How Ninjago Skybound Turned Jay In to One of the Most Interesting Protagonists

In today's video I discuss how Skybound changed Jay into such an interesting character for the duration of its run!

Thank you for watching this video and I hope you enjoyed it!
#NInjago #LegoNinjago #Skybound

[acgproductions]

I wish they kept the fact that Jay was a really intelligent inventor who would be goofy and eccentric sometimes, and have panic attacks, but the last time season with him being intelligent or an inventor was Hunted, in the earlier seasons he’s my favorite, but after they erased such a big part of his character Cole is my favorite

[advilzz]

Skybound was a really fun watch, and I definitely agree on how interesting Jay was as a character. Also I found it really cool how he had to become a leader, and make his own group of unique character. All in all, very good season!

[YourPalSozzivix]

I think Skybound is Ninjago at it's best. Interesting villain, good characterization for the ninja, and a good story.

[Rrufej]

Character development is key.
And what BendoBricks said about how he wished Jay had stayed the same throughout the rest of the seasons with his resilience, I totally agree.

[HoodieHorizon]

I just find it funny how every Jay season includes him fighting a villain with a pony tail, all of his friends getting picked off one by one, ending with nya dying in his arms

[kjanz]

I agree with everything you've said, except one thing. I think Jay did have a permanent character change after skybound.
Overall, he comes off as less selfish and more well mannered for the rest of the series.
Before skybound, Jay had this obnoxious air to him. He wanted to throw center to attention all the time and would force himself into the spotlight.
From skybound on, he's still a jokester, but he's content mostly being in the background and giving other people on the team a chance to shine.
Being a jay stan from the beginning, and I was really frustrated my first watch through that after the masterpiece that is skybound, there was a significant lack of Jay antics in the rest of the seasons. But that could just be me though.
If you compare skybound to prime empire, both have a simular shtick, Jay slowly losing all his friends until he's the only one left. However, the big difference in character is how Jay reacts to losing his friends.
In prime empire, Jay was driven by the loss of his friends.
In skybound, even though his friends were disappearing, his selfishness was driving him (not that he didnt care, but he was too self centered to focus on anything else besides nya). It's only after he loss everything that he realized he was selfish.
That and nya calls him out in skybound. I think the turning point of the character is when he asks nya what she wants, rather than forcing her into what he wants. It was the nessassary setup for the healthy relationship for the rest of the series.
(Side tangent: I hear old Jaya get a lot of slack, with people saying they wished they could watch newer Jaya moments with the old not great, unhealthy Jaya moments of rebooted and skybound. But like... you needed unhealthy Jaya to get to healthy Jaya. Jay wasn't good for a relationship and because of his character flaws, and it made the relationship fail. It makes the ship even better, knowing Jay had to learn and grow into modern Jaya.)
But even just how Jay treats nya is completely different from skybound on. Pre-skybound, his relationship is about him. He cares about her, but only through the lens of 'nya makes me happy'. He talks about himself constantly, makes stuff up to impress nya, is easily jealous etc etc.
But then after skybound, he's empathetic towards nya, and helps her out, and makes sure she's okay, and doesn't ask anything of her in return. Now, the relationship is about nya, not himself. He gives her space to be her own person, and is the best supportive boyfriend come seabound. I can think of infinite examples in the series post skybound where Jay puts nya first. Which he would never do before skybound.
So yeah, the change is permanent. Jay is one of the few characters that has a permanent character change and I'm here for it. He's by far my davourite character in the show.

[omegavolta]

Something I noticed while watching the season was that Nadakhan’s orange skin contrasts with Jay’s blue gi. Almost as a way of demonstrating that Nadakhan is basically the antithesis to Jay;

Jay fights with gadgets and his lightning powers, while Nadakhan defeats his enemies by manipulating them into being wished away.

Nadakhan’s actions are made from a desire to honor his father, while Jay learns to move past his father’s dishonest love tactics.

And of course, Jay gives Nya a choice, Nadakhan does not.

[simplysallow]

Skybound is one of my top favorite seasons, I also love how Jay uses humor as a coping mechanism, but I really wish that he kept this arc going

[adriflux]

Jay always was my favorite character. As a kid, I loved the whole Lightning-powered funny guy act. But after growing up, Skybound was an absolute masterpiece for me. He got the lead role, but wasn’t the hero until he was absolutely shattered to the core. Such a great season. My only complaint is that he didn’t keep the eyepatch (and his development I guess).

[Drogaidon]

Fun fact: In Polish dub Skybound season had different voice actor for Jay. Normaly he sounds a bit cartoon-ish but in Skybound he sounds more manly and smart and brave at the same time.

I think they nailed it perfectly!

[-rainbow_witch-]

Jay: * is depresso that his parents are seemingly dead *
The mailman: What's wrong? YOU'RE RICH!!

[Buttamybuns]

I personally think that we need more info on jays real parents all we know is what they look like and who they are but i just want to know more info on them

[Acarillo]

Honestly I don't think anyone's noticed is that Jay slowly loses his mind after sons of garmadon till the crystal king season and it's a shame no one's mentioned him losing his mind alot and how him dealing with trauma went from quips to actually going crazy

[spiderboi_]

In all seriousness 2016 was one of the best Ninjago era, Skybound will always be my #1 season, they really made Jay and Nya's couple look like a unimportant story to one of the things that make the Ninja team what they are.
Really love the ending too, the concept of reversing time and making only Jay and Nya remember the events from the entire season is the thing i love the most about the season, though it was a disappointment for some people.


and finally the Pirate Whip is my favourite too LISTEN TO THE INTRO IT IS SO GOOD

[Coffee-hjdi]

Comic relief getting centre stage done right is honestly my favourite thing, I remember watching the 5th season of Teen Titans and just loving how the usually goofy Beast Boy has to step up during his focus episodes

[maybe-meadowlark]

Jay is actuly one of my favorite Ninjago characters, I also make jokes about my situation to help calm myself and hopefully others and while it does anger some people it really helps me cope, being able to see myself in a character this way is such a rare treat because a lot of people *hate it* but I'm glad they did it in Ninjago did it even if it wasn't intended to be taken as deeply or seriously as I do.

[wynnedwards]

I don't care how much people hate skybound, it has the best character development in any season. Best writing ever in a Ninjago season.

[IonicNebula]

This was a really in depth anaylsis and I'm so glad to have found it, so glad to see more people praising Nadakhan for being one of the best villains and how wonderfully he foiled off of Jay! I completely agree, Hands of Time reverted almost everything and if Jay's development had stuck, I bet people would like this season much more.

[bigmight]

Skybound is such a criminally underated season
The writing plot and everytbung about it is genuinely perfect to me

[plutodragon]

THIS is the jay i grew up with being my favorite character in fiction, who made me feel confident in myself before rottmnt joined him in my strength sources. I see myself in him. If only ninjago had consistent character writing