When Ninjago writes side characters who don’t have elements, they execute it incredibly well.
Characters like Ronin, Arin, Wu (since he doesn’t use his element, and since there’s no confirmation of him having any physical enhancements (from what i know)), Vania, and probably a few others I’ve missed, have been written to have experience in combat and are good at it.
They’re shown to be capable of defending themselves and are on par with the ninja in combat, capable of being their equals when necessary.
And then you look at the ninja when they lose their elements.
Before the ninja were even capable of controlling their elements in the early seasons Wu specifically taught them how to fight using weapons and skills alone. They didn’t have their elements to rely on.
So honestly i always found it to be horrible writing when the ninja would lose their elements and would then be written as way less stronger despite knowing how to fight without their elements. Like yeah no i agree they would be mopping around and losing confidence about it, but being completely incapable in a fight isn’t something I’m expecting.
Some theories i made up (right now on the spot forgive me) is that when the ninja lose their elements is effects a deeper part of themselves.
Obviously theres the natural way they lose it is by either death or having it passed down onto their kids, but its the unnatural ways that actually effect them. Specially when they’re unwilling to give them up.
The masters of each element is deeply intertwined with them, and when having something that is practically apart of your soul be ripped away from you when you’re actively trying to hold on is like ripping a damn limb off for them.
I think when they lose their elements unwillingly, or is unable to use it, they’re left unbalanced and in some weird version of pain. They feel a lose they don’t want to and feel as though they are useless now having lost something so important.
But thats just a theory so if the writers keep making the ninja unbearably weaker when losing their elements I’m gonna sob in a corner and the pretend to be a writer to fix it myself
Yeah no this is just a whole rant of a thought i had about why the ninja are written the way they are each time they unwillingly lose their elements (written as how they behave physically, how they behave mentally each time is actually fun to watch i lose the angst if losing something precious to you and now you feel lost without it)
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