Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Dragons Rising is exactly what you'd expect from a LEGO Ninjago reboot: colorful, action-packed, and reliably entertaining without being brilliant or terrible. It's the comfort food of kids' TV—not going to teach your kid calculus, but also not going to make you want to throw the remote.

The mentorship angle is genuinely nice, and the franchise has always done a decent job with teamwork and perseverance themes. The animation is solid, the humor lands for the target age, and it's available everywhere with proper safety features.

The main 'watch for' is that it's very toy-adjacent (shocking, I know), so expect LEGO set requests. And while the action is cartoon-safe, it's non-stop ninja battles, so if your kid gets wound up by that kind of thing, maybe not a before-bed show.

Bottom line: If your kid is in the 6-10 range and likes adventure shows, this is a solid pick. It won't change their life, but it'll keep them entertained while you make dinner, and you won't hate hearing it from the other room.

Age Fit

Best for ages 6-12, right in the LEGO sweet spot. Common Sense says 7, which tracks for kids who can handle constant (but cartoonish) action. Older elementary kids will appreciate the expanded lore, while younger ones just enjoy the ninja moves.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

78

LEGO Ninjago continues its tradition of modeling teamwork, mentorship, and heroism. The premise of training a new generation shows positive intergenerational relationships. The franchise is known for balancing action with humor and friendship themes. However, it's still fundamentally a combat-focused show with ninja battles, which keeps it from scoring higher on pure wholesomeness.

Imaginative

82

The concept of 16 realms fusing into a 'cosmic unstable dystopia' and the quest for Elemental Dragons offers solid world-building and fantasy elements. LEGO properties inherently encourage building and creative play beyond the screen. The Spinjitzu martial arts system and elemental powers provide imaginative combat mechanics that kids often replicate in play.

Safe

85

Common Sense Media rates it for age 7, and it's available in kids mode on Netflix. As a LEGO property, it maintains cartoon violence without gore or real danger. The IMDb 7.7 rating suggests audience approval without major content concerns. No surprise scary content, death scenes, or inappropriate material typical of the franchise. LEGO shows are predictably safe with stylized action.

Enriching

68

Offers themes of mentorship, perseverance, and working together to save the world. The elemental powers concept touches on natural forces. However, it's primarily an action-adventure toy franchise show—entertaining but not deeply educational or emotionally complex. The 'good vs evil' framework is straightforward without much moral nuance.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Strong mentorship themes as experienced ninjas train the next generation—positive intergenerational modeling
Imaginative world-building with 16 realms merging and elemental dragons to discover
Encourages creative play beyond the screen (kids will absolutely want the LEGO sets, fair warning)
Balances action with humor and friendship, maintaining the franchise's watchable formula
Available across multiple platforms with kids mode, so easy access and safe viewing

⚠

What to Watch For

Lots of stylized ninja combat—it's cartoon violence but constant, so not for sensitive kids
Will 100% lead to requests for LEGO sets, which aren't cheap
The 'cosmic unstable dystopia' premise might sound intense but it's still LEGO-level stakes
Kids who haven't watched previous Ninjago seasons might feel a bit lost on character backstory

Conversation Starters

"Who would you want as your ninja mentor and what would you want to learn from them?"
"If you had an elemental power like the dragons, which one would you pick and why?"
"What do you think makes someone ready to teach others what they know?"
"The show is about different realms colliding—what would happen if our world merged with another one?"

Stills