You ever watch a show that's basically just meant to sell plastic bricks and then suddenly it hits you with a massive existential crisis? That's Monkie Kid season 4 for you. Honestly, I didn't expect this season to go as hard as it did. After the Lady Bone Demon arc, most of us figured we’d get a bit of a breather. We didn't. Instead, the writers decided to rip open the history books—specifically the Scroll of Memory—and show us that the legendary Sun Wukong might not be the flawless hero MK thinks he is.
It’s heavy stuff.
What Really Happened With the Scroll of Memory?
The whole season kicks off with MK trying to live his best hero life, but everything goes south when he opens a cursed scroll. This isn't just any paper. It’s the Scroll of Memory, and it basically swallows his friends whole. MK and Mei have to jump in to save them, which leads to this wild, episodic trip through the past.
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We see Tang in the shoes of his ancestor, the great monk Tang Sanzang. We see Pigsy and Sandy facing off in the bodies of Zhu Ganglie and a literal river monster. It’s cool because it ties the show back to the original Journey to the West novel more directly than ever before. But while the gang is busy playing historical dress-up, a new player enters the game.
Enter Azure Lion.
At first, he seems like a chill guy. He helps MK and Mei navigate the scroll. He talks about his "shaken" brotherly bond with Wukong. You want to trust him. He's got that "noble warrior" vibe. But the second that protective curse is broken, the mask slips. Azure wasn't just helping out of the goodness of his heart; he was using MK to free his old squad: the Brotherhood.
The Brotherhood: Not Your Average Villains
This is where things get complicated. Usually, the bad guys in this show just want to freeze the world or eat people. The Brotherhood—consisting of Azure Lion, Yellowtusk Elephant, and the Golden-Winged Peng—is different. They actually think they’re the heroes.
- Azure Lion is convinced the Jade Emperor is a lazy, selfish ruler who lets the mortal realm suffer.
- Yellowtusk is the brains, always calculating, though he’s arguably the most loyal to the cause.
- Peng is... well, Peng is a lot. They’re arrogant, fast, and have zero patience for "pitiful creatures."
They want to storm the Celestial Realm and replace the current management. It’s a coup. And honestly? When Azure explains his backstory—how Wukong basically ditched them after their first failed rebellion to go on the pilgrimage—you kinda feel for the guy. Wukong wasn't always the "reformed" mentor we see now. He had a messy past, and Azure is the living embodiment of the bridges Wukong burned.
Why Monkie Kid Season 4 Still Matters in 2026
The reason this season sticks with fans is the betrayal. It wasn't just Azure betraying MK. It was the revelation that Sun Wukong used the Scroll of Memory to imprison his own brothers centuries ago. MK spent three seasons idolizing "The Great Sage," and season 4 is the moment that pedestal finally cracks.
The animation in these fights is also top-tier. When the Brotherhood attacks the Celestial Realm, the scale is massive. We're talking reality-tearing levels of power.
But it’s the ending of the special, The Emperor's Wrath, that really leaves a mark. Azure Lion actually succeeds. He kills the Jade Emperor (sorta) and takes the throne. But the power is too much. He realizes too late that his "perfect world" is actually tearing the universe apart at the seams.
The Tragic Fate of Azure Lion
Azure’s end is one of the saddest moments in the series. He’s not defeated by a big punch. He realizes he messed up. To save the universe, he has to mend the rifts himself, a process that literally erodes his existence.
It’s a sacrifice that feels earned.
MK tries to save him—because that’s who MK is—but Wukong stops him. He knows this is Azure’s burden to bear. It’s a stark contrast to how the Lady Bone Demon was handled. There’s no big celebration at the end. Just a lot of questions about what it means to be a hero and whether you can ever truly "fix" the mistakes of the past.
Key Takeaways for Your Next Rewatch:
- Look at the symbols: The Oracle Bone Script used on the Scroll is the same language Lady Bone Demon used. The connections were there all along.
- Pay attention to Macaque: He’s surprisingly chill this season, but his reactions to the Brotherhood show just how much he’s changed since his villain days.
- The "Ink" Aesthetic: The way the show uses ink-wash styles during the memory sequences is beautiful and helps differentiate the "past" from the "present."
If you're looking to catch up, the best way is still through the official LEGO Channel or streaming platforms like Peacock, depending on your region. The ten main episodes plus the four-part special The Emperor's Wrath make up the complete narrative.
Next, you should definitely watch the Season 4 intro and the The Jade Emperor variant side-by-side; the subtle changes in the animation tell a whole story by themselves.