Between You and Lee (episode)

Synopsis[]

LEGO's YouTube Channel[]

🌀 The mysteries get even BIGGER! In this full episode, Lloyd, Jay, Nya, and Wyldfyre go undercover in the strange Land of Lee where nothing is as it seems. The Ninja go undercover to find Arin’s parents and uncover the truth. Back in Ninjago, Riyu’s training with Rontu gets off to a bumpy start, and Arin and Sora begin to suspect Ras is hiding a dangerous secret. So many truths still need to be uncovered!^[1]

Streaming Services[]

Netflix[]

Jay, Lloyd, Nya and Wyldfyre awaken outside the Land of Lee — a strange, musical community created by a single resident and his hundreds of clones.

Extended[]

Lloyd, Nya, Jay and Wyldfyre arrive in Lee, where survivors of the Merge are sheltered in an underground community run by the realm's unusual namesake, Lee, but all is not as it seems. Back in Ninjago, Rontu takes Riyu to the Crossroads for training where the dragons get into trouble. Meanwhile, Arin and Sora suspect Ras is keeping a dangerous secret as they journey into the Underworld.^[2]

Plot[]

A supply boat arrives at a remote island inhabited by Lee, who lives alone cultivating candy mushrooms. He trades his harvest with a female captain and her Merlopian crew in exchange for supplies. Although the captain invites him to leave the lonely island and meet other people, Lee happily declines, saying he is his own best friend. As Lee carries the supplies uphill, he cannot manage the load alone, so he creates a duplicate of himself to help. At the top of the hill, another Lee secretly activates a hidden mechanism, revealing that the island is home to many identical Lees. The duplicates work together to move the supplies into a concealed underground settlement. Just then, a portal opens and Nya, Wyldfyre, Lloyd, and Jay arrive in the mysterious land. Lee enthusiastically greets them, and soon they are welcomed by a crowd of identical Lees, who proudly announce that they have entered the Land of Lee. The Ninja are left stunned and confused by the sight of so many copies of the same person, setting the stage for their unusual adventure among the endlessly cheerful Lees.

The Ninja cautiously approach the welcoming group of Lees. Wyldfyre jokes that the portal must have affected her vision as she counts more and more identical Lees, while Jay decides to simply accept the strange situation and follow along. Lee introduces himself, prompting Lloyd to ask who all the other identical people are. Lee cheerfully explains that every one of them is also Lee. Rather than being separate clones, he says they are all the same individual sharing multiple bodies. The various Lees demonstrate this by speaking from different places at once, insisting that "Lee is just Lee." Lee proudly describes his unusual ability as having one person with many bodies, allowing him to perform several tasks simultaneously. He even jokes that he is "constant-Lee multitasking," a pun that leaves the Ninja puzzled as they try to understand the bizarre nature of the Land of Lee. After introducing themselves, the Ninja explain who they are. Lloyd formally introduces himself and his younger sister, Wyldfyre, who humorously confirms that her unusual name is genuine. Lee warmly greets each of them, fascinated by meeting new people. When it is Jay and Nya's turn, Jay jokingly introduces himself as "Strong McCoolGuy" and claims Nya is his wife. Nya quickly corrects him, revealing her real name and playfully punching him for the joke. Lee, unfamiliar with sarcasm, believes the story and politely greets "Mr. and Mrs. McCoolGuy," even bowing to Jay after he jokingly upgrades his title to "Count McCoolGuy," much to Nya's frustration. The conversation then turns serious as Jay asks how they ended up in the Land of Lee. Lee explains that some time ago, every single realm was destroyed in a catastrophic event known as the Merge. He reassures the Ninja that they survived because they had been trapped inside an "interstitial space bubble," which protected them until now. Lee happily adds that many survivors from non-Lee worlds have since arrived, meaning he is no longer alone. However, Wyldfyre notices that the Land of Lee appears deserted except for the many Lees and spots several gravestones, making her question what Lee really means. Promising to explain everything, Lee leads the Ninja and the other Lees into a hidden elevator concealed inside a rocky outcrop, descending into the underground city beneath the island.

The hidden elevator carries the group deep beneath the island. Nya asks whether everyone lives in an underground bunker, and Lee cheerfully replies that it is "the fun kind." As the elevator doors open, the Ninja are amazed to discover a vast underground neighborhood built inside a giant cavern, complete with homes, streets, and even a giant mechanical sun providing constant daylight. Jay is astonished that such a place exists beneath the island, and Lee proudly explains that he built the entire settlement himself. He notes that constructing the artificial sun was the most difficult part, but now the underground community enjoys permanent sunshine despite the bleak conditions on the surface. After exiting the elevator, the Ninja see many different species living peacefully alongside the numerous Lees. Two Lees unload the supplies while another, riding a Mech Dragon, carries them away, showing how organized and self-sufficient the community has become. Lee then gathers everyone together and enthusiastically announces that the Community of Lee has welcomed new neighbors. The crowd immediately cheers and excitedly declares that it is time for new neighbor orientation. Realizing that something unusual is about to happen, Jay quietly warns the other Ninja to brace themselves as the lights suddenly go out and a spotlight shines on Lee, signaling the start of the orientation ceremony. The welcoming ceremony suddenly transforms into a lively musical performance led by Lee and his many counterparts. Through an upbeat song, Lee encourages the Ninja to stop dwelling on the destruction of the realms and instead embrace the joy of living in the Land of Lee. The song showcases the community's unusual way of life. Lee proudly sings about the underground city's attractions, including vast caverns to explore, an artificial sunny sky, thrilling theme parks, jet pack races, and free rides on Mech Dragons. He emphasizes that fun is the community's highest priority, even joking that "fun" is their only currency. When a Geckle points out that they have no money, Lee cheerfully responds that money is unnecessary because enjoyment is what truly matters. The performance also highlights the efficiency of the settlement, with Lee boasting about instant mail delivery, constant entertainment, and the perfectly synchronized lives of the many Lees. The entire community enthusiastically joins in, celebrating their optimistic outlook despite the catastrophic destruction of the old realms. Although the song is energetic and infectious, its relentless positivity contrasts with the Ninja's lingering concerns about their missing friends and the reality of the Merge, hinting that Lee's cheerful paradise may be hiding deeper problems beneath its carefree surface. Lee's elaborate musical number continues with increasingly extravagant promises about life in the Land of Lee. The many Lees perform synchronized dances, change costumes, and describe fantastical attractions such as ice cream hotels, underwater playgrounds, musical performances, and comedy shows, insisting that endless happiness can be found underground. As the song grows more exaggerated, the Ninja begin to realize that Lee is hiding the truth. During a quiet moment, Nya questions why he keeps insisting that the Merge destroyed the realms and made the outside world uninhabitable. Jay suspects Lee is deliberately telling this story to keep everyone living safely in the underground settlement instead of venturing outside. Even Wyldfyre notices that Lee's enthusiasm seems unusually intense. The performance builds to a grand finale, with Lee proclaiming that all happiness exists in the Land of Lee and encouraging everyone to remain in his underground paradise forever. Surrounded by the cheering residents, the many Lees celebrate the community's unity as the song ends to enthusiastic applause. Although the audience loves the performance, the Ninja remain unconvinced. Lloyd awkwardly thanks Lee for the welcome, while the Lees excitedly crowd around their new guests. As the celebration continues, Nya quietly remarks to Jay that the Land of Lee is far stranger than they expected, reinforcing the group's growing suspicion that Lee's cheerful façade is concealing a much darker reality.

In the Monastery of Spinjitzu, where Rontu is training Riyu and Frak still training by Cole and Kai. Although Riyu shows steady improvement, Frak struggles to complete the obstacle course. Kai and Cole encourage the dragons to keep practicing, but an attempt to perform Spinjitzu goes badly wrong, damaging part of the monastery's training grounds. The noise attracts Mr. Frohicky, the monastery's Assistant Keeper, who is horrified by the destruction. Despite Rontu's apology and Cole's explanation that they were only training, Mr. Frohicky insists that everyone leave so he can repair the damage. Realizing they can no longer continue their lessons there, Cole suggests relocating the training to the Land of Lost Things, where there is plenty of open space. He also jokes that Geo has been learning to bake, so they might even find some leftover practice cakes. As Cole, Kai, and Frak head off toward the Land of Lost Things, Rontu decides to find another suitable location for dragon training. After speaking with Riyu, he agrees that a nearby junkyard could serve as a good alternative. Rontu and Riyu then depart together, leaving Mr. Frohicky behind to repair the damage at the monastery.

The Ninja settle into one of the underground homes while they consider their next move. Wyldfyre enjoys a cup of tea made from lava leaves, and Lloyd is surprised that Lee has already assigned them a comfortable "starter house." Meanwhile, Jay questions the unusual nature of the community, wondering why everyone is so relentlessly cheerful and even asking where the monks of the Monastery of Spinjitzu have gone. As friendly residents continue greeting them, Nya grows suspicious of the town's constant enthusiasm and wonders whether Lee has somehow brainwashed everyone. Jay reveals that, during his time working for the Administration, officials secretly investigated the Land of Lee for signs of mind control, magical manipulation, possession, or chemical influence. Their investigation found nothing—everyone genuinely enjoys living there. Jay explains that the Administration eventually decided to leave the community alone because no laws were being broken. Since Lee's optimistic stories are simply lies rather than crimes, there is no legal basis to intervene, and many Administration employees actually enjoy visiting the settlement themselves. Refocusing on their mission, Lloyd suggests that if Arin's parents were told there was no safe world outside the underground city, it would explain why they never tried to search for their son. Wyldfyre proposes simply asking Lee where they are, but Jay warns that revealing their true purpose could cause Lee to throw them out before they find any answers. The group agrees to blend in as ordinary new neighbors while quietly investigating the community. Lloyd suggests splitting up and participating in local activities to gather information without arousing suspicion. As he picks up a tablet and begins casually asking questions, Wyldfyre jokingly adopts the undercover nickname "SlyFyre," and the Ninja begin their covert search for clues about Arin's parents.

Elsewhere, Rontu continues training Riyu at Kreel's Junkyard, using piles of scrap metal as practice targets. He reminds the young dragon that mastering Spinjitzu is not only about physical strength but also about focus and mental discipline, encouraging Riyu to feel the technique with both his body and his mind. Taking the lesson to heart, Riyu performs a series of agile spins and kicks, smashing through heaps of junk. During one impressive combination, he knocks a rusty bathtub off a stack of scrap before striking it with his tail, sending it crashing into a pile of debris and crushing it. Although pleased with Riyu's progress, Rontu suddenly realizes they may have caused considerable damage to someone else's property. He asks Riyu who owns the junkyard, concerned that the owner might not appreciate their impromptu training session. This raises the possibility that their practice could soon attract some unwanted attention.

Lloyd visits a neighborhood book club, hoping to casually ask whether anyone has seen Arin's parents, Jenny and Barry. The club's members eagerly welcome him but immediately steer the conversation away from any unrelated topics. Instead of discussing different books, the residents proudly reveal that the club's current selection is "Between You and Lee", the official autobiography of Lee. One member enthusiastically praises the book, while a Merlopian jokes that it is "Double-Lee-rific," prompting everyone to laugh and continue their discussion. Lloyd becomes increasingly uncomfortable as he realizes the club is completely obsessed with Lee. Even after he mentions Jenny and Barry, the members ignore the question and insist on returning to their conversation about Lee's autobiography, with one participant joking that the book could actually use even more Lee. Recognizing that the book club offers no useful information and is entirely consumed by admiration for Lee, Lloyd quietly excuses himself and leaves, concluding that this approach will not help the Ninja locate Arin's parents.

Meanwhile, Wyldfyre investigates by attending a neighborhood party, bringing a casserole as a friendly gesture. The partygoers enthusiastically welcome her and explain that the celebration is simply to appreciate how wonderful life is in the Land of Lee. When Wyldfyre casually asks whether anyone has seen Jenny and Barry, the residents admit they have never heard of them and quickly change the subject. Trying to blend in, Wyldfyre joins a limbo contest. Confident in her agility, she boasts that the challenge is easy and successfully limbos beneath the bar even after it is lowered several times. Her impressive performance earns loud cheers from the crowd, but she notices that one resident, Elway, remains unimpressed. Curious, Wyldfyre approaches Elway, who quietly reveals that he can tell from her behavior that she is not like everyone else. Nervously trying to maintain her cover, Wyldfyre stumbles over her own name, but Elway reassures her that he has also begun questioning the stories everyone has been told. In private, Elway confides that although the other residents are content to enjoy life and accept Lee's version of events, he believes something is wrong. He claims to have evidence that Lee has been lying about the Merge and asks Wyldfyre to meet him later so he can show her his proof. Seeing a potential breakthrough in their investigation, Wyldfyre agrees, giving the Ninja their first real lead in uncovering the truth behind the Land of Lee.

Later, Wyldfyre returns to the house and excitedly tells Lloyd that she has found a promising lead. Although it is not directly connected to Arin's parents, she explains that a resident named Elway believes Lee has been hiding the truth about the Merge and claims to have evidence exposing Lee's deception. Following Elway's directions, Lloyd and Wyldfyre arrive at the house where they are supposed to meet him. However, when Lloyd knocks on the door, they are surprised to find Lee answering instead. Cheerful as ever, Lee explains that he is simply preparing the house for its next tenant and insists that the previous resident has merely moved to another part of the underground community—Cavern Five, a huge waterside district where, according to Lee, everyone is free to relocate whenever they wish. Although Lee's explanation sounds harmless, it immediately raises the Ninja's suspicions. After he closes the door, Wyldfyre realizes that the missing tenant was almost certainly Elway, the very person who had promised to reveal proof that Lee was lying. Lloyd grimly concludes that just as Elway was about to expose Lee's secrets, Lee made him disappear, strengthening their belief that something far more sinister is happening beneath the Land of Lee's cheerful exterior.

That night, the artificial clockwork sun sets and the clockwork moon rises over the underground city. From a hiding place, Lloyd and Wyldfyre watch as the many Lees prepare the now-empty house for a new resident. Lloyd realizes that Lee is deliberately preventing the townspeople from asking certain questions, but he still does not understand why. As they continue observing, a mysterious woman quietly approaches them and warns them to keep their voices down, explaining that Lee has ears everywhere. She assumes they are not working for Lee because they are still new to the community. The woman reveals that she is a former journalist who arrived in the Land of Lee about a year earlier. Hoping to create a community newspaper, she initially received Lee's support. However, as she investigated Lee's story about the Merge, she began discovering numerous inconsistencies. She explains that she had been planning to speak with the resident who lived in the nearby house to gather more evidence, but that person has suddenly disappeared. Realizing they have found another ally, Lloyd decides to reveal the truth. He tells the journalist that the outside world still exists and that he and Wyldfyre are Ninja from the surface, secretly searching for Arin's parents. Relieved to learn she was right to doubt Lee's claims, the journalist agrees to help them find the missing couple if they, in turn, help her expose the truth about the outside world to the people of the Land of Lee.

Meanwhile, Rontu and Riyu are confronted by Kreel, the owner of the junkyard, after she discovers the extensive destruction caused during the dragon's training. Expecting to be angry, Rontu immediately takes responsibility, introducing himself as Riyu's teacher and apologizing for the condition of her property. To Rontu's surprise, Kreel is delighted rather than upset. She reveals that she had been hired to demolish all of the junk in the yard but had not yet gotten around to doing the work herself. Seeing that Riyu has already destroyed much of the scrap, she considers the accidental damage a huge favor. Realizing the misunderstanding has worked out in their favor, Rontu offers to continue helping clear the junkyard as long as he and Riyu are allowed to keep using it as a training ground. Kreel happily agrees to the arrangement and leaves, satisfied that the demolition is being done for her. With the problem unexpectedly resolved, Rontu reminds Riyu that situations are not always what they first appear to be. Encouraged by the lesson, Riyu resumes his Spinjitzu training, smashing through another pile of scrap metal as the pair continue practicing in their new training location.

Jay and Nya continue their undercover mission by attending a neighborhood tango class, wearing nametags with their fake identities to avoid attracting suspicion. Although Jay complains that the activity is ridiculous, Nya reminds him to stay focused and keep an eye out for anyone wearing the names "Jenny" or "Barry." As the lesson progresses, Jay and Nya unexpectedly dance together with remarkable precision. Their natural teamwork allows them to perform the tango flawlessly, catching the attention of the other neighbors. One impressed resident compliments them, saying they are so perfectly synchronized that they clearly do not need any dance lessons. Embarrassed by the remark and eager to deny any suggestion that they are getting along unusually well, Jay and Nya immediately protest in unison, insisting that they are not in perfect sync. The brief encounter provides no new clues about Arin's parents, but it humorously highlights that, despite their constant bickering, Jay and Nya continue to work together exceptionally well when it matters.

Following the former journalist's lead, Lloyd and Wyldfyre arrive at a hidden facility concealed behind a secret door. Using an access card, the journalist guides them through a series of secured passages until they discover Elway imprisoned inside a cage. Strange tentacles connected to a Dream-Guyver are attached to his head, while he repeatedly chants, "I love Lee," suggesting that his thoughts are being manipulated. Wyldfyre immediately recognizes Elway as the resident who had promised to reveal the truth, and Lloyd realizes that Lee has been forcibly altering his memories. Determined to rescue him, the two Ninja rush toward the cage. Before they can act, however, the supposed journalist stops them. She suddenly reveals that she was never a journalist at all—it was Lee in disguise. Having suspected the Ninja from the beginning, Lee admits that the entire investigation was an elaborate trap designed to expose them as outsiders. Calling Lloyd and Wyldfyre "bad neighbors," Lee explains that while most residents are genuinely happy in the Land of Lee, a few occasionally begin questioning his version of events. Whenever that happens, he uses the Dream-Guyver to erase their doubts and restore their affection for him. As Lloyd and Wyldfyre prepare to fight, Lee calmly pulls out a mysterious flower and releases a cloud of green smoke from it. The smoke quickly overwhelms the two Ninja, causing them to cough as Lee confidently tells them that, before long, they will forget all their suspicions and become his loyal friends once again. This shocking revelation confirms that Lee has indeed been suppressing dissent through mind-altering methods, exposing the dark secret hidden beneath the Land of Lee's cheerful façade.

Appearances[]

Characters[]

Cast[]

• Alfonzo Frohicky - Andrew McNee
• Book Club Member - Kazumi Evans
• Captain - Rebecca Shoichet
• Cole - Andrew Francis
• Elway - Michael Daingerfield
• Frak - David A. Kaye
• Incidental Kid - Erin Mathews
• Incidental 1 - Kelly Metzger
• Incidental 2 - Brian Drummond
• Incidental 3 - Kazumi Evans
• Jay - Michael Adamthwaite
• Kai - Vincent Tong
• Kreel - Kelly Sheridan
• Lawn Bowler - Rebecca Shoichet
• Lee/Journalist - Sebastian Johansson, Erin Mathews
• Lloyd - Sam Vincent
• Nya - Kelly Metzger
• Partygoer - Andrew McNee
• Riyu - Brian Drummond
• Rontu - Kazumi Evans
• Wyldfyre - Kazumi Evans

Mentioned[]

• Administration Agents
• Barry
• Geo
• Jenny
• Monks

Miscellaneous[]

• Arin (pictured)
• Wu (pictured)

Creatures[]

• Dream-Guyver
• Riyu
• Rontu

Items[]

• Between You and Lee
• Candy Mushrooms (pictured)
• Gis
  • Ghost Hunter (Kai, Cole, Frak)
  • Realm Reassignment Disguises (Wyldfyre, Jay, Lloyd, Nya)
• Lee's cages
• Zip Flies

Vehicles[]

• Jay's mech
• Mech Dragon

Events[]

• The Merge (mentioned)

Locations[]

• Imperium
  • Land of Lost Things (mentioned)
• Land of Lee
  • Community of Lee
    • Backstage
  • Lee's cemetery
• Land of Madness
  • The Administration (portal)
• Ninjago
  • Crossroads
    • Kreel's Junkyard

Species[]

• Devonians
• Dragons
  • Forest Dragons
  • Mountain Dragons
• Geckles
• Humans
• Lava-Tides
• Merlopians
• Monsters
  • Dream-Guyvers
• Mucoids
• Munce
• Oni/Dragon/Human hybrids
• Serpentine
  • Constrictai/Venomari hybrids

Trivia[]

Cultural references[]

• Lee doing stand-up and opening with: "What's the deal with the Merge" is reference to Jerry Seinfeld's observational comedy, commonly associated with Seinfeld.
  • However, the line itself has since then been recognised as a trope used to parody observational stand-up comedy in general.

Continuity[]

• Nya uses her mother's first name as part of her fake name.
• This episode marks the second time Lloyd uses his alias of Doyll Donmagar. He first used the name in "Return to Imperium" and his alias is an anagram of his real name Lloyd Garmadon.
  • Additionally, Lloyd is now the second Ninja to reuse an alias as a fake name. The first time was when Cole reused his alias of Rocky Dangerbuff from "The Oni and the Dragon" throughout the first few episodes of Hunted.
• This is the first episode of Dragons Rising where both Arin and Sora don't appear.
• Although it was only one word, this makes the first time Lloyd sings in not just Ninjago: Dragons Rising but also the first time in canon where he sings as he sings the word "rhyme" during Lee's dance number.
  • Additionally, this is the second time Lloyd has been heard singing in the franchise, the first and last times he sung were in the non-canon episodes of Wu's Teas being "Music Night Part 1" and "Music Night Part 2".
  • This also means that both of Lloyd's voice actors, Jillian Michaels and Sam Vincent have sang as the character at least once.
• Jay's line, "If it's a monastery, where are all the monks? Are you the monks?" is a reference to "Wasted True Potential" in the original series, where Wu said the Monastery used to be home to monks before they evolved into Ninja.
  • This also pokes fun at the fact that in the Tales from the Monastery of Spinjitzu shorts as well as Season 10: March of the Oni, there were monks around the Monastery helping to rebuild and paint the building but then never appeared again after that.

Errors[]

• The description for the episode on LEGO's YouTube Channel says, "Arin and Sora begin to suspect Ras is hiding a dangerous secret.", although Arin, Sora and Ras do not appear in the episode.

Videos[]

Translations[]

Language	Name
Arabic	بينك وبين مدينة ليي
Chinese (Simplified)	你和李的距离
Czech	Mezi vámi a Leem
Dutch	Over Jou en Lee
French	Entre vous et Lee
German	Im Land von Lee
Japanese	なんだここは!? 唄う、リー王国
Polish	Opowiedz mi o Lee
Russian	Между тобой и Ли
Spanish (Latin America)	La Tierra de Lee[3] El Mundo de Lee[4]
Spanish (Spain)	Entré Tú y Lee
Ukrainian	Між тобою та Лі

References[]