I didn't know how to feel at the start of this episode. Seeing Mom get dizzy and not shriek felt like it was stalling for time at its worst, I was waiting for something important to happen. And then, while Sanji showing compassion to Pudding looked to be great, it became something far too similar to Baby 5 and Sai’s encounter in Dressrosa. We had the evil girl who was the product of her circumstances and the insidious family around her. In both cases a great guy and an opponent of her family who sees her pain wants to help her, while one of her family members dismisses her as conditional, calling her convenient, or in this case useless. Finally through fighting for this woman's hand in marriage by beating the opponent, she will realize what true unconditional love and acceptance is like, and she will turn from her evil ways. At least if it sticks to the Baby 5 scenario. The opponent that Sanji is fighting isn't like Lao G outside of his narrative role, but his power is still incredibly strange, as does his role in the story feel like it is probably nothing more than an antagonistic force to promote character development. As you can see I felt like this was the first mediocre episode of the wedding, I wanted to fast forward it at times, and I think it was a direct re-do of something we have seen in the past which perplexed me.
But after that the next two scenes and advancements were excellent and the latter was my favourite part yet. To start with the first, it was the Vinsmoke family finally being aware of their circumstance and being surrounded. To start with what this means for the future, I was incredibly worried that they would not understand that Sanji wanted to save them and in turn they would see this as nothing more than ruining Judge’s dream. If this occurred I could imagine them finding weapons and becoming enemies to their saviors. By having the Big Mom family show their hand, this is no longer a possibility in my mind, and further, it would not be in line with One Piece to kill them off in a brutal and nihilistic fashion. So speaking from a meta perspective, I am not worried and this advancement only helps our boys. But the character aspect of the scene also deserves addressing. I had stated that there was something sad about Judge, he was a man who was clearly living in the past and appeared to be a shell of what I imagine his former self was. He simply expanded on this here, after probably fighting to reach a state of contentment out of self-depreciation and ego for so long, it was torn from under him and he couldn't help but let his sadness out. On the other hand, my hope that the brothers were truly human to a degree and not completely brainwashed was somewhat thrown out the window by their bizarre and unsettling laughter over the scenario, completely unafraid to die.
On the other hand, my best boy Bege had his biggest moment yet! While continuing to put up an act of being on Mom’s side, news came forward that they could still push Mom into shrieking. A crossroads appeared, he may either feign ignorance or go all-in. And the incredible thing is, ALL the evidence he needed to make that gamble was nothing more than the look on Katakuri’s face. By seeing his pale face, a gut feeling of sorts, he was ready to make a gamble that there was a chance of victory. By announcing to everyone that he is a traitor by calling to his allies like a complete badass, he proved to everyone he has guts. Typically he may rely on strategy like quick assassinations, ambushes, disguises, but he is completely willing to get his hands dirty and directly gamble his life over nothing more than the look on his enemies face. I was completely blown away, and his depraved smile as he refused and directly challenged Katakuri told me that this is in fact what he lives for. Facing impending doom in the face and banking on his victory. You know, other than living for his baby boy Pez! What a man!!!!! I would argue the only new aspect of his character that was revealed here was his gutsy quick thinking and decisive action, but his other character traits were at their best showing too.
Pudding, Jimbei, Brook, Bege, everyone is getting such great moments!!!!! And the chaos can go anywhere!! |