One Piece Episode 483 Discussion

gfsdfgsdgsdfgs said:
He died happy. Ace's whole life wasn't unlike Robin's. Unwanted. Unloved. Hated for his blood and alone. He was constantly picking fights, and constantly trying to find justification for his existence. He wanted to know if he even deserved the privilege of life. This war wasn't meaningless. As freaking disgusting as it all was, it's why Ace cried of happiness during it. This was the answer to him. So many people love and will fight for him, Whitebeard taught him that his blood doesn't matter and fought for him as his father despite him being the son of an enemy. Luffy pushed himself to near death time and time again. They didn't save Ace but at least he was able to die happy. Thank you, everyone. This was one of my favorite episodes of the entire series hands down. Last episode was shock, but this one was tears running down my face the entire time. Wow, wow, wow. I didn't know if they could make me love Ace as he was a small role until Summit War but this is a tearful, tragic, but beautiful climax to a story that has been ongoing since Alabasta. Oda you are amazing.

I had thought the death of Ace would be the final nail in the New World coffin, the solidifying fact that Luffy could not make it out here, he couldn't save his friends, and he couldn't save Ace. But, while it still holds that meaning, it ended up far happier than I would have thought. Far more beautiful while still being absolutely freaking tragic and repulsive. This is an emotion I have not felt from animanga and that is something worth celebrating.

More than Ace's story the reactions were what made this. Garp furiously walking to kill Akainu for ending his sons life and asking Sengoku to hold him down aware he cannot control himself in regards to the man who killed his boy. Luffy's absolute helplessness with him denying the fact of the matter, telling Ace to stop saying he'll die, and demanding anyone help him despite the fact that no healing hormone will push Ace to coming back from this. Luffy ultimately no longer doing any form of subdued tears but wailing like a baby in this state of absolute helplessness. Another notable reaction that broke me down was Whitebeard's tears. This was masterful and the way the battle froze to a halt around them illuminated how much Ace meant to everyone. I think the fact that they all came together to save Ace, freeing Marco from the cuffs, Jimbei delaying the inevitable, all before Ace died anyways really rubbed how sad this was in. All because of one slip up where Ace lost control to anger.

And to touch more on how this will affect Luffy, think about how Zoro refused to let Luffy know that he took on all of Luffy's own pain. He would never want Luffy to know he nearly died for his sake but now someone Luffy loves just died in his arms for Luffy's sake. You know how Luffy yelled at Blackbeard to "try and kill me now" when Blackbeard told him that Ace died for his sake, even back in Impel Down. The idea alone broke Luffy and now the worst case has come to fruition. Like Zoro, Luffy now has a beloved fallen friend that he has to fulfil his dream for, it's not just you anymore Zoro, Ace blessed Luffy going forward. I'm broken from the beauty and horror of this scene. Like I said, this was going to be a notable moment for Luffy and for now he's just taking in that he couldn't even save his one brother he took yet another energy injection to save. Freaking, oh my gosh. Luffy.. Garp.. Whitebeard... Everyone.. This is so hard for them.

Now what. Where can Luffy go from here. Can everyone actually run now that their comrade Ace has died by Akainu's hands? Luffy was fighting for Ace and like against Kuma I'm concerned not even his anger may push him to fight or run anymore, will he just be resigned? Will momma Ivan and daddy Jimbei have to save him? I don't know, but this is a moment that will impact everyone here forever.

Somehow Garp's furious walk to Akainu is the part that gave me the most chills. I'm furious, shocked, destroyed, sad, happy, and overwhelmed by disgust and beauty. This was phenomenal, I've heard people say the death of x isn't as good as the death of Ace countless times but I now see that this episode was not overrated at all. I guess my last thought is that the montage of everything that proved to Ace that his life was meaningful was so powerful, I loved the music choice.