its actually a little sickening if you think about it. Kai was so young and had to keep them afloat or his little sister would starve. they lived without closure, not knowing if their parents were alive or dead for YEARS, and canon pretty much skips over that like its no big deal 😭 (i mean i know Kai said at one point in the show that they grew up alone and xyz but you know what i mean)
kai has literally spent his whole life giving. first to Nya, then the other guys, then to Lloyd, sure he has his obnoxious moments but he has literally never lived or done anything for himself.
NAH SO REAL DUDE, Ninjago is great with dropping like the most TRAGIC things and then being like "anyway" and that applies to p much all of the characters GHLSDJFK Kai sometimes comes off as like a super egotistical, but he really really isn't. Like he'll brag and try to look cool but he's the first to drop that when someone he cares about is in trouble, it's them over him every time.
i'm obsessed over Kai's true potential coming when he accepted that he's the support guy, not the main guy, when he decided to dedicate himself--not out of necessity, but by choice--to someone else's wellbeing permanently. That's what unlocks his power JUST OUGH MAAAN
