#the love square has that same tragic angle as gabriel and emilie

[zoe-oneesama]

I forgot what Nathalie said in her narration lol but didn't she say something about admiring Gabriel because he's trying to save his family? I don't understand because, even though she's nicer to Adrien (albeit robotic), she knows what Gabe does behind the scenes. That, in my opinion, doesn't make her a tragic character. More like a humanized villain. What do you think?

I considered it more the writers trying to force in support for the “romance” that came out of nowhere in Catalyst.

Her narration, if I remember correctly, amounted to her expressing that she always meant to have a professional distance but over time became too invested in Adrien and Gabriel and has come to truly care for them. It would be compelling, except she only gives the vaguest of reasons for why she cares for Gabriel THAT MUCH and despite her telling us that’s how she feels, there’s not much to support the idea in the actual series. IMO. 

If Gabriel was somehow manipulating Nathalie by promising her something for once everything is complete or by playing with Nathalie’s attachments to him or Adrien or Emilie, that would help the “tragic” angle. She has every opportunity to leave, to excuse herself from the situation, to remove herself from the line of fire, but if she were compelled to do so because she felt like Gabriel desperately needed her or she were protecting Adrien or she had the same compulsion to save Emilie because of HER relationship with the woman, that would be in line with being tragic. As it is, though, Nathalie HAS a choice, she’s just not exercising it.

It feels more like Nathalie loves Gabriel and is offering to help and Gabriel’s like “Oh cool, sounds great.” He’s not ordering her to stay or manipulating her to help, she just offers it up and he just accepts it. She could just as easily NOT help and probably nothing would change, except that Nathalie knows too much. But it seems like that isn’t even a thought for Gabriel and he feels no need to use tactics to keep Nathalie at his side. He has unending faith that she just will. That’s not tragic, that’s just convenient. 

I just can’t get myself to care about Nathalie. Like, what does she think the end game is gonna be? Does she intend to be the sacrifice for Gabriel’s wish? Do they even know that’s needed? Or does she intend to be the Agreste Secretary and Assistant even after Emilie is revived and she has to be an outsider to the Happy Family?? Everything about what she’s doing sounds like the writers are TRYING for the Martyr Trope, but it’s hard for me to care. If Nathalie gets sacrificed, I won’t be sad. If Nathalie disappeared, I wouldn’t miss anything.

Perhaps, in a better written story, Nathalie could make an excellent foil for the love square by showing how dangerous and self destructive unwavering devotion and unconditional love can be. But given how they’ve handled her thus far, I don’t have that kind of hope.

#nathalie is best when she uses her boss ass bitch status #to smack down the people that deserve it and try to walk over her and others by flaunting their 'status' #like nathalie gives a single FUCK who you are! #I know she was technically exasperating the situation for Style Queen to happen #but I loved her giving Audrey the verbal smack down #'I don't work for you.' #'bitch.' #nathalie salt #ml salt