my reaction when Ladybug IMMEDIATELY recognises Ivan is Stoneheart EVEN THOUGH his voice AND appearance COMPLETELY CHANGED
BUT SHE STILL SOMEHOW HAS NO IDEA WHO CHAT IS?!?
Introduction The Tandem of Ladybug and Chat Noir: Light and Shadow, http://heravenueexpert.tumblr.com/post/138943587223/the-tandem-of-ladybug-and-chat-noir-light-and
The Tandem of Ladybug and Chat Noir: Why Chat Noir Needed Ladybug, http://heravenueexpert.tumblr.com/post/138944404618/the-tandem-of-ladybug-and-chat-noir-why-chat-noir
A continuation.
On the intro, I’ve discussed how the tandem of Ladybug and Chat Noir work. On the second post, I’ve post why Chat Noir needed Ladybug.
Then what about Ladybug?
We had been constantly shown that Ladybug can stand on her own (which is great, because this shows that girls can take the lead). But this also earned criticism from other fans, saying that Chat Noir is being sidelined in order to become foil for Ladybug to shine.
Apparently, they are quite disappointed in how Chat Noir is being treated. They understand that this is to highlight LB but the problem lies in the fact that they feel that one doesn’t need to downplay a man’s worth in order to show and prove a woman’s strength.
In which they got a point, and I understand where they are coming from. But at the same time, I disagree. Chat Noir is still important and not being as badly treated as what you think he is?
Here’s the thing, the reason they are disappointed is that they are pushing the idea that Chat Noir is supposed to shine in the same stool as Ladybug since they are partners.
In which case, I quite disagree. First off, Chat Noir is the deuteragonist of the series and like what I said on my first post, he is the shadow. His purpose is not to shine on the same spot as Ladybug, but be the one who supports her back. They have different roles in the story.
Chat doesn’t need to lead, that’s Ladybug’s role as she is the one who purifies. They are the Yin and Yang of this series.
And in Miraculous, Ladybug is the Yang (which is unusual because it’s often associated with Male). Ladybug is the lead because her power is Good Luck, that which creates and brings order. Chat Noir is the passive and submissive one because he is the Yin, he represents the negative and dark side of the spectrum.
And even if Chat is the submissive one in this pair, it doesn’t devalue his worth. They need each other to bring peace and order in their world.
The disappointment came from the wrong expectation of Chat’s role.
They want an episode where Chat save Ladybug? They may not have noticed, but he had done that plenty of times already.
Excuse the blurry picture (I don’t have GIFs)
The Bubbler
Mr. Pigeon
And also the Evillustrator where he break out of the cage with Marinette.
A few examples of Chat’s contribution that isn’t much appreciated. Fans are aware of them, yes, but they tend to concentrate and squee more on the LadyNoir moment.
There are many other moments of this but isn’t appreciated much because it doesn’t contribute to the defeating of the akuma, but the context is still the same. It’s Chat Noir who breaks Ladybug out of tight situations. If Chat Noir isn’t there, how do you expect her to get out of the Bubble? Or the cage? The only thing I can imagine her do is to use her Lucky Charm which will summon objects that will help her.
But I doubt Luck Charm will give her an item that will destroy, the things she summons were usually just your everyday and harmless objects. And Lucky Charm shouldn’t be used too early in the game.
Of course, that’s just a weak example. I just wanted to mention that for fans to appreciate the “little” things he do which is shove aside just because it doesn’t “contribute” in defeating akumas. And again, I say that defeating of Akumas is Ladybug’s role because she is the lead, the Yang that cleanses and brings order.
But if you want the stronger ones, then there’s also the latest episode (which ironically was what brought people’s complaint). Guys, Chat just saved Ladybug’s skin there. You can’t shove it out as nothing just because it doesn’t directly contribute in defeating Marionnettiste. If it wasn’t for him, Hawkmoth would have taken away her Miraculous, and even if he doesn’t (say they managed to get it back), he would have known her true identity and that’s the same as “game over”.
But this isn’t really the reason why Ladybug needs Chat Noir. As what people kept on commenting about, Ladybug can handle herself and doesn’t need Chat Noir.
In which I disagree again. Yes, Ladybug can handle her own, but she still need Chat Noir.
Why?
Like I said, he fills in the gap that she doesn’t have. But it’s more than that, actually.
I think Chat Noir is absorbing and taking away all the bad luck that Ladybug receives.
I read somewhere that in the original PV, Ladybug is not allowed to abuse her power because she’ll receive bad luck instead. And in the PV, you can see Marinette receiving bad luck such as being splashed with mud by a passing car (in which she smiled as if it can’t be helped).
Now this is just an interpretation on my part, but I think the reason why they didn’t show the idea in the CG about Ladybug receiving bad karma if she use too much luck as well as Chat having a curse of Bad Luck is because. . .
Ladybug and Chat Noir cancel each other’s curses.
Chat Noir doesn’t have the curse anymore (even though Adrien’s life still sucks) because Ladybug is the one who bring good luck to his life. Ladybug doesn’t receive anymore bad luck from using her powers (although her clumsiness bring her trouble) because Chat is the one who is absorbing and receiving it for her.
As in really. This may not have been explicitly said, but if you look through the episodes, you’ll notice this. Chat always get the short end of the stick. He’s the one who receives all the attacks that would come to her as well as the one who gets the worst of the situation instead of Ladybug.
Now, whether this is a simple coincidence or intended, this fact remains true.
In Dark Cupid, he took the blow of the arrow for her. If Ladybug receives it, there’s no saving her because she is the only one who can purify Dark Cupid. He saved her from real danger, sadly, this made him the danger for her instead.
In the Timebraker, he -again - received the blow that was intended for her.
In the Pharaoh, he had to take an army of mummies. And while they are slow and dull-witted, the numbers can still be overwhelming for our heroes. But he had to take them on for LB to finish the akuma. The same happened in Dark Blade, where he had taken an army of knights while waiting for LB. And I must say that he actually held his self well considering he’s fighting well-equipped and armored knights compared to the mummies.
I think it’s Chat Noir’s bad luck that gets him in tight situation and because that is his aspect, he also receives Ladybug’s bad luck which in turn, leave her freely to do her duties and in turn, bring good luck to him.
Chat Noir is essential to Ladybug. And even if the cancelling of curses is my own interpretation, there are plenty of circumstances where Chat save Ladybug even if it isn’t eminent. He gives her voice of reason(if she’s being too emotional), he protects her, he saves her from harm, and he tanks for her.
Just because he isn’t highlighted, doesn’t mean that his contribution in the team is nothing and not important. He is the essential character who brings balance in the team. That is why they are partners in the first place.
So the fact that Ladybug can stand on her own? Yes, she can and has proven it. Ladybug not needing Chat Noir? Certainly not.
I will also appreciate if there’s a Chat-centric episode but to say that Chat is being downplayed as a character is dismissing his role and contributions in the team as a whole. I find that sad, especially since his role is supposed to contrast Ladybug. Chat is already essential.
Episode 17 already showed how important they are to each other. Just because the next episode showed how well Ladybug can handle herself, doesn’t disprove that fact. He even saved her there, even if he ended up being controlled like a puppet.
As I’ve said earlier, Ladybug won’t last long if Chat isn’t there. She would have been defeated long ago because she’s lacking her other half. But if these two are together, they can save Paris from any day from any villains :)
deadybones
