So, I admit this arc has gotten weak in the recent episodes due to so little happening when, imo, this is supposed to be frantic and chaotic. Yet this episode felt substantial, frantic, meaningful, and even moving. It's the kind of thing I'd expect all these episodes since they reached level 6 to be like and it was so good. I wouldn't have it any other way!
Firstly, I didn't expect Hannyabal to pull an Usopp. Being clearly weaker than his foes but still fighting against them with his all, even grabbing their feet as they walk by his trampled body. I take it he's like Magellan, both have a more eccentric silly side but both take their job really seriously when it gets down to it. Maybe the fact that when push comes to shove Hannyabal will die for his job is what allowed such an otherwise untrustworthy guy to get into the position he's in, he definitely has a long past with Magellan too, as a mentor figure to him, so I’m starting to see their relationship as a little bit more brotherly. And we got teased to his true skill when he showed he could defeat Buggy and Mr. 3 off screen so it's not a huge shock. If anything I think it continues to show that Magellan and Hannyabal are pretty good people, much more so Magellan, but we have admirable characteristics in both. They truly believe they are doing their best for the good of the innocent people in the world. I found Hannyabal’s line quite moving actually, when he took Luffy wanting to save his brother as a joke, it was like he was saying, "you want to save your brother while releasing all of these people into the world which will take away other peoples loved ones", also referring to Luffy as such. In other words, ‘you’re willing to save your brother and sacrifice many other peoples brothers to do so’? And, he has a point. Luffy is freeing Crocodile of all people and nearly everyone whose imprisoned. And although the World Government is corrupt it doesn't mean they don't do any good at all.. They have this problematic 'ends justify the means' outlook but they still keep most of the Crocodiles of the world off the streets. The problem is that their own authority figures often end up being as bad as the worst of the pirates. So, I don't think Magellan and Hannyabal are all in the wrong and I think they believe and are actually doing some serious 'good'.
Sure, the means of torturing these pirates when many aren't that bad or are even good people is awful, like that one vice admiral kept mentioning. Further, Magellan is cruel and able to kill these people like they're nothing, and I recall Hannyabal enjoying their screams, but I would argue that it's because of the lie they believe that 'all pirates are bad, and all navy are good'. They believe they're on the right side and they don't doubt that at all allowing for such horrible practices to be done. So, deep down I think they are both men willing to fight for what they think is real justice and preserving the peace and I thought it was cool that it showed that for both of them. I especially thought it was cool that you can even imagine Hannyabal here as an Usopp protecting the innocent he cares about from the invading and far stronger pirates. It’s something I didn’t expect, to develop the diarrhea having warden and the Buggy-esque Hannyabal to such strong and layered characters is something somewhat subversive actually. But, like Oda does best, he can introduce many characters on the basis of gimmicks and give them an unexpected depth that actually defines who they are as you get to know them better.
This all makes Blackbeard's appearance quite interesting as it was as if the talk about righteousness and good and evil annoyed him to the point of crushing Hannyabal under his heel. He mocked him and said no matter where you look you won't find an answer to that discussion. I definitely do see a parrel in Teach and Luffy, both have an undying and romanticized ambition about becoming the pirate king and both have a small but well defined and strong crew under them. But, Luffy has a strong sense of personal morality and code, essentially what he was taught by Shanks, and Blackbeard knows no limits, he will kill and ruin the world to get what he wants, at least from what we know about him. That said, Luffy is a good person because he wants to be one and he doesn't like the people he thinks go against that, it's not like he's ever said in his entire life he's fighting for 'justice' or ‘the good’. Luffy is fighting for himself, his personal values, and his nakama, but those things mostly align to what we would consider ‘good’ behavior even if it’s more so a side effect. So I find their contrast interesting and I wanna know more about Blackbeard as we go on!
As for the Blackbeard confrontation, that was crazy awesome. I was wondering if Luffy would recall who Teach was and he did. I suppose he and Zoro were wary of him when they met him after Bellamy beat them up so it isn’t that shocking. But when he linked Teach to Blackbeard and realized what that meant, that he was the man responsible for this, he was the man who took down Ace to become a warlord, that's when it got really powerful. Just look at that face Luffy made, it has to be one of my favorites in the series. It's such a shocking realization on his face which quickly turned to rage. "You're Blackbeard?", and then as if to sadistically mock Luffy, Blackbeard tells him the story about how Ace took his place, he should be thankful that Ace is dying in his place, that he's lucky, and primarily because it wasn't him it was Ace who died, in a way blaming him for Ace's death. And for Teach's personal gain of becoming a warlord on his step to becoming the pirate king. So in that rage Luffy offers him a chance, "THEN WHY DON'T YOU TRY AND KILL ME NOW?!", before jet pistoling him in a heartbeat. OH MY GOSH!!! That was such a great cliffhanger, the final still it ended on was so beautiful, and Luffy's shock and absolute rage when realizing who he was against, before snapping at him being blamed for Ace's death was just... chilling, especially for where it will lead next..
LIKE, ARE WE GOING TO START A GANG BATTLE BETWEEN JIMBEI, CROC, IVAN, INAZUMA, AND LUFFY VS BLACKBEARD'S GANG?! And if we do I suppose Magellan will end up interrupting it. Plus we still don't know what's happening with Shiryu.. I wouldn't be surprised if he actually wanted revenge on Magellan too. And further, we don't even know what Blackbeard’s doing here !!!! This is the frantic chaos I want from Impel Downs conclusion, my gosh!
P.S. ...I liked the peeing scene. I thought it was funny that Buggy went to pee as to cling to his reputation and how afterwards he said it was part of the plan and Mr.3 was all "uhhhhhh even I don't believe that". |