One Piece

Skypiea is a darling among Italian manga critics

I don't see how it feels like a detour, Jaya-Skypiea is probably the most pirate-like arc of the series. It's pure adventure, desire to explore and treasure search

Edited by fishysaur on Oct 18th 2021 at 2:26:34 PM

There isn't an impossible dream, there are only people who give up

Alabasta is where Oda establishes the story structure he'll be working with for the rest of the series (small mini-arcs building up to one mega-arc within one big saga).

Skypiea is where Oda establishes the themes he'll be working with for the rest of the series (fight for the people against the authority of oppressive dictator gods, carrying on the will of those who lived in ancient history).

Water 7 is where Oda establishes the actual story of the rest of the series (Void Century, Poneglyphs, World Government, Ancient Weapons).

Edited by PushoverMediaCritic on Oct 18th 2021 at 6:40:07 AM

Most of the Skypiea backlash comes from back in the day when it was ongoing. That's when I picked the series up, and I remember endless complaining about how long and pointless it was, especially since they didn't pick up a new crew member or go into Robin's backstory. Very similar to the week to week reception to Dressrosa, honestly.

As a person who just recently went through with Skypia I’m more on the side that does find it one of the weaker arcs that I’ve read

I think how much you like Skypiea when actually going through it depends on how much you like Enel and the lore... other than that can see why it'd be a less compelling arc. You definitely appreciate Skypiea more as the foundations it set gets expanded throughout the story

Dressrosa, on the other hand, was long but I still loved it as I wasn't reading it week-to-week and Doffy is an excellent villain and, now that I'm caught up, is to me easily OP's best antagonist

she/her

I’ve been hearing speculation that Kaido and Big Mom will become allies in the final war, either due to now respecting Luffy for beating them or just because the WH’s big end play will necessitate pirates in general banding together. Not sure how I’d feel about that after all they’ve done.

I definitely feel Big Moms pirates as a whole might in the end if she doesn’t, since Katakuri’s position and respect for Luffy.

Every accusation by the GOP is ALWAYS a confession.

I don't really see Big Mom and Kaido being part of the solution, considering they were both a big part of why the world was a Crapsack World. A better world won't be possible as long as they're still in power.

Disgusted, but not surprised

Well most of my knowledge of One Piece comes from seeing reactions to fanart people post which is why I knew certain characters existed (Well that and being familiar with the 4Kids dub opening in the case of the crew members up to Chopper's introduction.) before I ever read any of it. And most of my knowledge of fandom reactions comes from random comments on Twitter whenever it comes up. I've never really talked to people about the series.

Like before I started reading I mostly saw people thirsting over Nami, Robin, and Boa; recommending people give the series a chance to at least Arlong Park and Skypiea if that doesn't hook them, and in more recent months arguments about whether Yamato is trans or not.

Honestly the main reason I picked it up is because a Youtuber I enjoy got into it over the past year and started posting about it and retweeting fanart on Twitter which is eat got me to give it a try after years of saying it was too long for me to give a chance.

Chris Ayres, the voice of Johnny in Funimation's dub of One Piece, died yesterday. Rest in peace...

Edited by gjjones on Oct 19th 2021 at 6:54:23 AM

He/His/Him. No matter who you are, always Be Yourself.

He was also the voice of Frieza starting with DBZ Kai.

Edited by wanderlustwarrior on Oct 19th 2021 at 9:35:23 AM

The sad, REAL American dichotomy

Water 7's giving Usopp a decent amount of development so far. Didn't expect the antagonist to be government officials. I did expect Kalifa to betray Iceburg but not the rest of the Galley-Lya uppercrust. This is clearly Robin's Arlong Park moment (In that it's when she really joins the group after pretending for awhile.) and I'm looking forward to seeing how they get her to join them and learning more about her beyond what we know so far.

Aaaah Usopp, definitely the best written straw hat, and probably the most well written character of the series so far (I'd say either him or Oden). He's similar to Popp, but with a different take on the development

There isn't an impossible dream, there are only people who give up

The best thing about Usopp is that he never really overcomes his cowardice, nor does he let it stop him from doing the right thing anyway.

He's had Character Development, but he's fundamentally the same cowardly fibber who was still willing to fight a dangerous pirate for his childhood friend.

Edited by M84 on Oct 20th 2021 at 4:28:48 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised

Usopp is my favorite type of coward character; the one who is complaining and screaming and crying the entire time, but never once DOESN'T do the thing. He's like if Shaggy ever needed to throw down on Scooby Doo.

Yeah, Oda has a different way to develop the characters (at least regarding the strawhats) compared to the standard one which in general consists of "losing the flaws". The Strawhats flaws never disappear but they learn how to deal with them, such as Sanji who never learn to hit women but, realizing he can't defeat them, in Wano he shows off his development by first running away and then calling for help rather than trying (and obviously failing) to fight

There isn't an impossible dream, there are only people who give up

Are you implying Shaggy doesn't throw down?

Edited by BlackYakuzu94 on Oct 20th 2021 at 10:01:18 AM

A lazy millennial who's good at what he does.

The end of an era...

And the start of another!

The sad, REAL American dichotomy

Funimation's special trailer for episode 1000:

The sad, REAL American dichotomy

Man I would not mind remaking the entire anime with this animation.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."

Gonna be really funny when after all the hype for episode 1000 it turns out to be "Luffy climbs up another set of stairs and beats up another extremely silly Gifter"

1000 covers the crew grouping up on the Live Stage, before Luffy starts heading up the stairs.

Some spoilers for the next chapter It's largely Killer vs Hawkins. Hawkins is smashing his own body which transfers to Kid weakening him in the Big Mom fight. Hawkins states beating the Emperors is impossible and offers Killer a final chance to join up or he will kill him. Killer mocks him saying he can tell Hawkins is sore and envious of them for opposing the Emperors while Hawkins gave in. Then he says he has figured out the weakness to Hawkins' technique and slices Hawkins' left arm off. Hawkins shouts in disbelief that this is impossible the damage should have gone to Kid instead of him, before Killer tells him that Kid does not have a left arm. Before removing the damage transferring doll from the severed arm. Hawkin's being out of dolls attacks Killer but is unable to do much but once again shouts that victory here is impossible for them. Drawing a card to predict the end of the war and getting the Tower, signifying destructive change as Killer defeats him while he is shocked. Kid no longer under Hawkins' spell starts getting his second wind against Big Mom.

Also Sanji runs away from Queen and the battle terrified of his changing body, the possibility of losing his emotions, and sudden immunity to bullets fired by bystanding pirates. Wanting to figure out how this change suddenly started happening.

Edited by Envyus on Oct 22nd 2021 at 2:24:18 AM

Jamie Lee Curtis' daughter was on the One Piece Podcast, and apparently, her mom loves Kureha and would love to play her in the live-action show.

Damn that be good casting.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."