What is Melinda's true character in Spy X Family? Damian's mysterious mother explained

Recently, in Spy x Family Season 3 Episode 9, we saw Melinda reuniting with her son after the Bus Hijacking arc came to a conclusion. The scene she has spent onscreen with Damian is making anime-only fans question her sanity and her love for the child. Those who have read the manga have an idea about the reason why she had some disturbing thoughts, and in this article, we will talk about her personality and things that have transpired in her life that made her like that.

Before that, it is important to revisit the scene where this happened. When Melinda arrived at the scene where Damian was waiting for a guardian to pick him up, even though he had no hope that anyone from his family would show up. She actually looked concerned and relieved after looking at her son being saved. Melinda got visibly emotional and continued to care for her child. But the moment Damian asked not to reveal the fact that he cried to his father, the mood shifted.

Her expression shifts, and we could see subtle tension, a stiff smile, and a request of her own not to tell anyone she was present in the scene. Meanwhile, after Anya read her internal monologue, jumping between warm motherly love and chilling contempt made fans question her quality as a mother. It’s this contradiction that leaves viewers unsettled, and the manga provides even deeper insight into why.

Disclaimer: The following article contains major spoilers from the Spy x Family manga. Reader's discretion is advised.

A woman torn between love and fear

Melinda Desmond’s life in Spy x Family is ruled by fear. Especially her fear of her husband, Donovan. Since he became cold, unreadable, and unpredictable. Melinda began to fear that he could read her mind, an idea that eventually spiraled into the belief that Donovan was replaced by an alien impostor. This paranoia drives nearly everything she does.

She sort of opened up to Loid about being terrified of defying Donovan, terrified of saying the wrong thing, and terrified of becoming a target of his cold scrutiny. Her fear runs so deep that she subconsciously projects it onto Damian. In Spy x Family, she desperately wants to love him, support him, and be the mother he deserves, but every time she gets close, her mind snaps back to that fear, and all rational thoughts fly away.

Melinda cares deeply for Damian in Spy x Family

Despite her instability, Melinda’s affection for Damian is real, and we have seen it in multiple instances in the Spy x Family manga. Some memorable instances are:

• She secretly buys the special tea cakes Damian wants to gift Anya.
• She is delighted when she hears Damian is trying to get closer to Anya.
• She runs to him in a panic during the hijacking aftermath.
• She cries internally over her inability to connect with him.

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Her problem isn’t a lack of love; rather, it is that the fear and trauma she carries from her relationship with Donovan distort that love until it becomes inconsistent and self-punishing. She is not a bad mother; it is just that Melinda needs someone to reassure her and help her overcome her fears.

In the end, Melinda in Spy x Family is not a villain or a bad person like anime-only fans are speculating. The creator has introduced a troubled character who is emotionally fractured and is in desperate need of help. Also, there is no doubt that her love for Damian is real, but so is the trauma that warps it.

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