Hey, guys. I'm not one for wasting your time with long rants but I REALLY have to get this out before it makes my head explodes. I'm basically gonna rant about why the ridiculous romantic subplots of Rebooted are ruining the characters we know & love, & why Pixal (so far) has been a VERY disappointing character. Before I get on to my rant, I'll get the disclaimer over with first.
I don't own Ninjago. It belongs to LEGO. Now let me waste your time with my rant.
To any of you who bothered reading this, I want you all to know that I do NOT intend to sound whiny. I just want to let out my opinions, NOT shove it down your throats. My opinions may not even be correct because that's what they are. Opinions. If you disagree, the least you can do is tell me why in a calm manner but I'll let you have them.
Let's get started.
I pretty much felt like this for a long time & I can't keep it in any longer & I just want to let it all out. It's pretty much why I'm writing this. I'd be lying if I say that Rebooted sucks. I DO enjoy it but it also has a bunch of problems that makes me… not like it was much as the first seasons and here's why.
The romantic subplots are actually dragging the characters down the mud & why Pixal is a MAJOR disappointment.
First up is that goddamn love triangle everybody hates! Of course I'm talking about Cole/Nya/Jay! It completely ruined their characters and here's why!
I'll confess. I write Ninja/OC stories but I don't hate the love triangle because of Nya 'stealing' Cole!
SHE. DID. NOT. STEAL. HIM.!
He was never paired up with anyone up till now in the show & he hasn't even officially hooked up with her! Here's the REAL reason why the love triangle is bullshit!
Ever since they found out Nya may choose one of them no thanks to Pixal *glares at her* all Cole & Jay ever do in the show is squabble over her! Jay was a funny guy who truly cared for Nya and was devoted to her while Cole was the strong reliable leader whom the ninjas can count on but the love triangle reduced them to nothing but petty rivals over Nya's affection! Nya herself still proved to be a badass but I hate that this season makes her 'dilemma' over choosing a boyfriend her 'main' purpose in the show! It's sad, really.
Speaking of purpose, I previously mentioned that I find Pixal a VERY disappointing character.
Here's why.
Out of all the characters who aren't much loved in the show, she has it worse than any other character in the show! Even the OVERLORD doesn't get as much hate as her! It's ridiculous!
Her 'crime'?
'Stealing' Zane!
Because of that, Pixal is possible THE most hated character in Ninjago! I'm definitely not a fan of her but it's ridiculous! Zane's just a fictional character & he was never paired up with anyone in the first place! I'm NOT a fan of Pixal but all the hate she gets makes my blood boil and it takes a LOT to do that! But that's not why I don't like Pixal!
My reason for not liking her is because she is a character with a lot of potential, and she still does, but the writers are not giving her the chance! They create a character who would've been a great addition to the team but they designate her to a one-dimensional love interest. She's pretty much the Lego version of Zoey from Total Drama. Ever since she joined the ninjas, her mind COMPLETELY revolved around Zane and doesn't even interact with the others! Not even Cyrus who's technically her DAD for heaven's sake! She doesn't even go through ANY development at all! All she ever does is say 'be careful Zane' whenever he's around and when he isn't, she does nothing but talk about him!
Even their relationship is ruining Zane's character!
The Zane we know and love is the sweet yet badass nindroid who takes his duties as a ninja seriously but ever since he hooked up with Pixal, all he wants to do is be a nindroid husbando for his nindroid waifu. The writers basically turned him into Pixal's bitch.
That's also one of the reasons why I don't like this couple.
For me, Pixal/Zane, or Pixane as some people call it, is one of THE worst couples I've ever seen in any form of fiction. Again, I'm guilty for writing ninja/OC fics & like the good ninja/OC stories where the couples ACTUALLY take time to know each other, but even if I didn't, I'd still feel the same way about this shallow couple. Yes. Pixane IS shallow. They're pretty much the Bella/Edward of Lego.
Their relationship is WAY to codependent and I swear, the ONLY reason they like each other is because they're both nindroids! It's shallow! They basically said 'I love you' right off the bat and it doesn't help that the writers and even some Pixane fans are romanticizing codependency! Codependency is NOT romance! It's unhealthy and can even lead to destructive behavior!
Here's a comparison between Pixane and a REAL relationship.
In a real relationship, a man and woman actually take time to know each other and know they can't be together ALL the time. Whenever a couple is separated, it's understandable for one to get worried for the other but it's important for them to know that they can take care of themselves so they can branch out as individuals. Pixal and Zane literally clung to one another during the entire season and they barely know each other. They even say they belong together solely because they're nindroids.
I dare you to say that that's NOT shallow!
If you've made it this far, congratulations.
As a reward, here's a little story.
Toon Friend was browsing her local Lego Store, admiring all the sets they had. Unlike what those insane whiny OC-obsessed Ninjagians on Deviantart believe, she knew that Lego was WAY more than just Ninjago and the Lego Movie. They also have TMNT, Star Wars, Legends of Chima, even though she wasn't a fan. She DID try to give it a chance but she didn't find the appeal. At the same time, it was unfair how the whiny Ninjagians hate Chima without even giving it a chance. But she also heard that Bionicle was coming back and she was looking forward to it.
But the peace was interrupted.
"F$&K YOU PIXAL! I F$&IN' HATE YOU!"
Some crazy girl who looked no older than twelve punched the Ninjago set that included Pixal.
Yeah. Way to behave in front of little kids.
"DUDE! WHAT THE CHEESE!?" Toon Friend couldn't help but ask what this psychopath's problem was.
"THAT BITCH!" The crazy girl screeched, "IT'S ALL HER FAULT!"
"For what!?"
"IT'S HER FAULT ZANE IS DEAD!"
Although she was upset over Zane's 'death', Toon Friend knew better than to blame a fictional character for 'killing' another fictional character. Besides, Zane wasn't ENTIRELY dead. He just didn't have a physical body anymore. She left this psycho bitch up to the staff as she briskly left the store. She still liked Ninjago but she wanted nothing to do with the insane part of the fandom. This was one of those times she was actually ashamed for liking Ninjago.
Now here's the scariest part of the story…
It's actually true.
I'm not kidding. This was an actual experience I had and some crazy fans are actually blaming Pixal for Zane's fate, which is bullshit!
SHE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!
Zane chose to sacrifice himself for his brothers out of his own free will! Not because of Pixal! Even if Pixal never existed, he still would've done it anyway!
If that wasn't bad enough, she's even being blamed for this whole 'Rebooted' mess for happening in the first place!
First of all, it was NOT her fault! It's the Overlord's! Pixal was under the Overlord's control when General Cryptor and the nindroids were made! All she did was scan Zane but she would NEVER create an evil army based on his blueprints willingly and she probably scanned him for security reasons or so Cyrus can invent new gadgets inspired by Zane's blueprints.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm starting to think Kai's the only sane guy left but it doesn't help that he's been treated as a background character this season.
I seriously doubt that the new episodes in 2015 will be able to fix all this and I'm seriously considering leaving the fandom once I get my sequel to Chosen by Destiny finished (but I'll still be looking forward to the movie).
But if you still ship Pixane or even Coya (Cole/Nya), I'm not stopping you. Liking those couples is not a crime to me. Everyone should have their opinions and I only want to express mine, not shove it down your throats, but I apologize if I sounded any bit whiny at all.
ForeverDreamer12, if you're reading this and find some stuff in this rant you want to point out or even put into the letter you plan to send to Lego/Hageman Bros, have at it.
Congratulations. You've reached the end of my LONG venting rant.
If there's anything you want to say, go ahead.
Thank you for your time and with sincere apologies to those who love 'Rebooted', Toon Friend.
UPDATE
I've made another confession about Pixane, which is now officially my NoTP at my profile. If you have time, check it out & PM to express your opinions.