The Darkest Hour is the thirteenth episode of the thirteenth season of Ninjago and the 157th episode overall. It aired on July 21, 2020, in Australia. It aired in the US on October 25, 2020, paired up with "The Ascent".
Forced to flee by the arrival of Grief-Bringer, the ninja, the Munce and the Geckles take refuge in the Geckle Strong-Cave. But the bitter feud between Munce and Geckles threatens to tear them apart, just when unity is needed most... when they are about to confront the Skull Sorcerer and Grief-Bringer![1]
Cartoon Network Asia: The Skull Sorcerer hunts down the ninja who flee to the Geckle "Strong-Cave". The Skull Sorcerer promies to let the Munce and Geckles live if they turn over the ninja.[2]
Extended: The Skull Sorcerer hunts down the ninja who flee to the Geckle "Strong-Cave". The Skull Sorcerer promies to let the Munce and Geckles live if they turn over the ninja. Nya stumbles on a possible way out of the cave and the Munce and Geckles work together to clear a rubble-strewn tunnel. The Munce and Geckles begin to work past their differences. But then Grief-Bringer forces his way into the cave.[3]
Plot
The ninja (minus Cole), Geckles, and Munce are running away from Grief-Bringer. Murtessa tells Nya about the dragon which caused havoc in the past, and Nya thought the hero destroyed it, but it was somehow revived. Meanwhile, an out-of-breath Gulch tells Kai the Geckle Strong-Cave is the only way to defend themselves. Kai is about to shout to everyone, but Gulch covers Kai's mouth and thinks he's crazy for telling the Munce as well. However, Kai believes they are united, so he shouts to head to the cave.
Back at the lava river, Grief-Bringer creates a bridge using the stalactites and the Re-Awakened begin marching towards the Geckles and Munce. Meanwhile, everyone is able to make it inside the Geckle Strong-Cave, so they begin to close it. However, the door gets stuck, so Nya and the Munce try to cut the chain. In order to buy extra time, Lloyd, Jay, Kai, and Zane fight the Awakened Warriors. The ninja use Spinjitzu to take care of the Awakened Warriors, but they quickly rebuild themselves. Murtessa is finally able to break the chains to door, and it begins closing. The ninja rush to get inside before it closes.
Kai thinks they are safe, but Gulch is upset at Kai for allowing the Munce into the cave as well. Gluch and Murtessa accuse each other of stealing the Blades of Deliverance as well as whether the hero's name is Milly or Gilly.
Suddenly, the Skull Sorcerer offers a deal to the Munce and Geckles. He proposes handing over the ninja, and allowing the Geckles and Munce to resume their work in the mines instead of facing a potential genocide. Gluch and Murtessa say they won't serve the Skull Sorcerer again, but before the Skull Sorcerer could say something, Gluch and Murtessa argue with each other again. When they finally agree to speak at different times, the Skull Sorcerer, demands them to be destroyed.
Grief-Bringer bangs his head on the door while the Awakened Warriors use a long battering ram to destroy the door. The Geckles and Munce hide in fear, but Nya discovers some rocks covering up something. She asks Zane to scan the rock and they discover it might be a potential exit. Nya hollers to the two tribes about the potential exit, but it requires everyone to work together in order to remove the rocks.
The two tribes work extremely well together, and they are able to remove the rocks. To their shock, they discover it's a storage room and a dead end. Accepting their defeat, Gulch apologizes for putting everyone in this situation. Murtessa then apologizes for being harsh to the Geckles and realizes there is some common ground between the two tribes. They then establish trust by Kai and Nya, declaring peace with the opposing tribe.
Without notice, the door is demolished, and everyone is prepared to fight the Skull Sorcerer. However, Lloyd is willing to compromise by saying the ninja will surrender, but he must allow the Geckles and Munce to remain free. The Skull Sorcerer takes their deal, so the ninja are lead out. Meanwhile, Murtessa demands the Skull Sorcerer to leave, but the Skull Sorcerer double-crosses the tribes and captures them. Hazza D'ur laughs at the tribes, calling them fools.
The ninja's threat to the Re-Awakened would be "You shall not pass!", a reference to Gandalf from Lord of the Rings, had Zane not subverted the line at the last minute.
However, the line that Zane said somewhat defines the word "pass".
Continuity
This marks the first episode to have more than one character announcing the episode title.
The Geckles and Munce establish peace between one another.
Errors
Gulch was seen with his sash in the beginning of the episode and when he pointed out that ninja lead the Munce into the Geckle Strong-Cave, despite giving it to Kai in "Trial By Mino."
