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

Plot.

~Overall plot: The Ninja realize that Wohira can be woken up with two amulets and a big electrical blast. They drive the immortal sub through the Storm Belt, after which they arrive at the Island of the Keepers. Nya tells Crystal Dude that Kalamari is coming after the amulet, and gives a speech about why she should have it. When Crystal Dude hands the amulet over, Zane says it's a fake. Nya realizes the real one is with Clutch Powers at the Adventure Club. Kalamari overhears this, destroy the sub's controls, and leaves. Maya tells Nya that Nya is a better everything than Maya ever was.

~I have issues with the Ninja trying to take the amulet before Kalamari, but I won't rant about it. I basically summed up my feelings about this plot point in Ep 7's review. 

~I didn't like that the Island of the Keepers was on the sushi gang's map, as it contradicts the whole premise of The Island, which stated that the Island of the Keepers was uncharted. Though, I guess if there's an entire underwater civilization that was there before the FSM, they would probably have underwater map-makers who would log all the land. If you twist your brain around, it can make sense, but still.

Neon (therearenooptions) replied to this point saying that underwater maps would not make sense either. If Ninjago has tectonic plates like Earth, then the land would move over time, thus eliminating the possibility of finding an island that small. That little problem would be solved if the underwater map-makers charted the land frequently, but then we've arrived at my original complaint.

This whole situation would have solved if Kalamari just followed the Ninja to the Island of the Keepers.

~If the Ninja knew they wouldn't have trouble reaching the island if they approached underwater, and the Hydro Bounty has been in existence for several years, then why didn't they take the Hydro Bounty the first time they went? I haven't watched The Island in a long time though, so Wattpad commenters, please correct me if this plot point was addressed in that special. 

~I went back and reviewed the plot to the last bit of The Island, and saw that the Keepers arrested Clutch Powers for trying to steal the amulet. So I guess between that special and Seabound, he escaped the treacherous island and somehow made it back to Ninjago City. No part of that makes any sense, but I've kind of given up at this point.

Characters.

~Props to my boy Kalamari for being smart. He saw straight through the Ninja's dumb acting, AND actually had a great plan in keeping them from following him. I wish he had sent spies after the Ninja, but what he did do (having his minions research the clues he gathered from Nya) was good too. Honestly, Kalamari is the best character in this season. He's consistent, somewhat competent, and has had more characterization than anyone else. His counterpart Scar carried the Lion King, and likewise, the Scar of Ninjago is carrying Seabound.

~That Crystal Dude who did the intro is... gullible? Like some teenager waltzes into your island that has protected the Storm Amulet for thousands of years, claims the island (which is literally almost unreachable and filled with deadly defenses) isn't going to stop an army she knows nothing about, and you just hand her the amulet? Like I would understand him giving it Lloyd, because at least Lloyd is a descendant of the FSM. But Nya? Self-entitled, whiny Nya? I thought the Keepers were supposed to be touchy about protecting their amulet.

~This brings me to a bigger issue in this season. Lloyd is supposed to be the leader of the Ninja. He's been the leader ever since he became a grown-up green ninja in s2. If it's not Lloyd, it's Cole. Cole was the leader before Lloyd. But think about it, in s13 Cole got to be leader again because it was his season. In Seabound, Nya's getting to be leader. Lloyd's there, but he's just standing off to the side and delivering a facial expression every now and then. Maya shouldn't be the one comforting Nya at the end. Lloyd is the leader. He should be helping team morale and trying to discuss ideas to get back to Ninjago with his team. He should not be off standing to the side, doing nothing like a wimp. You're the leader of this team bro. Get your act together.

~I hated everything about that comforting speech at the end. It was basically Maya saying "Nya you don't need my help because you're smart and perfect and better than I ever was." NEVER tell that to a narcissist.

On a more serious note, this speech is flat out stupid. Nya has proven to be less than worthy time and time again. Let's list a few times.

1. Nya refused to try to fix her powers once she found out they were broken.

2. Nya belittled and bullied an abuse victim (Maya) and basically told Maya that her feelings didn't matter and to get out of her life.

3. Nya actively ignored Maya's advice unless it was the same idea she came up with. This proves that even if Nya was wrong, she still wouldn't listen to Maya.

4. Nya tried to aggravate and provoke Kalamari–which landed the Ninja in way more trouble than if she'd just tried to resolve the situation reasonably.

5. Nya convinced Crystal Dude to hand over the amulet that his entire island was built to protect, because she's convinced that she could protect it better.

6. Nya shoved Jay away 9 out of the 10 times he tried to comfort her. Maybe not verbally, but actions speak louder than words. You can literally see her pushing away those who try to get physically close to her.

7. Nya probably was the one who left that sub door open so Kalamari could enter the Hydro Bounty.

8. Nya cried and whined the minute there was one setback, instead of trying to find a solution to fix the problem.

9. The list goes on.

I think Maya's just been brainwashed by Nya's narcissism. Let's recap: Maya tried to help Nya by introducing Nya to her slavery lifestyle–only to get rejected. Maya tries to convince Nya to do the opposite–only to get rejected. Maya attempts to help Nya and be there for her–only to get rejected. Over and over Maya is trying to reconnect with the daughter she was forced apart from, and over and over Nya pushes her away. So what choice does Maya have left? The only way to be close to her daughter is to tell Nya what she wants to hear. Maya can't be close to Nya by being a good mother, or trying to help. She has to pet Nya's ego, so Nya actually acknowledges that Maya exists. It's sad, it's stupid, and I hate it.

Maya was a better EM than Nya ever was, and I'll stand by that.

Lore.

~It was confirmed that Kalamari created the pulse. The pulse that is so ambiguous that the writers don't even know how it works. I give up trying to understand it. Great job outsmarting the writers, Kalamari.

~Those tridents can break stone, kill fathers, etc, but can't even injure a Ninja who was directly hit by them. Yep. Totally. Love those things.

Soundtrack.

~There was a use of the Ninjago Overture as Nya gave her "convincing" speech to the Keepers. It was a nice touch.

~I'm pretty sure there was a Rebooted track in here somewhere? I wasn't paying too close attention, but I'm not going back to check. One watch-through of this episode was enough, thank you.

~Season 8 end credits music again.

~Other than that, the soundtrack was fine. Other than the ripping-off-season-eight thing, the soundtrack is carrying this season.

Two Cents.

~There's this shot with the sub arriving at the Island of the Keepers. It looks a bit off. The foreground is animated like usual, but the island itself is some mobile game background that was greenscreened in.

~Just a thought, not exactly a comment on the episode. Wohira was supposedly an all powerful being who existed in Ninjago before the FSM showed up. Wouldn't that make her the rightful ruler of Ninjago? T e c h n i c a l l y   he did show up and put her into an eternal sleep. What gives him the right? Kinda sounds like a dictator came in, killed the current ruler, forced the natives into hiding, then plopped his own "rightful" people into the spotlight. Just saying.

~Did Wohira make Ninjago then?

Nyamari.

~awwwwwwwww "you don't know this guy like I do" I SHIP IT

~still shipping this ironically btw

Overall Rating.

3/10. Doesn't feel bad enough to be a 2, so call it a pity point.