Let memes die. Kill them, if you have to.
Well there have been a few (I can't say how big a group they are) saying that they would like to see more death in One Piece. Ignoring how there has been more death lately, I don't really agree with the notion that a story needs more death just cause.
Edited by Kakuzan on Jul 25th 2018 at 4:09:06 AM
Don't catch you slippin' now.
Hey folks, remember the announcement of a LA adaptation?
Edited by Beatman1 on Jul 26th 2018 at 10:09:25 AM
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
That is not what that article is about.
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Good for nothing
Hey guys, just a brief analysis I did on a couple of characters rereading some chapters of the Whole Cake Island arc (mainly the post wedding ones)
p.s. part of the analysis is based off chapter 862's report https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jlmgaikU_o
, I've mostly expanded it, as the reporter talked only about Pudding (claiming he loved her twist) in regards to "the masks", and I've added my interpretation.
Luigi Pirandello, a famous Noble-winning Italian writer, claimed that we constantly wear different masks, regarding of the person we have in front of us and what the society imposes to us. We act in different way in front of our parents, of our friends, of our teachers and we're seen in different ways from those people: for our parents we are children, for our friends we are friends (duh) and for our teachers we are students. In general we wear maks both consciously and unconsciously to hide our weaknesses and being accepted by our society.
In Whole Cake Island arc, there are some characters who play with this idea of the "masks". But before talking about the characters, since I've mentioned it, I think I should mention that Totto Land itself is wearing a mask: it's a Crapsaccharine World (which I'd call a "mask trope"), and it appears to the people who simply visit it as a beautiful land, with people of all races/species (barring giants) living in harmony. Of course, for the inhabitants, is a place where they are forced to live in, paying part of their lifespan as tax, and still, there's the danger of running into one of Big Mom's destructive hunger pangs.
Now, about the characters, I've picked up three of them, all of whom are Big Mom's children.
I imagine that the line "behave differently in front of different people" makes you immediately think about:
Charlotte Pudding
Well, she's definetely the one who's been wearing the highest number of masks. As a master actress, she wore the maks of the lovable and caring (almost)wife in front of Sanji and the friend mask in front of the straw hats. In truth, she's a true jerk who doesn't feel any empathy for the others, a Bitch in Sheep's Clothing (another "mask trope") of course, she removes the "good girl mask" while alone in front of Reiju (not exactly a well written scene, but it's not the moment to talk about it). Still, even this "bad pudding" mask has different shades, as she behaves differently in front of Jello and "carpet", with whom she's smug, than in front of her mom, with whom she's, understandably, much more submissive. The different mask is noted by Brook himself, who missed the reveal.
And the removal of the mask is symbolized by the reveal of the bangs that covered her third eye (it's not a coincidence that, before the marriage, when we see her true thoughts)
But does it mean the "true pudding" is the bad one? For a while, we're led to think it is, but then, when Sanji compliment her third eye, we learn that even the "bad pudding" is a mask that she had to wear to not be bullied by the others and she wore for so many years she thought it was her true self. However, with Sanji's compliment, even this mask falls off and we're left with the true Pudding. Also, the "split personality" thing, to me is because Pudding herself, who is in love this Sanji (btw, loved her gags involving this, really well done), is too used to the mask she kept wearing for years that she cannot give it up. (for the reporter, after Sanji broke her mask, she acts like a double personality because she doesn't know who her true is anymore, I have a different interpretation)
Of course, you've probably thought of another character who wears only one mask, but it's not less deep at all:
Charlotte Katakuri
Of course I thought of Katakuri too, aside for him being one of the best written characters I've seen in recent years, he's clearly wearing a mask: the "invicible Katakuri" and we see already this mask from two perspective: first from Capone (an enemy)'s point of view, where he's seen as a calm, colleted and frightening fighter. while, for his siblings, he's a Showy Invincible Hero. He's been presented very effectively in one splash page and a single page, and then we see him in action during the chaos right after the marriage, where he's the only savvy member of the Charlotte family, and during his fight with Luffy, where he doesn't even allow him to use gear 4th!
However, what we saw until then, it wasn't actually Charlotte Katakuri, not the real one, at least. We've only seen a mask, which is symbolically represented by the scarf used to hide his scary mouth. The true Katakuri is actually an easygoing glutton (although in battle he's just as serious) and we see this true self for the first time in chapter 883, where he's been devouring giant donuts (and,of course, in that scene is scarf is nowhere to be seen). However, even after having been discovered, Katakuri still keeps his mask during his fight with Luffy, until he recognizes the Straw Hats captain as a Worthy Opponent. The moment when Katakuri removes his scarf to fight Luffy symbolize (among the other things) the removal of his mask, and that Luffy isn't fighting the "perfect and invincible Katakuri" but the "true Charlotte Katakuri"
Of course, Oda plays masterfully with the audience's savvyness about Katakuri's history and motivations and, when we see his full flashback in chapter 902. At first, with a single panel, we've led to believe that he began wearing this mask to protect himself from society, for being accepted, just like Pudding, but the full flashback breaks completely this idea, and we see that his real motivation is for protecting his siblings (basically, it added Hidden Depths to Hidden Depths. And yeah, I'd say Hidden Depths is, sometimes, a "mask trope" too)
But if I begin analyzing all of Katakuri, I'd write an analysis ten times longer, let's stop here and move to the last one.
Charlotte Brulee
This character has the most simple, but also the most mundane and (maybe because of this) effective example of mask to me. Unlike Katakuri and Pudding, who's been consciously (and also subconciously in Pudding's case) wearing a mask to appear a different person in front of others, we've seen two as much different as genuine masks: to the Strawhats she's (almost literally) an evil witch but, to Katakuri, she's a caring sister. It was so effective to me because, if we compare the Charlotte Brulee from chapter 831 and the one from Chapter 902, it's almost like looking at two different characters, yet it's the same persone and it doesn't feel like an Out-of-Character Moment, because that's simply how a sister who admires her big brother would act in front of said brother. (p.s. kid Brulee is too adorable)
Also, thinking of Brulle and Katakuri, we see the latter blushing in embarassment, something we would never expect from what we saw of him before, but, to me, it feels completely natural.
End
Why did I do this analysis? Because I'm a loser who doesn't know what to do 
. Of course, I'm sure that, if I read the manga with more attention, I would've found out much more, but I don't want to write a novel out of an analysis. Maybe I said some bullshits, maybe I said something good, that's up to you to decide. I definetely said little and mostly reductive things.
I end saying that, while I like alot Pirandello's "philosophy" of the masks, I like when they're added to the characters, because it helps making them feel more complex and more real (imagine if a characters behave always the same regardless of the situation and/or the people in front of him, in most cases it would be bland, and possibly even repetitive)
Edited by fishysaur on Jul 26th 2018 at 2:36:40 AM
There isn't an impossible dream, there are only people who give up
So it's been suggested that Shiryulew of the Blackbeard Pirates will both show up in Wano and also be a Wano man himself. Namely from his name and title match the pattern of known Wano or Wano linked characters:
https://www.reddit.com/r/OnePiece/comments/78hhvb/theory_is_shiryu_of_the_rain_from_wano/
I can see it. From a narrative stand it'd fit to not only show Zoro's Evil Counterpart in "his" arc (going with Wano being Zoro's Cake Island) but also establish him as a proper rival. Zoro hasn't really had a competitor for #1 Swordsman in the way Luffy has Blackbeard, Kidd, and sorta Buggy. Yeah he fought with Cabaji or Tashigi a couple times but both were established as not even close to Zoro's league.
Edited by Maljen on Jul 26th 2018 at 11:05:54 AM
I mean, I question the assumption that Wano will be Zoro's "arc" the way Whole Cake Island was Sanji's "arc".
Well, I'd say the base for it is that:
A. Of the "core" Strawhats (Luffy, Zoro, Nami, at least according to Oda) Zoro's really the only one who we still don't have much details on his background (what if any family he has, how he or they came to be in Shimotsuki Village, possibly even how he got into swordsmanship). He just came to a dojo one day and started fighting in his current only backstory flashback.
B. Wano issss Swordsman Land. And well, Zoro's Mr. Bushido.
There's more to it on other sites but start with them.
Edited by Maljen on Jul 26th 2018 at 11:29:03 AM
Good for nothing
Mainly because Wano is "the land of samurai" which probably means "there are strong swordsmen", therefore good opponents for Zoro. Besides, since there has been an arc dedicated to Sanji, one of the monster trio, it makes sense to be another one dedicated to Zoro. A minor one: Zoro is "japanese" (or would be in our world), and Wano is basically feudal Japan
I didn't say Zoro would be getting a lot of focus (which he usually does anyway) I said I question specifically comparing it to Whole Cake Island, because Whole Cake had much and specific framing around Sanji in a way that hasn't been hinted at all for Zoro and Wano.
Going "Zoro will fight strong people" is comparable to saying "Water is wet".
Edited by LSBK on Jul 26th 2018 at 1:32:42 PM
Good for nothing
With "fighting strong people" we mean, first of all, fighting an opponent that would put him on the edge (so far, he easily won every post-timeskip fight. With Pika the only struggle was that he kept running away) and, this time, his opponent would probably be a really strong swordsman, which means it's an important step for his path toward "the world's strongest swordman" (and, as already explained, him fighting strong people is just the result, not what makes people think this could be "his arc")
of course, this is mainly speculation. There's also the fact that the first chapter of the arc put more attention to Zoro than the other strawhats already in Wano, but we have to see it how it unfolds
There isn't an impossible dream, there are only people who give up
I know what you meant. It doesn't actually change anything.
Edited by LSBK on Jul 27th 2018 at 2:06:02 PM
Getting back to Shiryu (refuse to call him Shiliew), if him being in Wano really happens then I reckon the best way to handle it to avoid character bloat would be having him show up way later into the arc (when much of the overall conflict has happened already or when it's over) as either Blackbeard's agent taking what he can or just taking a non-business trip. Maybe the 2nd one. We could even have a scene like at Jaya where Luffy and Blackbeard bicker over food/drink.
Why is Shiryu better than Shiliew?
Edited by LSBK on Jul 27th 2018 at 2:24:35 PM
The 2nd one just looks awkward. Like the "official" spelling of Reverie or from another manga the "official" spelling of the Phantom Troupe leader's full name (Chrollo Lucifer/Quwrof Wrlccywrlir).
Also, the English localization calls him Shiryu anyway.
Edited by Maljen on Jul 27th 2018 at 12:49:07 PM
The Head of the Hydra
Zorro’s not a particularly introspective person & he’s pretty uncaring about most things so I don’t see him doing anything more than typical Blood Knight stuff.
Find a real challenge, majorly exerts himself for the first time in a long while, & as a result is content for finally having a good fight.
Edited by slimcoder on Jul 27th 2018 at 12:49:45 PM
"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
I mean, I expect that Zoro will probably have a subplot involving swords (we already have the set up for that after all), but Wano being to him what Whole Cake was for Sanji isn't going to happen.
That was specifically about Sanji and his past, with the Big Mom stuff being something they had to get involved with and wasn't the primary focus (as was said, numerous times). But with Wano, there's no such connection or build-up for Zoro.
And while him fighting someone strong is nice and all, Zoro's development as a swordsman isn't particularly interesting. I don't think he needs some big rival to compete for the title of Best Swordsman, because he already knows who the best one is, and beating him is whole thing. Rivals wouldn't really add much meaning to it.
Edited by LSBK on Jul 27th 2018 at 3:10:31 AM
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
I just want Zoro to get into a fight that really fucks him up again. He was great at that pre-timeskip, and he hasn't had a really rough fight after the timeskip.
The Head of the Hydra
Pretty much all his fights pre-timeskip involved him overcoming some kind of fucked up injury.
Something his current self lacks as he’s just rather coasting on his immense power without a worry or struggle in the world.
Edited by slimcoder on Jul 27th 2018 at 1:51:58 AM
"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
I think his only pre-timeskip fight where he wasn't fighting with a handicap is against Kaku. Every other time he's had a serious injury and/or had less than 3 swords.
Also, heads up guys, the interview where Oda said something would happen to Jinbe that would be spoiled by his appearance in Colorspreads is fake.
Discord: Waido X 255#1372 If you cant contact me on TV Tropes do it here.
Good for nothing
Aaaaah ok, now I get it. In that case I kinda agree
I just think this arc will be important for Zoro because he's going to face a very strong opponent that will help him "move forward" the objective of becoming the strongest swordman ("we get stronger by fighting stronger enemies" -cit Raylegh. Like Luffy, who ultimately faced Katakuri instead of fleeing because he knew that, in order to defeat an emperor, he must first defeat him so he can get stronger), but, yeah, his story probably wouldn't be as tied up to the arc's story as Sanji's in Whole Cake Island (where his story basically kicked off the arc), though I think his fight with the Shogun might contribute to the climax, like Sanji's cake in WCI, but it's just speculation, the arc is just setting up at the moment and might, if not probably, go in an unexpected direction
Edit: Thinking about it, the main climax is probably gonna be Luffy vs Kaido, as much as important the Shogun defeat is going to be (I think he's basically a tyrant under Kaido's commands), the defeat of an Emperor must be really climatic
Edited by fishysaur on Jul 27th 2018 at 6:47:31 AM
There isn't an impossible dream, there are only people who give up
I get the feeling that the final fight with Kaido is going to be another team up between Luffy, Law, and Kid with Luffy ultimately being the one to make it all the way to the end and deal the finishing blow(s).
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I think the main climax will be all Supernovas present except Zoro and maybe Killer + maybe Moria against both Kaidou and Big Mom together (though not cooperating).
Even as someone who's not hugely enthused at the idea of Jimbei joining, I've never understood why so many people seemed to be under the impression he was suddenly going to keel over from a heart attack or something. Oda doesn't do troll jobs like that.
BTW, that bit about Oda deliberately omitting him from color spreads because he was hiding something about the character seems to be fake zine the whole thing's been translated now and there's no explicit mention of his current status.
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