This was a pretty send off as we have come to expect. Seeing everyone say goodbye to their new and old friends, seeing Zoro casually happy at the side of his family, seeing those tiny mermaids cheer for Brook, seeing Luffy say goodbye to the princes who promise they will become stronger, the nice banter between Sanji and Zoro, Franky’s new triumphant hairstyle. Shirahoshi showing how much Luffy has come to mean to her, promising a Coby-esque promise to the crew to stop being a cry baby, and the crew promising back in a similar fashion to their goodbye to Vivi, that they will all come back for her one day. One of my favourite parts had to be the farewell between Luffy and Jimbei, those have been consistently wonderful, when Luffy left Jimbei’s side before the time skip it was great as well. But here having no words but a nod between them showing that they understand each other, they wish each other well, and one day Jimbei will keep his promise and join Luffy’s side was awesome. These two have so much respect for each other and I just love it. But another favourite part of mine was when Jimbei overheard a fishman child discussing Luffy as a hero. Overall the way Oda has written the way hate and prejudice seeps into generation and generation, from Tiger to Jimbei and Arlong to Hordy, true experience and belief changing to central beliefs upon growing up, it was all great. But with Luffy’s victory here today he’s reset the prejudice that has been built up, and for Jimbei, to see the next generation of fishmen mirroring that made him so happy. That wholesome smile of his was so awesome.
On top of that, we finally understood what the minister meant all the way back at the hostage situation when he had said that a normal log pose wouldn't work in the New World. Out here their log poses have three needles, it is a way to understand which islands are more dangerous than others, and help make sure they have a steady line to them despite how the magnetic waves can alter. My first thought was that somehow narratively they would have to choose the most dangerous island, but what escaped me was how Luffy's insanity was totally going to dictate that they went to some insane Islands. Him wrapping around Nami as she freaks out and Usopp and Chopper cry was a nice moment, those two are already concerned about Big Mam, this is even more to worry about!!
To finish it off, we got the sentimental reminder of how far the Straw Hats of come. At one point the idea was that all they had to do was get the ship coated and sail on through, but it didn't end up like that. Still, they finally made it, they made it to Shank’s sea, the final sea, the sea in which Luffy can become the king of the pirates! Perhaps meeting Shanks again isn't so far away. Ace wasn’t wrong to believe in Luffy! And this sea is not only important for him, it's important to all of the crew, especially Zoro and Brook as their goals are tangibly linked to getting through the sea as well. It shows Zoro’s strength and skill with stronger foes, and is directly linked to Brook reuniting with Laboon. This was a great scene to preface entering the new world, and if Smoker is waiting for them as we should presume he is, it will feel good to have Luffy able to land a serious hit on that guy now. Logia isn’t so much of a threat anymore!
P.S. Let’s try not to forget about Luffy destroying the island!!! That apparently will still happen, it wasn’t a misguided vision she had like I thought it implied. Instead, Sharley broke her crystal ball because her readings on the future can harshly impact the present in a way that misunderstands the future reading she had. This arc didn’t end up touching more on these future readers we see in One Piece but it did kind of imply that the future is determined as all that 'nothing can change her future readings' and 'it will still happen' stuff. |