**please keep comments spoiler free, as this is my first time watching this season**

Plot.

~Overall Plot: Kai and Ray spar so Wu can conduct research. Meanwhile, Nya recaps that "everything is her fault". Clutch Powers tells the Explorer's Club that he has the Storm Amulet. Nya continues to say that "everything is her fault". Benzoyl Peroxide claims that Nya can summon whales. Ninja try the front door of the Explorer's Club, only to surprisingly be denied entry. They call upon the Sphinx, who gives an easy riddle and lets them through. Kalamari shows up, beats the Ninja, and steals the amulet. Nya is still ranting that "everything is her fault" and somehow, whales magically appear.

~First off, why do we need a recap of the events of last episode? Each episode has ten minutes to continue the plot, so it should use those ten minutes wisely. Don't recap, that's what the intro is for.

~We get no explanation as to how Clutch Powers was able to craft a fake amulet and escape the Island of the Keepers. It takes literally two lines and ten seconds to put together a decent explanation–"I stole a magic crystal rod to navigate the waters" or "I stole a boat and barely made it out of there; I had to swim half the way" or "my explorers in training came to save me". Something. Instead, the writers replace plot with humor and expect us to be satisfied.

~I love how plot points are introduced last second as a deus ex machina to solve the stranded problem. There was literally nothing on Nyad before this episode, even when we got the lore to how Wohira was originally beat. I expected a more practical solution than whales, but I guess that's too much to ask.

Characters.

~Ray is a coward now? Seems to be a theme for all men on this show. Remember when characters who were scared actually stood their ground to fight? Heck, even Dareth summoned enough courage to keep a shark from attacking schoolchildren in s3, and a show of bravery from Dareth is a needle in a haystack. Cowardice isn't funny, and it's more than a little misandrist to be only ascribing this trait to the male characters. And Ray being scared of fire? Really? He's a blacksmith for crying out loud. He's probably been burned several times before. He knows how to deal with it, without whimpering and running away.

~Nya is a narcissist. Apparently Maya stroking Nya's ego last ep wasn't enough, so now she needs admiration and support from the whole team. I also noticed that every time Maya tried to link her arm with Nya's, Nya pushed her away. Maya's trying so hard and it's heartbreaking. At some point Maya should realize that either Kai was a terrible influence on this kid, or that Nya needs some humility knocked into her. But no. Maya was abused and is desperate to connect to her lost family. She's fallen for Nya's egotistical brainwashing, and it's so sad to watch. Oh yeah, and Nya didn't even have to try for her powers to perfectly work. She just complained and the writers gave her what she wanted. I despise this witch. Maya, get the heck out of Nya's life. You'll be better off that way.

~How in the world did Wu not figure out the riddle? It's a ridiculously easy riddle, and he's like what, a thousand years old? Kai and Cole should have failed, then Wu smacked them on the heads with the staff and spouted wisdom. That would be the move of a true mentor, but no, Wu's about as stupid as his team now.

~My boy Kalamari actually did so well this episode. They properly used his tentacles to give him an advantage in the battle. He did his job and left without stupidly monologuing until he was foiled, so props to him. Best character in this season.

Lore.

~Tridents busted through solid wall. I'm impressed. That's almost continuity. But then they failed to break anything else, so throw continuity back out the window.

~I talked about my main issue with Nyad in the plot section, but I've still got some issues left. Firstly, shouldn't it be pronounced "Nie (as in lie) ad (as in addition)?" I suppose they're getting this from the Greek "naiad" which was a water nymph. But even that is pronounced "Nae (as in lay) id (as in Sid)". Instead they pronounce it like "knee-id". It's weird.

Secondly, Aeneid could talk to whales? Wow so cool. First Nya can control ice and now she can talk to animals. She's coming closer to Elsa every season.

If we assume that Nya's powers are so cool because she's linked to Wohira, then couldn't we (logically) also assume the same thing for Morro's powers? I mean, water and wind did come from the same source. So technically we're also saying that Morro could talk to animals too. And since water can influence like substances, then it's reasonable to say that Morro could learn to control fire (since it feeds off air) or the weather (since weather is influenced by wind currents sometimes). But I guess we'll never know, as no history book EVER recorded ANYTHING about these powers.

~So if the FSM didn't come first, then did Wohira create the Ninjago realm? And if she didn't then who did? The writers can't just introduce this plot point and not resolve it. Are they leaning towards a higher power creating the realms? Or is this something they plan to expand upon later? I mean, if you level it up every season (dictator, world-controller, monarch, Scar...) eventually you're going to need your characters to face off against a god, right? Maybe that dude can snap half the universe into oblivion too, since the Crystalized poster already rips off Endgame. Don't just copy one problem, COPY THE HOMEWORK.

Soundtrack.

~Lighthearted Overture during the sparring scene. I believe this was played right before the final shots of s1 and s2.

~s2 battle music during the fight with Kalamari? If it isn't a direct copy, it sure is a close remix.

~s8 credit music.

Two Cents.

*as empty as my feelings for this season*

Nyamari.

~Kalamari's too good for you, witch. Get out of this show. Give Kalamari a redemption arc then put him in the Ninja team. He'd be a more fabulous Ninja then Nya will ever be.

Overall Rating: 

3/10. Kalamari's shoulders must hurt from carrying this season.