Can’t have an One Piece arc these days without having to save a princess. Huh, Oda?
A young woman with blue hair and no pants. Imu really has a thing for that type of lover. Or, should I say sex slave? Or are we going to believe an evil bastard like Imu isn’t gonna take advantage of a young brainwashed woman? Imu Epstein aside, looks like we’re getting another damsel-in-distress princess for the Straw Hats to save.
And, with that to look forward to, we’ll soon see someone with a deep-sea contract freed from Imu’s control. Will that come with a side of Shuri/Brook backstory? Probably. And don’t even think about Shuri not being redeemed for all of her brainwashed shenanigans for dessert. What? Did you really think Gunko (a woman who’s NOT a mom in a flashback) was gonna die? In One Piece? Ha!
So, Zoro’s big-brained plan was just attacking from above. Simple, yet effective. Not exactly worthy of being hyped-up last chapter, but it’s a weekly series. Every chapter can’t end on a cliffhanger that pays off. See, Oda? I can be understanding, sometimes.
…Any day now…
Sleeptid Nika falls, destroying the giant ship meant to carry the crying kidnapped kids. … No one. Not ONE person thought to destroy the ship before then. Really, Oda? This has got to be the worst “ticking time-bomb trope” I’ve seen in One Piece yet. At this point, I feel the Elbaph Arc is just here to check off important world-building plot points instead of the fun adventure arc that I’d imagined it would be.
Imu, Gaban, Nika lore, history, Loki, Shanks, the Straw Hats fighting the Holy Knights. That seems to take priority over Straw Hat interactions and general fun. What do I want in this arc exactly? I just want to be entertained. But this focus on evil world leaders and rich assholes isn’t helping me take a break and recharge from the madness of the current world climate happeinig in the real world. It’s not Oda’s fault. It’s just bad timing.
Am I even in the right mind to read One Piece?! Forget a chapter rating, I just want to love One Piece again! The manga, I mean. I can’t wait for season two of the live-action Netflix series! Did you see the newest trailer?! Fantastic, right?! Screw the review, I’m gonna watch it again. Yay!!!
♫Come sail away with me!♫
Mammoth Base Opera Castle 