A Miraculously Oblivious “Frightingale”

For many super hero and magical girl shows, there is an interest of a “double life” or viewing how a character can get away with hiding their identity from the people closest’s to them.

At times, this can be labeled fun but torturous for both the viewers, and fan base, when there are the common love interest’s involved. It is that feeling of wanting to scream at your screen so the character’s can realize the obvious; Miraculous Lady Bug being a series that has the audience in an uproar from the latest episode “Frightengale.”

For Ladybug and Cat Noir, their double life is filled with adventure, awkwardness and the common theme of being oblivious. Now, this isn’t your common “Sailor Moon” or “Wedding Peach” double life oblivious, this is a whole new level of oblivious for a series like this. The latest episode “Frightengale” opened new doors, new viewpoints, another format of plot development and another go at the emotional roller coaster of “Relationship ships.”

 

Episode Overview

The latest episode, “Frightengale,’ focuses on a Lady Bug & Cat Noir inspired music video being created by the musical artist, Clara Nightingale. Adrien has already been considered (without his own consent) to be the “Cat Noir” for her video as a promotional pawn for his father. While Marinette has caught the eye of Clara & Adrien’s father to be “Lady Bug.” Both realize that the costumes they are wearing are 100% identical to the ones that they normally wear; if they wear the masks, their identities will be revealed to the entire world. Chloe, as usual, manages to cause a ruckus and proceeds to involuntarily cause Clara to be akumatized. She becomes an Harley Quinn look alike known as “Frightingale” whose power consists of rhyming and turning people into pink statues if they do not rhyme and dance.

Within this episode we get to view more character development and another attempt at a relationship buildup between Marinette & Adrien.

This synopsis was shorter in comparison with what I originally started off with in the Steven Universe Post because I would like to break it down further. Explaining how this episode pushes the boundaries of obliviousness within the magical girl and superhero world.

 

The Episode Analysis

The main issue within this episode is the extreme fear that both Marinette and Adrien experience with the fact that both of them have to “play” as their identities but for a different purpose.

 

Adrien is forcefully chosen to play as “Cat Noir” by his father (which is theorized that this may have been his father’s “test” to see if he is Cat Noir). At the audition location within the trailer, Adrien is worried that once he puts the mask everyone will realize that he really is Cat Noir. Plague (a fourth wall breaking character) offers the comment that “everyone is blind” and that no one can put the pieces together. Which in this case, can be agreed that every character is “blind” to an extent with the exception of Alia, Tiki and possibly Marinette. Adrien’s new goal was to purposely be a terrible Cat Noir so the artist will have no choice but to choose a different person for the role.

In Marinette’s situation, she was slightly pressured and waivered by her emotions to dictate her decision, even though she tried to heed Tiki’s warning. She is physically shocked to see Adrien in costume, but nervously brushes off the Cat Noir idea from Alia with her klutz rant of Adrien being better than him. Another element of this episode is Chloe’s actions being able to finally stir the Lady Bug personality out of Marinette.

A foreshadowed mouse trap can be viewed within the episode: Clara Nightingale decides to deliver food to the people who have been waiting as an attempt to lure out someone to be “Lady Bug.” Which results in a common “set up” that would purposely lure out solely Marinette to ‘move the story along:’ She carries the tray of food,walks towards the other group and purposely trips and falls. Everyone is in shock yet Marinette (no surprise) goes over to help her up.

Clara thanks her, in the format of Rhyme and claims that Marinette is Ladybug. The group of Marinette’s friends and her are in slight shock. She proceeds to nervously deny the claim as Clara explains that she did what Lady Bug would have done, while comparing Marinette’s heart to Lady Bugs. Which is true since, throughout the series Marinette is the one that shows concern, empathy, consideration and is willing to assist or make things right.

She is offered the Lady Bug Part, swayed at the thought of her and Adrien filming together however, Tiki brings her mind back around. She politely denies the offer, in consideration for her friends.

Meanwhile, Chloe storms in dressed head to toe as Lady Bug; Alia makes a comment and surprisingly, Marinette responds with a fierce and confident comment that differs from her common behavior. Chloe showcases her “talents,” impressing the rest of the group and Clara. Marinette slightly blows a mental fuse of frustration as Alia questions her. She is publicly vocalizing her inner feelings that showcase a different Marinette to the audience and group.

Don’t worry, knowing Nightingale, Chloe doesn’t stand a chance of being chosen. (6:21)

Chloe playing Lady Bug?! No way, Not gonna happen! (7:39)

To which Alya responds to this anger: “Oh? ‘That’ bothers you more than not being with Adrien in the video?” to which I say, this was already getting some gears turning. Of course, her best friend would be intrigued as to WHY would she be concerned about her anger over ‘a role’ rather than her ‘Love.’ So this already showcased Marinette’s emotions getting the better of her and nearly spilling out the secret quicker.

“uuhh… If I ‘were’ Lady Bug, I wouldn’t want a brat like Chloe playing me. (7:47)

Marinette had to shift emotional gears quickly because of how she nearly gave herself away. I do think that she may have given Alya some new information to consider as she is almost the only one that is close to finding out the truth; besides Tiki & Plague who already know the other superhero’s identity. Adrien’s father briefly picks up on the appearance similarities between Lady Bug & Marinette but brushes it off with a common one linear. However, Marinette decides to let her Lady Bug personality take over again, ascends the stage and fiercely agrees to play the role of Lady Bug, to Tiki’s surprise and her own.

Chloe’s mother is briefly mentioned which also can lead into another discussion sooner or later regarding who her mother is, her status and why she is never there. Chloe can be viewed throwing a fit yet, alone in the limo, holds the teddy bear and sucks her thumb similar to a child soothing itself. Leading to this belief that Chloe is spoiled yet, grew up with material things to fill the whole of zero parental guidance or maternal love.

As they both look at each other in costume, Clara tells them they are both Lady Bug and Cat Noir. To which both begin to nervously stutter and make excuses denying this claim yet finally ‘play along’ and agree. They sheepishly hold hands and look down (both in shock of this ‘FORBIDDEN ACT;’ I had a good laugh at this part too) yet I was wondering if they were shocked by either the hand holding or the Cat Noir ring on his hand.

To which, Marinette’s friend replies “I can’t believe how much they look like the real Lady Bug & Cat Noir.” (Apparently we’re following the “Sailor Moon”& Tuxedo Mask” scenario)

Now when we compare half this episode to the various magical girl cartoons, you can admit that Sailor Moon comes close to what is being viewed here. Serena Tsukino (Usagi Tsukino) is Sailor Moon: Has a superhero costume, no mask, same hairstyle, same voice but cannot be identified as Sailor Moon until she transforms infront of Darien. Darien Shields (Mamoru Shields) is Tuxedo Mask: has a superhero costume, a mask, same hairstyle, same voice but cannot be identified as Tuxedo Mask.

This episode has Marinette & Adrien; fully in costume, no masks on, same voice, same hairstyle (Adrien being the exception here) yet again, they themselves and the group cannot put the pieces together. True, this is a show centered around a younger audience but even the younger audience is able to complain about the shows’ oblivious nature. However, this does add to the continued suspense which keeps the viewers and fan base interested in watching.

However, both have done a fine job diverting themselves from the spotlight of discovery through their klutzy, silly and shy personalities clashing. Yet, here is where the real trouble begins: the masks are found so they have to put them on.

Both characters are shocked but fully ignore the others shock. In this instance, if they both would have acknowledged eachother’s reaction then their own gears for each other may have turned. They would question each other’s reaction: Why is Marinette hesitant to put the mask on? or “I wonder, why Marinette was shocked?” and vice versa. However, they have to worry about themselves since they do not know the identity of one another regardless.

Chloe gets her father to approach the artist with a stack of papers addressing that she does not have a “permit” to film in any portion of france or paris. To which, Hawkmoth takes advantage of this negativity and akumatizes her. In this instance, between the limo scene and this current scene, this further helps understand why Chloe’s character is in a constant back and forth between being better and then regressing to worse.

When Clara nightingale becomes frightingale, the costuming can be compared to Harley Quinn but of course, Mr. J already has his hands full with one Harley. The pattern for the costume is a variety of bright colors followed by a hairstyle that greatly differs between the normal style of Clara nightingale.

Her speaking style remains in rhyme which is quite refreshing and adds a bit of fun to the mayhem. Yet her power causes everyone to transform into pink statues; should they fail to sing, dance or dance continuously. Besides this, the series overall does a great job making the villains, and the battles, very fun and enjoyable to watch. Viewing the characters being able to come up with comedic rhymes adds to the fun of the show’s creativity, displaying the hard work that must have gone through to make every spoken interaction into a rhyme.

Then we proceed with capturing the little akuma and returning everything back to normal. Clara is overjoyed to speak with Lady Bug & Cat Noir as they spoke about what happened briefly. Lady Bug offers a solution to help Clara Nightingale with her music video issue. Now, here is another obvious spoiler that everyone, and I mean everyone, missed as a whole: the music videos song.

I can understand if the team did not want to go through the hassle of re-recording the opening song or they could have cut the beginning part of, “In the Daytime, I’m Marinette.”

Yet, you can hear “In the Daytime, I’m Marinette,” clearly and everyone is hearing this while they are watching the music video together. They are all in the music video dancing while wearing just the masks, yet, Adrien and Marinette just happen to be wearing the other’s mask (Adrien is wearing Lady Bug’s Mask & Marinette is wearing Cat Noir’s mask. No questions this whatsoever at all which should have also stood out to each other or to the audience as a whole.

Also, you have Adrien and Luka on either side of Marinette which may be considered the foreshadowing of the love triangle that is attempted to be set up (Or maybe I am simply reading too much into this). Alya, again, brings up her own viewpoint on her suspicions of Marinette & Adrien being Lady Bug & Cat Noir:

Besides, even though Marinette an Adrien kinda look like Lady Bug & Cat Noir, they really weren’t believable. (20:27)

Yes, I face palmed and nearly felt like screaming the minute the smartest one in the group legitimately lied to herself and told herself that she was wrong about the most obvious thing here.  

Here a special piece of information that could be viewed as a positive or negative; the interaction shared between Adrien and Marinette. Adrien agrees with Marinette that this version of the music video with all their friends in it was better. To which, to both Adrien and our own surprise, Marinette stands up & responds with what appears to be a “sassy” and “not klutz stuttering Marinette” response. Showcasing a little power move on her part for this relationship build up.

Adrien: Yeah, I prefer this version too. I couldn’t have pulled off playing Cat Noir. (20:40)

Marinette: I know! …World’s Apart. (20:44)

Whoa Marinette, I think your Lady Bug attitude is showing. This could be viewed as a positive: I’m comfortable with you for who you are and think you have your own flaws which I accept. Or the negative of: Yeah, I agree but it’s alright since you’re Adrien my number one crush so nothing matters.

However way viewed, it was still funny and showing that her superhero side is slowly rubbing off on her. There may even be a chance that she’ll be “lady bug” even without her transformation later. She realizes what she says then reverts to her klutz, stuttering self as she humorously runs over to Adrien to “explain” what she meant: 

What I meant was that you’d be a more lamest Cat Noir than in real life. No! No-Not that you’re lame in real life, right?! Just compared to Cat Noir you’re just- I mean! You don’t look a thing like him is what I mean. (20:49)

I may not be 100% accurate with the line “be a more lamest Cat Noir” since Cristina Vee’s Marinette stuttering normally results in me re-listening to the stuttering scene various times to understand it word for word.

To which Adrien is slightly shocked by this and he literally listened to what Marinette had and fully acknowledged it.

Adrien: And you don’t look a thing like Lady Bug either. Uh! uh-Yeah! I mean-! She’s not as funny as you are. (20:58)

Yes, you read that correctly. Adrien stuttered when saying this line directly to Marinette. To which the episode ends with both of them looking directly each other, fully acknowledging one another.

 

Proper Relationship Build Up

From this episode, we now know for certain that he is now truly, beginning to acknowledge her; maybe it is not best to read into a stutter so much but it is something (which is what was originally complained about when we viewed many scenes between Adrien & Marinette in Season 1). Season 2 emphasizes on displaying the relationship build up that we did not get to view much within Season 1. This is honestly normal.

They do not want to forcibly put these two characters together without a proper build up. This is to allow us to see the characters develop overtime and realize that just because they are the main characters doesn’t necessarily mean they automatically need to be put together so soon.

There wouldn’t really be anything to comment about if they were already put together within the first season. There would be more negative statements since people would criticize that “they were put together too early,” “their personalities are too different,” “it was so obvious they were going to be together anyway,” “it feels forced” and “I thought this was a series about good versus evil with superheros and villains.”

To which I say, you cannot please both parties but this was originally created to be a show for a younger audience. 

Character Development

When considering what has been viewed so far, the character development has actually gotten considerably better. Marinette is slowly becoming more direct and allowing her superhero side to rub off on her. Chloe’s reasoning is slowly coming around and we hare getting small opportunities to understand her backstory. Adrien is also becoming more aware of his friendships and relationships with various characters while considering is own family issue.

The important part of these character developments is the fact that they are necessary within the plot. Chloe (as everyone originally speculated) will be the next miraculous holder and needs to fit a certain criteria. She is slowly developing into the miraculous holder that is necessary later on within the story.

The relationship build up between Marinette & Adrien can be viewed as a slightly realistic approach to the growth of both friendships and relationships: they take time, effort and cannot be rushed. Which also progresses the story along when we have the rumored (or confirmed) temporary love interests for both Marinette & Adrien.

When you really think about it, when, and if, Adrien does fall for Marinette then he will be stuck in the common magical girl romance of: Do I love Marinette? or Do I love Lady Bug? and for the extra detail: Do I love Kagami?

Likewise for Marinette, it will be: Do I love Adrien? or Do I love Luka?

However the case may be, the story was originally directed towards a younger audience which explains the concept of obvious love interests, foreseen miraculous users (even before the show ever announced it) and just the higher level of obliviousness.

If you prefer to visually hear this discussion, check out my youtube video.