Loose Ends and The Tying-Up Thereof

[aldero]

Ah, yes, the tall tale of Ninjago. It has been to some... interesting... places over the years as more and more layers continue to be added on, but to varying degrees of success. As much as I appreciate some of the segues into new themes and how they effectively build off and collectively strengthen each other, namely how the destruction of Djinnjago ties into the series' pervasive theme of responsibility and discretion... and is only ever addressed in the first few episodes and the theme just lays low for the rest of the season until it needs to permeate the setup of another season. 

 

This is precisely my main problem with the series as a whole. One could argue that a story of this magnitude and scope is already beyond the point of no return and simply doesn't need to be strengthened because it's a toyline, but forget those superfluous standards for a moment. I'm not asking to expand the story here, I'm only looking to strengthen for the purposes of making far more fluid continuities, more identifiable and characteristic... err... characters... and constructing stories that leave fewer loose ends.

 

Here's a few of my questions in no particular order:

 

• Is Sensei Wu ever going to bring back his tea shop? It wasn't exactly a financial failure.

 

• Shouldn't have the other 15 Realms collapsed into oblivion after the Preeminent was destroyed? Was Djinnjago the only Realm to have disappeared? Do the Realms have to be kept at an even number?

 

• Are you absolutely sure that the Overlord has been vanquished?

 

• How did Master Chen find Titanium Zane and capture him before the Ninja could find him?

 

• Who created Zane's Titanium form? Was it PIXAL? Did Cyrus Borg manufacture that form? If so, how did Zane manage to slip through his fingers?

 

• Garmadon never really received any proper form of closure. Why hasn't he been mentioned even once after the fact?

 

• How in the name of heck did Clouse manage escape from the Cursed Realm/Preeminent?

 

• What's Skylor up to? She's an pretty well-written and entertaining character. Why abandon her entirely?

 

• What ever happened to Ed and Edna Walker (Jay's parents)? I sincerely hope that they are receiving more financial support.

 

These are just a few questions I have. So here's another question; what are your questions and how would you formally address them?

[Leoxandar Arktanus]

I feel like the show never really follows up on its plot-threads at all. We haven't seen any of Cole's father since rebooted, I'm pretty sure everyone has forgotten about the Serpentine, and I still can't understand how the ninja's elemental powers work.

[aldero]

I feel like the show never really follows up on its plot-threads at all. We haven't seen any of Cole's father since rebooted, I'm pretty sure everyone has forgotten about the Serpentine, and I still can't understand how the ninja's elemental powers work.

 

True. On the subject of elemental powers, I think it has something to do with the inherited power of the First Spinjitzu Master, but that's just my explanation, not LEGO's.

 

On a different note, I believe that I'm speaking on behalf of the entire fandom when I say that the introduction of, like, forty more elements during the Tournament of Elements is one of the most contrived and forced plot threads in fiction. It contradicts everything and makes no sense.

[Aanchir]

• Is Sensei Wu ever going to bring back his tea shop? It wasn't exactly a financial failure.

We don't honestly know that the tea shop ever even went away — Sensei Wu and Misako were just MIA for most of Season 6, so couldn't exactly be shown running it. When season 7 premieres, unless Sensei Wu and Misako are otherwise occupied, it will probably be back to business as usual.

 

• Shouldn't have the other 15 Realms collapsed into oblivion after the Preeminent was destroyed? Was Djinnjago the only Realm to have disappeared? Do the Realms have to be kept at an even number?

I think it's established that Djinnjago only fell because it was the Cursed Realm's sister realm, so I don't think any sort of domino effect is implied.

 

• Are you absolutely sure that the Overlord has been vanquished?

Who knows? Seems better to leave this particular question unanswered until it becomes relevant again. If he does come back it probably won't be in the same way, since Cyrus Borg has probably taken steps to improve Borg Tower's security since then.

 

• How did Master Chen find Titanium Zane and capture him before the Ninja could find him?

According to the video game LEGO Ninjago: Shadow of Ronin (which is mostly non-canon but includes some canon elements), he employed Ronin to do it.

 

• Who created Zane's Titanium form? Was it PIXAL? Did Cyrus Borg manufacture that form? If so, how did Zane manage to slip through his fingers?

Zane created it himself. Remember how when the Overlord was destroyed after Season 2, his consciousness returned via Borg Tower's mainframe? Zane survived his destruction the same way. That's why Borg Tower's monitors begin presenting Zane's memories and the assembly lines activated by themselves at the end of Season 3.

 

• Garmadon never really received any proper form of closure. Why hasn't he been mentioned even once after the fact?

Probably because he's presumed dead. I believe he's mentioned at some point in Season 6, though.

 

• How in the name of heck did Clouse manage escape from the Cursed Realm/Preeminent?

He was shown in the Season 5 finale filing away the bars of his cage. Presumably he succeeded in this before the Preeminent drowned, and instead of joining the fight like the other ghosts, used the opportunity to flee the scene of the battle while the ninja were distracted.

 

• What's Skylor up to? She's an pretty well-written and entertaining character. Why abandon her entirely?

She's running her father's noodle business. We've seen her a couple times at his noodle shops already, and she apparently appears again in one of the last two episodes of Season 6. With a new costume, even!

 

• What ever happened to Ed and Edna Walker (Jay's parents)? I sincerely hope that they are receiving more financial support.

They're running the junkyard, same as ever. We see them again in Season 6. I don't think we've ever seen any indication that they're struggling financially. They've never lived a life of luxury but presumably they still manage to make ends meet.