I'm in constant competition with cardigans..

So if anyone said "who asked"

I did

YAS!! Thank you >:)

I’m so Ninjago brained rn and I need to talk about Garmadon or I’ll explode gchchcch

What makes Garmadon such an interesting character to me is how.. lost he seems

Garmadon struggles to understand himself, and while he might be stubborn enough to insist that he got his shit figured out, (no seriously he insists on that A LOT, at least outwardly) he absolutely hasn’t got his shit figured out at all

But it’s really his thing isn’t it? Garmadon is always said to have a “divided soul/heart”, and that is genuinely one of my favorite things about him

To me, part of the reason why he insists on the fact he understands himself perfectly (aside pride) is the fact it really scares him

There’s a big divide between what Garmadon is, what Garmadon insists he is, and what Garmadon wants to be

And Garmadon was dealt a pretty shitty hand from life overall, which just contributes to how he perceives himself and by extension his actions at any given moment

Garmadon, if I may say, is very morally…unstable, I even dare say that Garmadon doesn’t exactly understand or aligns himself morally to any side, whether good or evil, despite what he says or believes he is, because he’s been on both sides and at this point of his life, he just doesn’t really understand what side he’s really on and I just really love how that impacts his actions, it’s almost like he’s just winging it at this point, tho tbf, he was always winging it

Because on one hand, you can understand how Garmadon’s life and all the shit that happened to him (my man can’t catch a break) affects him morally, mentally, emotionally and even physically (bitch got a gaping hole in his chest damn)

On the other hand, you can’t deny that Garmadon isn’t a full on good person, nor is he exactly a full on bad person, and I think trying to specifically put him in one box or the other fundamentally misunderstands the complexity of his character and the intricacies of his actions

Then you stop in your tracks and realize how very inconsistent his actions are depending on what version of him you’re talking about?? Are we talking about Lord Garmadon, Sensei Garmadon, or Emperor Garmadon? Cause depending on who we talk about, Garmadon’s actions change dramatically, it’s almost each version of himself is a completely different person, which I think always just hammers in the idea of his divided heart

And even then, each version of himself got their own struggles and issues depending on their circumstances?? Lord Garmadon was bit by the Great devourer that made him lose his morals bit by bit, Sensei Garmadon has to live with the guilt and ghosts of his past, and Emperor Garmadon didn’t even choose to be brought back like that, he was very much forcefully returned through a corrupt ritual that literally made him almost just an undead zombie, a disgrace to who he used to be, barely grasping onto what made him the person he is

But what I love dearly is how the one thing that stays very consistent about him is his undeniable and genuine love for his family, somehow, he always goes back to square one, not even being the undead powerful Oni was enough to tear him away from the deep love he has for them

Now don’t get me wrong, Garmadon isn’t some innocent misunderstood guy who means well (most of the time at least, sensei Garmadon never did anything wrong and I love him), he’s a warlord who killed, terrorized, and hurt so many people, both innocent bystanders and his own family, he’s done horrible things, and while life constantly threw him under the bus, that doesn’t magically absolve him from the many literal war crimes he committed, and outright abuse/neglect towards his son, brother and wife

But what you gain from seeing Gramadon’s struggles is simply a different perspective, and an understanding as to why he does something or what his own thoughts are in the moment, cause to Garmadon? Conquering his realm is obviously the only way he can save it, and many other things he personally believes that are not necessarily true in reality

You sympathize with his struggles, but you can still understand that all the horrible shit he did is still his own doing, his own bad choices when he could’ve chose to be a better person or to make better decisions, but that’s the thing, to Garmadon, these bad decisions make sense, they seem to him to be the right ones when they’re not (and Garmadon understands that they’re not deep down, that he’s making a bad decision after a bad decision, but that’s doesn’t make them any less sensible to him)

Leaving Lloyd behind after making sure he’s safe? What can he do when the venom in his veins twisted him to such degree, he’s evil, his son isn’t, he doesn’t want to be a bad influence on his pure hearted son (completely disregarding how that could hurt Lloyd’s mental health in the long run)

Using Overlord’s condensed evil to infect Ninjago? It’s so his family can finally see things from his perspective, to create a world where he can be understood and seen, where he can become a member of his own family again, he even says it outright “you’ll see what I see, feel what I feel”

Conquering Ninjago? It’s to keep the Oni away from his home, he’s seen things in the departed realm that scared him enough to believe that he’s doing Ninjago a favor, that him terrorizing Ninjago is better than the darkness the Oni would bring upon it

His reasonings/motives aren’t completely and utterly nonsensical, but his methods definitely are, that’s why his perception of himself is very important to understand his actions on a deeper level

What Garmadon does in real time contradicts what he truly wants most of the time, and I believe that is definitely to an extent because of his divided heart

But again, he’s always pulled back by his love for his family, the only reason Emperor Garmadon (who’s the most ruthless we’ve ever seen Garmadon be) even tries to redeem himself is just because he wants to understand, and be a part of his own family again

What I really love about the Garmadon comics is how well they explore Garmadon’s inner struggles and the way he perceives himself, he’s lost his way again and he’s trying to find it again, he wants to be a better person, despite the many horrible actions he committed, he still goes back to trying to be a better person, and I dare say accept himself that he’s always pushed back against

He’s lost, and there’s nothing to guide him back except for the deep rooted love in his heart for his family, for his brother, for his son, and for his wife

So if anyone said "who asked"

I did

YAS!! Thank you >:)

I’m so Ninjago brained rn and I need to talk about Garmadon or I’ll explode gchchcch

What makes Garmadon such an interesting character to me is how.. lost he seems

Garmadon struggles to understand himself, and while he might be stubborn enough to insist that he got his shit figured out, (no seriously he insists on that A LOT, at least outwardly) he absolutely hasn’t got his shit figured out at all

But it’s really his thing isn’t it? Garmadon is always said to have a “divided soul/heart”, and that is genuinely one of my favorite things about him

To me, part of the reason why he insists on the fact he understands himself perfectly (aside pride) is the fact it really scares him

There’s a big divide between what Garmadon is, what Garmadon insists he is, and what Garmadon wants to be

And Garmadon was dealt a pretty shitty hand from life overall, which just contributes to how he perceives himself and by extension his actions at any given moment

Garmadon, if I may say, is very morally…unstable, I even dare say that Garmadon doesn’t exactly understand or aligns himself morally to any side, whether good or evil, despite what he says or believes he is, because he’s been on both sides and at this point of his life, he just doesn’t really understand what side he’s really on and I just really love how that impacts his actions, it’s almost like he’s just winging it at this point, tho tbf, he was always winging it

Because on one hand, you can understand how Garmadon’s life and all the shit that happened to him (my man can’t catch a break) affects him morally, mentally, emotionally and even physically (bitch got a gaping hole in his chest damn)

On the other hand, you can’t deny that Garmadon isn’t a full on good person, nor is he exactly a full on bad person, and I think trying to specifically put him in one box or the other fundamentally misunderstands the complexity of his character and the intricacies of his actions

Then you stop in your tracks and realize how very inconsistent his actions are depending on what version of him you’re talking about?? Are we talking about Lord Garmadon, Sensei Garmadon, or Emperor Garmadon? Cause depending on who we talk about, Garmadon’s actions change dramatically, it’s almost each version of himself is a completely different person, which I think always just hammers in the idea of his divided heart

And even then, each version of himself got their own struggles and issues depending on their circumstances?? Lord Garmadon was bit by the Great devourer that made him lose his morals bit by bit, Sensei Garmadon has to live with the guilt and ghosts of his past, and Emperor Garmadon didn’t even choose to be brought back like that, he was very much forcefully returned through a corrupt ritual that literally made him almost just an undead zombie, a disgrace to who he used to be, barely grasping onto what made him the person he is

But what I love dearly is how the one thing that stays very consistent about him is his undeniable and genuine love for his family, somehow, he always goes back to square one, not even being the undead powerful Oni was enough to tear him away from the deep love he has for them

Now don’t get me wrong, Garmadon isn’t some innocent misunderstood guy who means well (most of the time at least, sensei Garmadon never did anything wrong and I love him), he’s a warlord who killed, terrorized, and hurt so many people, both innocent bystanders and his own family, he’s done horrible things, and while life constantly threw him under the bus, that doesn’t magically absolve him from the many literal war crimes he committed, and outright abuse/neglect towards his son, brother and wife

But what you gain from seeing Gramadon’s struggles is simply a different perspective, and an understanding as to why he does something or what his own thoughts are in the moment, cause to Garmadon? Conquering his realm is obviously the only way he can save it, and many other things he personally believes that are not necessarily true in reality

You sympathize with his struggles, but you can still understand that all the horrible shit he did is still his own doing, his own bad choices when he could’ve chose to be a better person or to make better decisions, but that’s the thing, to Garmadon, these bad decisions make sense, they seem to him to be the right ones when they’re not (and Garmadon understands that they’re not deep down, that he’s making a bad decision after a bad decision, but that’s doesn’t make them any less sensible to him)

Leaving Lloyd behind after making sure he’s safe? What can he do when the venom in his veins twisted him to such degree, he’s evil, his son isn’t, he doesn’t want to be a bad influence on his pure hearted son (completely disregarding how that could hurt Lloyd’s mental health in the long run)

Using Overlord’s condensed evil to infect Ninjago? It’s so his family can finally see things from his perspective, to create a world where he can be understood and seen, where he can become a member of his own family again, he even says it outright “you’ll see what I see, feel what I feel”

Conquering Ninjago? It’s to keep the Oni away from his home, he’s seen things in the departed realm that scared him enough to believe that he’s doing Ninjago a favor, that him terrorizing Ninjago is better than the darkness the Oni would bring upon it

His reasonings/motives aren’t completely and utterly nonsensical, but his methods definitely are, that’s why his perception of himself is very important to understand his actions on a deeper level

What Garmadon does in real time contradicts what he truly wants most of the time, and I believe that is definitely to an extent because of his divided heart

But again, he’s always pulled back by his love for his family, the only reason Emperor Garmadon (who’s the most ruthless we’ve ever seen Garmadon be) even tries to redeem himself is just because he wants to understand, and be a part of his own family again

What I really love about the Garmadon comics is how well they explore Garmadon’s inner struggles and the way he perceives himself, he’s lost his way again and he’s trying to find it again, he wants to be a better person, despite the many horrible actions he committed, he still goes back to trying to be a better person, and I dare say accept himself that he’s always pushed back against

He’s lost, and there’s nothing to guide him back except for the deep rooted love in his heart for his family, for his brother, for his son, and for his wife

Day 80

Day 79

he won't escape from being cute

🎵 This house says my name like an elegy

Oh my, oh my

Echoing where my ghosts all used to be

🎵 This house says my name like an elegy

Oh my, oh my

Echoing where my ghosts all used to be

I mean, he was maybe technically dead when he was sent to the Cursed Realm. But still, she's the one who finished him off with her True Potential.

It's almost like a full circle moment. Garmadon and Nya started things off. He kidnapped her and took her to the Underworld. And five seasons later, she kills him and sends him to the Departed Realm.

I wonder if Nya felt guilty afterwards. Did she know Garmadon was in there? That unlocking her True Potential and saving the world would eliminate any chance of getting him back? Or was she so fully in the moment, so consumed by her own Element, that she didn't realize it until afterwards, until Lloyd told the story of saying goodbye?

Could Nya hear the screams of the ghosts she killed, sense the countless cursed souls as she freed them from their fate? Or was the roar of the Water so loud that she couldn't even recognize the final exhale of someone who'd made such an impact (for better or for worse) on her life?