Episode 10 - Munici-Pals:

I had originally chosen a different song for this episode, but I’ve had a change of heart owing to the political stance of the band in question. So instead, I’ve gone with my backup: Land of Confusion by Genesis. It feels about right for the theme of this episode.

People in Paris

Part of what I wanted to do with this episode was to focus more on people who don’t have the benefit of a superhero alter-ego. Paris is a hugely populated city, and so many people will be in danger every time that Papillon and Mayura choose to attack. I wanted to see what they think and, the easiest way for me, was to follow three of the Miraculous and use them as our eyes. Picking the Rogues made the most sense to me – even though they’re all pretty integrated into the team now, they’re still the most “outsider” of the group. I also wanted to show Maria away from Chloé, because her storyline has been so intrinsically tied up with Chloé’s redemption arc (although, I hasten to point out yet again, it wasn’t the cause of the redemption arc). The reason that Maria and Chloé’s relationship got so much screentime in Miraculous: Contingency is because Chloé needed to get better and it was a good way to help show how she was changing. Dany and Luka’s relationship is just smooth, the two of them gel disturbingly well, so it doesn’t make for compelling viewing, most of the time.

So, we got three groups of random people to see how different people might react to an Akuma attack.

Firstly, with frustration and weariness, in Maria’s group. They’re all exhausted and bored with the nonsense. Which seems like a logical reaction, after three-and-a-half years at this point in the story, even the drama of a supervillain must be getting boring for the people who live it every day.

Secondly, the most logical reaction: fear. Danyll’s group is understandably terrified, because most people in Paris don’t know what’s going on, they don’t know how the magic works, they don’t have an explanation for all the supernatural problems.

Thirdly, arrogance. Le Parquer is a mash-up of a few real-world political figures, even his name is a pun on a famous family of French fascist politicians. He represents the people who think that they could do it better, who consider other people beneath them. It was a pleasure allowing Aodh to put the fear of Crab into him.

The Munici-Pals

Although I knew I wanted to do an “a day in the life” episode, I hadn’t been able to come up with any decent sort of Akuma for it. I decided in the end to go with the unions, because it fell into the same sort of feeling that the rest of the episode had – people standing together against the oppressor. It also meant I could have some fun with André Bourgeois, who we haven’t really seen much of in his role as laughably corrupt mayor in Miraculous: Contingency.

I wrote the first draft of this episode before the show aired the episode where André tried to turn the Place des Vosges into a private air supply, and well before they gave André his inexplicable redemption (that was denied to his daughter?). I’ve decided to take into account the fact that André gets better in the second draft, which is why I added the sub-plot of Audrey being back in Paris as a driver behind this episode. Audrey only has one last appearance scheduled after this episode, but it’s going to be worth it – we’ve seen the pieces moving into place this episode.

Episode

Honestly, even though I really wanted to have this episode concept, it’s always been a really difficult one for me. I struggled writing it in the first draft, and I struggled even more when I did the second draft. It’s one I am more likely to skip if I do a re-read, although not always. I hope someone in the audience enjoyed it a bit more than I did. Even so, I think it accomplished what I needed it to, and it helps centre the Rogues as characters as we get towards the final stages of the story.