When it comes to Miraculous, I never thought it ridiculous that kid heroes could overcome adult villains.
To start with, Hawk Moth's M.O. was always to empower his champions remotely and to rarely if ever go out into the field lest his Miraculous be claimed. Thus he can only create villains out of highly emotional humans who are subject to their own vices when evilized.
His defeats come from basically gambling, something highly addictive. Hence why in "Evolution," his first instinct was not to go back to repair the Peacock before Emilie impregnated herself with Adrien.
I also feel like we overestimate the inherent intellect of adults in any kind of power. Source? I'm an America going through a 1950s revival period foisted upon this nation. L.A. is burning. The south is freezing over. All because the adult in charge are inept at worst like Andre or actively malicious at best like Gabriel. Or those too dedicated to the letter of the law like Roger.
Frankly, it's a legit hopeful fantasy where teens of today's generation can hero up and save people in danger. The idea that we can step up to those who came before and cling to what was be it the status quo of getting all they want or rewriting reality itself.
Is it any wonder "Superhero Fatigue" fizzles out quick? Deep down? We wish we could find a weird box in our bags that gives us a jewel with the power to actually help people. Maybe give people hope to work for a better tomorrow.
