One Piece Elbaph Arc

GABAN FUMBLED SO HARD IT HURTS!!

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One Piece Episode 1179 Review

Oh man, I hated this part of the Elbaph Arc! After eeeing things just keep going wrong for the Giants of Elbaph and the Straw Hats! And then we got a glimmer of hope when Scopper Gaban, one of the Roger Pirates, showed up to save the day! I thought that this was when the Straw Hats would begin their counterattack. But I was a fool! Not only do we see Scopper fail to do anything substantial, but things get worse. If you thought that was bad, though, then prepare yourself. One of the two people I count in the running for the final villain of the entire series is about to make their move.

RESPECT YOUR ELDERS IN ONE PIECE

If you’ve been following One Piece for as long as I have, you’ll notice something about the elderly characters: they’re all insanely badass. Whether it’s Garp, Rayleigh, Vegapunk, Whitebeard, or Big Mom, some of the strongest characters in the series have consistently been those considered getting up in their years. Now, if you’ve watched a lot of Shonen anime as I have, then you know that there are plenty of elderly people who can beat you into the ground. However, I think Oda might have some of the best examples of badass old folks in manga, and that is 100% intentional. It’s his way of fighting back against ageism. And honestly, I respect him a lot for that. If I live to be that old, I think being able to do the things that Garp and others do would make it worthwhile. Why am I bringing this up? Because we just saw Gaban make Sommers look like a chump!

It’s important to note that what Gaban did to Sommers goes beyond simply attacking him. He managed to actually hurt him and make it stick. Even if it was only for a moment, Sommers was in actual pain, and it was enough to make the psychopath panic and go on the defensive. It just goes to remind us of just how much of a power gap there still exists between the Straw Hats and the Roger Pirates, and that they still have a way to go if they want to surpass them.  Because as I, and many fans at the time, suspected, Gaban was able to make his attacks stick thanks to the power of Haki. AKA, the power of one’s will made manifest. Because for Oda, willpower can be an actual superpower.

So close. SO CLOSE!!!

It was awesome getting to see Gaban waste Sommers, but unfortunately, that moment gets by three bad moments. Firstly, we have to watch as the library and school are set on fire, which breaks my heart as much as it breaks the Giants’ hearts.

Secondly, Gaban’s attempt to rescue the kids gets derailed all because Colon had to call out for his dad! And then Gunko uses him as a hostage to strike a deadly blow on Gaban!  And I liked how the anime drives home how Gaban couldn’t make it in time. His Haki told him exactly that. It’s every parents worst nightmare come true and I don’t blame him for hesitating. The two saving graces are the fact that Chopper uses the chance to dive down into the Underworld and save Gaban. That, and hearing Colon cry out for his dad has Gunko go through another flashback to a memory that she shouldn’t remember.

If you’re caught up on the manga, then you’ll already know this: Gunko and Brook do know each other from the past. They have a shared history that is beyond tragic, and will make you think twice about who Gunko is. For the anime-only folks, I appreciated how Toei dropped more hints about this connection in their version of the flashback. It will take us time to get to the meat of it, but it will be worth it. Sadly, though, Gunko’s moment of clarity is brought to a halt by the third bad thing to happen this episode: Imu takes the wheel.

Oh no…

They say that the greatest trick that the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn’t exist. However, ever since we learned about the existence of Imu, I don’t think that’s accurate. The greatest trick that the Devil could ever pull was t making the world believe he wasn’t real. It’s doing that AND disguising himself as God to those who know of him. And that is the case with Imu.

I don’t remember how much I’ve discussed Imu when I’ve talked about One Piece on this blog. However, if I have mentioned him, or you read my blog where I’ve reviewed new chapters of the manga since the Wano Country Arc, then you know how seriously I take Imu. His very existence exposes the fact that the World Government is built on a lie. And I really love how Oda has been dropping hints throughout the story that Imu is meant to be his series’ counterpart to the Devil. Whereas ol’ Scratch must wallow in Hell and plot revenge on his creator, though, Imu managed to storm Heaven (Mariejois), overthrow god (Nika or Joy Boy), and take their place. The fact that he managed to do all of that whilst keeping his existence a secret for centuries is a testament to how dangerous he is. And now that he’s getting involved in what’s happening in Elbaph, things are about to get a lot more dire. I still get goosebumps thinking about what we’re about to see!

I Give “One Do-or-Die Second – Gaban vs. the Knights of God” a 4/5

THIS IS…DESPICABLE!

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One Piece Episode 1177 Review

Guys, I don’t know how Oda does it. I have no clue how he is able to create villains that are so rotten, vile, and despicable that their very existence offends me. But he just keeps doing it over and over and it works so well at angering me! Which only makes it more entertaining when they go down. But this? SOMMERS is in a class all his own when it comes to how much I hate him. And this episode reminded me of it!

BAD! THINGS! HAPPEN!

So, as seems to be the norm for this arc now, things just get worse. We saw Saul, poor Saul, get maimed by Sommers thorns, in the last episode. And this episode opens up with him getting stabbed in the foot. It’s like stepping on a LEGO but ten times worse.

This entire episode serves as a reminder of just how bad things are going to get from here on out, and honestly, I both love and hate it. And for good reason. It only makes their inevitable defeat all the more cathartic. But this arc really tries my patience, especially considering how likely it is that we will not see the comeback until next year.

Half the Straw Hats are Captured!

Oh, and just to remind you guys of how bad things are, not only has Collun been captured, but now Brook, Jinbei, Nami, and Usopp are prisoners. The only solace I get is from knowing that this just guarantees that Luffy is going to kick all their asses. Then again, the act of kidnapping children is considered a capital offense in the eyes of the Straw Hats, so they were already going to do that. This just adds fuel to the fire.

What is most surprising, though, is something that I had almost forgotten about: Gunko’s fixation on Brook.

Yeah, Brook Knows Gunko

Now, the thing about Oda is that he tends to be great at foreshadowing. A random name he drops or a character’s habit can end up being an important plot device in the future. And if you recall, Gunko is a fan of Brook. So she tries to make him her slave and write songs for her forever like a yandere fan. But that’s not what’s interesting. It’s the way Brook reacts.

If you know Brook, then you know how he hits on women as much as Sanji does. It’s like his most well-known bit besides his bone jokes. So, and this was something I actually forgot, when Brook speaks to Gunko, he doesn’t make any jokes. He doesn’t ask to see her panties. Nothing; just dead seriousness. THAT is a red flag that something is wrong.

It would be some time until we learn the truth about the connection between Brook and Gunko, and trust me, it’s a tearjerker. But I really liked how the anime foreshadows it here. When Brook says that one thing that makes Gunko have a panic attack, you can tell that there’s more to her than meets the eye.

SOMMERS MUST DIE!!!!

Sommers, on the other hand, has nothing else to him; just pure, sadistic malice and cruelty.

So, by this point, the kids have woken up and realize that they are in trouble. The giant monsters is enough of a warning sign. But what Sommers does next is just pure evil. He has Qillingham broadcast everything to the island, list off the names of the kids being held hostage, and just enjoys seeing the despair on the parents’ faces.

But then, he gives them a choice that offends me to the core of my being: ordering them to burn down the school and library. The library where all the books from Ohara have remained safe for almost 3 decades.

Now, I couldn’t really care about the school, since I hate homework. But a library? When I was a kid, o spent most of my free time at our school libraries. It was my refuge, my safe space! And if Interntational Law didn’t already consider it, I would consider the destruction of libraries to be a war crime.

Now imagine how Robin must feel.

TARGET: SOMMERS. OBJECTIVE: EXTERMINATE!

Robin had to watch as the World Government destroyed her home of Ohara as a little kid. She couldn’t stop it from happening. But she will be damned if she lets history repeat itself! I was all in on Robin’s decision to join the fight. It’s time to go full gangster on these monsters!

Man, this anime is so good! I love One Piece so much! And I’m pretty sure it’s already out by now, but I hope that that crossover happy meal with SpongeBob is doing well!

I Give “A Despicable Hostage Game – Sommers’s Brazen Demands” a 4/5

The Giants Rise Up! Save the Kids!

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One Piece Episode 1174 Review

Oh, boy; I remember this part of the Elbaph Arc in the manga all too well. This is the part of the story where everything that can go wrong does go wrong for the good guys. I know that it seems like a few things did go right for the Warriors of Elbaph, but mark my words: the show is lulling us into a false sense of security. Need I remind you that not only does Elbaph have to deal with the fire, kids being abducted, and the God’s Knights, but the GIANT MONSTERS? Who, I might add, are incredibly well animated!

The MONSTERS ARE COMING!

The episode starts off by reminding us that not all of the Straw Hats have gotten the message about what’s happening. Besides those in the Underworld, the only one who still wasn’t in the loop was Franky, as he’s with Collun’s mom and ends up running into Lilith and Bonney. They got lost trying to get their papers, and wound up finding this weird, sci-fi looking building.

https://twitter.com/WH8D_88/status/2089044584903106854?s=20

To this day, we still have no clue what this place is supposed to be, if it’s even a building to begin with (it looks like a robot to me.) All we know is that it’s around 3,000 years old, making it older than even the stuff from the Void Century. Knowing Oda, he will eventually enlighten us on its importance. In the meantime, the quartet are attacked by one of the dream monsters!

I just want to say this: the animators for the dream monsters cooked. The animation for One Piece has gotten some notable improvements over the last few years, but they really knocked it out of the park with the dream monsters. The way they’re so crudely drawn really makes it seem they’re something that a kid created. The fact that they are all so powerful and deadly only makes the contrast even more unsettling. Even worse, though, is that nothing the heroes do seems to put a dent in them! Even the adults of Elbaph are struggling to stop them.

And that’s why the Straw Hats have to get involved.

NO ONE HURTS KIDS WHILE THE STRAW HATS ARE AROUND

Nami comes clean about the intruders in the Castle, and between her and her crewmates, our protagonists are able to get a better idea of what’s happening. They know that there’s two or more intruders on the island, and that they have Devil Fruit powers that are causing this chaos. It’s not a lot, but knowing the enemy you’re facing is half of the battle. Too bad Jarul and the other Giants insist their guests not put themselves in harm’s way!

But, since the Straw Hats have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to hurting kids and those they call friends, they’re going to get involved. Which leads to this cute moment where they catch Collun going off to help and decide to enable his plans.

https://twitter.com/WH8D_88/status/2089048886690152809?s=20

That’s just cute.

I WANT SOMMERS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA!

Meanwhile, the God’s Knights are watching as Saul tries to save the kids from the burning inferno that awaits them, and for a moment, he thinks he figured out a way to stop them. But Sommers, curse him, is truly sadistic. Even if they try to stop the kids, they’ll run into each other and hurt each other with the invisible thorns. It’s monstrous!

In case you guys haven’t figured it out, I loathe Sommers with every fiber of my being. He’s one of the few characters in fiction I consider so evil, so monstrous, that the very thought of them breathing feels like an offense to all I hold good and dear. At least Gunko went down on my list because of her love of Brook’s music. That makes her cultured.

https://twitter.com/WH8D_88/status/2089049662825115802?s=20

The Giant Captains and Gaban Move Out!

Ultimately, the episode does end on a bit of a high note as Dorry and Brogy take to the field and annihilate one of the dream monsters with their combo attack. And for good measure, Scopper Gaban is coming with them!

Full disclosure: I don’t know if Dorry and Brogy could make a dent in the likes of the God’s Knights. But Gaban? Gaban could take them on. I’m really looking forward to seeing what a legendary pirate is capable of when they cut loose!

I Give “Save the Children! The Elbaph Warriors Rise Up” a 4/5

The God’s Knights are the WORST

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One Piece Episode 1173 Review

Elbaph is under attack. The God’s Knights Gunko, Sommers, and Qillingham are trying to abduct the children of the Giants to force their parents to submit to their dark master. If they are not stopped, all of Elbaph will be enslaved. And the irony of all this is that the guy who feared this would happen is trying to intimidate Luffy and his group into setting him free. Like I told you guys, there is more to Loki than what his name implies.

THE GOD’S KNIGHTS ARE THE WORST!

By this point, the teachers at the Walrus school have begun to sound the alarm: Elbaph is under attack. And I can appreciate the fact that the anime finally lets us see the horrified reactions of all the grownups that were partying with the Straw Hats. Some of their kids and grandkids go to that school. Knowing that your child is in mortal danger is one of the scariest parts of being a parent, and while Jarul may still be drunk and acting goofy, that does little to lighten the mood.

As for the culprits behind this attack? They are nonchalantly eating lunch while watching everything go down l. And all the while we have to listen to Sommers the sadist laugh about the love of a parent for their child will lead to them getting killed thanks to the thorns he placed on the kids. And he’s laughing about it like he’s the Joker! And when they all realize the kids are walking into an area that is currently on fire, they don’t care. They just say they can grab the next batch of sleeping kids!

You see why I hate the Celestial Dragons so much? With a handful of exceptions, they are the worst of humanity personified, and I pray for the day they get brought to justice. But for the moment, I’ll settle for the Straw Hats kicking their butts. But to do that, they need their strongest members to join the fight and they’re dealing with Loki.

I Told You Loki Was Bluffing!

When we last left off in the Underworld, Loki was threatening to set the Treasure Tree Adam on fire unless he was fully set free. Doing that would put all of Elbaph in danger, something that neither Luffy nor Hajrudin could not allow. For a moment, it looks as though Luffy and Loki are about to fight, but it turns out that that was never necessary.

Remember when I said that Loki wasn’t as big of a threat as he seemed to be? That’s because I read the manga and knew what would happen next. However, even if I hadn’t read it and went into the episode blind, it was pretty obvious to the more astute people that Loki was bluffing. He just got badly injured by Shamrock and Gunko and has had no time to recover. The anime even drops subtle hints that he’s running on fumes with the way he’s holding his hammer, which I appreciated. Besides, if Oda really wanted Luffy to fight Loki, he wouldn’t have it happen when the latter is this weak. He might tease us a lot, but not to that extent.

In the end, the group decides to spare Loki and get him back to fighting shape. All except for his older half-brother Hajrudin. He remembers how their dad told them how he loved them both and wanted them to work together for the good of Elbaph. But Loki was such a huge bully that he can’t forgive him, and even tries to kill him whenever he has the chance.

That’s when Loki decides to drop this bombshell about the crime that got him imprisoned, ie killing their father: he never wanted to do it.

How did Harald Really Die?

When this came out in the manga, fans had already been theorizing that there was more to the death of the late King Harald than what was initially revealed. The fact that there was that summoning circle in the ruins of his castle was a massive red flag that something was seriously up with the story. Plus, there was also the man’s name: Harald. I remember reading a Twitter thread mentioning how that was the name of Kings who united Norway and Denmark, important parts of the Viking world. One of them also introduced Christianity to their land, beginning the eventual transition from the old Norse Gods to Christianity. Savvy readers picked up on this fact and came to a startling conclusion: Harald might have attempted to give the World Government control of Elbaph, either of his own accord (making him a traitor) or against his will. Loki found out, and was reluctantly forced to kill his father to stop this from happening.

Now, what Loki said can be taken with a grain of salt thanks to his reputation for tricking people. However, I didn’t think he was lying in that instance. The most telling piece of evidence, though, has to be how Luffy is reacting to all of this. The guy is an idiot and can’t do a lot of things, but he’s always been a great judge of a person’s character. If he thinks that Loki can be trusted, then we should give him the benefit of the doubt. Just…just don’t uncuff him. We need to be compassionate, not stupid.

Well, guys, we are now in the thick of things, and I have no idea how far we’ll get this year in the anime. But if it ends where I think it does, then next year is going to be awesome.

I Give “A Nightmarish Game – The Dark Plot of the Knights of God” a 3.5/5

Luffy is Fighting one of the Roger Pirates! So Cool!

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One Piece Ep 1170 Review

I have been reading and watching One Piece for many years now, and I have come to notice a formula to the way that Oda writes the story. Whenever the Straw Hats make it to some new island, things will start out pretty low-stakes as they explore the place and get a feel for things. Eventually, though, the big bad of the arc will make themselves known, and then everything hits the fan. We are now at that point in the arc where things are about to start hitting the fan, and trust me when I say this, they are going to need Loki. But first, Luffy has to win the key from Scopper Gaban, ex-member of the Roger Pirates.

If you’ve followed One Piece at least as far back as Sabaody, then you know that the hype behind the crew of the Pirate is well-deserved. Rayleigh was able to go toe-to-toe with a Navy Admiral despite being well into his 70s, and he was able to scare off Blackbeard not that long ago. Needless to say, most of the crew can be counted as some of the strongest in the world by default. And that’s why seeing Luffy fight Gaban was so hyped when the manga came out. If Luffy could hold his own against one of Roger’s two hands, then we would know just how strong he has gotten. And the anime knew this.

This was a Good Training Session

I know that there were fights while trying to escape Road’s brick model, but truthfully, this was the first real fight of the Elbaph arc. The anime knew this, because it went all out on showing just how wild this fight was. Luffy was bouncing around the place like crazy, but no matter what he did, he couldn’t play a finger on Gaban. The man held him off using the very key they came to get as a weapon. Regardless, though, the fight was very well animated, and it more than lived up to the hype. And that moment when Zoro decided to jump in, and Luffy went into Gear Five? It was incredible. The strongest of the Straw Hats were getting ready to double-team a legend in what we thought would be a legendary duel, and if it had continued, I do think they would’ve won. But, nope! Gaban drops his axes and surrenders!

To be honest, I already knew that the two won when Gaban tried shoving the key into Luffy’s mouth in a goofy fashion. He did say he wanted them to get their hands on the key, and they did. From the way I saw things, Gaban was only doing this to test them and see if they were on the level that Shanks said. Because if they let Loki out, they would have to be prepared to fight him, and if they lost, they would lose the trust of the Giants. But more importantly, though, Gaban did it because he knew that Elbaph was about to be in danger. The greatest threat it has probably ever faced, if you ask me.

EVIL! EVIL! EVILEVILEVILEVILEVIL!

Meanwhile, as the children at the Walrus School are playing, Gunko and Shamrock are about to make their move. Their goal is to conquer and enslave Elbaph so their master can use the Giants in the coming war for the fate of the world. And so they summon reinforcements to help them in the form of two more God’s Knights, Sommers and Qillingham.

Don’t be fooled by their goofy introductions, you guys. I have had years to get to know these two as individuals, and trust me when I say this: they are monsters. Not just monsters as in they’re monstrously strong, but monsters as in sick, twisted, and sadistic demons! The two of them and Gunko are going to be enough to cause a catastrophe the likes of which Elbaph hasn’t seen in years. They are absolute menaces to society, and at this point in the manga, I am genuinely hoping that the Straw Hats send them home in body bags.

Don’t believe me? Their game plan to conquer Elbaph is to capture the kids and take them back to Mariejois as hostages. It takes a special kind of evil to go after kids!

I hope that you guys got your fill of the low-key stakes, because that is about over. From here on out, things are going to get progressively crazier as the Straw Hats face their biggest battle yet! And I can’t wait to see it animated!

I Give “Get the Key! Luffy vs. Scopper Gaban” a 4/5

Wanna see a Giant Kid pick a fight

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , ,

One Piece Episode 1165 Review

Okay, so by now, I think it’s pretty clear that this first part of the new season of One Piece is not going to be heavy on the action. Honestly, I should have warned anime-only watchers about this beforehand. However, I can assure you that when the anime comes back later this year, it’s going to get crazy. Besides, once the chaos starts, you are going to miss the calmer moments. Well, a given level of calm, since we’re talking about the Straw Hat Pirates. Plus, it’s time for the party that we’ve promised for the last few episodes, so there’s that!

These Kids are So lame!

After the happy reunion with Saul, Robin took Chopper, Lillith, and Bonney (the smart ones, basically) to see the Owl Library, where the Giants keep all the books from Elbaph. And as someone who spent most of his childhood reading a a crazy amount of books (I had to entertain myself at school), that place gets me. It’s filled with so much ancient knowledge and wisdom! And even if I can’t understand any of it, I know that it would be like a dream for the lore-obsessed portion of the fandom. I love it!

Luffy, on the other hand, doesn’t exactly endear himself to the kids at the Walrus School. Then again, I doubt most people would appreciate him turning a swingset into one of those pendulum rides you see at amusement parks!

Yeah, he deserves that scolding from Nami.

The truth is that Luffy and Usopp can’t hide their disappointment over how wimpy the Giant kids are. It dampens their image of Elbaph! Now, I don’t see anything wrong with being raised to be nice, but there are going to be times when you meet jerks that won’t listen to reason or talk no jutsu. The only response left is the fist. Still, at least there’s one kid left who has the spirit of a warrior!

I respect Collun

Everyone, meet Collun. Well, we met him already. He was at a bar that Shanks was visiting, begging him to take him out to sea to be a pirate and listening to stories about Luffy. And unlike the rest of his peers, he’s a fighter. The first thing he does when he sees Luffy is try to jump him with his training sword! But we know how it was going to end.

It can suck being considered the class delinquent and outcast who doesn’t get along with others, can’t it? But Collun is the kind of kid who will live how he wants, no matter what others think. More importantly, though, his willingness to pick a fight with Luffy earns him the respect of the rubber wonder, so I consider that way better! I also respect that! Plus, he’s not a bad kid. After all, he listens to his mom, Ripley, one of the teachers at the school. Plus, his behavior makes sense when you consider how his dad is a former pirate. And also a human. Collun is a half-giant.

Now, remember the golden rule of Oda’s writings: if a new character gets mentioned ahead of time, they’re going to be important. Though, I was more distracted trying to figure out how a human man can have a kid with a Giant woman. I mean, how dhow does that even work? I’m not sure it sure I wantt any rate, though, it’s time for the welcome banquet. And the rest of the Straw Hats get some new threads for the occasion! You can tell that cosplayers are going to love it.

Party Time!

The banquet itself is also pretty fun to watch. Especially when Chief Jarul, the oldest Giant in the world, shows up. And yes, I think plenty of us manga readers had the same reaction to the sword sticking out of his head! I would question how that is even possible, but at this point, I’d be wasting my time!

Not everything is good, though. Remember that threat I was telling you about at the castle? They’re here, they’re looking for Loki, and they are dangerous. More dangerous than you can imagine.

Oh no, not the God’s Knights!

Meet the Gods Knights, the elite guard of the Celestial Dragons. They serve directly under Imu themselves as enforcers of their will, and might be some of the strongest fighters in the series to date. One of them was able to take down a Giant without moving a muscle!!! And their arrival on Elbaph is going to start a storm that will threaten to destroy everything.

By now, it’s obvious that we have to wait for the second half of the season to come out later this year to see more action. But trust me when I say that things are starting to heat up. In fact, if I remember correctly, we are due to get one of the most important pieces of lore in the entire series. So, I can’t wait to see that.

I give “A Welcome With Friends’ Cups and Intruders Seeking Loki” a 3/5

The reunion of Robin and Saul is just so beautiful!

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One Piece Episode 1163 Review

Everyone, I suggest that you have some tissues by your side when watching this episode of One Piece, because it is going to make your eyes water. And that’s okay, because one of the many, many life lessons you can learn about from One Piece, it’s that it’s perfectly fine for a grown man to cry tears of joy and sadness. And if you know the life story of the Straw Hat’s resident archaeologist, Nico Robin, you are going to want to cry. This is a part of the story that the anime went above and beyond to give us!

Anyone who Hurts Robin must die!!

The episode opens up on a very dark note as we are given a montage of the absolute hell that was Nico Robin’s childhood. For those who don’t remember, she’s from Ohara, the island of scholars and historians. They were trying to uncover the forbidden secrets of the Void Century, and for that, the World Government destroyed their island and everyone on it except for Robin. Then, they lied to the world, saying Ohara was trying to destroy it, and called Robin a demon that needed to be hunted down. She had to spend her life on the run from the brainwashed masses, bounty hunters, and government agents who didn’t know the truth.

I have been a fan of One Piece for half my life, and I have seen all sorts of atrocities committed by bad people. But what they did to Robin and the hell she went through until she found the Straw Hats? It’s enough to make me want to burn everything to the ground in retribution. Honestly, the fact that Robin never decided to become the villain everyone thought she was is a miracle in and of itself.

But enough about that. Picking up in the present day, all of the Straw Hats are now in Elbaph and happily reunited. And the Giants are more than happy to welcome them for all the goodwill they’ve done:

  • Befriending Dorry and Brogy
  • Helping Oimo and Koshi free themselves
  • Saving Hajrudin from slavery on Dressrosa
  • Helping to take down the hated Big Mom in Wano.

The last one wasn’t even at their own hands. Kid and Trafalgar Law deserve the credit for it. Regardless, the Giants hatred of Big Mom makes them good in their book.

Plus, they also punish Rodo for kidnapping half the crew by leaving him on a cross. Let him hang there and think about what he did!

Everyone is eager to start celebrating their arrival in Elbaph, but first things first, it’s time. Robin has waited 22 years for this reunion with Jaguar D. Saul, the Giant who became her first friend and saved her life at Elbaph.

It’s still crazy to think that Saul has been alive all this time, if you ask me. We thought that Kuzan had turned him into a ice pop and left him for dead. As it turns out, though, the heat from the fires melted him enough to fall into the sea, and that took care of the rest. When he woke up, Ohara was in ruins. So he gathered his brethren to retrieve the Oharan’s books, and he’s been living on Elbaph ever since. All said and done, he’s lucky he got out of it with some scars and a missing leg.

And now, the reunion!

Hooray!

So, as it turns out, Saul was perfectly fine. He just didn’t know how to say hi to Robin after so long, so he deliberately recreated the moment they first met: with him scaring her on the beach.

The reunion between Robin and Saul is filled with so many emotions. Saul notes how beautiful Robin has become (he’s right. She’s my favorite girl in the series.) He apologizes for not being able to protect her for all those years. And he is glad to know that Vegapunk got Ohara’s message out to the world. But Robin doesn’t want to talk about the sad stuff. All she wants is for Saul to praise her for making it there.

And this is where the tears start rolling, both with the characters, and with viewers.

Tears of Joy!

I meant what I said when knowing about Robin’s backstory makes me want to burn the world. Knowing the hell that the World Government put this child through is cruel beyond words. No one deserves to be hunted like that, especially a little girl. But it’s best to forget about the pain.

The episode closes on a montage of all the good moments that Robin has had since she joined the Straw Hat pirates, complete with a tearjerker of a song that I think was written just for this episode. It’s a song about how Robin walked through the pain and hardship of her life, hoping that someone would be there to get rid of her sadness. And it is beautiful. And the Straw Hats just star bursting into tears as they’re watching this. I felt like my eyes were about to become waterworks! The only ones who didn’t cry were the stoic Zoro and Jinbei, and Luffy. Luffy, being the radiant sunshine that he is, just laughs in joy for his friend. What a good friend he is!

This was an absolutely beautiful episode to watch. The anime was right to devote the entire episode to this one moment! I’m just so happy for our girl!

I Give “I Want you To Praise Me-The Reunion of Saul and Robin” a 5/5

Luffy and Loki are Like Abbott and Costello

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

One Piece Episode 1161 Review

Everyone, let’s give a big round of applause to the MVP of the Elbaph Arc, the man, the myth, the legend, Loki the Accursed Prince of Elbaph! Even though he had been name-dropped several arcs back, the last episode of One Piece marked the first time we actually saw this mysterious Giant. And a lot of our first impressions about him in the manga generally revolved around the same idea: he’s dangerous. And while we would remain in the dark about his true nature for a while, his subsequent appearances only reinforced that menacing aura he had about him. Well, for most people, at least. Loki has never met anyone like Luffy, but the events of this episode teach him that he shouldn’t mess with the guy.

Loki Used Intimidation on Luffy! But it Failed!

As the Elbaph arc progresses in the manga (its still ongoing), one aspect that makes it great but gets understated is the dynamic that develops between Luffy and Loki. It was only after watching this episode and remembering what happened, though, that I had that realization in the first place, as this is where ther dynamic is established. And I have to admit, it’s a bit like watching a bizarre comedy duo.

On the one hand, we have Loki. He is a man who is so feared by the rest of Elbaph that they didn’t put him in a normal prison. They tied him to the giant tree that makes up War-Land with chains made out of sea prism stone, on the actual island where it’s always dark and covered in snow thanks to the lack of sunlight. The Giants call the place the Underworld for a good reason, with Loki claiming its filled with the bones of people banished there, victims of the cold or the kaiju-sized wild animals that call it home. And Loki boasts about how he befriended them all as a kid like its nothing! Add on the fact that he’s got a “special bounty,” and we are looking at a man who would terrify most normal people!

But Luffy is not like most people.

Loki Insulted Shanks! Luffy Becomes Enraged!

Right from the start, Luffy proves to be someone that Loki is almost completely unprepared to deal with. His first attempts to intimidate him fall flat because Straw Hat’s more excited about finally making it to Elbaph to care. His initial attempts to bargain for his freedom fall flat because Luffy’s not interested in his offer of wiping out an entire pirate crew. And when all of his giant animal friends try to intimidate Luffy? He tames them in two seconds.

It seems as though there’s nothing that will get under Luffy’s skin. In fact, the only thing that does manage to get Straw Hat’s attention is Loki mentioning how Shanks had recently visited him. But when Loki proceeds to badmouth him, that sets Luffy off! And Loki quickly learns that he should think twice about trying to mess with Luffy…or does he?

Full disclosure: I think I knew from this moment that this was going to lead to Luffy eventually setting Loki free. He would do that to learn about where his hero and idol was. There was the fact that Loki scared everyone in Elbaph that made it feel like that was a bad idea, though. But, honestly, I’m used to it. I’ve been reading One Piece for half my life, and watched the anime even longer. I’m used to Luffy getting himself into trouble and getting out of it. If Loki caused trouble, I figured Luffy would just kick his ass.

But enough about that! What are the other Straw Hats up to?

I missed Robin’s old hairdo

So, while Luffy is on his field trip to the Underworld, his half of the Straw Hats are trying to make their way across that rope bridge and away from Rodo (or Road. The fan translation isn’t specific.) But they have to hoof it when they see that Rodo is after them again. For irony, he’s now being pursued by his crewmates, who have found out he kidnapped the Straw Hats and are not happy about it. The real highlight, though, is back on the Giant Pirates ship.

By this point, we have had years to get used to the Straw Hats new appearances after the timeskip, but I was never fully on board with Robin’s new hairdo. So when she decided to switch back to her old one so Saul would recognize her, I was elated! And so were a lot of the fans, as I recall! What can I say? Robin just looks better with bangs! Unfortunately, our jubilation at the fanservice was cut short by what happened next, with Saul having apparently passed out on the beach.

I dont remember my exact words when reviewing this chapter on my own blog, but I believe I said that Oda was messing with us. He’s not the kind of storyteller to end a beautiful reunion before it begins. Also, he had us believing that Saul died for years now, and he’s not gonna yank that away from us now. Thankfully, our next episode is going to quit beating around the bush. We are going to see Elbaph in full, and you guys are gonna like it! Or dont! I’m not making you!

I Give “A Dangerous Deal! Loki of the Underworld and Luffy” a 4/5

Nami’s Misadventures in LEGOland!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

One Piece Ep 1157 Review

If you’re a fan of the One Piece anime, then you’ve probably heard people complain about one thing: the pacing. It is notoriously slow when it comes to adapting the story of the manga, which is a consequence of it starting in an age when anime filler was necessary to keep something from overtaking its source material. That’s why one of the biggest selling points of the new seasonal format has been the expectations of improved pacing. Less filler, more of the actual story, as some fans had hoped. However, it feels as though those hopes were dashed with the show’s second episode since its return, as Toei is still relying on the same tricks as before: padding the episodes out and making parts of the story longer than necessary.

LEGO’S?!?

On the last piece of One Piece, the Giant and Straw Hat pirates were all celebrating their escape from Egghead Island with a party. The next thing we know, Nami is waking up someplace made out of LEGO in an outfit she doesn’t remember putting on. And trust me, manga readers were just as confused about this as the people watching the anime probably were. Things only managed to get even stranger when the episode starts off with some people in the vicinity are talking about some kind of trouble with one of the local deities. What should catch everyone’s attention, though, is the name they give to the giant tree in this blocky kingdom: Yddragsil. That’s the name of the cosmically-sized tree from Norse mythology that connects the worlds together.

One thing that Oda seems to like doing, and is very skilled, is foreshadowing well ahead of time. If the name of someone or someplace we’ve never heard of before gets mentioned, that means that its going to be important at some point in the future. And as manga readers were quick to figure out, Nami had somehow woken up someplace that’s tied to Elbaph, if not Elbaph itself. The clothes and name of the tree were a dead giveaway, but what I really like is how the whole place is built out of LEGOs. LEGO’s from Denmark, AKA the region of the world where Vikings came from; it makes sense.

What didn’t make sense, though, was how massive the animals were. No sooner had Nami woken up than she was being attacked by bees twice her size! I’m able to tolerate bees, but stinging insects are enough to make me run for the hills! Thankfully, she and Zeus are able to roast them, no problem. But then they’re attacked by a giant hedgehog!

This is where I noticed how those complaints about the pacing began to resurface on social media. In the manga, Nami getting chased by that hedgehog takes up half a page, at best. The anime translates that into a full minute of her running around this blocky castle before she runs into Usopp and saves him from a giant cat. And from there the entire episode more or less revolves around them trying to get away until the Monster Trio of Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji save their bacon.

The Animation is Still Good

Say what you want about the whole thing, but at least the animation is still amazing. I’m little surprised at the fact that they’re choosing to make an eye catch just for this blocky kingdom. It feels unnecessary considering how they’re likely not to be in it for that long!

So like Nami and Usopp, the Monster Trio has no idea where they are or how they got there. But they don’t really care. If someone was dumb enough to put them in this place, then whatever happens next is on them. Besides, Luffy and Usopp are too excited about Elbaph to be worried.

I know that this first half of the season is only about 12-13 episodes, so you might be worried about this taking up too much time. But don’t worry, you guys. By my estimations, the group will be out of this Block Kingdom in…two episodes.

I Give “Nami in a Fix! An Adventure in Block Kingdom” a 3/5

El-balph! El-baph! LAND OF THE GIANTS!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

One Piece Ep 1156 Review

Sorry I’m late, everyone, but I’m ready to get this voyage underway! I wouldn’t miss One Piece for all the money in the world!

I know that the founders of this blog aren’t the biggest of fans of One Piece, but as their primary writer, I’m an absolutely massive fan. I’ve talked about it a lot on D&A Anime Blog. I’ve gushed about the live-action series and other big pieces of news about the franchise. And on my personal blog, I’ve been reviewing each chapter of the manga since partway through the Wano Country Arc! But with the anime having gone seasonal, I decided that now was the best time for me to try my hand at reviewing the anime. This will be the first time I’ve reviewed an anime of something whose manga I’m concurrently covering, but it’s going to be worth it. Whether you’re a long-time fan of the series or a newcomer, you might have picked a great time to come aboard, because we are about to arrive at a location so awesome, so amazing, so mind-bendingly cool, that nothing short of finding the One Piece itself can compare! The story that Oda has wanted to tell since he was a little kid is here. The story of ELBAPH!!

Full disclosure: if you’re a newcomer, there are going to be a lot things thrown at you that I don’t have time to explain. In that case, either go read the manga or go find one of the many, many people on YouTube who can recap and explain the series. Otherwise, I’ll just assume you’re caught up so I can enjoy myself!

After a brief flashback to the end of the Little Garden Arc where Luffy and Usopp resolve to one day visit Elbaph, the episode returns us to the present day. The Straw Hats, Giant Warrior Pirates, Lillith, Bonney and Kuma have just escaped from Egghead Island and are on their way to Elbaph, so they’re celebrating by partying. It’s pretty much a law that the Straw Hats end an arc with a party. What I wasn’t expecting, though, and soemthing that was totally original to the anime was getting to hear Brook play “New World.” There are a lot of good songs in One Piece, but New World has to be one of my favorites. Upbeat, exciting, and optimistic, it encapsulates the positive messages that the series sends us. That, and it’s a pretty good bop.

The Barto Club Screws Up

The episode then cuts away to another series tradition that accompanies the start of a new arc: checking up on events around the world. Oda is great when it comes to world-building, and moments where he takes the focus away from the main characters remind us of that by showing that the world doesn’t revolve entirely around what they do. In this case, it picks up with one of Luffy’s allies/biggest fans, the Barto Club, and one of his greatest enemies, the Blackbeard Pirates.

So, after they parted ways with Luffy, Bartolomeo and his crew went to a particular island to sell some Straw Hat pirate merch. However, they chose to go to an island under Shanks’ protection, and they refused to buy anything. In response, Barto torched their flag, leading to Shanks to give them a butt-whooping. And then he decided to test/troll them by ordering Barto to make Luffy drink poison or else their lives were forfeit. And you can guess where this is going.

Anyone who has been with One Piece long enough knew that Shanks was just messing with Barto. He just wanted to make sure that Luffy’s followers weren’t some fair-weather friends, and Barto passed the vibe check. But Yassop still destroyed their ship. They had a reputation to keep up.

I’m sure they’ll be fine!

Blackbeard is Nearing his Endgame

Meanwhile, back on Pirate Island, Blackbeard isn’t happy that the Marines managed to raid the place and rescue Koby while he was gone. However, his crew points out that he’s now in an arguably better position. Not only do they have Luffy’s grandpa and hero of the Marines, Garp, prisoner, but they also raided Big Mom’s territory and abducted Pudding. And with Caribou newly arrived and ready to spill everything he knows about the locations of two of the three Ancient Weapons, things are about to get a lot worse.

I think I mentioned it on my blog when reviewing the chapter, but I’m going to say it here: Blackbeard is being set up as the final enemy that Luffy must face to become King of the Pirates. Once he knows where and who the Ancient Weapons are, he’s going to try to seize them. That means that nations with people that the Straw Hats call friends will be in harm’s way. Add in the fact that Teach now has Luffy’s grandpa and Sanji’s ex-fiancé prisoner, as well as what he did to Ace, the Straw Hats have all the motivation they need to go to war with the Blackbeard Pirates. Unfortunately, this will mark the last point for a while where the anime doesn’t focus on anything outside of their next destination (not counting flashbacks.)

Speaking of which, where are the Straw Hats?

Where did half the Straw Hats Go?

When I read the chapters where the Giants woke up to find half the Straw Hat Pirates and their ship missing, I was as confused as everyone else. How the heck did they get separated from everyone else? Then it got even weirder when Nami woke up in a place that looked suspiciously like it was made out of LEGO…and wearing an entirely different outfit. None of us knew if she was tripping from the alcohol, or if this was a detour from Elbaph. If it had been the latter, though, I think the fans would’ve lost it! And then we had to wait an entire week (or two) to find out what was happening. Thankfully, the anime will be sticking to a weekly release schedule, so anime only people don’t have to worry about that!

This was a good start to the return of One Piece, if you ask me. I have been reading the manga for years, and I can say that you guys are in for something very special. Welcome to the Elbaph arc, everyone! Hope you enjoy the trip!

I Give “The Long-sought Elbaph! The Big Reunion Banquet” a 3/5