Ninjago: Hands of Time

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Ninjago: Hands of Time
Hands of Time poster.jpg
Hands of Time poster
Starring
Country of originDenmark
No. of episodes10
Release
Original networkCartoon Network
Original releaseMay 15 (2017-05-15) –
May 26, 2017 (2017-05-26)
Season chronology
← Previous
Day of the Departed
List of episodes

Hands of Time (sometimes referred to as The Hands of Time) is the seventh season of the computer-animated television series Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu (titled Ninjago from the eleventh season onward). The series was created by Michael Hegner and Tommy Andreasen. The season aired from 15 May 2017 to 26 May 2017, following the television special titled Day of the Departed. It is succeeded by the eighth season titled Sons of Garmadon. Hands of Time was the only season released in 2017 and was the last season to be produced before the release of The Lego Ninjago Movie.

The season introduces the two main antagonists called the "Hands of Time" (also known as the "Time Twins"), two brothers who are Elemental Masters and have the ability to control time. The storyline follows the Hands of Time as they retrieve four time blades scattered across Ninjago and involves the main ninja characters Kai and Nya following the Time Twins back through time. The season ends with a cliffhanger that involves Sensei Wu being lost in time, which was not resolved until the release of Sons of Garmadon.[1]

Voice cast[]

See also: List of Ninjago characters

Main[]

Supporting[]

Release[]

On 19 December 2016, a 60-second trailer to promote the season was released on the Lego YouTube channel.[19] The season premiered on Cartoon Network on 15 May 2017 with the release of the first episode titled The Hands of Time. The subsequent episodes were released throughout May 2015 until the release of the season finale titled Lost in Time on 26 May 2017.[20]

Plot[]

Acronix emerges from the time vortex, after being trapped for 40 years, and Master Wu challenges him in combat. During the fight, the Forward Time Blade arrives through the vortex and Acronix uses it to hit Wu with a time punch that accelerates his aging. Acronix reunites with his brother Krux. Wu relates the history of the Hands of Time, twin brothers, who were once allied with the Elemental Masters, but betrayed them. Ray and Maya had forged four Time Blades, which Wu and Garmadon used to absorb the twins' elemental powers, before banishing them into the vortex. Krux had emerged from the vortex years ago and disguised himself as Dr. Sander Saunders, curator of the Ninjago History Museum.[N 1]

The Hands of Time proceed with their master plan. Krux has bred an army of Vermillion warriors formed from snakes. The twins abduct Cyrus Borg and various workers from Ninjago City to build the Iron Doom, a time-traveling mech. The ninja attempt to fight the Vermillion but discover that they can immediately reform upon defeat.[N 2] Kai visits Ninjago History Museum and fights the Time Twins with Nya. Krux tells Kai that his parents were traitors and helped the Hands of Time forge the Vermillion armour.[N 3] The Vermillion recover the Slow-Mo Time Blade from the desert, but the ninja take it from them.[N 4] The Vermillion then launch an attack on the Temple of Airjitzu and during the battle, the Hands of Time escape with both Time Blades and Wu as their captive.[N 5] They retrieve the Pause Time Blade from the top of a mountain.

The ninja split up to rescue Cyrus, the workers, and Wu. Kai visits the Blacksmith Shop and confronts his father, calling him a traitor. His parents explain that they were forced to work for Krux and that 40 years prior they hid the Reversal Time Blade in a secret location. The Hands of Time force Kai and Nya to retrieve the Reversal Blade from the Boiling Sea.[N 6] They travel to its location by creating a Fusion Dragon, but on their return are attacked by Krux and Acronix, resulting in Ray being hit by the Forward Time Blade, which rapidly advances his age.[N 7]

The Hands of Time travel back 40 years to the same temporal point when they battled the Elemental Masters. The Vermillion warriors attack the monastery, but Kai, Nya, and Wu, who have followed them into the vortex, join the fight and the Elemental Masters get the upper hand. During the battle, the Time Twins alter history by forcing Wu to yield and this reverts present-day Ninjago to its pre-technology age. Kai and Nya ride the Fusion Dragon to battle the Iron Doom. The Hands of Time open another time vortex to escape, but Kai, Nya, and Wu confront them. During the fight, Wu rips out the Reversal Blade, sabotaging the Iron Doom in the process. Kai and Nya are thrown off the mech with the Reversal Blade and return to the present day. Ninjago is restored to its technological glory and Kai uses the Reversal Time Blade to cure his father's rapid aging. The Time Twins and Wu are lost in time aboard the Iron Doom.[N 8]

Episodes[]

Main article: List of Ninjago episodes
Hands of Time episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
651"The Hands of Time"Michael Helmuth HansenDavid ShayneMay 15, 2017 (2017-05-15)0.73[21]
At the ruins of the Monastery of Spinjitzu, a strange vortex opens up to admit a mysterious hooded warrior who is then confronted by Master Wu; the pair recognize each other and Wu reveals that it has been forty years since he last encountered his enemy. Elsewhere, Misako is unloading supplies at the Temple of Airjitzu with the assistance of Ronin and of Dareth, while the Ninja are helping Dr. Saunders at the museum. While there, Kai and Nya find a portrait of their long-missing parents, Ray and Maya, and the Ninja also discover a portrait of a battle between Wu and Garmadon and the "mythical" Hands of Time, Acronix and Krux. Acronix, who happens to be Wu's mysterious enemy, is defeated but then restarts the battle after a Time Blade emerges from the vortex, causing a temporal wave that draws the Ninja to the monastery after Acronix strikes Wu with the weapon. During the ensuing battle, Acronix reveals that he knew Kai and Nya's father and then escapes after faking his own demise. He then meets up with Dr. Saunders, who is revealed to be none other than Krux.
662"The Hatching"Trylle VilstrupDavid ShayneMay 16, 2017 (2017-05-16)0.71[22]
Wu, still recovering from his battle with Acronix, reveals to the Ninja that the Hands of Time were once Elemental Masters of Time who turned on their comrades after the Serpentine Wars. After a series of battles, their powers were drained into the four Time Blades, which were then sent into the time vortex and followed by Acronix and Krux themselves. Believing both to have been destroyed, the Ninja set to work unpacking their belongings into the Temple of Airjitzu, with Nya expressing some regret over leaving behind her Samurai X costume. Meanwhile, the reunited Acronix and Krux embark on their plan to conquer Ninjago, which involves unleashing the sixth tribe of Serpentine, the Vermillion warriors, snakes who join together inside armor to form humanoid warriors. One is sent to abduct Cyrus Borg at his new product launch, and two more are unleashed when the Ninja arrive to save him, with Acronix and Krux abducting Borg after Zane tries to take him to safety. The Vermillion keep the other Ninja occupied.
673"A Time of Traitors"Peter HausnerJohn BehnkeMay 17, 2017 (2017-05-17)0.77[23]
As Acronix and Krux unleash more Vermillion, including Commanders and Generals Machia, Blunck, and Raggmunk, the Ninja split up in an effort to determine what is behind the latest menace to Ninjago, which includes the kidnapping of various craftspeople from around the city. Cole, Jay, and Nya take the inactive Zane back to the Samurai X Cave in hopes of repairing him, and soon discover that Acronix is still alive and in league with Dr. Saunders. Kai makes the same discovery after visiting Saunders at the museum with a piece of Vermillion Tribe armor, as well as learning that Saunders is Krux. The villain also claims that Kai's parents sided with him and Acronix during their conflict with the Elemental Masters. Nya then arrives to back Kai up against the Time Twins, but the villains escape with Cyrus Borg using the Time Blade Acronix used against Wu.
684"Scavengers"Michael Helmuth HansenJack ThomasMay 18, 2017 (2017-05-18)0.77[24]
Wu confesses to Misako that Acronix's attack on him at the monastery has accelerated his aging process, telling her to keep it secret, while Nya continues her attempts to repair Zane and frustrates P.I.X.A.L. with her lack of progress. With Wu out of action Lloyd tries to rally the Ninja out of guilt for not being for him at the monastery, while Kai continues to struggle with Krux's claim that his parents were traitors. The Vermillion raid Ninjago city in search of metal, and Kai takes Cole and Jay off to confront them in defiance of Lloyd's orders and are joined by Ronin, Dareth, Nya, and Zane, the latter still malfunctioning. In an effort to prevent their interference, Commander and General Machia sends a group of Vermillion to shut down Ninjago City's power, and after a talk with Wu, Lloyd joins his teammates, who succeed in restoring the power. Learning that the Vermillion Tribe are attacking Mega Monster Amusement Park, the Ninja leave to confront them, though a repaired Zane notices with some concern that P.I.X.A.L. is not responding to him while Jay takes off on his own after realizing that the Vermillion Tribe will undoubtedly be attacking his parents' junkyard as well.
695"A Line in the Sand"Trylle VilstrupAdam BeechenMay 19, 2017 (2017-05-19)0.77[25]
The Ninja, except Jay, face off with the Vermillion at the amusement park while Jay goes to the aid of his parents as their scrapyard is invaded. However, the arrival of a second Time Blade changes things, with the Vermillion being directed to retrieve it after the technology loving Acronix pinpoints its location using his new Borg Watch, to the annoyance of his innovation-hating brother Krux.Two groups of Vermillion Tribe set out, with the scrapyard group abducting Jay's mother as well as stealing a large supply of metal, and manage to reach the Time Blade first. Its powers allow them to hold the Ninja at bay until Jay arrives with his new bike, which he has put together with help from his father. The Ninja succeed in recovering the blade and escaping on the bike and the Ultra Sonic Raider jet, but Machia and the Hands of Time are determined to take it back.
706"The Attack"Peter HausnerRyan LevinMay 22, 2017 (2017-05-22)0.71[26]
Having returned to the Temple of Airjitzu, Jay, Cole, and Zane are letting their success in retrieving the second Time Blade go to their heads. While Lloyd fears reprisal from the Time Twins, Kai mulls over the supposed treachery of his parents, and Nya continues to wonder about her missing Samurai X gear. Wu gets up and supports Lloyd's fears.He recognizes a symbol branded in the Tribe of Vermillion helmets that have been retrieved previously. Before he can expand on it, however, the Temple is attacked by the Hands of Time and their Vermillion warriors. As his teammates try to fight them off, Lloyd uses his dragon to attack the forces on the ground, only for it to dissipate due to his fear. He is then unexpectedly saved by the Samurai X Mech, revealing that the Vermillion Tribe were not responsible for the theft of Nya's equipment after all. Both the mech and the Destiny's Bounty are shot down, and the Hands of Time succeed in capturing the Time Blade and Wu before departing.
717"Secrets Discovered"Michael Helmuth HansenJack ThomasMay 23, 2017 (2017-05-23)0.93[27]
With the Bounty wrecked, the Ninja are forced to take separate vehicles as they set out to locate Wu and their enemies.Cole takes the Titanium Tumbler, Jay takes his bike, Kai and Nya take their old bikes, and Lloyd and Zane use the Destiny's Shadow, a flying boat given to him by Misako. Misako also reveals that Wu is rapidly aging, while Kai realizes that the mark on the Vermillions' helmets is his father's blacksmith brand. He and Nya thus set out separately to find answers. He returns to their family shop and discovers a hidden chamber concealing a strange two-bladed dagger and evidence that his parents are alive, while she returns to the Samurai X Cave and finds the thief of her suit, who changes their voice to sound like different people, such as Dareth, Ronin, Misako, or Garmadon. In the end the Samurai's conviction and skills are enough that Nya agrees to relinquish her identity, though she insists on the new Samurai X changing their color scheme; she also comes to believe that Skylor is the one in the armor, but is subsequently proven wrong after finding her with Kai. Meanwhile, the other four Ninja search the sewers of Ninjago for the Time Twins' lair after discovering their lab and run into several Serpentine led by Skales, who reveals that the Vermillion are the children and pure first generation progeny of the Great Devourer.
728"Pause and Effect"Trylle VilstrupJohn BehnkeMay 24, 2017 (2017-05-24)0.84[28]
Having reassembled, the Ninja head into the underground swamp where the Vermillion Tribe have been bred in order to rescue the captured laborers, Wu, and Cyrus Borg, while Kai is determined to track down and confront his father. Zane, still struggling with P.I.X.A.L.'s absence, searches for Borg while Lloyd goes after Wu. Cole and Jay find the prisoners, including Karlof, Lou, and the Royal Blacksmiths. Lloyd soon finds Wu under guard by Raggmunk and Blunck, who are bemoaning Machia's recent promotion over them, and attempts to rescue him but fails. Cole and Jay attempt to rescue the various craftspeople, while the third Time Blade returns to Ninjago and is retrieved by the Time Twins. Meanwhile, Kai confronts his father believing him to be a traitor, only to be stopped by his mother and Nya, and then to learn that Krux, after returning to Ninjago alone, forced them into aiding his plans for conquest. They explain that these plans include a monstrous weapon known as the Iron Doom, which combines Ray's blacksmithing knowhow with Cyrus Borg's technology and the Time Blades to travel through time, which the Time Twins intend to use to conquer all of time. Unfortunately, before they can act to stop it, the Time Twins and their forces arrive and inform Kai and Nya that they will help them to retrieve the final Time Blade from its hiding place.
739"Out of the Fire and Into the Boiling Sea"Peter HausnerDavid ShayneMay 25, 2017 (2017-05-25)0.85[29]
With no other hope of saving Wu, Kai and Nya are forced to enter the sunken library of Hono Mizu in the Boiling Sea, a volcanic region where their parents hid the Reversal Time Blade. Using their father's Dragon Blade, they combine their elements to form a Fusion Dragon and enter the dangerous environment, where they face numerous obstacles. Meanwhile, Lloyd and the others set out to rescue Cyrus Borg, only to learn that he has rigged a self-destruct feature on the Iron Doom. In an ensuing battle with Blunck and Raggmunk's Tribe of Vermillion warriors, the Ninja are joined by Samurai X, who has arrived seeking to save Borg as well after hacking into Zane's sensors. Kai and Nya succeed in retrieving the blade, only to lose it to Acronix and Krux after Ray is struck with a Time Punch. Kai, Nya, their parents, and Wu are then left falling to their doom but survive by forming the Fusion Dragon yet again. The Time Twins return to their base, and after thwarting Borg's sabotage order all their forces into the Iron Doom, which then enters a temporal vortex with the Fusion Dragon in hot pursuit.
7410"Lost in Time"Michael Helmuth HansenDavid ShayneMay 26, 2017 (2017-05-26)0.75[30]
Left in the present, Ray and Maya meet up with Borg, Samurai X, and the remaining Ninja while Kai and Nya have boarded the Iron Doom with Wu in hopes of stopping the Time Twins and retrieving the Reversal Blade. The villains' plan is soon revealed as the Iron Doom arrives in Ninjago's past just after the Time Twins' original defeat at the hands of the Elemental Masters, who are soon attacked by the Vermillion. Doing their best to mitigate any damage to the past without causing more, Kai and Nya then impersonate their parents to join young Wu and his allies in battle, only for the Vermillion snakes to merge with Iron Doom itself and give it the power of motion. They soon achieve victory over the past Elemental Masters, resulting in a present where no technology exists and where Ray's health continues to deteriorate as he ages rapidly. Kai and Nya form the Fusion Dragon once again to attack, but Kai is defeated after Nya leaves on an unspecified errand. However, the Hands of Time decide to depart for the distant future so that they won't have to continue dealing with their interference. Having found the Reversal Blade in the past prior to its being hidden in the Boiling Sea, Nya uses it to restore Wu's health, and with Kai's help they use it to reverse time, enabling them to board the Iron Doom while leaving the Reversal Blade with young Wu. A battle aboard the Iron Doom ends with Wu removing the Reversal Blade, which sets the Iron Doom adrift in time, and giving it to Kai and Nya, who are then dropped in the present where they use it to save their father, only to find that Wu has been lost in time. The Ninja then turn to Lloyd, who determines to get rid of the Reversal Blade before turning their energies to finding Wu wherever he may be in time. Lloyd is declared the ninja's new master.

Reception[]

Ratings[]

On 15 May 2017, the Hands of Time premier aired on Cartoon Network and achieved position 77 in the Top 150 Monday Original Cable Telecasts with 0.73 million viewers.[31]

Critical reception[]

Reviewer Melissa Camacho for Common Sense Media gave Hands of Time a 3 out of 5 star rating and noted that the season has "lots of fantasy violence" and themes of "loyalty, teamwork, and sacrifice". The reviewer also commented, "This entertaining instalment of the popular action series continues to offer a well-developed story featuring the franchise's trademark lessons on patience, equality, and, above all, loyalty and teamwork."[32] RJ Carter for Critical Blast gave the season a 4.5 out of 5 rating commenting, "For a season that's only ten episodes long, and with episodes that are barely 30 minutes, Lego Ninjago manages to pack in a ton of story that keeps you coming back show after show."[33]

References[]

Primary[]

  1. ^ Ninjago, Season 7, Episode 1 "The Hands of Time"
  2. ^ Ninjago, Season 7, Episode 2 "The Hatching"
  3. ^ Ninjago, Season 7, Episode 3 "A Time of Traitors"
  4. ^ Ninjago, Season 7, Episode 5 "A Line in the Sand"
  5. ^ Ninjago, Season 7, Episode 6 "The Attack"
  6. ^ Ninjago, Season 7, Episode 8 "Pause and Effect"
  7. ^ Ninjago, Season 7, Episode 9 "Out of the Fire and Into the Boiling Sea"
  8. ^ Ninjago, Season 7, Episode 10 "Lost in Time"

Secondary[]

  1. ^ Yates, Jack (2021-01-27). "LEGO NINJAGO from thought to theme: time travel and a motion picture". Brick Fanatics. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  2. ^ "Lloyd". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  3. ^ "Kai". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  4. ^ "Jay". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  5. ^ "Zane". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  6. ^ "Cole". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  7. ^ "Nya". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  8. ^ "Sensei Wu". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  9. ^ "Krux". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  10. ^ "Acronix". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  11. ^ "P.I.X.A.L." Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  12. ^ "Misako Voices (LEGO Ninjago)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
  13. ^ "Machia". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  14. ^ "Cyrus Borg". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  15. ^ "Ronin Voices (LEGO Ninjago)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  16. ^ "Darreth Voices (LEGO Ninjago)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  17. ^ "Ray". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  18. ^ "Maya". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  19. ^ Bradley, Dan (2016-12-20). "First LEGO Ninjago: Hands of Time Trailer Arrives". TheHDRoom. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  20. ^ "Shows A-Z - ninjago: masters of spinjitzu on cartoon | TheFutonCritic.com". www.thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  21. ^ "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.15.2017 - Showbuzz Daily". www.showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  22. ^ "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.16.2017 - Showbuzz Daily". www.showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  23. ^ "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.17.2017 - Showbuzz Daily". www.showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on 22 May 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  24. ^ "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.18.2017 - Showbuzz Daily". www.showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  25. ^ "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals &Network Finals: 5.19.2017 - Showbuzz Daily". www.showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  26. ^ "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.22.2017 - Showbuzz Daily". www.showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on 24 May 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  27. ^ "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.23.2017 - Showbuzz Daily". www.showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on 27 May 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  28. ^ "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.24.2017 - Showbuzz Daily". www.showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  29. ^ "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.25.2017 - Showbuzz Daily". www.showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  30. ^ "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.26.2017 - Showbuzz Daily". www.showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  31. ^ "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.15.2017 | Showbuzz Daily". www.showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on 2017-05-21. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  32. ^ "Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu: The Hands of Time - TV Review". www.commonsensemedia.org. 2018-05-28. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  33. ^ Carter, R. J. (2017-10-23). "LEGO Ninjago Battle The Hands of Time in Season 7". www.criticalblast.com. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
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