Kuro Neko

**Kuro Neko**

**Season 4, episode 23 (Production order); Episode 101 (Overall)**

> "But, does that mean Cat Noir is really who I am? Deep down inside?"
> "You're not Cat Noir, but you're not Adrien either. You're both. You're the perfect son who's extremely successful in everything he does. But you're also Cat Noir, who just wants to enjoy life and have fun. One can't exist without the other. And I sure am glad to have both of you back!"
>
> Adrien Agreste & Plagg, "Kuro Neko"

**"Kuro Neko"** is a Season 4 episode of the series, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir. As based on the series' production order specifically, **"Kuro Neko"** is the 23rd written and produced episode of Season 4. It is also the 101st written and produced episode of the series, overall.

## Synopsis

Vesperia! Viperion! Carapace! Pigella! Purple Tigress! Pegasus! Ladybug’s got a Dream Team together to combat a new villain… without Cat Noir! For a while now, our hero has been feeling a bit left out. More and more convinced that he’s less important in her eyes now that his Lady has a whole gang of superheroes, he finally gives her back his Miraculous. Ladybug can’t stop him and finds herself a bit lost without her kittycat. But Plagg is there to cheer her up and help her find a solution. He suggests that she recruit a new Cat Noir!

## Plot

The episode starts with Adrien watching a news report on his TV about the latest akuma attack. Nadja is reporting that earlier that morning when Gigantitan was causing panic, Ladybug and her team managed to save the day once again, to which Adrien seems to be angry. The news footage shows Carapace using Shell-ter to capture Gigantitan, then Pegasus using Voyage, which opens a portal towards Gigantitan face. Pigella uses Gift on him, which shows him his mother which causes him to stop. Then Carapace removes the shield and Vesperia uses Venom to immobilize him. Ladybug takes his bracelet and breaks it to release the Akuma and deakumatize it. This causes him to detransform back into August and drop the reporter, Clara Contard but Ladybug manages to catch her. Ladybug returns August to his mother, while Clara asks her about Cat Noir, mentioning that she has saved Paris multiple times without him. Ladybug looks towards her team and replies that Cat Noir is like any other partner and she can save Paris with or without Cat Noir, to which Adrien gets shocked. He switches off the TV and sadly comments on Ladybug saying that "he is a partner like any other". Plagg tries to cheer him up by saying that everyone thinks Camembert is cheese like any other but in reality it is the best cheese among others. He stops talking when he sees Rogercop being chased by Ladybug, Ryuko, Polymouse, King Monkey, and Purple Tigress on the rooftops. Plagg tells Adrien that it is the best time to show Ladybug that he is the best. Adrien refuses, saying that it is useless. But when Plagg persuades him, he agrees and transforms into Cat Noir and goes after Ladybug.

Cat Noir goes to the rooftops to find Ladybug, but sees the Miraculous Ladybug power being activated, indicating that the mission has already ended. Cat Noir still decides to meet Ladybug. He goes there and Ryuko sees him and says hello to him, along with others. Ladybug instructs her teammates to go to their respective hiding places so she can collect their Miraculouses. After everyone else leaves, Cat Noir asks Ladybug how she's doing, to which Ladybug replies that she is fine but she has a lot of work to do. Cat Noir tries to help her, but Ladybug declines his help by saying that it is a Guardian's job. Cat Noir reminds Ladybug that he knows the owner of some Miraculouses since he was with them when she gave the Miraculous. Ladybug points out that he doesn't know their rendez-vous points and refuses his help a second time. When Cat Noir further insists to help, Ladybug angrily tells him to go away and tells him to not waste her time. Cat Noir was hurt by her words and feels rejected by this comment and tells Ladybug that she can also take his Miraculous when she has done her job, to which Ladybug unknowingly says that it is perfect and she will meet him later and swings away. Cat Noir detransforms into Adrien, while Plagg horrifiedly asks him what he is doing. Meanwhile, on the way to collect the Monkey Miraculous, Ladybug ponders over what Cat Noir meant when he said "take back his Miraculous". Adrien tells Plagg that he gives up on everything, even being Cat Noir. Plagg tries to stop him, but Adrien eventually takes off his Miraculous. Ladybug reaches King monkey's rendezvous point, where King monkey is seconds away from being detransformed into Kim, but Ladybug suddenly realizes the meaning of Cat Noir's statement and rushes back to him, leaving Kim hanging on a chimney. Ladybug arrives but doesn't see Cat Noir anywhere. When she looks down, she sees the Cat Miraculous in front of her feet, confirming her fears. She sadly picks up the Cat Miraculous. The other Miraculous holders began to call her through the earpiece, so she puts the Cat Miraculous into the Yo-Yo and tells her teammates to stay in their places and swings away.

The scene changes to Marinette's room, where Ladybug is sitting on her bed with the Cat Miraculous in her hand and wondering what caused Cat Noir to give up his Miraculous. Plagg then accuses Ladybug, telling her that it is all her fault. He says that she had forgotten about Cat Noir, by going out and fighting with other heroes. Ladybug replies that Cat Noir should be happy since he can get more time off, but Plagg says that Cat Noir doesn't want a break, and that by fighting with other heroes she has further broken his heart, since Cat Noir is in love with her. Ladybug apologizes about this and says that she has done everything she can do as a Guardian. Plagg suggests that she should give him the Miraculous, so he could return it to Cat Noir and persuade him to become Cat Noir again. Ladybug says that this wouldn't work, since she will continue to hurt his feelings by doing her job as Guardian and says that maybe it's time to choose a new Cat Noir, to which the other Kwamis present gasp. Plagg tries to reassure her that it is not a wise choice but Ladybug determines that she will find another Cat Noir who is not in love with her, horrifying Plagg. Meanwhile, Adrien sadly cleans up his room, removes the photos of Ladybug in his fencing trophies and even throws away Plagg's cheeses and the sock Plagg. Back to Marinette's room, Plagg questions Ladybug about replacing Cat Noir, to which Ladybug agrees and is about to set out to find another holder, when Plagg, worried, asks her if she'll know his secret identity. Ladybug then horrifyingly agrees, saying that if she was akumatized and if she knew his identity, Shadow Moth would be able to get both of their Miraculouses, and the ultimate power would be used to transform the world into whatever he wants. Plagg then tells her to give him the Miraculous and he'll return it to Cat Noir, ask him to have a change of heart and everything will be fine. Ladybug then asks him if he'll be able to, to which Plagg says he hopes so. Back in Adrien's room, Adrien deletes the last of his photos of Ladybug on his phone, and goes to sleep.

The next day, Marinette (who is now detransformed) wakes up and finally shouts in happiness, waking up the kwamis in surprise as she enumerates her plan: she'll find someone anonymously, who has a girlfriend, and thinks Ladybug is cool and only sees her as a friend, and send the Miraculous through the mail, but scratches off the idea as she would need to know the address and name of the person to send the Miraculous to, then angrily blames Cat Noir for the situation and asks why he fell in love with her alter ego. Above her, in her bed, Tikki and Plagg watch Marinette ranting about Cat Noir, looking worried. Plagg then disappointedly says that she's in love with his owner (Adrien), and Tikki adds that he loves Ladybug. Suddenly, Plagg immediately thinks of a plan and shares it with Tikki, and asks for her help.

Meanwhile, in Adrien's room, Nathalie (who is now able to walk with the help of technical leg braces) comes in and tells Adrien that he was late to breakfast, but stops abruptly upon seeing him on his bed, lying down and still sad. She walks over to him and asks him if he's alright. Adrien replies that he's fine, just that he doesn't want to go to school and covers himself with his blanket. In Gabriel's atelier, after Nathalie tells Gabriel about Adrien, he asks Nathalie when is the next photoshoot, to which she replies that it's in three days. Gabriel then replies that he will feel better by then, as he is an Agreste.

Back in Marinette's room, Marinette is now angrily scribbling over her plan with a marker. Above her, Tikki looks skeptical and worried about the plan Plagg had told her, and says that she can't lie to Marinette. Plagg rather clarifies that he only asked her to smile and nod. They fly to Marinette, who is now angrily scribbling over a picture of Cat Noir on her big whiteboard. Plagg tells her that she can't keep both the Ladybug and Cat Miraculouses in the same place, seeing as if Shadow Moth found out and came here, he would take both and use the ultimate power. Marinette cuts him off and agrees, and says that she doesn't know how to recruit a new Cat Noir. Plagg informs her that Tikki has reminded him of a solution, which Marinette is surprised about. Plagg tells Marinette that there were actually two boys who Master Fu hesitated to choose between to be Cat Noir, which Tikki and Plagg liked the second boy better and explains that he would not be in love with her. He offers to go bring the miraculous to the boy so she wouldn't know the holder's identity. (During this entire interaction, Tikki is completely silent, only smiling and nodding when Plagg prompts her. The more lies Plagg tells, the more strained her smile gets.)

Back in Adrien's room, while Adrien is playing a video game on his couch, Plagg comes in through the window and tells Adrien about his plan to continue being the Cat Miraculous holder. Adrien refuses at first because he thinks Ladybug would know who he is and keep rejecting him, but Plagg tells him that if he changed his personality then so would the costume which would turn him into a completely different Cat Noir. Adrien puts on the ring and they begin. After numerous tries, taking away cat puns, practicing arrival poses, choosing between masks for the new suit, using Gabriel as an example of how to be serious and brainstorming names, they finish and Adrien transforms.

On the Rooftops, Cat Walker meets Ladybug with a bow and introduces himself. Ladybug greets him with a cat pun, and notices it doesn't make Cat Walker laugh to which Cat Walker then offers to laugh next time she makes another pun. Ladybug refuses the offer, embarrassed. She begins asking him questions to test him and he answers perfectly each time, but they get interrupted by Kuro Neko, who is using the Tour Montparnasse as a scratching post in the distance. Once they get closer to it, Ladybug takes notice of the bell around its neck and believes it's Cat Noir.

Ladybug stops asking Cat Walker questions and they get to work. Cat Walker offers up the idea that it might not be Cat noir but Ladybug disagrees and Kuro Neko traps her. Ladybug apologizes to Kuro Neko but the sentimonster doesn't understand. Shadowmoth gets confused when Ladybug calls the sentimonster Cat Noir and tells Kuro Neko to seize her earrings. Kuro Neko was going to crush Ladybug with his big paw but Cat Walker gets her out of there.

Cat Walker tells Ladybug that Cat Noir talks a lot. If Kuro Neko were Cat Noir, he would have talked to her. He also points out a hole in the back of the villain, suggesting that the villain is a giant piggy bank. Ladybug brushes him off, saying that he'll see once they deakumatize him then tells him to cataclysm his bell because she believes that that is where the akuma is. Instead, Cat Walker decides to take matters into his own hands and starts making cat noises which lures Kuro Neko to a grassy park. Kuro Neko starts eating grass, which makes Ladybug realize that the villain can't be Cat Noir because he would never eat grass. Cat Walker briefly cringes at the idea of it, but then covers for it by saying he agrees with her and says they shouldn't make any rash decisions before they find out whether they're dealing with a sentimonster or someone who's been akumatized. Ladybug realizes that Cat Walker is right but thinks she's the worst guardian because she let Cat Noir leave hurt and did not stop him. Cat Walker reassures her and tells her that now he'd take care of her.

Cat Walker and Ladybug head off to fight Kuro Neko. Ladybug ties her yo-yo to its paw, but Kuro Neko swats her away and goes on to fight several helicopters. Then, as Cat Walker jumps on top of Kuro Neko, he grabs the yo-yo and passes it over to Ladybug. She attempts to thank Cat Walker but calls him charming, which he mistakes it as Ladybug trying to summon her Lucky Charm. She becomes confused but once Cat Walker explains his thoughts Ladybug realizes that he meant that she needs her lucky charm to defeat Kuro Neko then calls for it and receives a parachute. The heroine looks around but in her frazzled state her sight keeps focusing on Cat Walker believing at first and not wanting to repeat the same mistakes that he was apart of the plan. First, while the sentimonster was swatting helicopters Cat Walker climbs up and uses the parachute to blind the creature causing it to fall but it didn't work, then Ladybug had herself and Cat Walker be used as bait to trap Kuro Neko under the Eiffel Tower so they could cataclysm the bell but the wind blew them off course causing it to miss and strike the sentimonster instead causing it to run wild. But they hear a kid inside the creature regrouping Cat Walker tells Ladybug that he'll recharge while she comes up with another plan as he goes Ladybug's vision works perfectly making her realize Cat Walker wasn't the solution but the problem.

Meanwhile, Cat Walker detransforms on a rooftop and as Plagg recharges the kwami asks Adrien how things were going but Adrien replied not so well but Plagg wasn't too worried as they were just starting out and retransforms. Reuniting, Ladybug sadly tells Cat Walker that her lucky charm isn't compatible with him and she needs to stop Kuro Neko on her own and to her surprise he was fine with exclusion aware that the mission came first and wished her luck. Now focused Ladybug leads Kuro Neko to the stadium and once there she told the worker to fill the parachute with the mowed grass and when the sentimonster appeared she threw the parachute into the creature's mouth causing it to spit up a girl named Rythm. Ladybug asked the child to give her piggy-bank up but she refused saying that it had all her savings so she could buy toys for her kitty making the heroine refer to the sentimonster but Rythm explained that it was for her real pet cat that ran away and she was amokized by Shadow Moth to replace him but seeing that this cat was mean she missed her kitty. And the conversation doesn't go unnoticed by Cat Walker who leaves to find Rythm's pet and yet Ladybug could relate about missing her partner telling Rythm that she only has to smash her piggy bank to make Kuro Neko behave and could use her powers to fix everything which she agrees to smashing her piggy-bank causing the amok to be free and the sentimonster disappears. Ladybug captures the feather, purifies it and uses her Miraculous Ladybug to restore everything to normal.

Cat Walker returns with Rythm's cat making Rythm happy as the two run off to play meanwhile the heroes compliment each other on a job well done but aware of how Ladybug feels Cat Walker understands that Cat Noir is her true partner and will return the ring so that Plagg can go back to his original owner before leaving he compliments that Cat Noir is a lucky guy and Ladybug takes Rythm home. Once home Adrien detransformed saddened that the plan didn't work until Plagg spoke otherwise about it being a success but Adrien wasn't so sure on how to get his old persona back but Plagg told him it was easy but Adrien began to question if Cat Noir was who he truly was deep down. Until Plagg clarifies that Adrien isn't just Adrien nor is he just Cat Noir but both and was happy to have them both sharing an embrace. Reuniting on a rooftop as his original persona Cat Noir apologizes to Ladybug about the trouble his behavior and giving up his ring caused for her nudging her shoulder against his telling him that even though she doesn't always need him doesn't mean she never did and that he was irreplaceable as the duo shares the view as the endcard appears.

## Characters

### Major characters

* Adrien Agreste/Cat Noir/Cat Walker
* Plagg
* Kuro Neko
* Rythm

### Minor characters

* Marinette Dupain-Cheng/Ladybug
* Tikki
* Gabriel Agreste/Shadow Moth
* Nadja Chamack
* August/Gigantitan
* Clara Contard
* Vesperia
* Carapace (Nino pictured)
* Pigella (Rose pictured)
* Pegasus (Max pictured)
* August's mother
* Akuma
* Rogercop
* Ryuko (Kagami pictured)
* Polymouse (Mylène pictured)
* Lê Chiến Kim/King Monkey
* Purple Tigress (Juleka pictured)
* Nathalie Sancoeur
* Jean Tretiens
* Xuppu (background)
* Ziggy (background)
* Fluff (background)
* Pollen (background)
* Daizzi (background)
* Sass (background)
* Orikko (background)
* Barkk (background)
* Stompp (background)
* Kaalki (background)
* Roaar (background)
* Mullo (background)
* Longg (background)
* Wayzz (background)
* Ivan Bruel (pictured)
* Nathaniel Kurtzberg (pictured)
* Alix Kubdel (pictured)
* Alya Césaire (pictured)
* Luka Couffaine (pictured)
* Wang Fu (mentioned)
* Civilians

## Trivia

* Internationally, this episode first premiered in Brazil on Gloob.
* Kuro Neko, when written as 黒猫, means Black Cat in Japanese.
* Kuro Neko, the sentimonster, was inspired by a Maneki-neko, a Japanese beckoning or lucky cat.
	+ This inspiration also explains the Japanese name.
* This is the tenth episode to be named after a Sentimonster, the others being "Reflekdoll", "Félix", "Ladybug", "Gabriel Agreste", "Mega Leech", "Guiltrip", "Optigami", "Sentibubbler" and "Hack-San".
	+ This is also the first episode where the main villain is the actual sentimonster and not an akumatized villain or Miraculous holder using its powers.
* This episode was supposed to premiere on PlusPlus in Ukraine on December 22nd, 2021, but was pushed back for unknown reasons.
	+ Interestingly, Anastasiya Zharnikova-Zinovenko, Marinette's Ukrainian voice actress, posted on her Instagram story about her recording the lines for the episode on the 28th of December, almost a week after the episode's original premiere date, which could imply that the dubbing wasn't finished on the 22nd, and was the reason the episode was postponed.
* In this episode, a new character is introduced, Rythm. She was a girl who visited the Zag Studio thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, where she designed a concept of herself.
	+ However, her concept was changed during production.
* It's revealed that Ladybug has not called on Cat Noir for several fights, making him depressed.
* This is the third time where Marinette is a minor character, following "Hack-San" and "Lies".
	+ If the webisodes are counted this would be the fifth.
* This is the second time that a hero other than Ladybug and Cat Noir use their ear communicators, following "Ephemeral", with Ryuko and Polymouse calling Ladybug after she picks up the Cat Miraculous.
* This is the second time Adrien renounces his Miraculous and Plagg, after the New York Special.
	+ This is also the third time Adrien gives up a Miraculous after "Desperada" and "Miraculous New York".
* This is the seventh time where Adrien and Plagg are separated following "Style Queen", "Sandboy", "Reflekdoll", "Oblivio", "Kwamibuster" and "Miraculous New York".
* This is the sixth time where Adrien is separated from his Miraculous following "Lady Wifi", "Style Queen", "Reflekdoll", "Kwamibuster" and "Miraculous New York"
* It's revealed that Adrien has photos of Ladybug in his fencing trophies.
* This is the second time Adrien gets rid of his Ladybug photos, after "Glaciator 2".
* The sock Plagg from "Sandboy" makes a reappearance.
* Ladybug mentions that if Shadow Moth gets a hold of her and Cat Noir's Miraculouses, the world will be rewritten.
	+ This is a reference to the events of "Ephemeral". It's likely after Sass used Second Chance, the kwamis told her what would happen when the Ladybug and Cat Miraculouses are used.
* It's revealed that Nathalie is now using some sort of technical leg braces that enable her to walk.
* The magic behind the costumes is further explained by Plagg, who reveals that the costume a holder normally shows is a natural reflection of their personality. However, they can change their costume by focusing only on their certain personality traits. When Adrien focused on being perfect, just like his civilian form with his father, he became a brand new superhero.
* With Tikki being aware of Plagg's plan to return to Adrien and knowing of his identity; most likely when Adrien returned as Cat Walker she sensed him in the suit aware that Plagg taught him how to change his suit suggesting that all kwamis are aware of these transformations.
	+ Meaning that in the past they've done the same thing with previous owners.
* Adrien uses the Cat Miraculous to become a brand new hero that is not Cat Noir, becoming Cat Walker. In which he acts a lot more focused, proper and professional compared to his original identity.
	+ This makes him the second Miraculous holder to possess more than one identity for the same Miraculous, followed by Alya Césaire, who used to transform into Rena Rouge with the Fox Miraculous, before changing her suit to better fit her new role and becoming Rena Furtive.
* It's revealed that Plagg has an artistic side.
* Before coming up with the name "Cat Walker", Adrien and Plagg think of other names, including:
	+ Serious Cat
	+ Silky Kitten
	+ Night Whiskers
	+ Kid Kitty
	+ Cat of the Night
	+ Citizen Cat
	+ Obscure Kitty
	+ Super Cat
	+ Black Kitten
	+ Feline Kitty
	+ Cat Man
		- Interestingly, "Super Cat" is Cat Noir's name in the Russian and Ukrainian dubs.
		- Citizen Cat is most likely a reference to the movie "Citizen Kane".
		- Cat of the Night is probably a reference to the song in "Santa Claws".
		- Cat Man may be an homage to Batman.
* This is the second time Plagg appears in Marinette's room, following "Reflekdoll".
	+ This is also the first time he interacts with Marinette in her room.
* When Plagg proposes his plan to Tikki, he strikes a similar pose to when he invited her to dance in "Sandboy".
* The game Adrien plays on his TV is a parody of *Super Mario*.
* Not counting unifying, this is the fifth time a character appears as a Miraculous holder for a single episode, following Mister Bug and Lady Noire in "Reflekdoll", Aspik in "Desperada", Multimouse in "Kwamibuster", and Scarabella in "Hack-San".
* This episode features the akumatizations of previous akumatized characters:
* This is the seventh time Roger gets akumatized into Rogercop, following "Rogercop", "Catalyst", "Mayura" and three off-screen akumatizations that were revealed in "Mr. Pigeon 72"
	+ This is the third time August gets akumatized into Gigantitan for the fourth time after "Gigantitan", "Catalyst" and "Weredad".
	+ Their akumatizations are not shown, making this the fifteenth and sixteenth time this happens, after Magician of Misfortune in "Princess Fragrance", Vanisher in "Antibug", the Unnamed boy in "Sandboy", Alya and Nino's akumatization in "Oblivio", Vivica in "Desperada", the current Chris in "Christmaster", the adult Chris in "Timetagger", Mr. Pigeon akumatization in "Truth" and "Lies", the two akumatizations of André in "Glaciator 2" and Moolak, Syren and The Mime's akumatizations in "Ephemeral".
* This is the third time a person is unwillingly amokized, while not being akumatized, following Hawk Moth in "Mayura" and August in "Miraculer".
* It's revealed that the Peacock Miraculous holder can either possibly see through any sentimonster's perspective (even without holding their amok) or through their amokized target, as Shadow Moth heard Ladybug's lament, about being Cat Noir akumatized, despite the fact he was not the one holding the amok at the moment. However, in consideration that both the Peacock and Butterfly Miraculouses establish a telepathic link between the holders of those Miraculous and their targets, it's very likely the latter is the most possible.
* It's revealed that even when the Ladybug Miraculous user uses their yo-yo to tie something up, they can still lose their grip on it.
* When she received the Lucky Charm, Ladybug's visualization process initially focused on Cat Walker; when he left, she was able to think up a plan. Meaning just like Mirage, Voyage and Amokization when using Lucky Charm the user's mind must be clear and focused.
* This is the twenty-fourth time in which Lucky Charm is summoned twice in a single episode following "The Bubbler", "Antibug", "Sapotis", "The Dark Owl", "Syren", "Style Queen", "Anansi", "Malediktator", "Mayura", "Miraculous Shanghai", "Reflekdoll", "Weredad", "Miraculer", "Oblivio", "Desperada", "Ikari Gozen", "Timetagger", "Heart Hunter", "Psycomedian", "Glaciator 2", "Hack-San", "Dearest Family" and "Ephemeral"
* This is the third time where a Magical Charm wasn't given to the akumatized and/or amokized victim.
	+ However, similarly to "Ephemeral", this theoretically could have occurred off-screen.
* This is seventeenth time where a previous Lucky Charm appeared in another episode.
	+ However, the parachute in this episode is shaped differently from the one that appeared in "Stoneheart".
* Ladybug breaking down over the way she treated Cat Noir and believing he was akumatized because of her and calling herself the worst guardian ever is similar to her breakdown about Master Fu in "Miracle Queen".
	+ Her thinking Kuro Neko is Cat Noir akumatized and breaking down is a callback to "Cat Blanc" where in an alternate future Cat Noir was akumatized into Cat Blanc starting with Marinette's mistake but because of his father's mistakes. As such, Ladybug broke down thinking Cat Noir got akumatized because of her.
	+ Ladybug believing that her "akumatized partner's" object to be the bell is referring to "Cat Blanc".
* This is the fourth time a sentimonster is catalysmed, following "Reflekdoll", "Truth" and "Queen Banana".
* This is the fifth time someone ends up in a sentimonster following "Reflekdoll", "Feast", "Mega Leech" and "Guiltrip".
* This is the second time where the de-evilize background wasn't seen following "Startrain".
* This is one of the few times where both heroes don't transform on-screen.
* This is the first episode to have Adrien wear his pajamas.
* This is first time when an amokization and the few times an akumatization isn't seen on-screen.
* Ladybug confusing a villain for a partner is similar to "Volpina", "Miraculer", "Ladybug" and "Optigami".
* This is eighth time where the Cataclysm misses its target following "Copycat", "The Evilustator", "Princess Fragrance", "Dark Cupid", "Despair Bear", "Truth" and "Queen Banana".
* This is the first time someone willingly breaks their own amokized object.
	+ This is also the sixth episode where someone else breaks an object and yet Rhythm is the tenth person instead of Ladybug and Cat Noir, as well as the first kid to do so following Jagged Stone, Anarka, and Purple Tigress in "Crocoduel", Polymouse in "Mega Leech", Marianne Lenoir in "Furious Fu", Fang in "Lies" and Queen Bee, Rena Rouge and Carapace in "Mayura".
	+ This is also the first time someone breaks their amokized object who also wasn't akumatized.
* Just like in "Anansi", Ladybug mentions that Cat Noir is irreplaceable.
* This episode runs in parallel with "Hack-San":
	+ As both episodes deal with one of the main heroes temporarily leaving their partner and yet each left for different reasons as Ladybug left for a family vacation while Cat Noir left due to feeling left out.
		- Both felt the same for the other being filled with fear, worry and yet remorse. In "Hack-San", Cat Noir was filled with fear and worry towards his missing partner and Ladybug felt remorse about not telling him about her departure and that she told someone else her identity. While Ladybug felt the same when she thought her partner was akumatized and remorse about replacing him. And he, felt remorse about his behavior causing so much trouble.
	+ Both Alya and Adrien had come up with a series of names for their new alter egos before agreeing on one.
	+ Both the Ladybug and Cat Miraculouses were briefly separated from their original owners and then returned.
	+ Both temporary teams didn't have a good start. In "Hack-San", due to high expectations Alya as Scarabella acted like a rookie and someone she wasn't. While having emotional attachments to Cat Noir and yet being distracted by Cat Walker; Ladybug wasn't acting like herself.
	+ They both ended with both main heroes reuniting on a rooftop while viewing the Eiffel Tower and Ladybug comforting Cat Noir.
	+ Both episodes are named after a sentimonster.
	+ Concept art of a Magical Charm with Kuro Neko's color scheme was revealed, which could indicate one of two things:
		- Kuro Neko was originally intended to be an Akumatized villain instead.
		- The magical charms were originally intended to also protect against amokization.
	+ The same reason why the kwamis had been waiting a very long time for an owner is repeated again a holder harboring emotional attachments.
* This episode also runs parallel in comparing Adrien to Chloe in "Battle of the Miraculous":
	+ As both let their worse fears blind and consume them from the real purpose of Ladybug's actions. Chloe's was being useless and abandoned after she lost her powers by exposing her identity but it was for her own and by extension the whole team's safety. Adrien's was feeling unneeded because Ladybug constantly called their allies despite that most importantly she still needed him as she said, "Just because I doesn't always need you doesn't mean I never will". And just like his father, Adrien didn't fully understand how bad Ladybug's emotional state was.
		- Unlike Chloe, Adrien understood his actions and showed remorse.
	+ Both received their fears from their parents Adrien from his father and Chloe from her mother.
		- When both realized they couldn't get what they desired from their parents, Adrien and Chloe tried to get what they desire the most from someone else which drove them to Ladybug.
	+ Both actions caused something drastic to happen such as Chloe's betrayal and Adrien's departure.
	+ Both were separated from their jewels but Chloe lost hers permanently while Adrien lost his temporarily.
* This is the third time Venom is used on a akumatized villain, following "Malediktator" and "Optigami".
* It's revealed that the Shell-ter doesn't have to resemble a sphere or a half-sphere, as the one Carapace uses to capture Gigantitan is a long spheroid.
* This episode and few others give more insight about the relationship between the powers of Creation and Destruction from the wielder's perspective:
	+ As of Ladybug and Cat Noir's behavior towards each other and how they were both wrong:
		- By constantly calling her allies and because of her fears, Ladybug didn't fully understand how she made Cat Noir feel which caused him to leave.
		- Even though, Adrien needed attention too he couldn't force Ladybug to give it and knowing that she did her best to look after everyone as leader but she needed looking after too which is why they act as each other's shields.
* When Marinette asks, "Out of all the girls Cat Noir could've loved in Paris why did he pick her?", she seems to have forgotten back in "Hack-San" when Cat Noir admitted being afraid of losing her and being helpless to do anything about it. Unaware of her not knowing that Cat Noir and Adrien are the same person, he's been through this before with his mother and also with her back in "Desperada" when he was Aspik.
* This is the first time Ryuko uses all three of her powers, albeit off-screen.
* This is the seventh episode not to feature a light mask of any kind, following "The Collector", "Startrain", "Cat Blanc", "Miracle Queen", "Sentibubbler" and "Glaciator 2".
* This is the ninth time that Alya has not appeared, following "Riposte", "Reverser", "Sandboy", "Weredad", "Silencer", "Heart Hunter", "Furious Fu" and "Qilin".
* Adrien trying to change himself so he can feel and/or be included is the same thing the kids of today go through when trying to be apart of a crowd or when someone new enters the family but realize that they didn't need change and were perfect the way they were.
	+ Similarly how Lila acted in "Volpina" and Chloe in "Miracle Queen" out of jealously towards others.
	+ Sometimes it's not only them that need to change for the better but those that are around them that need to change for the better because if they don't then they'll end up spiraling into mistakes that will make everything worse foreshadowing the Season 4 finale and "Evolution".
* This is the first episode where Ladybug comes up with multiple ideas and uses for Lucky Charm with a total of three ideas instead of needing just one.

### Errors

* In one scene, Ladybug, Ryuko, Polymouse, King Monkey, and Purple Tigress are shown running past Adrien's bedroom window in that order. However, in the next shot Purple Tigress is shown to be in front of King Monkey.
* In one shot, Polymouse's hair can be seen clipping through her hoodie.
* When Cat Noir detransforms, his index finger is bigger than the other fingers.
* When King Monkey de-transforms, the Monkey Miraculous doesn't appear right away. It appears just as Kim loses his grip on the surface above him.
* The drawing of the "New Cat Noir" that Plagg shows Adrien appears out of nowhere.
* When Plagg convinces Adrien to change his personality, Adrien nods a little. When he pulls his head back, the shine of his hair lags.
* Marinette is seen scribbling the same image twice.
* The grass in the truck constantly differs.

## Gallery

Click here to view the image gallery for Kuro Neko.
*Click here to view the gallery.*

## References

1. ↑ https://twitter.com/MLadybug\_Blog/status/1502605498956324865/photo/1
2. ↑ https://cabletvt.powerrangermail.net/index.php/topic,6907.0.html
3. ↑ https://twitter.com/ladybugfrance/status/1488543713815060484
4. ↑ https://twitter.com/ChikaraYT/status/1475868149295759365

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