I’m kinda mad things sort of returned to the status quo. Like there were some steps forward in terms of lore (mayura) and arguably adrienette but idk by the halfway point through the ep I was starting to expect some real shit to go down

official-ladyblog:

I mean, I don’t know what you expected. Hawk Moth to win and the heroes give up their miraculous? Chat and Lady defeat Hawk Moth? Because then what would happen after that? Dunno if you heard, but the creator has enough content to write for 6 seasons of this show. We’re not even at the halfway point yet. So yes, the season can’t end on such high stakes, they were gonna have to take it back down a bit.

Not to mention that I, personally, thought the episode did do a great job with extreme stakes. Fighting akumas all at once, Dark Cupid assisting from the back so it’s a never-ending stream of akumas, and even converting the allies. Chat and Lady had to retreat just so they could stand a chance. And like I’ve said several times in my tags, I was really impressed with the sewer scene. I think the dialogue there really captured why I think the episode progressed the way it did:

“We’ll go back to what works. A duo. You and me against the world.”

The lucky duo represents two miraculous of the most powerful kwami in existence. Their fusion grants ultimate power, an element that, while essential to Hawk Moth’s motivation, is easily forgotten in the “hero of the day” pattern of the show. Lady and Chat do have the power to take on the entire world, and the conclusion to this episode was them finding that power to take back the fight. 

And this episode didn’t quite go back to the status quo: plot-wise, Nathalie has chosen to be Mayura, which means Hawk Moth will pack an extra punch in the future. I think this would lead in nicely to allies becoming a more regular part of the team, and possibly even an introduction to the zodiac miraculous. And relationship-wise, while Marinette didn’t confess to Adrien (sigh) she did work up the courage to kiss him on the cheek, to which many a classmate (and fan) justly cheered. Maybe in season 3 Adrien will realize that, whether she can spit it out or not, Marinette has a huge crush on him!