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algernoninwonderland · 5 years

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Miraculous, the Monster of the Week Format and the Status Quo, or Why Things Barely Change At All

TLDR; while the monster-of-the-week format doesn’t mean there is no overarching plot in Miraculous, these monsters are variable in terms of quality and the overarching plot itself is not something the show explores.

The fact that you can watch 80% of the show in any order without feeling lost is quite telling: the goal is to have self-contained stories during the space of one episode, not to have things that happened in such and such episode have consequences in the following ones. Which is frustrating in the long run, even more so when the monster-of-the-week format doesn’t mean that episodes are aired weekly.

It isn’t that the people working on Miraculous aren’t talented enough to write something good, simply that the format they have to work with makes the story what it is.

Now, if you want to read something a little more detailed, just click the thingy!

With now 64 episodes aired, it’s safe to say that Miraculous is a show that is meant to stay on our screens for quite some time. For exactly five seasons, so far. Yay! Or perhaps not?

With its reused villains (when you’ve got 2.0 in your title, that screams Electric Boogaloo, I’m sorry), its apparent lack of character development and little focus on the overarching plot (if there is any, at this point), it sounds like this is pretty much stretched out.

The show has two focuses, so to say, our two cinnamon buns and their love story, and superhero stuffs with different villains in each episode (and that guy alone in his lair, and sometimes that woman with the fan but eeeeh, don’t sweat it, besides they’re interchangeable so far)

What do I mean by Monster-of-the-week format?

Exactly what the title says. For each week/episode, one villain. Who is defeated at the end of the week. Yay! The prime example of this is the original Scooby Doo cartoons, Scooby Doo, Where Are You!

Now, what do we think of that show? Other than the laugh tracks, it holds up well enough. More importantly, though, every story is self-contained, and the appeal of the Scooby Doo is its mysteries. We don’t care about Velma’s backstory, or how Fred became the leader, these characters have very little depth and that’s OK, their interactions is not the main point of the story.

Scooby Doo has a very simple formula:

The gang goes somewhere, finds mystery, chase one, traps, chase two with a bubblegum pop soundtrack this time, then the mystery is solved, very basically. And we can move on to the next mystery

You can air any episode in any order, you can get the story without feeling lost.

And for most Miraculous episodes, it is true as well! They follow roughly the same recipe:

Something something civilian life, Hawk Moth akumatises someone, Superhero Time, Lucky Charm, Status Quo again.

The first episodes that aired never explained how Marinette got her Miraculous and… It didn’t seem to matter all that much?

But there’s a problem here. MLB isn’t just about Superhero Thingies™. We’ve got that Love Tesseract™ thing too. And a love story requires a progression and character growth to work.

You can’t have a monster-of-the-week format if you try to explore things that are character-driven, unless there is a clear follow up, an overarching plot.

Like, say…

Revolutionary Girl Utena.

Utena is one of my favourite shows of all time, and I’m talking live action and animated. It is stylish, the writing is great, the direction work is awesome. It’s a masterpiece and for a show aired in 1997, it aged pretty well in the way it handles it themes. (some of the animation is wonky, though, characters are definitely not always on model, it’s not perfect but hey, 1997)

You should watch Utena. It’s available on Nozomi if you’re from Americaland, otherwise I’m sure you’ll find a way to stream it somewhere. Or buy the BluRay.

So, Utena has a “Duel of the Week” format, it follows a clear formula. And just like Miraculous, it recycles animation and some sentences are said at least once or twice per episode. Hell, Miraculous references Utena quite a few times (but I’ll make a post just for that).

Having a repetitive formula does not mean you cannot have a sense of progression. And Utena shines because of that. Things… Things have consequences, a duel leads to another because of reasons that become clear. It’s not a “we need that many episodes” thing, everything is needed, you cannot not watch an episode, even the recap ones, even the Nanami ones, especially the Nanami ones (Nanami who is a much better Chloé than Chloé is).

Unlike Miraculous, Utena has an overarching plot, you can’t play the episodes in any order. Repetitions and variations are meaningful in Utena, it is not simply a matter of style, or rather, style in Utena is meaningful, not only there for “the show”, a spectacle which in itself is meaningful too. Hell, everything in Utena is meaningful. Meaningful. Could you imagine that much meaning in Miraculous? Me neither.

But, you may say, you’re not fair; you’re comparing Miraculous, a show aimed at schoolchildren, with Utena, an anime aimed at an older audience.

And you wouldn’t be entirely wrong if you thought so. Which is why I’ll reiterate my point with a show for which Thomas Astruc himself worked.

Code Lyoko

Code Lyoko is super formulaic, replace Hawk Moth with XANA and superpowers with going inside a computer and that’s about it. It recycles a lot of its animation, the character design is… A bold choice. I barely watched it when I was younger though it was a pretty big thing for us Frenchies (but hey it’s available on YouTube now in French so I binged the entire thing in a few days and while it’s not groundbreaking, it does some things really well)

Code Lyoko is all that, repetitions, terribly formulaic, XANA-tised person/plushie of the week thing with towers to deactivate and whatnot, and a “return to the past” to erase whatever has occurred during the episode. Literally.

But.

Once again, a visible overarching plot, and can you believe it, things have consequences. William is lost on Lyoko, and the kids spend episodes looking for him. There’s romance, and though it is dealt with clumsily, there’s a sense of progression to it. Things… Happen… With… Consequences.

Miraculous is, for the most part, an inconsequential show

Yeah, the problem with Miraculous is that its overarching plot is muddy and flimsy, the status quo is very much that, I’d argue that it’s a show in which nothing truly happens because nothing has consequences. I mean… Nino and Alya are dating, I guess? Adrien… Is still allergic to pigeon feathers? There are sometimes more than just two heroes? But it doesn’t really matter.

And Oblivio is the perfect example of that.

That’s the message of the episode. Even if we forget things, it still works, there is no need for memory, for remembering what has happened in all the previous episodes because we still make it work somehow. What happened before this episode does not matter to the story we are telling now.

The show keeps telling the same things about its characters, over and over, and whenever something new is introduced… Well it’s great but don’t expect to see it in the episodes after that one.

Which is why specials, story arcs which last two episodes, are good. There is room for developed character moments, interesting interactions, plot, sometimes good fights too. Chloé shines in Queen’s Battle, “Origins” is, for me, probably the best bunch of episodes in the entire show so far because things happen and we can see change happening. Like, actual change. Characters who learn how to do stuff, whose interactions with one another changes over the course of these two episodes.

Outside of this however… Here, have that very important book, we’ll see it in one or two episodes because we need a macguffin and voilà. Here, have new heroes, but don’t expect to see them after that episode, unless we need a real showdown.

It’s hard to get hyped by Jeremy Zag’s posts, because no matter how cool Dragon!Kagami looks, because of that format of self-contained stories with the only connection being them being the same static characters. Kagami with a Kwami? Eh. It’ll be a one-off thing, sure it’ll be cool but to make the plot move on… Don’t sweat it.

Speaking of Kagami, she is presented the exact same way in Frozer and Selfinsertepisode Animaestro, nothing has changed about the character, don’t worry, she’s still going to be used the exact same way, perhaps we’ll show once again that she really cares for Adrien but hey, we already knew that, there’s nothing new in Onichan. And that is symptomatic of the entire cast.

Is that format something the creators of the show absolutely wanted? Is near-stagnation what they wished for? Let’s decide it’s not their choice, and that they try their best with the limitations they have.

Would these flaws be this glaring if new episodes were aired weekly? Like, say, air three episodes during three weeks, a break and then some new episodes again? I think not. The wait and the lack of follow-up from one episode to the next makes them really noticeable, and watching them feels unfulfilling.

So that airing schedule I just suggested? That’s not how things work, that’s not how television works apparently and there’s nothing the people who work on Miraculous can ask about it. Thomas Astruc doesn’t know when the episodes will air, blah blah blah. Television networks not really caring about the shows they air? Never heard of that before, huh. SU

So I guess this is it, then. I hope you enjoyed this overlong post!

(shameful self-promotion moment, but about Kagami, I wrote a Kagaminette/Marigami fic, it’s 80,000 words so far and I update it on Mondays so give it a look if you want! It’s here.)

#miraculous #love square #marinette dupain cheng #adrien agreste #ladybug and chat noir #kagami tsurugi #this show #could be so much better #instead it's a frustrating watch #rena rouge #carapace #hawk moth #thomas astruc #oblivio #monster of the week

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17piesinseptember · 5 years

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any/all of F, G, I, L, O, or P for the fanfic ask! (you don’t have to answer all of them, or answer them all in one post)

Haha, oh man! Here I go… (I’ll do a part one + part two)

Check out the full list and ask me a question

F: Share a snippet from one of your favoritedialogue scenes you’ve written and explain why you’re proud of it.

I’m finding it so hard to think of one for this! I remember answering this ages ago here, so I’ll try grab dialogue from a newer fic of mine…

Here is some comedic dialogue from my fic What do you think my job is? (Jack’s a cop but Bitty thinks he works as a stripper). I’m choosing it because I think it turned out well. The snippets are short enough that you don’t lose the flow of each characters sentence, also, I think it captures that panicked energy of realising you’ve dug yourself into a hole and trying to get yourself out of it.

“I could be there, but not as-”

“Jack, you don’t have to.”

“-not as a stripper. As me. But only-”

“I invited you because I thought–But you’re not, so.”

“-only if you want me there.”

“It’d be a terrible first date, I don’t think-”

“But I don’t know your friend, and if it makes you uncomfortable-”

and it keeps going for a while and is quite funny, see below ;)“Even though I thought you were a stripper?”“Yes. Even though you thought that.”“Because you really are very attractive,” Bitty tries to explain himself.“Thank you,” Jack says, smiling at Bitty.“And the uniforms really were very tight.”“I know.” Jack’s smile gets bigger.

G: Do you write your story from start to finish,or do you write the scenes out of order?

Out of order! Because sometimes I get a great idea for a scene that comes way at the end of a fic I’ve barely started on. That’s why with my longer fics I write out a plot synopsis then break it down into scenes first so that when I randomly get an idea for some dialogue or action, I can slip it into the right spot in the story and work on it. (It’s why I don’t really do WIPs with weekly updates because I jump around too much and things I write for a back-half scene might mean I need to go back and amend or add a scene earlier in the work for it to have a greater impact.)

For those interested, under the cut I’ve pasted an early version of the plot synopsis I wrote for my 2017 Big Bang Fic Sounds Like Something That I Need to Feel. It’s 1.7k and a little different from the plot of the completed fic. (fyi, it’s explicit)

I: Do you have a guilty pleasure in fic (readingor writing)?

There’s no guilt in pleasure! I consume media for enjoyment (particularly fanfic!) so I can always fall happily back on most soulmate AUs, meet-cute fics, any of those fluffy tropes really.

In terms of writing, I realise I have a few things I fall back on doing a lot. One is using the word ‘just’. All the time! Way too much. I have to cut it out a lot from all my fics. It’s just such a great word ;)

The other thing is having characters repeat each others’ dialogue. Like;

“Why?”

“Why what?

“Why call him now?”

“What do you mean why call him now?”

“I mean, why now when it’s been two months since you last spoke?”

Really blows out a word count but I think it’s fun, even if not something you’d hear in real life all that much.

Check out the full list and ask me a question

[part two here]

2017 Big Bang Fic Sounds Like Something That I Need to Feel initial plot idea

Bitty as a phone sex line operator. Jack as a NHL player.

Jack is bi, not out, and not finding anyone interesting.He’s comfortable enough in the NHL to be noticing that his life in lacking inthat department, especially when a lot of the team is married, in seriousrelationships, or else hooking up regularly. As much as some may like to throwhim in the box of ‘hockey robot’ he has feeling. He gets horny. He checkspeople out when he can get away with it. He doesn’t really watch porn, but heuses his imagination and sometimes erotica.

During a night out with some of the Falconers, the topic isbrought up about keeping hook-ups discreet/privacy issues with hooking up witha steady partner while you’re travelling. X says that he always stays off video/photobased uses, even though it’s like an unwritten rule to try snapchat for it atleast once. Too big of a risk. But X says that phone sex is always a classic.Can’t go wrong.

The idea sticks with Jack and a few nights later, when he’sfeeling out of sorts after a loss, and most the rest of the team has takencomfort in someone, he calls up a phone line that’s he’d looked up earlier inthe week.

He fumbles through getting connected and then finds himselfspeaking to Bitty. Jack’s nervous, like it’s his first time. He was still only60% convinced when he made the call, but he did make it, and now there’s a realperson there and he can’t just hang up on them.

Bitty can tell that Jack (he uses ‘Laurent’ for the service)is nervous, so eases him into it. He’s very sweet, but also, very sexy. Jackcomes and it feels great. They hang up straight after.

Jack keeps thinking about Bitty, and just remembering hownice it felt to have someone else to orgasm with, even if it was just astranger over the phone. He doesn’t want to intrude or seems eager, so hedoesn’t call back. At least, not until the next time his team loses, and hewants the distraction.

He calls, asks for Bitty explicitly, and gets through. Jackis a lot more vocal on the phone this time, and it’s a faster orgasm. Bittyasks afterward whether everything is alright. Jack hesitates over telling him.He wants to, but it’s probably the orgasm talking and he doesn’t want toaccidentally give away who he is while he’s in that post-sex laziness. Hedenies. Bitty says goodnight.

He worries about it all the following day, feeling bad. Xnotices and asks what’s up. Jack skirts around the issue but essentially sayshe lied (by omission) to someone and feels bad about it because they were justconcerned. X says it’s an easy fix, all you have to do it tell them, the soonerthe better.

Jack calls Bitty straight away, but Bitty isn’t in at themoment. Of course. He must have a life outside of this job. Jack startswondering what it is, but then stops, telling himself not to get too caught upin the fantasy. He asks for Bitty’s regular hours. Receptionist can’t give themtoo him, but Jack pleads some more and she eventually says she can’t give out aschedule but he’ll be in tonight and if Jack wants to ask Bitty direct, that’sup to him.

Jack calls that night, and apologies to Bitty about the lie.Bitty is totally fine with it. They talk a little bit before Bitty eases intowhat it’s really about. “If I was there with you right now, I’d…”. Afterwards,Jack asks Bitty for his schedule and Bitty gives it to him.

Jack starts calling Bitty regularly, twice a week. He canafford it, it’s no big deal, and he feels a connection to Bitty beyond the sexthey have (and it’s good sex). He lets slip his real name at some point, recountinga story with his parents (“And maman was like “Jack, if I see you YADA” andBitty’s silent and Jack’s like “you alright?” and Bitty’s like “I don’t thinkyou meant to but you just told me your name.” “Oh.” “Do you want me to forgetit?” Jack thinks about it. Definitely not. Then they have sex and when Bittycomes, chanting JackJackJack like aprayer, it’s amazing.

Jack realises he’s in too deep when his teammates startnoticing he’s acting different. Ever since he told Bitty his name, he feelslike it’s tipped them over into new territory. It feels more personal now. Jackloosens even more during their phone conversations.

Bitty’s father has a heart attack and he’s off work for awhile. Jack is told by the receptionist who he has a rappor with now. He asksif he can contact Bitty in any way and he’s told no. He can’t be given personalnumbers/info etc. He sends Bitty his regular fees even though he’s not takingthe phone calls.

Jack gets a text while Bitty is away. It’s from Bitty.Telling Jack he needs to take the money back. Jack texts him no. He gets acall, Bitty explains he got the number from the receptionist after Jack’s moneystarted coming through again. “I knew it was you.”

They get into an argument about it. Jack admits that hecares for Bitty and he won’t be taking the money back. He also hedges aroundrevealing his job, but settles for just saying he makes a lot of money, toomuch to know what to do with, and it’s nice to know in this instance it’shelping someone. Bitty accepts it with much thanks.

Jack doesn’t want to push Bitty, so he stops communicationbetween them. His teammates notice. He doesn’t use Bitty’s number, which hesaved to his phone, but he calls up the line every week until one week, Bittyis back. The call goes through and Bitty and Jack have the equivalent ofreunions sex. Jack basically does all the talking. Bitty says so at the end,saying he feels like their roles are reversed. Bitty then says that, since Jackhas his number, did he want to start texting him sometimes? Like as friends.

Jack and Bitty start texting. Jack figures out whereaboutsBitty is located based on the area code. He still calls up the phone line butless often now, not needing to use that way to reach Bitty.

The lines between stranger, friends, and more than blurs,and Jack brings up the idea of meeting in person, something he’s been thinkingabout for a long time.

Bitty is hesitant. He does feel close to Jack, and he’d loveto, but he’s got to think about his personal security. Jack is saddened but hewon’t put Bitty in that position.

They text and call as normal until Bitty asks Jack to stopcalling him through the service. Jack’s shocked, what has he done to push Bittyaway? Nothing. Bitty has come to realise that he likes Jack, and he doesn’tthink it’s fair of Jack to be being charged when it’s not a job to Bitty anymore.

Jack agreed right away. They stop having phone sex, but thetexting become more frequent. Bitty calls him one night and it’s just to chat.Jack is feeling in a really good place.

Bitty’s the one to suggest they meet up next time. Jackwants to but is just about to go out a roadie for three weeks. Bitty suggestmaybe they could exchange snapchat or skype details. Jack says he can’t, forjob security reasons. If anything got out. Bitty doesn’t know what Jack’s jobis, and he asks but Jack doesn’t want to admit to anything until they meet inperson. If it doesn’t go well he doesn’t want Bitty to have the potential totake the story to the media. He doesn’t think he would, but he can’t be stupidwith his career.

It gets him thinking though, and while he’s on his roadie,he begins talks with PR and management about coming out soon. Even though heand Bitty don’t have anything yet, they’ve known each other for months and Jackhas a gut feeling it’s going to work out. He wants to be out.

After the roadie, Jack and Bitty make plans to meet up. It’stricky to navigate because Bitty wants it somewhere public, which Jackunderstands, but Jack doesn’t want to have issues with paparazzi. They end upmeeting at a park.

Bitty knows who Jack is, and Jack is worried it’s going tokill them before anything starts. Bitty asks Jack to give him some time toprocess, and Jack is more than willing. Anything to give him the chance. Bittysaid 24hours no contact. Bitty calls Jack after 5.

Bitty says it all makes sense now, all the little hintsJack’s dropped. Why he has so much money. Why he travels a lot for his job. Whyprivacy was an issue. He says straight up he’ll never say anything, even ifJack decides not to date him. He says the choice to come out is important andhe’d never interfere with that. He didn’t come out until he was older either.Jack is very relived. Confirms his feelings towards Bitty. Bitty teases himabout using his middle name. Jack asks whether the ‘bitty’ thing is because ofhis height. Bitty confesses it was a hockey nickname and Jack and Bitty end uptalking about that. Jack offers Bitty a ticket to his next game, and maybeafter they could get dinner as their first date? Bitty agrees.

Bitty comes to the game. Jack gest chirped by his teammateswho he’s admitted about Bitty to (to an extent). The game doesn’t go in theirfavour but Jack pushes through for Bitty. Bitty can see that Jack isn’t sohappy and offers to just go back to his place for takeaway. Jack is so relived.

They share an easy dinner, and chatter. Jack offers Bittyhis spare room but Bitty doesn’t want to overstay his welcome, even though Jackassures him he won’t be. Bitty leaves but then comes back immediately. He sayshe needs to know what it’s like to kiss Jack. That he’s been talking about itfor months and now he just needs to know. They kiss. Jack invites him to stayagain. Bitty declines again. “There’ll be other chances.”

And there are.

#sunshineeforthesoul #it's my reply #ask meme #again i'm spending possibly too long on these responces :P

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