shoes Tied ~ Philip Labes (technically I'm currently listening to it. The song before this was Knife Thrower ~ Charming Disaster)

LAST SHOW WATCHED Gamechanger: Battle Royale. Or of more traditional "TV," Highlander s5ep19: The Modern Prometheus (aka Lord Byron is an immortal little bitch)

LAST MOVIE WATCHED Sticky Notes (or Backup Dancer, since Tubi likes alternate titles)

CURRENTLY READING The Three Musketeers, and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

CURRENT OBSESSION this precious little prince of the sun and my heart and home?

But that's not new or unexpected. ... I don't know if I have anything else. I'm sure I do, but nothing comes to mind.

TAGGING (no obligation!!!): @misskittysmagicportal @bullet-prooflove @exlibrisfangirl @sennextheassasinkingoflight @redlippedladyofrohan @badass-magizoologist @crabstick and anyone else that wants to play :)

[moutainmouse]

I need to get s5ep19 title of house rn

[onyxisnotuniqueenough]

s5ep19 of house md

as soon as i started that episode i knew i recognized that voice that's Mos Def!!!!!!!!!!! omg worlds collide

[bellshazes]

anyway s5ep19 "vegas" au. don't think about it

[just-about-nothing]

buffy's really like. 'giles i can't do this can you be dawn's dad (and mine)?' and giles is like 'put ur boots on!! u got this!!'.

like my guy. i love you. this is not the point. not what she's asking!!!

[stacyamiller85]

#TheRookie A Hole in the World S5Ep19 Preview via @stacyamiller85 @therookie

The article I wrote for The Nerdy Girl Express.

[gebediahhhhhhh]

get a room or smth you’re BEING STRAIGHT right in the middle of my platonic sci-fi show

[dontyoumeansadadult]

ok but how long did Alex take on that eye makeup and how many times did Kelly tell her she was being too extra and how many times did Nia say “do more”

[garden-eel-draws]

A dweeb in an aluminum-foil mask is making Martha Kent and Lionel Luthor do an anagram word puzzle in a Saw-style torture room. He said “do you want to play a game” and everything. This show is real?

[reidimagines]

WHEN EMILY WALKED IN WITH HER HAIR LIKE THAT