Blackout

 After the ninja split up in the last episode, we'll now see how the writers handle balancing their screen time in a full episode. I think I recall both groups getting about equal attention, but we'll have to see if I'm not misremembering things.

Lloyd and Garmadon are travelling across the mountains in this episode, hoping to reach the dense jungle called Hiroshi's Labyrinth. Garmadon attempts to teach Lloyd the value of balance, and that Creation alone is only part of a greater whole, culminating in Lloyd using the power of earth to move a mountain and save his father from falling to his death.

At the same time, the other ninja are at Ed and Edna's junkyard, when Jay learns that Cole is Nya's perfect match from PIXAL, who had been revived with half of Zane's power source. This causes a fight between the two ninja, which impacts their teamwork when a mysterious stranger working for the Overlord attacks, having used electric eels to power nindroids and a cybernetically modified Wu.

While the ninja prevail, Zane is unable to use Spinjitzu by himself, as he now needs PIXAL's assistance, and the mysterious stranger managed to track down Lloyd and Garmadon. 

Various Observations: 

-Huh, the last episode seems way more epic in the recap. Why does it make me want to look up an episode I already watched two days ago?

-Sensei Garmadon's speech on balance is interesting. So far, he does a better job at being a wise mentor than Wu ever did.

-According to Sensei Garmadon, Lloyd still only scratched the surface of his potential. I am actually inclined to agree. So far, he has only used his golden power for energy blasts, and to conjure up a dragon, yet the power of Creation itself is so much more. And that's not even touching on the fact that Lloyd could also use the power of Destruction, he just doesn't learn that part until season 15. Actually, that also fits with Garmadon's views on balance. Creation without Destruction is endless growth. A cancer. The universe requires both in order to remain stable. Lloyd holds both these powers, yet he, and the writers of season 15, only see value in the power of Creation. I wonder how Crystalized would have changed if Garmadon were still free from the Devourer's evil.

-Apparently the cybernetic parts on Borg's face can just be taken off, but the rest are implants that can't just be removed so easily. I guess they wanted the viewers to be able to tell the difference just by looking at Borg's face, but it just makes me wonder what the point of his visor even was.  Why did the Overlord just give him a helmet?

-Oh, the worker that found Borg gives us a timeframe. Apparently they "have been without power for a few days". Yeah, that makes sense to me. 

-So Wu and the hard drive containing the Overlord are both gone, yet Borg doesn't think there might be a connection? Like, we know that Wu hasn't taken it, but as far as Cyrus Borg is aware, he might have taken it to destroy it. 

-Pythor established his evil lair in the basement of Borg Tower? That seems highly unwise. Surely the tower would be searched, now that Cyrus Borg is back, since he wants to find the hard drive?

-I like that we get to see the junkyard again, if I'm still unsure whether to be happy that Ed and Edna are also back. 

-I love that the piece the ninja are searching for doesn't have either of the names Kai remembers it having. 

-Wait, what even is the ninja's plan here? They want Zane's hovercopter to be solar powered so they can get back to New Ninjago City ... But the hovercopter was destroyed in the last episode alongside their other hacked vehicles, wasn't it? Wouldn't it make more sense to just use Ed and Edna's car? You know, the one that was the last to get eliminated during the Ninjaball Run? It even runs on fuel, so a lack of electricity isn't a problem.

-Aww, Zane giving half his heart to save PIXAL is sweet. I agree with Edna here! Just ... don't ask her for her opinion on Serpentine.

-And it seems PIXAL's software also deems Cole to be the perfect match for Nya, much to Edna and Zane's confusion. You know, I bet her less robotic self that occasionally pops up would pick up on the fact that Nya and Jay clearly love each other. 

-Ooookay, boundaries, Jay, boundaries. You don't get to assault your brother just because a robot whose personality is in flux claims him to be a better match for the girl you love. I'm not even sure you're dating at this point, and even if you are, this would still be a red flag.

-Oh, Garmadon also wants Lloyd to keep using the other elemental powers he has, rather than solely relying on Creation. Yeah, that makes sense for his character. Plus, it's always cool to see Lloyd use other elements.

-Oh, I do believe this is the first we've ever seen Lloyd truly use Creation, as he just created a bridge from nothing, yet he acts like he already did so before. I suppose he must have refined his powers between the seasons. At the same time, his control over elemental powers, such as earth, has suffered. I suppose he has neglected using them, and therefore lost his balance, just like Garmadon warned him.

-Garmadon's exasparation is amusing.

-Oh my god, I love that Jay isn't offended by Cole calling him a clown, but rather by the fact Cole even considers being a clown an insult. 

-Oh, Cole still has super strength. "Consistency? Consistency isn't a word where I come from!" 

-Hold up, why are Cryptor and Min-droid at the junkyard? They were at the power station when they were shut down! How'd their deactivatied bodies get here?

-Go on Nya, tell 'em off. Although, honestly, Cole probably doesn't even know what they're fighting over, he was just suddenly attacked by Jay, so I don't think it's macho stuff so much as it is self-defense in his case. 

-Now the Nindroid's lasers can blast apart steel? It feels like they get stronger with every appearance!

-I love that Ed and Edna just have jetpacks lying around in case they need them. It fits their kooky inventor parents vibe. I'm just not sure how I feel about them abandoning their son with killer robots.

-The bubble damaging Cryptor's laser eye is also kind of funny. 

-So Zane is actually impaired by losing half of his heart, as he is not strong enough anymore to use Spinjtzu. I guess that does make sense.

-Eh? Where'd Kai go? Why are only Jay and Cole rushing over to help Zane?

-Hey, um, Kai? Jay? Cole? If literally any of you hits the trash compactor with one of the Technoblades you are holding right this very moment, nobody'll get crushed. 

-I love Jay's quip about getting close with Cole.

-Nya. You have two wires. Cutting one will stop the machine. No clue how you know that, but sure. If you were still your season 1 self, you'd just cut both!

-Thanks, Jay! Don't think about this symbolically, Nya, you don't have to date the guy whose wire you cut, just cut one! Do you want Jay and Cole to die?

-There are even more Nindroids at the junkyard? Seriously? I'm starting the question the common sense of Jay's parents. Don't gather killer robots!

-Man, Cyborg!Wu absolutely curbstomps Kai! And this is the same guy that lost to Pythor? Well, I suppose the ninja may well be out of practice, and the cyborg parts might strengthen Wu.

-And PIXAL is back to switching between being emotional and not. She screamed "No!" and rushed in to save Zane, and then coldly analyzes the situation like she herself is confused what happened. She blames it on Zane's heart, but it seems more likely that this is her true personality, which has grown beyond her analytic pre-programmed one. 

-Cryptor's sexist now? Why would he even consider PIXAL to be "a little girl" when she is older than Cryptor himself?

-Er, Zane? It's not because of your "shared reflexes" that you and PIXAL can use Spinjitzu together, but because together you have enough energy. How would sharing reflexes help? 

-Nya Honey Darling Sweetie Gravy just cut. Both. Wires! It ain't that hard! You already have both on the blade, just move it up, and boom, nobody's gonna get crushed!

-Nya doesn't say which wire she cut, so I'll choose to believe that she made the sensible choice and cut both.

-Wha - Shut up, Jay! How does Cole deserve to get beaten up, when you're the one who started whaling on him for no reason? I want to like you, stop being a jealous bastard!

-And now Kai's the one to make a quip about Zane and PIXAL's relationship, when that line should go to Jay in any other episode.

-Huh, I didn't know Pythor had archery skills. That's cool, I myself have some modest skills in the field.

 -The Overlord will be pleased? Pythor, what are you talking about? You failed, why would the Overlord like to hear that?

-Jay, stop antagonizing your brother, or you'll lose your spot as my third-favorite ninja.

-Garmadon and Lloyd's back and forth is probably the best part of this episode, to be entirely honest with you.

-Lloyd getting himself and his father in trouble because he interfered with a baby bird's attempt at flying is very believable. He's not mature enough to know that his help was not only unneeded, but may actively make things worse for the little bird. 

-Garmadon deciding that extra arms would come in handy, after all, is funny to me. 

-Lloyd managing to move a mountain is a very triumphant moment. The music just makes it really epic.

-Why is Jay yelling Wu that had a black beard? Yeah, I guess he did, but why would anyone care about that part? Actually, come to think of it, why did his beard turn black? He's a cyborg, why would that bring color back to his hair?

-Yeah, see? The Overlord clearly isn't pleased with Pythor! No clue what he was on about earlier.

-Pythor put a tracker on the falcon? When? It left alongside Lloyd and Garmadon in the last episode, and that was way before Pythor found the Overlord and took the hard drive, given that we literally se him plug it in at the beginning of this episode, so when would he have been able to get his hands on the falcon?