Ninjago’s Women Deserve Better: deep dive

A Deep Dive into How the Series Handles Female Representation

From the start, Ninjago promised us a world of elemental masters, epic battles, and unique characters. And while it’s delivered on many fronts, one thing continues to fall short: how it treats its female characters. Yes, Ninjago has some incredible women. But too often, they’re relegated to the sidelines, sacrificed for male arcs, or used once and forgotten. Let’s break down how a show with so many powerful female characters still manages to feel so misogynistic at times…

:scream: The Problem Starts Early

Nya was the only girl in the original cast—and her introduction had her labeled as “Kai’s sister” or “Jay’s love interest.” Despite being smart, capable, and clearly important, it wasn’t until Season 5 that she became a full ninja in her own right. Even then, her arc was constantly undercut by romance and emotional labor. Her mother, Maya, was the previous Master of Water—a legend in her own right. But she’s barely acknowledged beyond her role as a wife or Nya’s trainer.

:ocean: 🌬🪨 :computer: ⚖The Elemental Masters: One and Done?

Let’s talk about the female elemental masters. There are more than people realize—each with distinct powers and potential stories. Here’s the current known list:

• Nya (Water – inherited from Maya)

• Maya (former Water Master)

• Lilly (Earth – Cole’s mom)

• Tox (Poison)

• Chamille (Form)

• Skylor (Amber)

• Sora (Technology)

• Euphrasia (Wind)

• Kizzy (balance)

• Nyad (Ancient Water Master)

• Obscuria (Shadow – inherited from her father Shade)

• Zeatrix (unknown)

That’s twelve female elemental warriors—yet most are only seen once, or not even mentioned again. For example:

• Tox was seen in Tournament of Elements and returned briefly in the oni trilogy & Dragons Rising, only to vanish again.

• Chamille is barely used and never developed.

• Skylor had a major role in Season 4… then became a background extra. She got a comic, sure—but no real arc since.

• Lilly, one of the strongest Earth s in Ninjago history? Killed off by a vague illness just to motivate Cole.

Why introduce so many amazing characters if they’re going to be forgotten?

:princess: 🏼Harumi: The Catalyst… Then the Contradiction

She had every chance to be a deeply complex, long-lasting character. After losing her parents in the Great Devourer’s attack, she was adopted by the royal family — the Emperor and Empress of Ninjago — and raised in privilege. Despite that, she developed an intense fixation on Lloyd, irrationally blaming him for a tragedy he had no control over.

Her trauma was real, but instead of exploring it with nuance, the show leaned into the trope of the “vengeful girl villain”. She manipulated Lloyd’s feelings, betrayed him, and played a major role in unleashing Garmadon, becoming the catalyst for the Sons of Garmadon, Hunted, and March of the Oni arcs.

Then in Crystallized, she’s brought back again — this time as the emotional weight behind yet another crisis. By the end, she gets a redemption arc… but faces no real consequences. Her dangerous actions are brushed aside, and the tragedy that once defined her is barely acknowledged.

Rather than letting her grow on her own , the show uses Harumi as a tool for Lloyd’s emotional development. Her redemption, like her fall, centers more on his journey than hers.

:arrows_counterclockwise: The Pattern: Women Suffer, Men Grow

Time and time again, female characters in Ninjago are used to emotionally challenge the male leads:

• Lilly dies mysteriously to push Cole’s arc forward.

• Nya sacrifices herself for the team, but returns with no long-term effect.

• Harumi suffers trauma and turns villainous, only to further Lloyd’s narrative.

• Maya, once a master, is mostly ed as “Kai & Nya’s mom.”

• Even Nyad, the first Elemental Master of Water, is defined by her death during a heroic moment. Women are rarely allowed to grow, lead, or drive the narrative in a lasting way. They’re tools. Plot devices. Or worse—forgettable cameos, Women are rarely allowed to grow, lead, or drive the narrative in a lasting way. They’re tools. Plot devices. Or worse—forgettable cameos.

:dragon_face: Dragons Rising: A Ray of Hope… Or More of the Same?

Dragons Rising brought in new faces, and with them, some hope:

• Sora – A brilliant tech-driven elemental with serious potential.

• Wyldfyre – Powerful, chaotic, and dynamic.

• Jordana – A morally complex character with depth.

But fans are still worried. Will these girls suffer the same fate as Skylor, Tox, and the others? Will they finally get full arcs—or become background noise as the spotlight shifts back to the boys?

Even when characters like Tox return briefly, it feels like the show is afraid to commit to its female cast.

🤔 What Needs to Change?

Ninjago has all the pieces to fix this. What fans want isn’t difficult:

• Let female characters lead.

• Give them full arcs—not just one-offs.

• Don’t kill them off to fuel someone else’s pain.

• Allow them to grow beyond romance, revenge, or tragedy.

These women—Nya, Skylor, Harumi, Sora, Euphrasia, Tox, and all the others—are more than love interests, sacrificial lambs, or mysterious legends. They’re elemental masters. Warriors. Icons.

They deserve better.