The big positive of mixing shonen and seinen up is you get more interactions from the community in comments(though inevitably there’ll be some asses who will treat that as a slight) excited to see your journey and perspective.
@@wideeyewanderer1785 one is aimed towards 8 to 13 yr Olds (Shonen.) and the other aimed toward older teens and young adults (Seinen) contained often very explicitly images
Thank you so much! The welcome from the fans has been heartwarming and beautiful. I can see that this must be a very special story to inspire such devotion, and I’m excited to follow the journey!
It is so, soooo, gratifying to finally see people in the professional english literature circle taking comics and manga seriously. We all grew up and had teachers who said that this wasn't "real literature", so it is incredible to see an actual professor saying "no, there's something here".
I think they translated that really well in the LA. A little disappointed they didn't do a little something with his nose, and he didn't really get much time to shine during the conflicts, but the storytelling was done perfectly. I know I'd happily sit and let him cook. He's just an entertaining expositor.
Love to see it indeed :D So many new reviewers of this great epic thanks to her, that I now get to watch and relive the experience of reading one piece for the first time!
One of the best descriptions of Zorro that I’ve ever seen is that he’s a normal Shonen protagonist who’s plot got highjacked by a Looney Toons character.
I think of all the East Blue antagonists, Smoker had my favourite introduction. Until this point, the only marines we've seen have been either horribly corrupt (Fullbody, Nezumi) or completely incompetent (that guy who thought firing a cannonball at Arlong was a good idea), And suddenly we meet this Marine Captain whos reputation is that he is a very competent marine, making us think he's going to be one of the horrible ones. Only for him to joke to a young girl who ran into him about how his pants ate her ice cream, and gave her money to buy not just a replacement but an even bigger ice cream. He then shows he also is very competent, with Luffy only escaping thanks to the help of a freak hurricane and the mysterious man Smoker refers to as Dragon. Smoker may have been opposed to the straw hats, but he is very much a hero in this world.
This series comes off as a goofy pirate adventure………. Then hundreds of chapters later you realize you’re actually reading a dystopian nightmare rife with tyranny, genocide, slavery, censored/obliterated history, etc etc…. This story gets DARK. Really, really dark. But it goes over many people’s head because the seemingly happy-go-lucky tone and world.
Well well well... Philip. Seems like your channel will turn into a One Piece channel, too. Is this the fate of all Booktubers channels!? Seriously, though. So happy you're reading this amazing manga series!
Ha ha! I guess I didn’t quite realize how popular this series is! I’m having a grand time with One Piece so far, and I’m excited to continue. Perhaps we should have a One Piece discussion someday, my friend!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy It IS the most popular manga series of all time! For many good reasons. I'm game for sure! Let me know when. It will be amazing to chat One Piece with you. 😄
Was disappointed the group discussions were stopping, but super glad you're continuing the series and reviewing it. Speaking of hyperbole btw, one of the main things I love about OP is the ugly crying. I am so, so tired of watching movies or shows where an actor is crying, and it's just lil' bitty tear that doesn't ruin the actors makeup. Seeing characters screaming, bawling their eyes out, making weird, goofy, ugly faces will never not be a breath of fresh air, no matter how many times it happens in the series.
@@Gigididiggler Short answer: Allen was getting a lot of hate in the comments. Longer explanation: People were getting upset because he would """""spoil""""" extremely minor shit like character names that get brought up 500+ chapters from now, or arc titles like Marineford. He started to make fun of/joke about the people complaining, and the other three joined in, while also making the point that neither Philip nor Mike, who both agreed with him, were not bothered by these "spoilers" and in fact neither of the two thought these were spoilers in the first place. However, unlike everyone else, he also kept bringing it up over and over, even when other people were trying to speak about other things. I wasn't paying too much attention to the stream chat, but I do believe it was mainly him bringing it up after it was established Phillip and Mike were fine with his comments. Could be totally wrong here though and the stream chat may have just been extremely obnoxious about it even after that. Because of the all this, the comment section under Merphy's now-privated discussion stream was entirely filled with people criticizing, complaining, insulting, Allen. I believe he mentioned his autism being a contributing factor to his overall demeanor, but don't think that was specifically in reference to any of this, aka he wasn't using it as an excuse or anything. To be extremely clear, I fully understand people's problems with Allen, however, literally no one in those discussions had a problem with him themselves, and if they did, would discuss it with him like the adults, and friends, they are. It also wasn't a one-sided decision. Everyone collectively agreed to stop. Mike was very disappointed in One Piece fans, which he expressed on Twitter. Merphy hasn't said anything I don't think, but it was her comment section that this happened in, so I'd imagine she wasn't happy either. Phillip is the only one who seems completely unbothered lol, if you read his other replies to people, he's more than willing to restart the discussions. Maybe if it's exclusively on his channel (get those views) it'd be better, who knows. Tried to make this as non-biased as possible, but also, I like Allen and thought he was really funny. Did wish he would let Phillip talk a bit more, but again, they're grown adults, it's up to Phillip to speak up, not the comment section.
I think what makes Luffy really interesting is I believe aside from a few flashbacks at the very beginning, Luffy never says he "wants" to be king of the pirates. He says he is "going" to be the king of the pirates. As if him being king is already a 100% certainty, and with someone that deadset on a goal they will do so much to achieve that goal.
This video was lovely! I'm an English Teacher myself, and I think One Piece is the greatest story that I will experience in my generation. It starts off with incredibly humble beginnings, to a point where many are nostalgic for this era of swashbuckling and adventuring. If you continue onward, get ready to learn about an entire geopolitical history and join what feels like a look into a living world. You may have noticed underpinnings of racial tensions as part of the Arlong storyline. Most series would end it there, but One Piece not only doubles down on it but will examine it from multiple angles. It's an incredible work of fiction that I hope you stick around with all the way to the very end with us. I look forward to your thoughts on the next major arc!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasybeware spoilers.. One Piece might not seem like a super serious series but the spoiler can definitely ruin your experience.
One Piece really is such an incredibly written series. One of my favorite uses of symbolism that's so often overlooked comes from chapter 1, when they show Rogers execution. If you look at it abstractly, the way the swords cross under his smiling face... he dies, quite literally, a Jolly Roger. ☠
Minor spoilers (no story aspects at least). Something that people have realised in the way the story is written: Luffy never has thought bubbles in the series. everything we know about Luffy is something he has done or said, as a reader, we never hear luffy's "inner voice". Also to do with Luffy: we the reader know all the characters backstories, however in the context of the actual world; Luffy never knows of these stories, only their goals. He does not know any of his crews origins, and cares about their goals instead. Thought I'd share these as its aspects most people don't notice until its pointed out, welcome to the crew!
I am really glad you enjoy it so far, i have been watching one piece for 10 years now and for me its the most beautiful story telling I have ever read. I saw a great comment about it somewhere, calling a "modern Odyssey" and I find it so fitting
The best part of One Piece is how it evolves over time, I think you'll love the later half of the series when the worldbuilding becomes on a level that transcends manga.
It's always fun to see new people getting into the series. As a fun bit of info, Oda mentioned before that the art style was partly inspired by Tom & Jerry.
The eyepatch is important , oda hasnt let anyone use an eyepatch in the series until even now , and he has mentioned that the only eyepatch in the series is being saved for a certain charechter. look forward to that with us !!
Welcome to the One Piece table. You might take six months to catch up, you might take a year. We don’t care we’ll help you through the tough chapters until you’re caught up. Good luck, brother.
I mainly judge a person’s media literacy by how they discuss Usopp. I don’t really expect everyone to like him, but if someone can see past the surface of his character, I instantly know they’ll get a lot from One Piece. This video was so good, and I can’t wait for more! Read at your own pace though, no use rushing this journey.
East Blue is a masterclass on how to introduce your audience to a world. The One Piece world is so massive that an intro like that is so important to get your readers in without being overwhelmed
Please consider being very careful reading comments so you can avoid spoilers. This is a long haul series and the surprises are best left for you to discover on your own. Enjoy the adventure!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasyI cannot wait until you read the next arc, it’s my personal favorite and shows just how big the world of One Piece is (literally and figuratively)
I’ve never read a story that’s touched me quite on the level that One Piece has. I’m a pretty big literature nerd, and enjoy dissecting stories on each aspect. Unfortunately manga is often seen as childish since it’s similar to comics, so I don’t get taken seriously when I give One Piece the same attention I give Dostoevsky. It makes me so excited to see more people getting into it and taking it seriously. I’m definitely subscribing!
I think, one thing about Buggy that goes on under the radar because of the Nose joke is that he's actually really protective about his body. The fact that he decided to dress himself as a clown just because his nose is deformed is insane to me. He was taunted so much by the society about his nose that he started dressing himself as a clown, so people will think he's wearing makeup and that it's not actually his nose. Him having a devil fruit that can detach that insecurity from his body and yet it doesn't really help is quite poetic imo. It's quite a sad story behind such a funny character.
Something you said that intrigued me is when you pointed out the "moral complexity" of One Piece. All too often I see people think the morals are black and white. Luffy and his friends are good, and other pirates and Marines are bad, end of story. But this isn't true, as the Straw Hat crew does not approach every situation with the best moral stance. In Baratie for example, Mihawk posed a grave danger to the innocent people still on the ship. But he didn't want to hurt the Straw Hat Pirates, he just wanted to finish off Don Krieg and leave. The best course of action would be to quietly let him finish off the Krieg Pirates and leave. Instead, Zoro provokes Mihawk, and challenges him to a duel amidst all the chaos. We the audience know why Zoro chose to do this, but it was not a heroic deed, or even a smart one.
One piece is one of those stories that really has the capability to reach basically anyone if they give it an honest chance. Its themes are so wholesome and inspiring amongst some really dark ones, its hard not to get sucked in.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy can't wait to follow you on your journey. Funny enough i watched murphy Napier back when she did Harry potter content and was thrilled when she started with one piece. I hope you enjoy your journey, its an emotional rollercoaster for sure
There's a special place in my heart for One piece it's a truly beautiful story, you've barley scratched the surface of what it has to offer and i love watching people experience it for the first time. I hope you enjoy it as much as i did. Eagerly awaiting your next review!
This analysis made me smile so much, because a lot of the thematic observations here will be present, expanded and recontexualized a thousand chapters later. Therein lies One Pieces biggest strength, I think. Its ability to maintain focus in this expansive saga
I've been reading OP for 15 years, grew up with it. It always brings me joy seeing someone joining the adventure, hope you enjoy where the series goes.
The fact an older gentlemen is reading One Piece is amazing I wish you the best on your pirate adventure friend. Keep your eyes open and a smile on your face.
I agree, Nami asking Luffy for help is the best part of this first saga. Im glad your enjoying your read! When you catch up to Mike after the next saga id love to hear you both talk about the series moving forward!
As someone who has grown up reading one piece weekly for the past 20 years. I will say that the story has absolutely grown with its audience and it only continues to progress in depth. The way oda manages to slowly build characters who feel not only well rounded but relatable with the wrapping of the pure absurdity of the world of the story is just gloriously done. Somehow, he manages to pit political, ethical, and philosophical ideas against each other in a way that doesn't feel contrived and i'll never understand how he makes me care about characters i just met, Like a certain dog in this saga lol I am excited to have you on the journey, and trust that the one piece community will appreciate your contribution to the larger conversation about oda-sensei's magnum opus. Please try not to spoil yourself on the story, as without out a doubt, this story is one of the greatest slow builds of the modern era.
So happy to hear your thoughts. I was pretty bummed the chaotic discussion group you and Merphy & co just disappeared, but I'm relieved your still enjoying the story anyway. Hope you continue making videos on One Piece in the future! Now to watch your video lol.
I clicked because I really loved the saga. I also have a medievalist background. There are aspects of Achilles, Beowulf, Roland, etc with the heroic age of semi-mythical demigods mixed with ordinary humans. There is more than a bit of the Odyssey with the traveling from island to island and having adventures. I love how each encounter with an enemy is an encounter with a strong worldview: obedience to authority, wealth above all, racial supremacy, etc. but most of all, I love the aspect of the universal longing of trying to find a place in a broken world, seeking friendship, adventure, love. A group of outcasts, orphans, rejects who are loyal to one another. Finally, I love the slow world building and especially the careful power level balancing. The author makes sure to weaken the straw hats either way falling asleep, separation, lack of coordination and injury. It makes you want to see them at full strength.
Always great to meet a fellow medievalist! I love the way you characterize One Piece, and I’m really enjoying my experience with the series so far. In my second video on the Alabasta/Arabasta Saga, I quote “The Battle of Maldon.” Cheers!
Something you’ll notice as you go through the series is that Oda doesn’t do character development in a traditional Westeen sense so much as exploring character depth through the use of literary foils. The best One Piece villains act as foils for multiple characters. For example Kuro being a liar like Usopp but for evil instead of good, while his views on being a captain is directly opposed to Luffy. Neither Luffy nor Usopp change much over the arc, but you get to see new depths of their character by way of contrast. Oda’s skill at teasing out these foils only improves over time and really helps with the longevity of the series
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy also, I don’t know if this is in your wheelhouse but I’d love to hear a professor’s view on how OP compares to the Romantic literary movement in its themes and ideas. It’s something I’ve done a little research into myself but I’ve never formally studied that sort of thing so it’d be cool to hear your thoughts.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy no better time for that than right now! We are currenty on the verge of a really big revelation in the current chapter, so by the time you catch up we may finally have an answer to a more than 500 chapter long question!
PLEASE continue this series (for us and for yourself) 😁🙏🏻! One Piece is not for everyone but the way you've described it and how you've liked the characters, their backstories, the world and its atmosphere... I PROMISE there is so much more for you to explore 🙏🏻! Would love to see your perspective on this epic story!
I find what makes the scene where Nami asks Luffy for help especially powerful is how it demonstrates Luffy's emotional intelligence. Luffy doesn't care about Nami's reasons and doesn't listen to her backstory; he doesn't need a reason to help someone he considers a friend. But he also intuitively understands Nami as a person that he shouldn't take away her agency by helping before she asks for it.
When you see how deep the rabbit hole goes in this story you’ll be blown away. The depth of the lore and the size of the world is unreal. To me the world building in One Piece is hard to rival
One of my favorite things these past 6 months since the live action came out is seeing so many western people get into One Piece, especially experts in literature (see also- the Mom Piece series on The Drawk Show UA-cam/Twitch channels). When knowledgeable readers break down a series to show how well crafted it is, I get excited because it means more people will be exposed to the quality and craftsmanship of Oda-sensei’s work. For the longest time, no one outside of the fandom took this series seriously, but that’s changing, and it couldn’t make me happier.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy with the insight and care with seeing the meta-structure of a work, not just the shallow events and actions within the plot that most readers/watchers experience, you are going to absolutely love this. The symbolism and tropes are so good and humor ends up being not just a device but an integral theme in the narrative. It’s fun, and deep, and heart-breaking, and mysterious, and inspiring, and on and on. I know it’s a stretch (pun intended) to call it a modern day Odyssey, but it definitely exists in that space of epic fantasy storytelling
The hardest part about the new breadth of audiences starting the One Piece journey is wanting to talk about later arcs and sagas, but not spoiling anything!
Literally yes my boyfriend begged me to watch this with him I was like nooooo I don’t like anime and now 1 year later my life has been flipped upside down and now there is a pirate flag sprouting out of my soul so to speak
I always loved Usopp ever since he first appeared in the series. I always felt he had the most room to grow as a character. Plus he’s endlessly hilarious.
oda truly is one of the greatest story tellers, not just with the fact how long one piece has been going but also being able to make each arc better than the last and being able to reference things that happen 100s of chapters prior and making it a big deal later on in the story as well as developing all characters in a strong way without it just being the main characters that have strong development
If theres one thing I love to do, its watch people talk about things I love. Hearing you talk about the beginning of One Piece brought back so many great feelings that I got to experience reading it for the first time
Philip, great review! You were right when you said Luffy will learn that he doesn't always need to fight. When that moment happens, I think you will like it a lot. Greetings from Brazil
The community looks forward to your journey sir. The first review was already great and you really put a nice spin on it, brining a fresh breath of air into a review scene that has gotten stale.
Merphy’s great and despite being a fan of One Piece for a long time, she came at the series from angles I’d not seen and made me appreciate it even more.
If you enjoy angles youve never considered, watch the My English Teach mom reacts to One Piece by TheDrawkShow! Mama Drawk has some wild theories and always finds a roundabout way to use other stories to make accurate pridictions for One Piece. Its so much fun listening to her and shes sure to make you look at the series from new eyes.
@@TheGrossDemon Yeah, agreed. She's great too. Her background is a history teacher right? I can't remember exactly. I especially love how she picks up some small tidbit that she finds in the story and then she goes and do some deep research on it and then later she'll dish out one whole lecture about it 😅😂
I appreciate some of the stuff he’s focusing on because some of these points have amazing payoff across the next 1000 chapters. I don’t want to get into specifics, but if he finishes I think he’s going to look back at this video and think “I really nailed some of this stuff”.
Luffy is actually incredibly perceptive of how to push people in just the right way. Especially if you look at the situation with Nami. All he does is make sure he's there and ready for when she needs his help, and only truly stands up when she finally asks him for help. If there's one thing Luffy knows instinctively, it's how to help people help themselves. Hell, Luffy, Zoro and Sanji are technically as yet unrecognized big fish in the small pond of the East Blue. From basically the start of the story Luffy was capable of handling the beginnings of the Grand Line as a fighter, he just needed a crew at his back. Sure the fights he has are tough, but don't push him nearly as far as later ones will, showing just how little he needed to be tested in East Blue. The only time a threat was faced way outside any of their scope was with Mihawk, who is understandably one of the most powerful people in the entire world.
One piece has so many themes, inspirations, and hidden meaning behind characters and im extreamly exited to watch this dude pick up on everything i missed.
A little thing about Usopp's name that you might not have caught is that it's a combination of Uso (Japanese "To Lie" or "lying") and Aesop from Aesop's Fables, so his name is literally "Lying Stories" xD
Buckle up And prepare tissues You're in for a ride you're not even imagining If you already caught the magic in the first arc, which is just an intro, a pilot, a story of 5 guys still in the backyard, you'll be amazed to see what the One Piece world has to offer
An underappreciated aspect of Usopp, when compared to the rest of the crew, is that his dream is the most intangible. While everyone else has a goal that is either an object/place or definitive title, Usopp's dream is to "be brave". It makes him unique because he can progress or regress through the journey and go through some real character development.
Two of my favorite moments from East Blue are when Luffy tells Sanji to join his crew and when Nami asks Luffy for help. 1. Luffy doesn't even NEED to eat Sanji's food to want him on his crew. He has no idea what Sanji's food tastes like, but he knows Sanji's heart from seeing Gin being fed. And that is enough for Sanji to belong on the crew! 2. Luffy doesn't even NEED to hear Nami's backstory to know that she needs help. All he knows is that his friend is in pain and he wants to be there to help her. And yet, he doesn't help immediately. He waits for her to ask for help to get her to realize that she wasn't on her own and had friends that she could rely on and ask for help, which Luffy does in a heartbeat. Then, all of the other 3 crew members, with their hearts and loyalty, are on the same page as Luffy. As you will see throughout the manga, Luffy is incredibly emotionally intelligent and has a way of liberating people from their troubles, physically and mentally. It really solidifies him as one of my favorite main characters ever!
i finally took the plunge and started watching One Piece in December and i'm currently almost 800 episodes in. it's truly a one of a kind experience! i have never read manga in my life but the moment im done catching up on watching i am immediately reading from the beginning. enjoy and welcome aboard!
don't get me wrong, i love me some powerscaling but there's just something about listening to people with backgrounds in literature talk about one piece that just hits so well.
It makes me feel so good when someone discovers one piece. I look forward to your journey. One piece, at least to me, is the best piece of fiction in our generation. The astounding amount of lore, backstory, and just the amazing story telling of this story gives me hope in humanity. I truly hope you enjoy your reading. 😁
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I just realized that you read/respond to every message. You are goated sir! I only just discovered your channel, and fell in love. Keep up the great work brother! 👊🏼
@@SixOG I try to keep up with most comments - it’s not easy with the One Piece videos, but I really appreciate the comments so much because they have been so helpful and encouraging. Cheers!
My favorite part of One Piece is how it gets retroactively better the further along you read. Really makes you appreciate every little detail Oda includes in these chapters. That is to say, once you know where the story is going you gain a deeper appreciation of the characters that have already been established. Arlong, for example, gains new depth the further in you go. That is as far as I'll go as to go further I would need to mention spoilers but suffice it to say that the initial impression that most readers get that this is a shallow story is flipped upside down by the time you get really far along in the story. There is a lot of depth hidden in plain sight.
For real!! I’ve been going back through it for the 3rd time and each arc gets more fascinating with all the recent revelations in the manga. This isn’t a series you can go through just once and be able to fully digest it.
The big positive of mixing shonen and seinen up is you get more interactions from the community in comments(though inevitably there’ll be some asses who will treat that as a slight) excited to see your journey and perspective.
Ha ha! I could always pretend I did it on purpose just to get more comments. 😁 Thank you for pointing out the silver lining!
I didn’t even know that distinction even existed 😮
lol Algorithm!!!!!
@@wideeyewanderer1785 one is aimed towards 8 to 13 yr Olds (Shonen.) and the other aimed toward older teens and young adults (Seinen) contained often very explicitly images
😂😂😂😂
Welcome aboard 🎉
Thank you so much! The welcome from the fans has been heartwarming and beautiful. I can see that this must be a very special story to inspire such devotion, and I’m excited to follow the journey!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy The ride is quite something, I hope you continue to enjoy! It only ever gets better!
@@GrandLineReviewin a few months, he’ll be watching 2 hour theory breakdown videos! 😂
@@RarewareLover Nah he will become a rat just like Merphy lol (inside joke in agenda piece community btw, Philip)
Holy cow, a Liam in the wild!
It is so, soooo, gratifying to finally see people in the professional english literature circle taking comics and manga seriously. We all grew up and had teachers who said that this wasn't "real literature", so it is incredible to see an actual professor saying "no, there's something here".
Great storytelling happens in every medium. There were plenty of people in Shakespeare’s day who thought his plays were rubbish. All the best!
Phillip will be a great contributor to the One Pice community, having someone of his calibre breakdown the more nuanced and complex themes is so rare.
Thank you for your kind words! I’m grateful for how welcoming the One Piece community has been.
I’m glad Phillip picked up Usopp’s storytelling abilities this early on.
Usopp is fantastic -- he has a vital role to play among the crew, and I'm definitely in his corner. Cheers!
I think they translated that really well in the LA.
A little disappointed they didn't do a little something with his nose, and he didn't really get much time to shine during the conflicts, but the storytelling was done perfectly. I know I'd happily sit and let him cook. He's just an entertaining expositor.
I speak for everyone when I say that we need LONGER One Piece videos!
We were doing a discussion series that got cancelled . . . But I hope there will be some future discussions!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy got cancelled? Why?
@@bcool9272 It was the comments that came after the livestream. It got to a point where Merphy had to take down the livestream on her channel.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy One big regret was that I haven't watched the livestream 😭
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasywhat were the comments saying?
An underrated part about One Piece is that if you enjoy the first saga, it is all but guaranteed that you will enjoy the rest of the series as well!
That’s excellent news for me! All the best!
So true. It only gets better from here
For me the point the non return point is Nami asking for help. If you don't like One Piece at this exact moment you should probably stop.
I absolutely love how the first word you used to describe Luffys powers is "ridiculous"
Luffy is lovably ridiculous and ridiculously lovable!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Cant wait for you to read the world most ridiculous power in the world
Merphy spreading her addiction. Love to see it.
Love to see it indeed :D So many new reviewers of this great epic thanks to her, that I now get to watch and relive the experience of reading one piece for the first time!
Bros life is about to change forever
One of the best descriptions of Zorro that I’ve ever seen is that he’s a normal Shonen protagonist who’s plot got highjacked by a Looney Toons character.
I love that! Thanks!
You’re in for a wild ride, sir. Welcome to the modern day Odyssey.
Cheers!
I think of all the East Blue antagonists, Smoker had my favourite introduction. Until this point, the only marines we've seen have been either horribly corrupt (Fullbody, Nezumi) or completely incompetent (that guy who thought firing a cannonball at Arlong was a good idea), And suddenly we meet this Marine Captain whos reputation is that he is a very competent marine, making us think he's going to be one of the horrible ones.
Only for him to joke to a young girl who ran into him about how his pants ate her ice cream, and gave her money to buy not just a replacement but an even bigger ice cream.
He then shows he also is very competent, with Luffy only escaping thanks to the help of a freak hurricane and the mysterious man Smoker refers to as Dragon.
Smoker may have been opposed to the straw hats, but he is very much a hero in this world.
The ice cream scene is brilliant!
This series comes off as a goofy pirate adventure………. Then hundreds of chapters later you realize you’re actually reading a dystopian nightmare rife with tyranny, genocide, slavery, censored/obliterated history, etc etc…. This story gets DARK. Really, really dark. But it goes over many people’s head because the seemingly happy-go-lucky tone and world.
It slowly snowballs into Epic... Punk Hazard is where it really blooms..
Well well well... Philip. Seems like your channel will turn into a One Piece channel, too. Is this the fate of all Booktubers channels!? Seriously, though. So happy you're reading this amazing manga series!
Ha ha! I guess I didn’t quite realize how popular this series is! I’m having a grand time with One Piece so far, and I’m excited to continue. Perhaps we should have a One Piece discussion someday, my friend!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy It IS the most popular manga series of all time! For many good reasons. I'm game for sure! Let me know when. It will be amazing to chat One Piece with you. 😄
Was disappointed the group discussions were stopping, but super glad you're continuing the series and reviewing it.
Speaking of hyperbole btw, one of the main things I love about OP is the ugly crying. I am so, so tired of watching movies or shows where an actor is crying, and it's just lil' bitty tear that doesn't ruin the actors makeup.
Seeing characters screaming, bawling their eyes out, making weird, goofy, ugly faces will never not be a breath of fresh air, no matter how many times it happens in the series.
When One Piece characters cry, you know it! Many thanks!
Do you know why they decided to stop the group discussions?
It's quite a bummer, I loved their insights and was looking forward to the next one.
I'd like to know too.
@@GigididigglerI imagine hard to.organize maybe. they were immensely.
@@Gigididiggler Short answer: Allen was getting a lot of hate in the comments.
Longer explanation: People were getting upset because he would """""spoil""""" extremely minor shit like character names that get brought up 500+ chapters from now, or arc titles like Marineford.
He started to make fun of/joke about the people complaining, and the other three joined in, while also making the point that neither Philip nor Mike, who both agreed with him, were not bothered by these "spoilers" and in fact neither of the two thought these were spoilers in the first place.
However, unlike everyone else, he also kept bringing it up over and over, even when other people were trying to speak about other things.
I wasn't paying too much attention to the stream chat, but I do believe it was mainly him bringing it up after it was established Phillip and Mike were fine with his comments. Could be totally wrong here though and the stream chat may have just been extremely obnoxious about it even after that.
Because of the all this, the comment section under Merphy's now-privated discussion stream was entirely filled with people criticizing, complaining, insulting, Allen.
I believe he mentioned his autism being a contributing factor to his overall demeanor, but don't think that was specifically in reference to any of this, aka he wasn't using it as an excuse or anything.
To be extremely clear, I fully understand people's problems with Allen, however, literally no one in those discussions had a problem with him themselves, and if they did, would discuss it with him like the adults, and friends, they are.
It also wasn't a one-sided decision. Everyone collectively agreed to stop. Mike was very disappointed in One Piece fans, which he expressed on Twitter. Merphy hasn't said anything I don't think, but it was her comment section that this happened in, so I'd imagine she wasn't happy either. Phillip is the only one who seems completely unbothered lol, if you read his other replies to people, he's more than willing to restart the discussions. Maybe if it's exclusively on his channel (get those views) it'd be better, who knows.
Tried to make this as non-biased as possible, but also, I like Allen and thought he was really funny. Did wish he would let Phillip talk a bit more, but again, they're grown adults, it's up to Phillip to speak up, not the comment section.
I think what makes Luffy really interesting is I believe aside from a few flashbacks at the very beginning, Luffy never says he "wants" to be king of the pirates. He says he is "going" to be the king of the pirates. As if him being king is already a 100% certainty, and with someone that deadset on a goal they will do so much to achieve that goal.
His determination is otherworldly!
This video was lovely! I'm an English Teacher myself, and I think One Piece is the greatest story that I will experience in my generation.
It starts off with incredibly humble beginnings, to a point where many are nostalgic for this era of swashbuckling and adventuring. If you continue onward, get ready to learn about an entire geopolitical history and join what feels like a look into a living world. You may have noticed underpinnings of racial tensions as part of the Arlong storyline. Most series would end it there, but One Piece not only doubles down on it but will examine it from multiple angles.
It's an incredible work of fiction that I hope you stick around with all the way to the very end with us. I look forward to your thoughts on the next major arc!
I cannot believe that the Phillip Chase is reviewing One Piece! I'd love to see you and Mike talking about it together in the future!
That could happen! All the best!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasybeware spoilers.. One Piece might not seem like a super serious series but the spoiler can definitely ruin your experience.
One piece has some of the best worldbuilding and flashbacks/backstories in manga. Glad you get to experience this hilarious laughter tale
😉
The best 🔥
One Piece really is such an incredibly written series. One of my favorite uses of symbolism that's so often overlooked comes from chapter 1, when they show Rogers execution. If you look at it abstractly, the way the swords cross under his smiling face... he dies, quite literally, a Jolly Roger. ☠
Nice!
Minor spoilers (no story aspects at least). Something that people have realised in the way the story is written: Luffy never has thought bubbles in the series. everything we know about Luffy is something he has done or said, as a reader, we never hear luffy's "inner voice".
Also to do with Luffy: we the reader know all the characters backstories, however in the context of the actual world; Luffy never knows of these stories, only their goals. He does not know any of his crews origins, and cares about their goals instead.
Thought I'd share these as its aspects most people don't notice until its pointed out, welcome to the crew!
Very cool! Thank you!
giving a spoiler warning for the East Blue? you're a real one
Cheers!
I am really glad you enjoy it so far, i have been watching one piece for 10 years now and for me its the most beautiful story telling I have ever read. I saw a great comment about it somewhere, calling a "modern Odyssey" and I find it so fitting
I’m glad to be embarking on this journey!
The best part of One Piece is how it evolves over time, I think you'll love the later half of the series when the worldbuilding becomes on a level that transcends manga.
That sounds mind blowing! I look forward to it. Cheers!
19:05 Pinocchio nose, yes, and also his name. Usopp = Uso (lie in Japanese) + Aesop (author of The Boy who cried Wolf)
Nice! Cheers!
It's always fun to see new people getting into the series. As a fun bit of info, Oda mentioned before that the art style was partly inspired by Tom & Jerry.
I grew up watching Tom and Jerry, so that’s good to know!
The eyepatch is important , oda hasnt let anyone use an eyepatch in the series until even now , and he has mentioned that the only eyepatch in the series is being saved for a certain charechter. look forward to that with us !!
Cool!
Alvida losing weight because of her devil fruit is a visual gag I believe. "The weight slid right off" as it were.
Yet another brilliant example of the word play - thank you!
Congratulations! this is now a one piece channel.
Ha ha! I’m going to enjoy getting immersed in One Piece!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy
Its a wild ride! I look forward to more insightful analysis!
Welcome to the One Piece table. You might take six months to catch up, you might take a year. We don’t care we’ll help you through the tough chapters until you’re caught up. Good luck, brother.
My deepest thanks! I am grateful for the encouragement and the fellowship!
I love that the nami scene is THEE scene of the east blue saga that seems to stick with everyone.
10:09 "That hat becomes more and more meaningful as the series progresses." Hit the nail on the head, just keep reading!
I mainly judge a person’s media literacy by how they discuss Usopp. I don’t really expect everyone to like him, but if someone can see past the surface of his character, I instantly know they’ll get a lot from One Piece. This video was so good, and I can’t wait for more! Read at your own pace though, no use rushing this journey.
Thank you! I’m excited to find out where Captain Usopp and the rest go on this crazy adventure!
Didn't think acedamia would evaluate One Piece this early
East Blue is a masterclass on how to introduce your audience to a world. The One Piece world is so massive that an intro like that is so important to get your readers in without being overwhelmed
Looking forward for this run guys! Mom Piece it’s close to be catch up…
Many thanks!
Congrats Philip on completely the tutorial section of the world of One Piece.
Thank you, Jeremy! I’m excited for more!
lol ahahaha I still telling people "Welcome to One Piece"
Please consider being very careful reading comments so you can avoid spoilers. This is a long haul series and the surprises are best left for you to discover on your own. Enjoy the adventure!
It only ever gets better from here please make this a series
Will do!
As a person who is caught up on One Piece I can tell you its going to get a whole lot better and more emotional from here on out
Welcome to One Piece.
Thank you! 😊
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasyI cannot wait until you read the next arc, it’s my personal favorite and shows just how big the world of One Piece is (literally and figuratively)
Of course it was Merphy, lol
Ikr
I’ve never read a story that’s touched me quite on the level that One Piece has. I’m a pretty big literature nerd, and enjoy dissecting stories on each aspect. Unfortunately manga is often seen as childish since it’s similar to comics, so I don’t get taken seriously when I give One Piece the same attention I give Dostoevsky. It makes me so excited to see more people getting into it and taking it seriously. I’m definitely subscribing!
Great storytelling happens in all sorts of forms. Anyone who dismisses all manga - especially without even trying it - is missing out. All the best!
I think, one thing about Buggy that goes on under the radar because of the Nose joke is that he's actually really protective about his body. The fact that he decided to dress himself as a clown just because his nose is deformed is insane to me. He was taunted so much by the society about his nose that he started dressing himself as a clown, so people will think he's wearing makeup and that it's not actually his nose. Him having a devil fruit that can detach that insecurity from his body and yet it doesn't really help is quite poetic imo. It's quite a sad story behind such a funny character.
Great insights on Buggy -- thank you!
This man gets Usopp’s character right off the bat. This is going to be a really good review.
“Hyperbolic” is. GREAT way to describe this series.
In the best way - I love how the series leans into the hyperbole, even revels in it!
Something you said that intrigued me is when you pointed out the "moral complexity" of One Piece. All too often I see people think the morals are black and white. Luffy and his friends are good, and other pirates and Marines are bad, end of story. But this isn't true, as the Straw Hat crew does not approach every situation with the best moral stance. In Baratie for example, Mihawk posed a grave danger to the innocent people still on the ship. But he didn't want to hurt the Straw Hat Pirates, he just wanted to finish off Don Krieg and leave. The best course of action would be to quietly let him finish off the Krieg Pirates and leave. Instead, Zoro provokes Mihawk, and challenges him to a duel amidst all the chaos. We the audience know why Zoro chose to do this, but it was not a heroic deed, or even a smart one.
Well said! As much as we love Luffy and the other Straw Hats, they have a lot to learn in the course of their adventures. Cheers!
One piece is one of those stories that really has the capability to reach basically anyone if they give it an honest chance. Its themes are so wholesome and inspiring amongst some really dark ones, its hard not to get sucked in.
Well said!
Time to watch another UA-camr go through the entirety of one piece again *hits subscribe*
Ha ha! Cheers!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy can't wait to follow you on your journey. Funny enough i watched murphy Napier back when she did Harry potter content and was thrilled when she started with one piece. I hope you enjoy your journey, its an emotional rollercoaster for sure
I have respect and appreciation for someone who’s not willing to spoil something. Even through that thing has been out for over 20 years.
One thing I do find myself saying often is ‘this isn’t long enough’ 😭 very very different from my ‘this is way too long’ mindset from the start
I wish non-one piece fans could understand this lmao
There's a special place in my heart for One piece it's a truly beautiful story, you've barley scratched the surface of what it has to offer and i love watching people experience it for the first time. I hope you enjoy it as much as i did.
Eagerly awaiting your next review!
This analysis made me smile so much, because a lot of the thematic observations here will be present, expanded and recontexualized a thousand chapters later. Therein lies One Pieces biggest strength, I think. Its ability to maintain focus in this expansive saga
Having just finished Skypiea, I am really seeing how Oda carries his themes forward. It’s a great pleasure to watch this odyssey unfold!
The group discussions have been fun and chaotic too ❤
I will miss them!
I've been reading OP for 15 years, grew up with it. It always brings me joy seeing someone joining the adventure, hope you enjoy where the series goes.
Thank you! 😊
The fact an older gentlemen is reading One Piece is amazing I wish you the best on your pirate adventure friend. Keep your eyes open and a smile on your face.
Thank you! One Piece is definitely helping with the smiles!
One of us one of us
😊
Another professional review of One Piece. I'd love to follow you on this grand journey, that is One Piece :)
Thank you! I’d be honored to have you along!
"luffy... help me" is THE moment people get hooked on one piece.
Please continue this! I'm also on my first journey through One Piece and I'd love another crewmate!
I’ll be continuing! Best wishes!
I agree, Nami asking Luffy for help is the best part of this first saga. Im glad your enjoying your read! When you catch up to Mike after the next saga id love to hear you both talk about the series moving forward!
I did get a little choked up there! I would love to chat with Mike once I catch up to him. Let's see. All the best!
As someone who has grown up reading one piece weekly for the past 20 years. I will say that the story has absolutely grown with its audience and it only continues to progress in depth.
The way oda manages to slowly build characters who feel not only well rounded but relatable with the wrapping of the pure absurdity of the world of the story is just gloriously done.
Somehow, he manages to pit political, ethical, and philosophical ideas against each other in a way that doesn't feel contrived and i'll never understand how he makes me care about characters i just met, Like a certain dog in this saga lol
I am excited to have you on the journey, and trust that the one piece community will appreciate your contribution to the larger conversation about oda-sensei's magnum opus.
Please try not to spoil yourself on the story, as without out a doubt, this story is one of the greatest slow builds of the modern era.
Many thanks!
So happy to hear your thoughts. I was pretty bummed the chaotic discussion group you and Merphy & co just disappeared, but I'm relieved your still enjoying the story anyway. Hope you continue making videos on One Piece in the future! Now to watch your video lol.
Thanks! It's a shame about the group chats, but I'll keep going!
I clicked because I really loved the saga. I also have a medievalist background. There are aspects of Achilles, Beowulf, Roland, etc with the heroic age of semi-mythical demigods mixed with ordinary humans.
There is more than a bit of the Odyssey with the traveling from island to island and having adventures. I love how each encounter with an enemy is an encounter with a strong worldview: obedience to authority, wealth above all, racial supremacy, etc.
but most of all, I love the aspect of the universal longing of trying to find a place in a broken world, seeking friendship, adventure, love. A group of outcasts, orphans, rejects who are loyal to one another.
Finally, I love the slow world building and especially the careful power level balancing. The author makes sure to weaken the straw hats either way falling asleep, separation, lack of coordination and injury. It makes you want to see them at full strength.
Always great to meet a fellow medievalist! I love the way you characterize One Piece, and I’m really enjoying my experience with the series so far. In my second video on the Alabasta/Arabasta Saga, I quote “The Battle of Maldon.” Cheers!
Something you’ll notice as you go through the series is that Oda doesn’t do character development in a traditional Westeen sense so much as exploring character depth through the use of literary foils. The best One Piece villains act as foils for multiple characters. For example Kuro being a liar like Usopp but for evil instead of good, while his views on being a captain is directly opposed to Luffy. Neither Luffy nor Usopp change much over the arc, but you get to see new depths of their character by way of contrast. Oda’s skill at teasing out these foils only improves over time and really helps with the longevity of the series
Sounds fantastic! Thank you!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy also, I don’t know if this is in your wheelhouse but I’d love to hear a professor’s view on how OP compares to the Romantic literary movement in its themes and ideas. It’s something I’ve done a little research into myself but I’ve never formally studied that sort of thing so it’d be cool to hear your thoughts.
@@Ghostreader198 I’ll keep it mind as I read!
Hope you keep reading and reach the best arc of One Piece, Water 7/Enis Lobby
My plan is to keep reading until I catch up with where the series is at the moment. Cheers!!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy no better time for that than right now! We are currenty on the verge of a really big revelation in the current chapter, so by the time you catch up we may finally have an answer to a more than 500 chapter long question!
Love it, man I'll never get tired of seeing people who have a deep appreciation of storytelling discover One Piece. Hope you enjoy the ride Philip 🏴☠
Many thanks! I’m excited to find out where this series goes - what a wonderful start!
I love it when people from outside the main manga/anime community get into One Piece
Laugh is such an important part of One Piece. I love to hear you'r elaughing while reading this :)
I’m having so much fun! Cheers!
PLEASE continue this series (for us and for yourself) 😁🙏🏻!
One Piece is not for everyone but the way you've described it and how you've liked the characters, their backstories, the world and its atmosphere...
I PROMISE there is so much more for you to explore 🙏🏻!
Would love to see your perspective on this epic story!
Nothing is for everyone, but One Piece really has very very wide appeal. It's so widespread because it's actually for most people.
@@ShiroKage009 Can't argue with that 🙏🏻.
Thank you! I’ll keep going!
I find what makes the scene where Nami asks Luffy for help especially powerful is how it demonstrates Luffy's emotional intelligence. Luffy doesn't care about Nami's reasons and doesn't listen to her backstory; he doesn't need a reason to help someone he considers a friend. But he also intuitively understands Nami as a person that he shouldn't take away her agency by helping before she asks for it.
Beautifully said!
When you see how deep the rabbit hole goes in this story you’ll be blown away. The depth of the lore and the size of the world is unreal. To me the world building in One Piece is hard to rival
One of my favorite things these past 6 months since the live action came out is seeing so many western people get into One Piece, especially experts in literature (see also- the Mom Piece series on The Drawk Show UA-cam/Twitch channels). When knowledgeable readers break down a series to show how well crafted it is, I get excited because it means more people will be exposed to the quality and craftsmanship of Oda-sensei’s work. For the longest time, no one outside of the fandom took this series seriously, but that’s changing, and it couldn’t make me happier.
It’s really fun to encounter great storytelling in any medium. Thank you for being so welcoming to us newbies!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy with the insight and care with seeing the meta-structure of a work, not just the shallow events and actions within the plot that most readers/watchers experience, you are going to absolutely love this. The symbolism and tropes are so good and humor ends up being not just a device but an integral theme in the narrative. It’s fun, and deep, and heart-breaking, and mysterious, and inspiring, and on and on. I know it’s a stretch (pun intended) to call it a modern day Odyssey, but it definitely exists in that space of epic fantasy storytelling
@@vspence2 Sounds like my cup of tea!
Yeah I feel you totally agree !
The hardest part about the new breadth of audiences starting the One Piece journey is wanting to talk about later arcs and sagas, but not spoiling anything!
The moment when Nami asks for help locked me into this series for life. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the series going forward!
I admit I got pretty choked up!
Literally yes my boyfriend begged me to watch this with him I was like nooooo I don’t like anime and now 1 year later my life has been flipped upside down and now there is a pirate flag sprouting out of my soul so to speak
We should all find our inner pirate!
I always loved Usopp ever since he first appeared in the series. I always felt he had the most room to grow as a character. Plus he’s endlessly hilarious.
It's nice hearing the insights of an English professor.
oda truly is one of the greatest story tellers, not just with the fact how long one piece has been going but also being able to make each arc better than the last and being able to reference things that happen 100s of chapters prior and making it a big deal later on in the story as well as developing all characters in a strong way without it just being the main characters that have strong development
If theres one thing I love to do, its watch people talk about things I love. Hearing you talk about the beginning of One Piece brought back so many great feelings that I got to experience reading it for the first time
I’m so glad you enjoyed the video - thank you for watching!
My logpose brought me here, I've rang that bell and I'll look forward to your journey
My deepest thanks!
Always happy to hear a new readers thoughts on the series. Welcome aboard!
Cheers!
Philip, great review! You were right when you said Luffy will learn that he doesn't always need to fight. When that moment happens, I think you will like it a lot. Greetings from Brazil
Thank you! I'm looking forward to that moment very much. All the best in beautiful Brazil!
The community looks forward to your journey sir. The first review was already great and you really put a nice spin on it, brining a fresh breath of air into a review scene that has gotten stale.
Thank you for your kind words and encouragement!
1:49 This has to be one of my favorite thumbnails in all of UA-cam history.
Merphy looks so happy in that one! 😊
Merphy’s great and despite being a fan of One Piece for a long time, she came at the series from angles I’d not seen and made me appreciate it even more.
Merphy is a very perceptive reader and has a wonderful way of explaining stories!
If you enjoy angles youve never considered, watch the My English Teach mom reacts to One Piece by TheDrawkShow! Mama Drawk has some wild theories and always finds a roundabout way to use other stories to make accurate pridictions for One Piece. Its so much fun listening to her and shes sure to make you look at the series from new eyes.
@@TheGrossDemon
Yeah, agreed. She's great too. Her background is a history teacher right? I can't remember exactly.
I especially love how she picks up some small tidbit that she finds in the story and then she goes and do some deep research on it and then later she'll dish out one whole lecture about it 😅😂
@@iczzephyr ooop it might be history and not English! I'm so excited for her to get her dragon in wano!!!
this is so fun to watch knowing what happens later
I’m glad you enjoyed the video! I released my second one on Alabasta/Arabasta yesterday. Cheers!
I appreciate some of the stuff he’s focusing on because some of these points have amazing payoff across the next 1000 chapters. I don’t want to get into specifics, but if he finishes I think he’s going to look back at this video and think “I really nailed some of this stuff”.
That would be cool! Cheers! 😊
Eyes of a Pro! 🤷♀️
Luffy is actually incredibly perceptive of how to push people in just the right way. Especially if you look at the situation with Nami. All he does is make sure he's there and ready for when she needs his help, and only truly stands up when she finally asks him for help. If there's one thing Luffy knows instinctively, it's how to help people help themselves.
Hell, Luffy, Zoro and Sanji are technically as yet unrecognized big fish in the small pond of the East Blue. From basically the start of the story Luffy was capable of handling the beginnings of the Grand Line as a fighter, he just needed a crew at his back. Sure the fights he has are tough, but don't push him nearly as far as later ones will, showing just how little he needed to be tested in East Blue. The only time a threat was faced way outside any of their scope was with Mihawk, who is understandably one of the most powerful people in the entire world.
One piece has so many themes, inspirations, and hidden meaning behind characters and im extreamly exited to watch this dude pick up on everything i missed.
A little thing about Usopp's name that you might not have caught is that it's a combination of Uso (Japanese "To Lie" or "lying") and Aesop from Aesop's Fables, so his name is literally "Lying Stories" xD
Buckle up
And prepare tissues
You're in for a ride you're not even imagining
If you already caught the magic in the first arc, which is just an intro, a pilot, a story of 5 guys still in the backyard, you'll be amazed to see what the One Piece world has to offer
I’m looking forward to it! I’d buckle up if I could, but pirate ships don’t have seatbelts. 😁 Cheers!
oh, this is gonna be a wonderful video to fall asleep to… and then to watch again later, when i’m awake!
I hope you’ll enjoy it both times! 😊
Oh boy wait till he gets to Ch. 1110
1111*
If he binges it he can get caught up by the time the break is over. 😅
An underappreciated aspect of Usopp, when compared to the rest of the crew, is that his dream is the most intangible. While everyone else has a goal that is either an object/place or definitive title, Usopp's dream is to "be brave". It makes him unique because he can progress or regress through the journey and go through some real character development.
Well said!
Two of my favorite moments from East Blue are when Luffy tells Sanji to join his crew and when Nami asks Luffy for help.
1. Luffy doesn't even NEED to eat Sanji's food to want him on his crew. He has no idea what Sanji's food tastes like, but he knows Sanji's heart from seeing Gin being fed. And that is enough for Sanji to belong on the crew!
2. Luffy doesn't even NEED to hear Nami's backstory to know that she needs help. All he knows is that his friend is in pain and he wants to be there to help her. And yet, he doesn't help immediately. He waits for her to ask for help to get her to realize that she wasn't on her own and had friends that she could rely on and ask for help, which Luffy does in a heartbeat. Then, all of the other 3 crew members, with their hearts and loyalty, are on the same page as Luffy.
As you will see throughout the manga, Luffy is incredibly emotionally intelligent and has a way of liberating people from their troubles, physically and mentally. It really solidifies him as one of my favorite main characters ever!
i finally took the plunge and started watching One Piece in December and i'm currently almost 800 episodes in. it's truly a one of a kind experience! i have never read manga in my life but the moment im done catching up on watching i am immediately reading from the beginning. enjoy and welcome aboard!
The first box set just restocked last month. I’d highly recommend getting it since last time it was gone for almost 3 years before this restock
@@edwardserfrostymartinez1538 thank you so much for this! i'll definitely get on it now.
don't get me wrong, i love me some powerscaling but there's just something about listening to people with backgrounds in literature talk about one piece that just hits so well.
It makes me feel so good when someone discovers one piece. I look forward to your journey. One piece, at least to me, is the best piece of fiction in our generation. The astounding amount of lore, backstory, and just the amazing story telling of this story gives me hope in humanity. I truly hope you enjoy your reading. 😁
Thank you so much!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I just realized that you read/respond to every message. You are goated sir!
I only just discovered your channel, and fell in love. Keep up the great work brother! 👊🏼
@@SixOG I try to keep up with most comments - it’s not easy with the One Piece videos, but I really appreciate the comments so much because they have been so helpful and encouraging. Cheers!
My favorite part of One Piece is how it gets retroactively better the further along you read. Really makes you appreciate every little detail Oda includes in these chapters. That is to say, once you know where the story is going you gain a deeper appreciation of the characters that have already been established. Arlong, for example, gains new depth the further in you go. That is as far as I'll go as to go further I would need to mention spoilers but suffice it to say that the initial impression that most readers get that this is a shallow story is flipped upside down by the time you get really far along in the story. There is a lot of depth hidden in plain sight.
Thank you, Tai! I’m excited to discover all those layers to this already incredible story!
For real!! I’ve been going back through it for the 3rd time and each arc gets more fascinating with all the recent revelations in the manga. This isn’t a series you can go through just once and be able to fully digest it.