[Review/Recap] Miraculous Ladybug Season 2 Episode 1: "The Collector" (SPOILERS) · 1:31pm Apr 23rd, 2018
Continuing directly where season one ended, Marinette learns who Master Fu is, what the book she took from Adrien is, and more about the Miraculous; Hawk Moth's identity is revealed to the audience.
At the end of season one, we saw Marinette return to Master Fu's place, where he greeted her by her alias. Here, we pick up where that left off. Tikki implies that Marinette was never supposed to be brought to Master Fu's place again, which is an interesting and jarring detail--it often seems as though the show itself is at odds with how approachable or how forbidding Master Fu is supposed to be.
Marinette gives Master Fu the book and a rather confused explanation as to how she got hold of it. Master Fu explains that he is the last member of the Order of the Guardians, an entire secret society once charged with governing the Miraculous and their secrets. Fu laments a mistake he made in his youth that somehow resulted in the destruction of the temple and the loss of two Miraculous and the book. He escaped with the chest containing most of the remaining Miraculous and fled, the only survivor. Fu puts forth the theory that whoever owned the book is likely Hawk Moth. This bothers Marinette to the point that she outright lies to Master Fu about exactly who she stole the book from.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Agreste is dressing Adrien down about the book--it turns out there's a security recording of him taking it from the secret safe. Adrien tries to talk his way out of the situation, but the fact remains, he stole the book and then lost it. Angered, Gabriel informs Adrien that he's back on lockdown--he won't be allowed to return to school, he won't be allowed to see his friends, and his schedule will return to what it was before. This is more than Adrien can bear, of course, but Gabriel is adamant. Once Adrien is led away to his room, Gabriel hands Nathalie a blank design book and says simply, "You know where this goes." He then locks himself in his study and begins thoroughly trashing it in a fit of rage.
On her way to school, Marinette tells Tikki that she lied to Master Fu because she can't mentally deal with the possibility that Adrien could be Hawk Moth. When she gets to school, she finds out everyone in her class is distraught because Adrien has been put back on lockdown. Learning that the book belonged to Gabriel, not Adrien, Marinette is relieved--until she realizes that this means her fashion idol, Gabriel Agreste, is likely Hawk Moth. She attempts to contact Chat Noir, determined to investigate Gabriel and put an end to this.
At the Agreste mansion, Adrien hears his father's destructive tantrum and is concerned, but Nathalie forces him to return to his room. Deciding he needs a break from everything, Adrien transforms and slips out the window. He gets Ladybug's message and heads off to meet her.
In Hawk Moth's lair, Hawk Moth does his usual thing, monologuing about a father who feels betrayed by his son's thoughtless deeds. He creates an Akuma, but instead of telling it to fly away, he says, "Stay close, my evil Akuma." The Akuma lingers in the lair, and Hawk Moth drops his transformation, revealing...Gabriel Agreste. Nooroo asks Gabriel why the Akuma is still in the lair. Gabriel answers that in order to divert suspicion from himself, he must "become someone else". He temporarily renounces the Butterfly Miraculous, then picks up the blank book--which is in the lair with him, on a pedestal--and invites the Akuma in. The Akuma transforms him into The Collector, giving him the power to absorb anything his book touches into its pages.
Elsewhere, Chat Noir meets up with Ladybug, who shares her info. Chat Noir, understandably, demands proof--but he can't deny Ladybug has some pretty solid circumstantial evidence. Still, he can't accept that his own father could be Hawk Moth, so they go to check. Neither of them are aware that the Collector is on a destructive spree across Paris, and by the time they reach the mansion, he's already returned and is lying in wait for them. They engage the Collector in a fierce battle, which they're only able to win by using Adrien's extensive DVD collection to fill up the Collector's book completely, making it safe to touch to destroy it and release the Akuma. Chat Noir struggles not to break character when Gabriel returns to normal, and he's relieved that his father is now no longer a suspect. Ladybug returns to Master Fu's, confused and dismayed that their one lead to Hawk Moth's true identity appears to have been a bust. Master Fu uses his smartphone to take pictures of the pages in the book and returns it to Marinette so she can give it back to Gabriel.
Once Marinette returns the book to Gabriel and delivers a ditzy, half-assed explanation of why she had it, Gabriel agrees to let Adrien return to school. Once the dust has settled, Gabriel returns to his lair and reclaims the Butterfly Miraculous, transforming into Hawk Moth to seek his next victim.
Obviously, this is one of the most important episodes in the series. It answered a lot of questions, set up many things that are yet to come, confirmed the one biggest fan suspicion of season one, and threw up a roadblock in Ladybug and Chat Noir's path--they can't imagine that Hawk Moth might Akumatize himself to avoid suspicion, so their one real suspect is cleared outright. We also learn that Nathalie is seemingly well aware of Gabriel's double life.
There are some subtleties to this episode that aren't necessarily apparent right away. The biggest one is Nooroo. The first time we saw Nooroo--in "Origins"--Nooroo was terrified, trepidatious, and reluctant at discovering his new master had evil intentions. Now, we see a Nooroo who has been serving Hawk Moth for several months, and there's a definite change in Nooroo's demeanor. Nooroo seems more mildly curious about Hawk Moth's actions than anything, and when released from the Miraculous again, almost seems eager to get back to work. It's an interesting thing to speculate about.
This is, sadly, the most competent Hawk Moth has been for the entirety of season two, as many subsequent episodes feature him displaying a progressive case of villain decay...as we'll explore in more detail in subsequent blogs.
As a season opener that drops a lot of bombshells, this is a solid 10/10 episode.
So, I've only seen a single episode of Miraculous and I figured out that much, was it meant to be some sort of plot twist or something? Or did I somehow get it right by pure chance?
I had been watching reruns of the first season on the Disney Channel lately and I noticed an interesting tidbit. Whenever Gabriel was onscreen with Hawk Moth's Akumatized victims, Hawk Moth himself doesn't appear, not even to instruct his minion or to provide his speech after his plan fails. I believe that was the first clue as to who Hawk Moth is.
I couldn't help but laugh when I saw Master Fu take pictures of the book with the smartphone. It just caught me completely off guard. SMART!
4845802
It was a huge subject of fan debate and theory throughout season 1. Season 1 was LOADED with evidence pointing to Gabriel being Hawk Moth to the point where a significant chunk of the fandom was CONVINCED he was a red herring. To everyone else, it was an "I Knew It"--but the promos for The Collector were blatantly designed to troll us, because wait, Gabriel is Akumatized? What the hell? And then we got the reveal and some epic level Xanatosing.
4845816
Yep. Also, there's no Hawk Moth monologue after Jackady/Simonsayz is defeated, which is VERY important. Then there's the picture of Emilie Agreste in the Butterfly brooch as seen in Origins Part 1...
4845947
I know, right? That came out of NOWHERE!
4845953
I only saw one episode, I don't remember which one though. I THINK it was the one with the bubble blowing guy. I should give the show another shot at some point.
Man, Nooroo's got to be freed. I wasn't too surprised that Natalie knew about Gabriel's double life, but she just seems so non-chalant about it. I wonder if something else is at work here. Season 2 as a whole is totally bomb so far, a fantastic ride, even in the mediocre episodes.
4845995
Yeah, I'm having a lot of fun, despite my frustration with Zag for the ridiculous release schedule.
Speaking of Nooroo, have you read my fic Dark Wings Rise yet? The next chapter should be coming...well, I want to say SOON, but I'll settle for "it won't be THAT long a delay".
4846083
I feel, and this is my headcanon, that without a partner to balance them out, a Kwami can get warped, and perhaps Gabriel's constant use has slowly, but surely started corrupting Noroo.
Also, funnily enough, Natalie's surname apparently translates to Heartless or Without a Heart
4846350
Yes, which is exactly why I named her Akumatized form "Heartless" in my first long-form fanfic.
4846462
Wait, was that the one where she had a pacemaker? Also, it kind of makes sense, as Gabe would need someone to cover for him while he does his Hawk Mothy shit.
4846541
Yep.
4846568
Ah, loved that one. You know, I wonder if Gabriel is trying to locate/resurrect his wife? Though since there appears to be an equivalent exchange deal when. Using the Miraculous's powers, what would he have to exchange for his wife?
4846577
The prevailing theory is that he IS in fact trying to bring Emilie back (and remember, we don't actually know what happened to her yet, and she might not even be dead), but he might not KNOW that there's a price to pay for doing what he's planning to do.
4846689
Fair point, considering how, in Zombisu (I think I spelled that right) after all is wrapped up, he says something like "If love conquers all, the. Surely my wish shall one day be granted, which COULD be talking about his wife.
4846692
There's almost no question in my mind that Gabriel is doing all this to get Emilie back. The real question is what HAPPENED to her and how much worse he's going to make everything if he succeeds.
4846698
True, I mean, it is implied she is the Peacock Miraculous holder, or at least was. I recall one fic where too many active Miraculouses causes anomalies, like monsters, to appear. I also have a weird headcanon, might make it into a story, of a former Hawk Moth, an alchemist and occultist now turned lich, resurrecting former "rogue" Miraculous holders
4846083
I'll check it out! I can't get into my account, but that's what the guest option is for. You'll know its me.
Yeah, I'm like more episodes Noaw!
4846782
Eek, what happened? Lost password or FF.net just being a butt? Oh, and we'll have to wait until May 12 for the next episode. Gah...
4846862
The latter, unfortunately! I'll fix it somehow. And oh well, it could be longer. PLUS, you published Dark Wings Rise on my Birthday! What a coinky dink!
4847394
Yay! :D