Startrain
A high-speed race against time above the English Channel.
Startrain represents a high-stakes two-part adventure from the third season of Miraculous Ladybug. This arc shifts the setting away from Parisian streets to the confined, speeding interior of an international train traveling toward London. It serves as a crucial test for Marinette and Adrien, forcing them to maintain their secret identities while navigating a crisis in a public space filled with potential witnesses.
- Season
- 3
- Episode Count
- 2
- Villain Name
- Startrain
- Antagonist Force
- Hawk Moth
- Setting
- High-Speed Train (Paris to London)
- Key Characters Involved
- Ladybug, Cat Noir, Hawk Moth
Lore & Background
This storyline is significant for its exploration of Marinette and Adrien's dual lives in close proximity. While they must cooperate as superheroes, their civilian selves are forced to interact with classmates and teachers under scrutiny. The tension between protecting the public and preserving their secrets reaches a peak here, showcasing their growing coordination and trust.
In Their Own Story
The rhythmic clatter of the wheels vibrates through the floorboards, a steady heartbeat beneath the chaos. Marinette grips the edge of her seat, eyes darting toward the reflection in the window where Adrien sits across from her. The air smells of rain and ozone. Suddenly, the lights flicker red. A shadow stretches across the aisle, twisting into jagged wings. They know what comes next. No time for panic. Only action.
Reader's Guide
Marinette and Adrien board a high-speed train bound for London for a fashion event, bringing classmates along for the ride. Hawk Moth seizes this opportunity to strike, akumatizing a distressed passenger into the villain known as Startrain. The monster gains control of the train's systems, threatening to derail it or stop it permanently. Ladybug and Cat Noir must transform secretly within the carriage while avoiding detection by their peers. They engage in a battle that moves through different sections of the train, utilizing limited space creatively. A critical twist reveals the Akuma is hidden not on the villain directly, but embedded within an object related to the victim's emotional state. The heroes work together to locate and purify the butterfly while keeping the passengers safe from the speeding danger. The arc concludes with the villain defeated, the train restored to safety, and the group arriving in London, though Marinette and Adrien remain vigilant about their secrets.
Did You Know?
- This is one of the few arcs where Ladybug and Cat Noir fight a villain inside a moving vehicle for the entire duration.
- The episode features a rare instance of Marinette and Adrien traveling together as civilians before transforming.
- Startrain's design incorporates elements of locomotive machinery mixed with dark magical aesthetics.