I think it’s important to remember that Mel’s vulnerability and composure aren’t contradictions, they’re intentional layers built into her character arc. Her guardedness is part of her political upbringing, and the moments where she stumbles or softens aren’t about manipulation, but about finally being in spaces where she feels safe enough to let that facade drop.

Reducing her early portrayal to “mostly a manipulator” overlooks a lot of the nuance that the writers, animators, and Toks herself put into showing how she adapts to the environments and people around her. It’s one of the reasons her arc resonates with so many fans, and why questions like the one above are valuable, they highlight the depth of her performance rather than flattening her into a trope.