Okay, technically this was an episode where I named one of the Akumas after a band; unlike Moonspell, I’m not a massive fan of Slipknot, but I couldn’t really pass this episode by without picking Before I Forget.

Magpie, Slipknot, and Oni-Chan

A lot of this episode was modified by what we learned later on in the show, as well as my own interpretations. All three butterflies would have flown to Kagami if Korvid and Tangle hadn’t transformed.

Magpie was a fun monster-of-the-week, using the principle that the Akumatised form of a Miraculous increases the danger level of the Miraculous. Obviously we learned that doesn’t have to be the case, but none of these Akumas were directed by Papillon, it was just building on their own emotion.

Slipknot never actually uses a variation of her power, but I was leaning into the idea that all three were resisting Scarlet Papillon, the same way that Chat Blanc told Ladybug where the Akuma had hidden on his suit. You can see that in how Slipknot acts a lot less intelligent than Tangle and Magpie showing Viperion where the Akuma is on her. They are only really able to do that because they were transformed when they got Akumatised, the extra strength and magical presence helped them.

Oni-Chan’s resistance was more subtle, mostly by making a deal with Scarlet Papillon, and utilising her power inefficiently.

Viperion

Second Chance is a difficult power to show in writing. In his appearances before now, I’ve mostly just shown it from the outside, or from his point of view when he’s reached the final loop. This was the only time I wanted to show the whole effect, and I think I did okay. If I had this every time that Viperion makes an appearance, I think it would quickly get tiresome.

Queen Bee and the Akuma

This was a moment I’d thought of early into the process of writing and I was so happy to finally be able to use it. We’ve seen (in the show and in Miraculous: Contingency) that Chloé is able to resist the effects of an Akuma. With the augmenting power of fusing with Pollen, Queen Bee’s stubbornness and self-confidence helped her achieve this. I don’t think Chloé alone would have been able to hold Scarlet Papillon back as long as Queen Bee did.

I was considering letting the butterflies escape and try to go to Nathalie, dropping another couple of parasite personalities in her head, but part of the point of this episode is that the team are starting to work together more efficiently than ever.

Tomoe

And this is why she’s not a good person. I understand why Tomoe would make this choice – Gabriel had threatened her daughter’s life in no uncertain terms – but she’s still threatening to murder someone innocent to get her own way. I think it’s safe to say that in Miraculous: Contingency Émilie is technically still alive, but she’s only being kept that way by the stasis booth. Tomoe’s virus would definitely kill Émilie.

The great thing about this sequence is that it provides a stronger safety net for Kagami, Adrien, and (although Gabriel doesn’t realise it) Marinette, because the one thing Gabriel will not risk is Émilie’s life. In the first draft, I kinda left this plot hook dangling, I’m glad I was able to tidy it up this time around.

Gabriel and Nathalie

Well, this is something I’ve been trying not to overstep on up until now. Nathalie has been interested in Gabriel for a long time, and now she has Princess-Nathalie goading her on, it’s just surprising she’s lasted this long before acting on her feelings.

I think this event is as much of a cliffhanger as the final moments, because it’s fundamentally going to change the dynamic of the villain faction.

Cliffhanger

As my editor, Lee, put it “Kagami dropping the truth bomb at the end”. One thing I’ll promise you: I am not going to hit a reset switch on this reveal, the way the show has done too many times. Marinette and Adrien know the truth now, and there’s no going back. Season 3 will reveal what that means for Paris.