My favourite scene was the interaction between Judge and Sanji. A part of me expected their farewell to be a somber and silent recognition of the fact that Judge cannot right his wrongs, but after facing the regret of his death; and seeing how strong Sanji became by defying his stern values, he would put his life on the line to help him once more. For that is the least he can do. That is all I expected, a silent and melancholic awareness of Judge’s wrongdoing and the materialization of his gratitude, regret, and will to change, but nothing more than a brief glimmer of this. Something to make us think.
But the way that he addressed Sanji, going against this prediction, was surprising. Just as I may have overanalyzed Katakuri, I may do the same here so warning for that if you don't like this kind of stuff. For starters I would like to give my interpretation of how Judge must have been forced to challenge his ways. The first and most obvious is the tears before his imminent death. Like Big Mom, he is living in his glory days, he is a shell of the past with one goal that he will do anything to achieve. If his entire life is based on one single goal and he throws everything else away to achieve it yet fails, all was for naught. He hurt and betrayed his wife, he abandoned Sanji, he raised his boys to be monster who laugh in the face of death as he is crying and Reiju certainly has a strained relationship with him. I would wager that, at this point, he probably has no one in a meaningful way like Sanji has the Straw Hats, he is, in a way, an island. The emptiness of dying like this must be world shattering. The second major way he was challenged is what I mentioned in the first paragraph. That of Sanji potentially becoming the strongest Vinsmoke and because of the very humility, compassion and vulnerability Judge abandoned him for. By seeing the strength which he didn't know existed, the strength formed from the antithesis of his values and what he understands as strength, his stern values must have been challenged.
I think we saw regret and jealousy within him as he exclaimed each of Sanji’s apparent weaknesses and asked why Luffy would save him. I think he is beginning to acknowledge that he was wrong and failed Sanji, yet under Zeff and Luffy’s rule, he thrived. Buried in the statement that Sanji is Germa’s failure is the sentiment that he is also the Straw Hats' success. Clearly it was not Sanji’s fault for failing Germa but Judge for raising him the way he did. I don't think Judge can muster up the courage to say he was wrong, nor do I even think he understands why he was wrong just yet. But, I do think the act of contradicting his words and risking his life to defend Sanji, and his questioning of why Luffy was able to see the value in Sanji when he wasn’t able to go to signify that he feels jealousy, gratitude, and regret, a sense that even if he can’t put words to his feelings, he is beginning to challenge his ways.
The way Luffy responded afterwards, sending him off with a simple thanks and saying what he listed was Sanji’s strengths made me tear up hardcore as that is exactly what I thought he was doing too. Perhaps telling, although not flashed on screen in the manga, “his soft mind makes him put his life on the line for the weak” includes him! He was the weak Sanji's compassion saved. I warned you, I may have overanalyzed and you may horribly disagree with me, but I do feel with the symbolic shattering of Judge’s mask and a situation which directly challenged the values Judge lives by, he has the opportunity to become a new man. To stress, this won't be drastic and immediate, but I think we saw the seeds sown for that character growth.
If anyone has the soundtrack for this scene please let me know because it was real pretty, especially the period between Judge’s questioning and Luffy’s response. The song going from intense/sad to heavy but hopeful and maybe a bit sentimental throughout Judge’s conversation paralleled my exact thought process and feelings.
I wrote so much so I’ll keep this final note short. By this point I should be known as Bege’s number one fan, so seeing his sorrowful emotions; saying goodbye to their ship evocative of the Merry was a nice touch. He may be a man with conviction in his way of life, barrelling forward, discarding anyone in his path, and fighting for his family and his personal drive no matter what, but he gets many small but human moments as well. From his subtle kindness, inner sorrowful reflection and gratitude, or his depraved sense of joy. This was a good addition and a new side to our favourite supernova. |