Tag: manga

Alrighty. Let’s get this over with.

Merry Christmas, Kozuki Oden!

I did get emotional.

No lie. I did. Oda does a great job of writing emotional scenes. But, at the end of the day, this is the story of a… fool of a lord who had the opportunity to save his country but decided to listen to his father’s murderer instead.

There’s just so much crap you have to ignore to like this flashback. I won’t go over it in detail again. The short version is Oden made some VERY bad decisions when handling Orochi but all that is tossed to the side to give a fake emotional impact of him being a hero by protecting Wano for years. It’s forced drama. Sure, the drama is good in places, but it’s all built on a foundation of stupid. I just can’t get over it.

Well, at least Shinobu got to free Oden’s fanboys from their chains. That’s something. And, no, I’m not going into how Oden can die from a bullet to the head yet survive boiling oil for an hour. That’s shonen power level BS and it’s the least of this flashback’s problem.

Please rise for Wano’s new national anthem.

How many ways can I say it? How many ways can I say Oden is a total idiot?

There’s nothing noble about any of this. None! This is what a ten-year-old would think is cool. This is brain-dead drama at it’s finest. Logic punches holes through it like a wet straw through toilet paper (Don’t ask.). This whole damn tragedy of a backstory stands on Oden trusting the word of shitty people. Shitty people who don’t even hide that they’re shitty! I—I can NOT get over this mountain of stupidity.

“You want to stop the kidnapping? But if you go to war against us…you will lose far more than you bargained for.”

Excuse me? So, let me get this straight. Orochi is basically saying what? He’ll drag out war so more people will die? Straight up attack the populace? Okay, I can see that happening IF YOU LET HIM! Hot damn on a cold plate, Oden. Use your brain! Your best option at ending this as soon as possible was walking out the palace and TELLING the people what was happening. They would’ve believed you! They all know Orochi’s a piece of garbage.

I’m gonna start with the positive, y’all: Oda’s very consistent with Oden’s behavior. And, that one-page spread with Oden cutting Kaido was great too. Hm, what else? Oh! The art was nice, no problems there. Let’s see… Umm, yep, that’s all I got for the positive.

Now, for the negative: Kokuki Oden is a consistent dumbass. Not a funny dumbass, a sad dumbass. The type of dumbass who may start as funny and cute, but after a while, you get tired of his crap and just want him to grow up or go away. He’s not an awful character, just a stupid one the author is desperately trying to mold into a hardcore badass. Welp, you got the ass part right, Oda. But, bad? Nah, dude. He’s a dumbass through and through.

Why? Why, Oden, would you believe the words of a man who most likely killed your father and tricked his way to the throne? Orochi is a consistent liar. LIAR! He lied about needing money, about you thinking of him as a brother, about your dead father wanting him to take the throne in your absence. He lied about everything! And, you’re just gonna believe him and his equally shitty business partner will uphold a bargain? *sigh* I’m so tired of you, Oden. So very very tired. I will give points to Oda for trying to make you a well-rounded character with flaws, but I… Just. Don’t. Care.

Remember Whitebeard, Oden? That guy you consider a brother? You had 5 freaking years to send someone out to find him or do it yourself. Yeah, it would’ve been hard sneaking away but at least TRY.

And while I’m on the subject of stupid, how could you let Orochi stay in power? He had the flimsiest excuse keeping the throne. Uh, duh. We don’t know who Sukiyaki wanted to take the throne. Really, now? So, he wouldn’t want his son to take the seat? And, neverminding that, Orochi admitted tricking his way to the throne! One of his lackeys impersonated the Shogun! The entire power structure on Wano was manipulated into making him the ruler. That’s some Grade-A bullshit! That alone is enough to destroy any validity to the throne. Come on, Oden. Come the hell on, dude. THINK!!!!

Okay, okay. We don’t know the details behind Oden giving in to Orochi. The only one who knows is Shinobu, but I’m sure it’ll be revealed eventually. It better be good, Oda. Probably something to do with opening Wano’s borders and no factories in Kuri, something like that. What else could Oden do? He had to put his trust into the man who manipulated his way to the highest position of the government and poisoned his father. Duuuuuude.