Well, this is an interesting one.
For seasons 1-7, the pilot, and day of the departed, 5 stars, no question. This was such a fun show in its prime. The early seasons of this show are rather iconic now, being immortalised in the form of memes.
Now, the part I don't like.
Season 8 was where the show really started to fall off. My problems with it include: very lazily recycling the movie designs, a dog sh¡t uninspired intro, pathetic villains (a literal f@cking biker gang), a notably far darker tone, and what was essentially a back to basics plot with the overarching conflict being the resurrection of Lord Garmadon. The ninja also seem to have forgotten Airjitzu, summoning elemental dragons, creating elemental dragons with their bear hands... I'm probably forgetting something aswell... I think this season deserves 1-2 stars...
Season 9 redeemed it's predecessor's slop to a degree. It had: a far more creative intro (even though they still weren't using a Weekend Whip remix since season 8), Lord Garmadon being an actual threat to the city with his Oni Titan compared to the literal f@cking biker gang, and the first realm plot actually deserving a season. The tone is still noticeably dark, although it's better suited here as the stakes feel much higher. Season 9 is very much on par with everything pre season 8.
Season 10 was a mistake. The Oni had basically been hyped up for the whole of season 9, and when it was time to perform, they fell flat on their face. Very easily on par with the literal f@cking biker gang as Ninjago's worst villains. Oh, but this season treated them like they were unstoppable, world ending threats. The only thing I like about this season is the references to the previous seasons, such as the Golden Master's armour, the Tornado of Creation, etc... this season deserves 1 star...
Season 11 and onwards are further disgraces to Ninjago's legacy. Butchering the classic 'PREVIOUSLY ON NINJAGO' recap down to a crap sideshow mashed into whatever's left of the intro. They also very intelligently made the episodes 10 minutes long instead of the typical 23 minutes, so if you felt unengaged with 8-12 23 minute long episodes, how does ****30**** 10 minute long excuses for episodes feel? And we get SOOOOOOOOO many filler episodes in these seasons. If you thought filler episodes like Ninjaball Run were horrendous, get ready for 10 times as many of those that are 10 times worse. I'd give seasons 11-15 negative stars if I could...
Now, I have heard that Dragons Rising is meant to be better. However, I believe the people I've heard this from are meat riders of anything Ninjago puts out. Why do I doubt their word though? Well, the literal elemental power of f@cking tech for one of the new ninja and being able to teach yourself Spinjitzu and literally f@cking transfer it to objects for another of the new ninja sounds rather redeeming, doesn't it?
I direly miss the old Ninjago.