Why Ninjago Fails Its Female Characters – A Breakdown of Misogyny and Missed Potential

Naomi Codd 4 days ago

A fallow up to this post: Ninjago’s women deserve better: deep dive

This post contains critique of the Ninjago series. If you love the show (like I do), that’s great — but let’s not ignore the flaws just because we’re fans. This is a space for honest discussion. :exclamation:

⚔ INTRO: “It’s a ninja world, but not for girls”

Ninjago has been a huge part of many childhoods (and let’s be real, it’s still got a grip on us). But as I rewatch and reflect, there’s something I can’t unsee:

:fire: Ninjago consistently underutilizes its female characters, reducing them to stereotypes, emotional crutches, or background noise.

And that’s not just disappointing — it’s a symptom of a larger problem. Call it patriarchy, call it lazy writing, call it both. Whatever the label, the female characters of Ninjago deserve better.

:broken_heart: 1. The Elemental Masters: Forgotten Queens

There are 12 female Elemental Masters, and yet:

• Most have no character development.

• Their powers are often showcased once and never explored again.

• They serve as plot devices, not people.

Skylor had the potential to be a game-changer. But instead of developing her beyond “love interest with cool powers,” the show sidelines her after a handful of episodes.

Even when she returns? She’s still orbiting Kai.

:ocean: 2. Nya: More Than “The Girl Ninja”

Nya started as a mechanic, the kind of role women rarely get in kid’s shows. But then:

• She becomes “Samurai X”… but only in secret.

• She’s forced into a love triangle before she’s even a ninja.

• Her power arc is tied heavily to her emotions and relationships, especially with Jay.

Even her biggest moment — becoming one with the ocean — ends with her sacrificing her identity. She’s a hero, yes. But the emotional cost is far heavier than what her male counterparts face. And let’s be honest… they never would’ve done that to Lloyd.

:dragon: 3. Misako: The Archeologist Who Became a Plot Tool

Lloyd’s mother could’ve been a powerful female figure. She’s smart, skilled, and knows lore. But she’s:

• Largely absent.

• Written mainly as “Garmadon’s wife” or “Wu’s ex-crush.”

• Rarely the one making game-changing moves (despite clearly having the knowledge to do so).

Instead of leading or advising, she fades in and out as the plot demands — often to serve male character arcs.

⸻

🩸 4. Harumi: The Ultimate Stereotype

This one hurts the most. Harumi had potential — trauma, revenge, intellect. She could’ve been an anti-hero, a conflicted rival, even a redeemed villain.

But instead:

• She’s reduced to the “evil woman” trope.

• Her motivations become flat: “You didn’t save my parents so I’m evil now.”

• Her relationship with Lloyd becomes emotional bait, not depth.

She’s not written to grow. She’s written to hurt Lloyd and die dramatically she also had everything to be one of Ninjago’s most iconic characters:

• A tragic backstory.

• Intelligence and strategy.

• A strong ideological point of view.

But what happens?

• She’s reduced to a villainous love interest.

• Her trauma is used to justify evil, not explore healing.

• She’s killed off and brought back only to serve another male-driven plot.

She’s not a character — she’s an emotional grenade for Lloyd’s development.

5. Skylor: With her Amber power, Skylor could literally absorb and master any elemental power. That’s final-boss-level potential. And what did they do?

• Made her a love interest.

• Gave her an arc in S4 when she’s introdused and… that’s about it other then a “canon” comic confirmed by doc Wyatt who works on ninjago in a blue sky post along with the creative director at Lego Tommy Andreassen also with a blue sky post saying it was based on a original comic that never got to publication called Amber Legacy.

• Brought her back for , but never as an equal to the ninja.

• Pixal: A powerful AI, a co-creator of Nindroids, and Samurai X. Sounds amazing, right?

• Yet she’s often stuck in Zane’s head.

• Rarely given scenes independent of Zane.

• Used for “ roles” and rescue — not actual growth.

These girls are assets… but they’re treated like tools.

6. The Forgotten Female Elemental Masters

Let’s name them, because the show barely does:

• Camille – Form

• Tox – Poison

• Obscuria – Shadow

• Zeatrix – Unknown

• Kizzy – Balance

• Wyldfyre – Heat

• Euphrasia – Wind

• Sora – Technology

Each one has incredible potential — symbolically and power-wise. But instead:

• Most are one-and-done characters.

• Given zero backstory, development, or agency.

• Used for cameos and forgotten.

Why introduce women with such unique powers if you’re not going to let them matter?

These girls could rival the ninja in strength and story. The show just won’t let them.

7. Nya: Power With a Price

Nya becomes one of the most powerful characters — a water elemental who eventually merges with the sea itself. But to get there:

• She sacrifices her identity.

• Her strength is tied to emotion and suffering.

• She’s the last to get powers — and the one who loses herself for the cause.

Why is it that female power in Ninjago always comes at a personal cost?

8. Misako, Maya, Faith – Moms & Mentors With No Arc

• Misako: Archeologist and scholar… mostly defined by the men in her life.

• Maya: Master of Water… but mostly portrayed as comic relief.

• Faith: Brave leader of the Resistance… who disappears after serving her role.

These women have experience, knowledge, power — but the writing never lets them be main players.

9. Sora – A Spark of Hope, Dimmed by Tropes

Sora, the tech ninja introduced in Dragons Rising, gave us a moment of hope:

• She’s clever, capable, and emotionally complex.

• She’s a fresh lead with skills we rarely see in the main cast.

But even now, she’s being written into a familiar trap:

• Her arc revolves around guilt, rejection, and emotional recovery.

• She’s being paired with Frak, a newer male character, as if her value increases when there’s romance involved.

• And once again, she’s slowly being outshined by Arin and Lloyd.

Even when we get a girl in the spotlight, the story can’t resist tying her worth to a boy.

This is the same pattern we saw with Skylor, Harumi, and even Nya. Powerful girls, constantly anchored to boys — instead of being allowed to stand on their own.

10. The Pattern: Misogyny in Motion

Let’s name what we’re seeing:

• “The Tech Girl” → Pixal

• “The Powerful But Emotional One” → Nya

• “The Token Love Interest” → Skylor

• “The One-and-Done Power Girl” → Kizzy, Euphrasia, Wyldfyre, Obscuria, etc.

• “The Evil Girl With Trauma” → Harumi

• “The Forgotten Mentor” → Misako, Faith, Maya

• “The Girl With Hope, Tied to Romance” → Sora

Meanwhile:

• The boys get comebacks, arcs, redemption, and leadership.

• The girls get silence, sacrifice, or a role.