One Piece Theorists. People, fans, in love with One Piece so much they can’t help but talk and theorize the snot out the pirate series. I put myself in that category, even if I don’t talk about it often here. Mostly because I’ve fallen out of love with One Piece. I like it a LOT, but if I had to talk about it constantly I’ll only be complaining and I don’t want that. Well, I don’t want that all the time.
I love listening/reading (thought-provoking) One Piece opinions and theories though. Mostly in forums but do subscribe to some One Piece theory YouTube channels (The ones that don’t put a freaking spoiler thumbnail in reviews. I hate that!). And boy, did one of them tick me off today. I wasn’t going to link to his video, but considering a few at most read anything I say it doesn’t matter. Plus, while I disagree with Joy Boy, I’m still subscribed and mature enough not to do otherwise because his opinion differs about a Japanese pirate comic series. I got 99 problems and Joy Boy ain’t one. Seriously, check out his videos.
Joy Boy’s Smoothie video outlines his opinions on her and Smoothie haters. Again, nothing world breaking. I’m not so much upset as disappointed with Joy Boy. I respect his opinion, but it seems he’s taking a wishy-washy stance on Smoothie’s role in Big Mom’s arc. He acknowledges she hasn’t lived up to her Sweet Commander title but throws it back at fans. We didn’t give Smoothie the title of one of the most powerful Big Mom Pirates crew members. We didn’t draw Smoothie hardly doing anything of importance throughout the entire arc. There is nothing Smoothie did, baring her devil fruit powers, that couldn’t be done by anyone else. She wasn’t a Sweet Commander. She was a lackey. A grunt.
Oda drives me nuts every time he pulls this crap. We have the potential for a bad ass female character but he puts the breaks on it. They’re only there to look hot and do a little something noteworthy but nothing rivaling male characters. Look at Carrot. She had a bad ass moment, right? Yeah, but did she fight and beat someone important? Nope. She bounced ship to ship destroying helm wheels. An important task, but not a fight. Can’t have a woman brawling, right Oda?
And Joy Boy doesn’t address that! Not once he even hints Smoothie’s gender may be the reason she’s pushed in the background. Joy Boy’s no idiot. The thought had to have crossed his mind. From the way Joy Boy talks in the video, he’s trying not to go there. IF, that’s true I’m very disappointed in you Joy Boy. Have the guts to say what’s on your mind! You’re too smart to be some brainless YouTube hype boy afraid to say anything bad about something popular.
You’re reasoning leave much to be desired. You really think Oda, a guy unafraid to extend arcs, a guy with decades experiences handling a large cast, can’t make time for a villain if he doesn’t want to? And, what this garbage about saving Smoothie for another arc? You really think Oda is saving a female character to use in a bad ass way later, but not in her arc where it makes sense? The hell? I have no doubts we’ll see her and Big Mom Crew’s major players, but come on dude. She’s been useless throughout the arc and she’ll be useless in her later appearances. Smoothie is eye candy with a gimmick, that’s it. Oda has don’t nothing to prove otherwise.
Maybe I’m wrong about all this. Maybe Joy Boy didn’t censor himself. If so, I apologize. But, I don’t think it’s the case. I think he walked along the fence and decided to blame reader’s expectations instead of questioning the man who creates One Piece. That’s a cheap move Joy Boy. Speak your mind, popular or not. That’s all I ask. And, I’m sure that’s what your fans want.
Mammoth Base Opera Castle 