Ep 23. The Puppeteer

In the Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir season 1 episode 20, entitled "The Puppeteer," we see the return of our favorite Parisian supervillain, Hawk Moth. Only this time, he's found a new way to control his victims and get his hands on their Miraculouses - by using remote controlled puppets!

The episode begins with a performance at the Paris Opera House. Marinette is overjoyed when she gets the chance to go backstage and meet her favorite singer, Clara Nightingale. But it's not all sunshine and roses - while the performance is going on, Clara is visibly upset by a negative review she's received from a harsh critic. Marinette overhears her talking to her father and tries to comfort her, but gets brushed off. Meanwhile, Adrien is backstage rehearsing with his fencing coach, when he spots Marinette and can't help but be smitten all over again.

But the peace doesn't last long - while the performance is going on, Hawk Moth senses Clara's sadness and sends out an Akuma, which enters the hat of her father, a well-respected magician. He quickly turns into The Puppeteer, and uses his magic to bring puppets of Clara to life. The Puppeteer uses these puppets to force Clara to perform for him, even when she's exhausted and doesn't want to.

Marinette and Adrien soon team up as Ladybug and Cat Noir to take on The Puppeteer and his army of puppets. Ladybug tries to capture the Akuma, only to find that The Puppeteer has also been able to control her coveted Lucky Charm item, a yo-yo shaped like a ladybug. This puts the duo at a disadvantage, but they decide to keep fighting.

Meanwhile, Clara is spiralling into a deep depression. She feels like nothing she does is good enough, and admits to Ladybug that she doesn't know how much longer she can keep going. But Ladybug gives her some much-needed words of encouragement and tells her that she's not alone - she has friends who care for her.

Using her wit and quick thinking, Ladybug comes up with a plan to defeat The Puppeteer. She convinces Adrien to act as a decoy Cat Noir, while she poses as Clara. The Puppeteer is fooled and puts his puppets on the fake Ladybugs and Cats. This gives the real Ladybug and Cat Noir the opportunity to attack The Puppeteer and capture the Akuma.

The Puppeteer is defeated, the Akuma is captured, and Clara is saved. Ladybug and Cat Noir once again save the day and return Paris to its peaceful state.

But the episode doesn't end there - after Clara is saved, she thanks Ladybug and tells her that she's become her “Lucky Charm”. Marinette is overjoyed, but also a little devastated - she knows that Ladybug is the real hero, but Adrien doesn't. The episode ends with Marinette watching Clara's performance again, truly happy for her newfound success, and wistfully thinking about her own crush on Adrien.

Overall, "The Puppeteer" is a fantastic episode that showcases the power of friendship, determination, and quick thinking. It's also a great reminder that even the fiercest superheroes have their own vulnerabilities and doubts. Fans of the series will not be disappointed by the twists, turns, and exciting action that this episode has to offer.