marinette is not meant to be likeable given the lie, but that doesn't make her unforgivable

Marinette has made questionable and outrageous decisions throughout the show but it's became more apparent this season bc she's in a dominant position as ladybug who controls the narrative— the truth, compared to adrien who is vulnerable and can only absorb what's said to him. He's being gaslighted by everyone around him, and marinette is too committed and invested in the lie that renouncing it would cause more consequences.

In lady chaos Marinette's initial reaction with adrien wanting to seek therapy made me uncomfortable bc it seems like she's obsessed with being in control with the narrative about gabriel (but also i think the writers just wanted to make a point abt how seeking professional help is diff from talking things with a peer) Even if marinette was initially upset abt adrien wanting to go to therapy, it was a moment for adrien to decide for himself and he did ! however the therapists' advice gave marinette a leverage again. It wasn't a good advice from a therapist bc other ppl shouldn't have to tell him what he feels, only him can tell that. I need adrien to have an epiphany where he won't let anyone tell him what to feel, that his feelings are valid as it is, even if other ppl disagrees. (hate the writers for this bc he already had this realization in mr.agreste but it was all scrapped bc a therapist told him to listen to other ppl abt what he feels in lady chaos)

Marinette has this push and pull relationship with the lie, where in one ep she regrets what she did but in the next she still sticks with it and even doubled down further by manipulating how the ppl around adrien perceived gabriel (ex. in lady chaos ep) then she regrets it again in nemesis.

Adrienette became toxic, bc even if they're sweet with each other on the surface level, there's that heavy cloud of rain waiting to pour. However, marinette's situation is also complex, even if she wanted to rewrite the lie, she already invested too much on the lie (sunk-cost fallacy), even if she's obsessive, and borderline manipulative, i don't think she knows better, she has to double down on the lie bc it what she thinks would be better for adrien, bit what she doesn't realize, is only adrien can decide that for himself.

Her love for Adrien weighs more, preventing her from thinking rationally as a guardian/leader. She carries so much burden and she carries it alone. Marinette needs to rest, she's a child, and yet the ppl around her only reacts without considering her position or helping her ease the situation.