R.R. Bigman
Coolest Guy
It’s shocking to hear One Piece fans say it’s still on point after going on for decades now. A lot of Shonen series tend to peak in their second or third story arc, then peter out or plateau at “okay”.
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One Piece (Beware, spoilers)
- Thread starter FelixSH
- Start date
In the manga, that was? The anime in Whole Cake Island famously reduced the adaptation rate to less than one chapter per episode at points, so that was a massive drag, but I found the manga sped along quite nicely (albeit more so on a reread, which I feel One Piece is often written for, rather than week to week) in that arc. But I did also think that arc in general was fantastic, so maybe that affected my perception of it.
Honestly I feel there's a strong argument for One Piece never having been so consistently good as it is right now haha
Honestly I feel there's a strong argument for One Piece never having been so consistently good as it is right now haha
The anime adapting less than one chapter per episode didn't start at Whole Cake Island, sadly, it started on a regular basis way back at Sabaody Archipelago. It really hurt the pacing of things through the Marineford War. It corrected itself for awhile at the timeskip, but I guess it could only last so long.
Anyway, as much as I want the manga to get back to the present this Kuma flashback has been kinda heartbreaking, as is how these flashbacks usually go.
Anyway, as much as I want the manga to get back to the present this Kuma flashback has been kinda heartbreaking, as is how these flashbacks usually go.
FelixSH
(He/Him)
Oh, yeah, the only arc since the timeskip, where week for week really worked for me, is Egghead Island. I even stopped reading for months, at the beginning of Wano. But when I reread the whole series last year (the manga was just done with Wano, I think), being able to read as much as I want, the pacing is so much better. The only arc in the whole series that didn't quite work for me was Punk Hazard. And even there, it got better in the sevond half.
Reading only one chapter per week is, imo, not a good fit for One Piece (except now, the current arc is way faster paced, which makes it work better).
There are enough people who think that One Piece isn't that good anymore, since the timeskip. Dunno, just how Oda integrates themes, how he writes characters, it got so much better. There are weaknesses (I still think that female characters get victimized/sexualized way more, than in early OP, but that isn't new in any way), but especially Egghead Island, the current arc, is amazing. Completely agreed with Pombar here.
Reading only one chapter per week is, imo, not a good fit for One Piece (except now, the current arc is way faster paced, which makes it work better).
There are enough people who think that One Piece isn't that good anymore, since the timeskip. Dunno, just how Oda integrates themes, how he writes characters, it got so much better. There are weaknesses (I still think that female characters get victimized/sexualized way more, than in early OP, but that isn't new in any way), but especially Egghead Island, the current arc, is amazing. Completely agreed with Pombar here.
It didn't start for the first time during WCI, but it did start again during it. Such pacing has come and gone, but it was egregious yet again during WCI.
Not a perfect metric, but the padding-removing One Pace project has the highest removal ratio of any major arc for WCI (at 55.36%).
100% agree on the "best on reread" part. I proof the SJ chapters, and then the collected GNs, and it's not until the second read that I really get a sense of what's going on. Most chapters are really busy and it's hard to take in and hold on yo when it's week to week.
He did already, I guess we're meant to think? Via providing Luffy food at light speed. Interesting direction if so. He hasn't come across as a massive bastard like some of his peers but he's still been fine following some pretty bad orders.
FelixSH
(He/Him)
He strikes me as a middle ground between Aokiji and Akainu, the former more on the side of what's right (I still assume that there is a good reason, why he joined Blackbeard) and the latter being for the law, no matter what. Kizaru always seemed to me, like it was just a job, that he fulfilled without really caring.
I wonder if it was really him, who did the spoilered stuff. Wouldn't know who else, though.
I wonder if it was really him, who did the spoilered stuff. Wouldn't know who else, though.
It's not explicitly shown to be Kizaru but there really aren't any other possibilities, and there was that really suspicious panel of him sitting back and deliberately not reacting when Saturn ordered everyone to restrain Luffy. If it did turn out to be someone else at this point it would be a surprise.
We did just complete a flashback and I doubt we'll be thrown into another one right away, but man, I do kinda want to know a bit more about Kizaru's past at this point but I think what we just got is all we'll get for the time being.
Gonna be a rough couple weeks for the next chapter, at least for those who get it on the SJ app like me.
We did just complete a flashback and I doubt we'll be thrown into another one right away, but man, I do kinda want to know a bit more about Kizaru's past at this point but I think what we just got is all we'll get for the time being.
Gonna be a rough couple weeks for the next chapter, at least for those who get it on the SJ app like me.
FelixSH
(He/Him)
A friend I only get to talk to every few weeks (he has a one year old son, so basically no time) told me today that he watched the live action One Piece. He binged it, and liked it so much, that the started watching the Anime. And he watched so much of that, that he reached within a few weeks the beginning of Skypia (he just saw the ship fall from the sky, so I should be at the very beginning).
This is very exciting and makes me very happy, because now I can talk with someone about One Piece, and watch his journey. We just talked two hours just about that. It was great. He tends to lose interest in things, with time - well, it depends, he did make it through Babylon 5 and Buffy, so I think it's more him being between arcs.
This is very exciting and makes me very happy, because now I can talk with someone about One Piece, and watch his journey. We just talked two hours just about that. It was great. He tends to lose interest in things, with time - well, it depends, he did make it through Babylon 5 and Buffy, so I think it's more him being between arcs.
FelixSH
(He/Him)
Go to hell, Kizaru!
There is a chance, that he is just acting now, after he maybe helped Luffy get food. That he expects Luffy to save the day now, without him needing to. Dunno, I hope so, because goddamnit!
That punch though! So satisfying, to see this old piece of shit go down, if only for a moment.
So, I guess we are closing the arc soon. Whatever big happens with Blackbeard, or one of his members, will happen soon, I guess. Damn, we've been teased with this, and them bringing starting some horrible thing, months ago.
There is a chance, that he is just acting now, after he maybe helped Luffy get food. That he expects Luffy to save the day now, without him needing to. Dunno, I hope so, because goddamnit!
That punch though! So satisfying, to see this old piece of shit go down, if only for a moment.
So, I guess we are closing the arc soon. Whatever big happens with Blackbeard, or one of his members, will happen soon, I guess. Damn, we've been teased with this, and them bringing starting some horrible thing, months ago.
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Seems like at the very least Kizaru is holding back, and possibly even just testing the Strawhats. Saturn said he was being unusually sluggish, after all. And yeah he probably put Luffy somewhere safe between chapters since the soldiers say he disappeared while being watched.
Is your friend watching Piece or Pace? IIRC after Skypeia, everything is Paced (except maybe the latter half of Eneis Lobby?) till late Wano.
Is your friend watching Piece or Pace? IIRC after Skypeia, everything is Paced (except maybe the latter half of Eneis Lobby?) till late Wano.
FelixSH
(He/Him)
I think he watches the regular anime on Netflix. Not sure, but he is too lazy for streaming sources that aren't professionally done. I don't think he even knows that something like Pace exists (he doesn't watch Anime, generally), so it's surely just the regular version.
He does use a list to skip filler. I warned him about the anime becoming very badly paced, and suggested that he should switch to the manga, but I can suggest Pace to him. Thanks for the suggestion.
He does use a list to skip filler. I warned him about the anime becoming very badly paced, and suggested that he should switch to the manga, but I can suggest Pace to him. Thanks for the suggestion.
Funny thing about watching the anime on Netflix now, they've started putting the most recent episodes on there, but there's still a massive gap between where the episodes they had left off and the new Egghead Island arc starting, so Netflix has up to episode 400-something, and then a massive 600 episode gap to the most recent ones.
well nothing much happens, you know
I think it's more that for whatever reason they got the rights to the most recent episodes, but still don't have the rights to everything in between so they'll keep posting entire arcs as they get the rights (currently up to Impel Down I think?) but they're able to add the newest episodes weekly. I don't think it's a matter of anyone not caring, hell Netflix is behind the live action series AND that new animated series, but just that rights are weird.
FelixSH
(He/Him)
You guys remember some chapters ago, when Kumas flashback started, and the people on God Valley were made into hunt animals, for the Celestial Dragons. The people were called rabbits.
I just remembered a story. It's a horrible story that really happened in Nazi Germany. So please only read on, if you can stomach cruelty. I'm using wikipedia as a source here, but the German version. Still, here is the link.
Seriously, it's not a fun topic, and is really too heavy for this comic. Just be warned. I just needed to write it down, as I made to possible connection.
I might imagine a connection here. If you hunt people down, you can easily get to the word "rabbit" for them. I have no idea if the movies or books are known at all, in the rest of the world. But Oda is well read, so I wouldn't be surprised if he knows about more obscure stuff, too. And as the idea came to me, I had to get it out, because the memory of it is just disgusting and horrible.
I just remembered a story. It's a horrible story that really happened in Nazi Germany. So please only read on, if you can stomach cruelty. I'm using wikipedia as a source here, but the German version. Still, here is the link.
Seriously, it's not a fun topic, and is really too heavy for this comic. Just be warned. I just needed to write it down, as I made to possible connection.
In the night of 2. 2. 1945, in the concentration camp of Mauthausen (a city that still exists, and can be visited, to remember the horrors), prisoners fled. The ones who stayed back, where executed.
On the following morning, the leadership of the camp decided to hunt the fled prisoners down, calling it a "Treibjagd" (a hunt). Everyone seemed to be included, including fire fighters, the Hitlerjugend (basically boys who were not of age) and civilists. It took three weeks, the goal was not to bring any survivors back to the camp.
Only eleven people survived. Some got help from local farms, despite the high risk for them. They held out, until the War was over, three months later.
There are books and movies about it, I watched one of them in school. Through them, this horror got the title "Mühlviertler Hasenjagd" - I guess you could translate it to "Hunt for the Mühlviertler rabbits", with the Mühlviertel being a region in Austria.
Rabbits, the same word that was used to describe the citizens of God Valley.
On the following morning, the leadership of the camp decided to hunt the fled prisoners down, calling it a "Treibjagd" (a hunt). Everyone seemed to be included, including fire fighters, the Hitlerjugend (basically boys who were not of age) and civilists. It took three weeks, the goal was not to bring any survivors back to the camp.
Only eleven people survived. Some got help from local farms, despite the high risk for them. They held out, until the War was over, three months later.
There are books and movies about it, I watched one of them in school. Through them, this horror got the title "Mühlviertler Hasenjagd" - I guess you could translate it to "Hunt for the Mühlviertler rabbits", with the Mühlviertel being a region in Austria.
Rabbits, the same word that was used to describe the citizens of God Valley.
I might imagine a connection here. If you hunt people down, you can easily get to the word "rabbit" for them. I have no idea if the movies or books are known at all, in the rest of the world. But Oda is well read, so I wouldn't be surprised if he knows about more obscure stuff, too. And as the idea came to me, I had to get it out, because the memory of it is just disgusting and horrible.
FelixSH
(He/Him)
What a chapter. Loved it.
Seeing the giants again, all four, made me so happy. I love them so much.
That Rob Lucci has to fight with Zorro, a second in command, and being unable to beat him with ease, must have to hurt his pride. I mean, Zorro is under time pressure, but still.
Sanji is strong enough to fight Kizaru. And even if not, he is strong enough to block a laser of his. Love, whatever, I guess his haki just is really powerful? This is just wild. Loved Kizarus face, didn't expect to see any emotions from this guy, ever.
Not surprised that Luffy can easily take Saturns look of death, but did not expect him to be so easily able to punch the old fart to the ground. Still satisfying. That said, Saturn starts to feel a wee bit disappointing. He just stands there, doing nothing much. I guess we can look at this as him not wanting to do anything himself, being one of the leaders of the world.
I did wonder, why he talked with Devon and Van Augur. I guess she can no transform into Saturn, and he just let it happen? There were shared looks between Van Augur and Saturn, so, uh, maybe a relationship?
This was great, I loved it. I know, I'm repeating myself, but this arc, including the flashback, is One Piece at its best. It fires on all cylinders, and seeing again and again, revelations and characters from the past is such a thrill.
Seeing the giants again, all four, made me so happy. I love them so much.
That Rob Lucci has to fight with Zorro, a second in command, and being unable to beat him with ease, must have to hurt his pride. I mean, Zorro is under time pressure, but still.
Sanji is strong enough to fight Kizaru. And even if not, he is strong enough to block a laser of his. Love, whatever, I guess his haki just is really powerful? This is just wild. Loved Kizarus face, didn't expect to see any emotions from this guy, ever.
Not surprised that Luffy can easily take Saturns look of death, but did not expect him to be so easily able to punch the old fart to the ground. Still satisfying. That said, Saturn starts to feel a wee bit disappointing. He just stands there, doing nothing much. I guess we can look at this as him not wanting to do anything himself, being one of the leaders of the world.
I did wonder, why he talked with Devon and Van Augur. I guess she can no transform into Saturn, and he just let it happen? There were shared looks between Van Augur and Saturn, so, uh, maybe a relationship?
This was great, I loved it. I know, I'm repeating myself, but this arc, including the flashback, is One Piece at its best. It fires on all cylinders, and seeing again and again, revelations and characters from the past is such a thrill.
It's great to have them back again, looking very similar to their earlier appearances even among everyone else's very modern designs. Back when they first appeared they fit in just fine, because regular sized characters were that simple in their designs too. But now after decades of encroaching detail, they kinda stand out for it.
Anyway yes, that was a fantastic chapter even after several really solid ones in recent months.
Anyway yes, that was a fantastic chapter even after several really solid ones in recent months.
FelixSH
(He/Him)
I was wondering why they looked so different. Kinda like out of a different manga, if only a little bit. And you are right, back than, they fit in perfectly. Fascinating.
I should watch some Wickie, I think.
It's so much fun, seeing giants finally wreck havok, just by being there. They never lived up to the legend. Mr. 3 would have killed them (granted, not in a fair fight, they were internally wounded), and other giants were never that much of a problem. I think, I might remember them wrong. But here, a hit just crashes a vice-admiral. I love them so much. Can't wait for Elbaf (granted, I couldn't wait for Elbaf since, uh, 2006?), more cartoon vikings, please. And I'm so curious how Loki will look, and what his whole deal will be.
Oh, and yes, agreed, this chapter was great.
I should watch some Wickie, I think.
It's so much fun, seeing giants finally wreck havok, just by being there. They never lived up to the legend. Mr. 3 would have killed them (granted, not in a fair fight, they were internally wounded), and other giants were never that much of a problem. I think, I might remember them wrong. But here, a hit just crashes a vice-admiral. I love them so much. Can't wait for Elbaf (granted, I couldn't wait for Elbaf since, uh, 2006?), more cartoon vikings, please. And I'm so curious how Loki will look, and what his whole deal will be.
Oh, and yes, agreed, this chapter was great.
FelixSH
(He/Him)
It's ridiculous, how much I love the giants. Yeah, I'm repeating myself, but they bring me so, so much joy, every time. I don't even know why. But damn, they are POWERFUL. They really cut one of the Elders, didn't they? That's insane. No wonder, that the World Government fears them.