Ninjago S8 E4

## Plot

After the recap, instead of going straight to the intro and the title card, we start the episode with another flashback of Wu. Just like last time, it's beautifully animated. This time, it's when he first met Zane. It wasn't in the ocean though, but at Birchwood Forest, near Julien's workshop. He talks to him and says that he's looking for Zane. He's out back chopping wood. Julien says that Wu is their second guest in a long time. Last night, an old man came to them. He was ill and needed shelter, which they provided, along with food. He was thankful, and seemed very interested in Zane, who has been acting strangely since the man left. Wu confirms to us that the man was the master of ice, and had something to do with Zane getting his powers. He talks to Zane alone for a bit. He says that sometimes, one has to be lost in order to be found. Zane says that that doesn't make any sense. Wu says that it might one day, but not today. He's sure that they'll see each other again, and when they do, he'll be asked to do a lot more than chop wood. Zane is experiencing the flashback while on a subway car with the Sons of Garmadon. My one complaint of the flashback would be that the falcon didn't appear, but that's because Julien hadn't built him yet. I loved seeing Zane's old design, and it's great to see Julien appear, still voiced by Mark Oliver, who also voiced Garmadon. Anyways, Zane arrives at the hideout with E and Ultra Violet to meet the big man. Meanwhile, the others are looking for him and Cole. They could be anywhere though. Pixal last picked up Zane's signal at Central Station, but Lloyd doesn't find him there. They haven't been able to pick up Cole's intercom either. Nya and Harumi try to build Zane a bike to blend in better with a biker gang. However, Harumi hands Nya the wrong tool, and leaves to go make herself more useful. Cole is trying to punch his way through his bars, but they're made of vengestone, which negates elemental powers. He sees two gang members put a box in the room adjacent to his, saying that it's the key to the third and final mask. Zane meets Killow, the big man. He's not the one in charge though, but rather, one of the three generals. What he *is* in charge of is recruiting. They decide to have a bike race to see if "Snake Jaguar" can join their ranks. He says that he doesn't have a bike though. Killow says that he can borrow Ultra Violet's. She's upset because she wants to ride too, but Killow says that the Quiet One wants her here. She talks to Cole, but it's actually Zane in disguise. He wants to ride with them to learn who the leader is, but Cole just wants to break out and steal the key to the third mask. Zane tells him to break out when the station clears for the race, and wishes him luck. Immediately after the race starts, Ultra Violet gets a call on an old phone. Given the unusual degree of respect she gives to the person on the other end, it's implied to be the Quiet One. They tell her that Snake Jaguar is a spy and one of the ninja, and she tells Killow. Everyone tries to stop Zane from finishing the race. They make a hole in his fuel tank, and light the trail on fire. Zane is stopped from using his ice powers to put it out. He switches bikes with someone else, and barely makes it up some stairs before he's run over by a train. The bike blows up when the train goes by it, but the gang member survived. Zane is above ground and contacts the others. He sees that Killow has the Mask of Deception, and tells Nya and Harumi about the Quiet One. Cole is able to knock out his guard and get the keys. Nya and Harumi give Zane a new bike. Cole unlocks the door to the other room and looks in the box. There's a baby inside. A super adorable baby that makes super adorable sounds! Cole considers leaving them there, but decides to escape with them when they start crying. However, Ultra Violet confronts them. She refers to the baby as a he. Cole asks her why they'd take a child if they need the masks to bring back Garmadon. She doesn't give a straight answer, and they fight over the baby. Cole says that she wouldn't hurt a child. Except she's insane, so she totally would. He points out that Lloyd saved his dad, who sacrificed himself for Ninjago, and that he wasn't a bad man. She just says that this one will be. Cole locks her in the room. Zane catches up to the gang and starts taking out their bikes one by one, until only he, Mr. E, and Killow are left. Killow puts on the Mask of Deception, which gives him the power of telekinesis. He throws jagged rocks at Zane. It turns out that the falcon has a new look too, and was built into the bike. He destroys the rocks. Yep, still love his theme. Killow tells Mr. E to take care of Zane, since he brought him into the fold in the first place. He rides ahead of them and causes an avalanche of rocks, which they both avoid. Mr. E and Zane fight. They're riding towards a cliff. Zane accuses him of being the Quiet One. Mr. E just hooks their bikes together and makes them speed up towards the cliff. Zane demands to know who he is, and jumps off. Mr. E jumps off too, and their bikes go over the cliff. Zane gets up, and sees him sparking… and that he lost his right arm in the crash, which he re-attaches. Mr. E is a nindroid, like Zane. Oh my god. What?

## Review

I liked this episode. So, Wu knew at least part of Zane's past, but didn't tell him? Obviously, the meta answer is season 1 episode, plus no one thought that the show would last this long. In universe, maybe Wu thought it would be more meaningful to Zane and help him discover his true potential if he learned the truth himself. I'm not a big fan of the falcon's new body, but then again, I'm just glad to see it again. The original will probably always be my favorite. This new one is totally unrecognizable, bulkier, and more like a drone. It's built for combat now though. Still, I liked the scouting bits it did before. I wonder what the specifics were with the master of ice giving Zane his powers? I've been writing my initial thoughts of each episode on my phone, right after I watch them. In my episode 77 notes, I wondered who the Quiet One could be after just watching the teaser for it. It felt like paranoia fuel, like they were trying to say that anyone could be the Quiet One. By the next episode though, we can rule out all three generals. It could be Hutchins, who might still be alive. I jokingly said that I thought it was either Mistaké, Harumi's parents, biological or adoptive, or even Harumi herself, because I love causing these characters angst and turmoil. It was all just a joke, but in this episode, I thought it was odd that Harumi left to go "make herself useful", and then Ultra Violet got that call from the Quiet One, presumably. How would the Quiet One know that Zane was a spy and one of the ninja? I know it's a crazy idea, but sometimes the craziest stories are the true ones.