It’s easy to forget that back in 2011, nobody knew if a show about spinning plastic ninjas would actually work. Honestly, the expectations were kind of all over the place. Before the "Way of the Ninja" pilots even aired, Lego was taking a massive gamble on a story that felt like a mashup of classic kung fu cinema and high-fantasy mythology. But when Ninjago Season 1 Episode 1, titled "Rise of the Snakes," finally hit the screen on December 11, 2011, the stakes shifted. This wasn't just a toy commercial anymore. It was the start of a decade-long saga.
Most people get the "first" episode confused.
If you’re looking for the very first time Kai meets Sensei Wu, you’re actually looking for the pilot episodes. Those are the ones where Samukai and the skeletons are the main villains. But "Rise of the Snakes" is the official premiere of the first full season, and it’s the episode that introduced the world to Lloyd Garmadon. At the time, he was just a bratty kid in a hoodie. Nobody—and I mean nobody—predicted he would become the most important character in the entire franchise.
The Lloyd Garmadon Problem in Rise of the Snakes
When you rewatch Ninjago Season 1 Episode 1 today, the first thing that hits you is how annoying Lloyd is. It’s intentional. He shows up in Jamanakai Village claiming to be this great dark lord, but he’s really just a lonely kid looking for candy and attention. He’s trying so hard to be like his father, Lord Garmadon, but he’s failing miserably.
The ninja—Kai, Jay, Zane, and Cole—don't even take him seriously. They literally hang him from a signpost.
It’s a funny moment, but it’s also the catalyst for everything that follows. If the ninja had been a little more empathetic, Lloyd might never have stumbled upon the Hynobrai tomb. He wouldn't have met Slithraa. He wouldn't have accidentally unleashed the Great Devourer. It’s a classic example of "small actions, massive consequences." The writing in this episode sets up a domino effect that lasts for several seasons.
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The dynamic between the four main ninja is also surprisingly grounded here. They’re lazy. They’re bored. Since the skeletons were defeated in the pilots, they’ve just been sitting around playing video games. Sensei Wu is rightfully frustrated. This episode introduces the "inner fire" concept—the idea that peace is actually more dangerous for a warrior than war because it makes them soft.
Why the Serpentine Changed the Game
The introduction of the Serpentine was a huge pivot for Lego. In the pilots, the enemies were skeletons—dumb, clunky, and mostly comic relief. But the Serpentine? They were different. They had hierarchy. They had different tribes with unique powers, like the Hypnobrai's ability to mind control people.
When Lloyd opens that first tomb in Ninjago Season 1 Episode 1, he isn't just finding a sidekick. He's uncovering a piece of Ninjago history that predates the humans. The lore expansion starts right here. We find out that the Serpentine were locked away for a reason.
The Hynobrai, led by Slithraa, are particularly creepy for a kids' show. That swirling red eye effect used for hypnosis actually felt like a real threat. It wasn't just physical combat anymore; it was psychological. When Cole gets hypnotized later in the episode, it raises the stakes. Suddenly, the ninja can't even trust each other. This kind of tension is why the show grew such a massive following among older kids and even adults. It wasn't just "hit the bad guy with a sword." It was about willpower and focus.
The Green Ninja Prophecy
We have to talk about the prophecy. This is the episode where the "Green Ninja" is first mentioned.
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The ninja find a scroll, and suddenly, their brotherhood starts to fracture. Everyone wants to be the chosen one. Kai, especially, develops this massive ego about it. It’s a brilliant bit of character writing because it makes the heroes flawed. They aren't perfect paragons of virtue. They’re competitive, slightly arrogant teenagers who want to be the best.
- Kai thinks his fire power makes him the natural choice.
- Jay is just Jay—he’s mostly confused but wants the glory.
- Zane is logical but curious about his own origins.
- Cole tries to keep it together but gets caught up in the rivalry.
This internal conflict is what makes the first season so compelling. The "Green Ninja" isn't even in the episode, yet his presence looms over every scene. It’s a masterclass in building anticipation.
Technical Shifts: Animation and Sound
If you watch Ninjago Season 1 Episode 1 back-to-back with the pilots, you'll notice a jump in animation quality. Wil Film (the original animation studio) started to get a better handle on the "plastic" aesthetic. The movements are more fluid. The elemental effects—like Kai’s fire and Jay’s lightning—look more vibrant.
Then there's the music. The Fold’s "The Weekend Whip" became an instant anthem, but the orchestral score by Jay Vincent and Michael Kramer is what really does the heavy lifting. The Serpentine theme is sneaky and slithering. The "Falcon" motifs that start to appear around Zane give the show a sense of mystery.
A lot of fans forget that this episode also solidified the "Golden Weapons" as the primary power source. Even though they eventually lose them, seeing the Scythe of Quakes or the Nunchucks of Lightning in action during the village battle was peak 2011 hype.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Premiere
One of the biggest misconceptions is that the Serpentine were always meant to be the "ancient evil." In reality, the writers were playing with the idea of "nature vs. nurture" through Lloyd.
Lloyd isn't evil. He's just a kid who was kicked out of a school for bad boys and had no one to turn to. When you look at Ninjago Season 1 Episode 1 through that lens, it’s actually kind of a sad episode. Lloyd is trying to command an army of snakes just so people will stop laughing at him.
Another mistake is thinking the ninja were already masters. They weren't. They were sloppy. They almost lost to a bunch of snakes because they were too busy arguing over who gets to be the Green Ninja. That’s the core theme of the season: teamwork isn't something you have; it's something you practice.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're revisiting the series or starting for the first time, there are a few things you should look out for in this specific episode to get the full experience:
- Watch the background in Jamanakai Village. There are several cameos and small details that hint at future episodes, including the first hints of the shopkeepers who become recurring characters.
- Pay attention to Zane’s behavior. Knowing what we know now about his true nature (revealed in "Tick Tock"), his robotic precision in the opening scenes is a great "hidden in plain sight" detail.
- Check the Serpentine staff. Each tribe has a staff that holds the anti-venom. The design of these staffs influenced the Lego sets heavily and are key to the plot of the entire first half of the season.
- Focus on the dialogue about Lord Garmadon. Even though he’s not the primary antagonist of this episode, the way the characters speak about him sets up his redemption arc years in advance.
The legacy of Ninjago Season 1 Episode 1 is basically the foundation of the Lego "Big Bang" themes. It proved that you could take a toy line and turn it into a genuine piece of serialized television with lore, character growth, and high stakes. Without the success of "Rise of the Snakes," we probably wouldn't have Monkie Kid, Nexo Knights, or even the Lego Movie in the same way.
It’s the episode that turned a gimmick into a legend.
To get the most out of your rewatch, try to find the original broadcast version if possible. Some newer streaming edits have slightly different pacing or music cues. Seeing it the way it aired in 2011 is the only way to truly feel that "Ninjago Fever" that took over the world. Once you finish this episode, move immediately to "The Home," as it completes the first major character arc for the team and settles the "Green Ninja" tension temporarily before the real chaos begins.