Reviewers on YouTube noted the episode's effective balance of casual humor and setup for Master Wu's potential character arc regarding his aging.
Ninjago Season 13, Episode 1 “Shintaro”: Analysis & Review [S13E1] Shintaro
Community discussions on Reddit praised the season's lack of "filler" and its strong focus on the character Cole, which begins to take root in this opening episode. Reviewers on YouTube noted the episode's effective balance