‘LEGO Ninjago: Dragons Rising’ Season 2, Part 1 Review – Continuing The Legacy

Ninja never quit, as evidenced by the fact that LEGO’s longest-running series is now on its 17th season. Despite this lengthy tenure, the creative team behind Dragons Rising Season 2 constructs a satisfying yet suspenseful new addition that continues the Ninja’s story. Seamlessly blending the fresh set of heroes and villains with the pre-established world and characters of the Ninjago universe allows the show to have the best of both worlds

The second season picks up in the aftermath of the Imperium threat, as series protagonists Arin and Sora continue their training under Lloyd and the rest of the Ninja Team. However, with the rise of a new threat empowered by the looming Blood Moon, the team must race to complete their training and rise to the challenge of Lord Ra’s and his powerful new army.

Beginning with its first season last year, Dragons Rising benefits greatly from a fresh perspective on storytelling. In bringing new ideas to the table, the show balances its various subplots and storylines far better than previous seasons. The 11-minute episode format meant the show was often sidetracked by one-shot storylines that fleshed out the world but at the expense of character development. Returning to the 22-minute runtime allows the show to build up characters and focus on connected ideas. Plots no longer feel disconnected as it is clear that all storylines are leading to the same common goal.

This fresh new storytelling also comes in the form of series newcomers Arin and Sorra. This new set of protagonists slots seamlessly into the pre-established roster of characters. Meeting these young characters at the start of their journey allows the writers to parallel the roots of Ninjago and the initial pilot. In taking this slower approach to character growth, the series gives our new protagonists time to grow into their roles. This is made evident through Arin’s journey as he continues to struggle with finding his place on the team. It will be interesting to see his self-discovery as he continues to evolve in the latter half of this season. 

Despite being a semi-reboot, the show is most commendable in its respect for the source material and still finds plenty of time with the original cast of characters, who also greatly benefit from these changes to the formula. These characters who may have been stuck over the years are now given a new sense of purpose by pairing them with the show’s new cast. The best example of this is Kai, the Fire Ninja and protagonist of the early seasons. As the show’s focus changed over the years, the writers struggled with what to do with the hot-headed fire ninja. However, Dragons Rising casts the character as a mentor figure to newcomer Wyldfir. Reboots are most effective when returning and new characters benefit from continuing the story.

While some may feel that the show does not spend enough time with the original cast, the structure of this new series sees the original team split into pairs. Some original characters remain largely absent while one of the main ninjas has remained largely secluded from the main cast. However, after many years with this crew, it is refreshing to see the show switch up the formula. It is interesting to see how returning characters such as Lloyd and Nya bring a new perspective to the ninja’s journey, bringing their own experiences to their teachings. The series features just enough flashbacks and homages to “original Ninjago” to remind older audiences of what they love most about the show. 

Rising to the challenge of new characters and abilities, the show continues to adopt a more dynamic animation style. Action sequences are now more fluid and the camera is constantly moving to make each impact felt by the audience. Rather than cutting from one ninja to the next, the editing now gives a broad overview of each character during larger sequences. The most impressive of which takes place in the final battle of the season. This new camera movement is just another brilliant way that the show balances its large cast of characters.

Another area of excellence is the show’s ability to build tension and suspense. Despite facing countless world-ending threats, this season effectively creates a sense of urgency to the conflict. The addition of a newly combined universe allows the show to pass the Ninjas’ fear of the unknown onto the audience. Rather than going back to what has previously been successful, Dragons Rising continues to bring new ideas to the antagonists, making them a welcome addition to the growing pantheon of Ninjago villains.

The second season of LEGO Ninjago: Dragons Rising proves that this new creative team has a lot more to bring to the series. Building off a strong first season, this reboot breathes new air into the long-running story, staying true to the source material and continuing the story organically. The series feels like a reward to its dedicated fanbase, continuing to explore the world of Ninjago and its massive cast of characters.

LEGO Ninjago Dragons Rising is currently available to stream on Netflix. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd053dtwBOI]