#because i do swap between t4t bi4bi jaya headcanons and nonbinary lesbian jay/trans lesbian nya headcanons

[unknownsigils]

PLEASE PLEASEEEE CAN U SAY UR ROSE BRIDE NYA AND PRINCE JAY THOUGHTS. I AM SOOO INTRIGUED

taking most of this from a late night ramble i did: if skybound sucked less and was actually intended to be about how societal norms on m/f relationships can negatively impact people, it could be like utena. just barely. skybound also has some stage play vibes, which ties into revolutionary girl utena's whole deal.

even though jay wants to say that he has no power over nya and he just likes her, he still participates in a system that has power over nya and nya is kind of just taken along with it. this can be about fate in ninjago or about society or about gender or what have you. jay also likes the idea of saving nya.

"all girls are like the rose bride in the end" ties into nya being a bride. nadakhan wanted a bride, and he kind of fits akio's role well enough in terms of manipulation and general creepiness. the rose bride is engaged to a duelist and the duelist has power over her. additionally, nya is 'fated' to be with jay, and nya is tied to her role as 'the girl ninja'. her roles as an accessory to a man overshadow her inherent worth as a person sometimes.

skybound as a season only 'resolves' itself when jay shows genuine empathy beyond the parameters of a normal m/f couple. nya finds empowerment when she's standing up to nadakhan and being the prince in this situation- or at the very least, deciding on her own terms that she wants a prince to help her.