The Worst Rescue Ever is the third episode of the thirteenth season of Ninjago and the 147th episode overall. It aired first in English on July 7, 2020, in Australia. It aired in the US on September 20, 2020, paired up with "The Two Blades".[1]
The ninja attempt to rescue Cole, but the bickering of his fellow prisoners alerts the Skull Sorcerer, and soon the ninja are prisoners too.[2]
Extended:Cole is a prisoner of the Skull Sorcerer while Princess Vania races back to the surface where she tells the ninja and her father what she saw below. The ninja quickly gather their things and race to Cole's rescue. Deep underground, Cole toils in darkness alongside the Geckles and Munce, whom he discovers are bitter rivals over a past grievance that each side blames upon the other.[3]
Plot[]
The ninja minus Cole venerate the palace gardens in the Kingdom of Shintaro. Suddenly, Vania comes out of the tunnel to warn the ninja about everything she saw, including Cole's capture. They then sprint to the throne room to warn King Vangelis.
However, Vangelis is very disappointed in Vania for breaking the rules, which forbid anyone from entering the Dungeons of Shintaro. Vangelis promises Wu he will send reinforcement to find Cole. Kai volunteers by saying he and the other ninja will go too, but Vangelis prohibits them from entering, claiming to not want to endager them. Nya then realized that Cole was telling the truth about the creature he saw, and Vania soon realize that her imaginary friend is actually real and not made up. Vangelis explains he lied to Vania about her friend being imaginary to protect her and that she will understand when older. Kai decides to disobey Vangelis' prohbitions, but Wu silences him and promises Vangelis they will obey his orders.
As soon as they head outside the throne room, Wu tells the ninja they must find Cole, previously saying otherwise because he didn't want to anger Vangelis. Wu then asks Vania if she could show them the tunnel to which she eagerly agrees.
Meanwhile, Cole is forced into labor by the Re-Awakened. While he is mining, he talks to Murt and asks how long he's been working, but he gives a redundant answer. Cole then asks Gliff if there's any way to escape, and he replies no. An Awaken Warrior then whips in the direction of Cole for not working.
Vania shows the ninja the tunnel leading to the Dungeons of Shintaro. At the same time, Cole tries to ask Murt a question, but Gliff decides to interfere, which causes tension between the two. That's when all of Munces and Geckles stare down each other until it's time for their meal. While they are eating, Cole once again goes to Murt and asks him if there is anyone smarter than him, but he gives a puzzling answer. He then calls the Earth Ninja "Mole". Despite Cole having to correct him multiple times, Murt still calls him "Mole".
Soon, the ninja finally arrive and discover Cole, who is walking towards his cage. While the ninja are making their way down, Cole begins eating until a Mino approaches him. He offers the Mino his Glop and the Mino quickly devours the entire bowl. Finally, the ninja arrive at the front of the cage and use the key Kai stole from the Awakened Warrior. After Cole is saved, the ninja release the Munce and Geckles from their cages. The two tribes praise the ninja until Murt realizes the ninja also rescued the Geckles. Both tribes begin to argue with each other and eventually start fighting.
While the ninja are trying to run away and restore order, more Awakened Warriors started attacking. While the ninja are able to defeat them easily, the Skull Sorcerer arrives and uses the Skull of Hazza D'ur to revive the previously defeated skeletons. The ninja soon get captured and are also forced into slave labor, leading to Jay calling the plan terrible.