OP novice: "How am I supposed to read 1000 chapters?" OP adept: "I should probably reread some of my favourite moments." OP veteran: "OP is on break this week? Time to reread some arcs!"
The 1st East Blue review: 10 minutes Re-review: over an hour The time difference is so indicative of how good Oda is and the levels one piece has, as well as what it does to all of us. I too can talk for hours on end about one piece without noticing the time haha
Honestly it was hilarious to go through her OP videos playlist and see them slowly grow larger and larger to where it’s obvious she’s no longer able to contain her excitement to small videos. Truly the greatest thing in the world is watching a new OP fan be born.
Also goes to show how well written and characterized every character in the series is that when you go back to reread the beginning actually becomes more intriguing because you can see all the elements of each character that stay as their base characterization later in the series, but the characters feel like a more immature and not as close version of themselves. Even though they make sacrifices and trust each other a lot in the beginning, it still feels like a ragtag bunch of really sincere but not quite connected people adventuring together. I'm not entirely sure where the transition happens, probably Alabasta, but they truly start to feel like a family later on.
@@gregorypan I think that happened pretty much after Drum Island. Imo the first major arc in the series Alabasta. That's when the crew know each other and know more or less what they can do.
>1 hour review, yes! As a busy surgeon who also has family, it’s really hard for me to find time for other stuff. But no matter what, each Friday I look out for and listen to your One Piece reviews in between cases or clinic visits. Really helps me relax after long week.
It is incredible to take Oda's art into consideration as the story goes along. In 97 when One Piece started Oda was just 22 so we really have had the honor of watching him grow-up and develop his craft.
@@nichi_k I feel like Oda is pressured by both his fans and the publisher since the story is so long that he's forced to make the panneling to look small and convoluted so that he wouldn't have to reach the story and tell more information in a single chapter.
Being convoluted wasn't always a bad thing, reading week to week, you really need that knowledge so you know what's happening, also it brings some sort of realism in one piece
He was making the first two versions of Romance Dawn before then (you know, Garp is a pirate, Nami is different, etc.), which are incredible in their own rights. Had to have been ~20 when he started.
I also love how Zoro calls Luffy "King of the Pirates" so early on in their journey, after losing the Mihawk fight, and Luffy barely did anything yet, but Zoro already believes that Luffy can be the king of the pirates.
I interpreted this "King of the pirates" as Zoro just calling out Luffy for being a fellow ambitious dreamer. Later in the series, Zoro does firmly believe Luffy will be the pirate king, but I didn't interpret it that way here.
Fun Fact for anyone that didn’t know: The guy Kuro allows to live in the flashback and take credit for his fake death is Captain Morgan. He gets hypnotised by Jango to think he’s like the greatest marine ever or something like that. Which kind of explains his personality in the 2nd arc of the story. Gotta love Oda’s storytelling right!!!
I wouldn't say the personality is due to Jango hypnotising him. They only make him think he captured Kuro and became the sole survivor of the incident. Which also fun fact Kuro is stepping on Morgans' bloodied jaw, meaning the reason he wears the iron Jaw is due to Kuro breaking it.
Have you noticed the "Where's Pandaman?" thing in One Piece. It's some sort of "Where's Waldo?" or "Where's Wally?" that Oda does in his story: If you look carefully, there is always a man with a "panda head" that's hidden in the pages of the manga. He appears when there is a crowd of enemies, or when they see a lot of people, and sometimes it just randomly appears to be in the background. You will see the same Pandaman in all sorts of places of this story, it kinda makes you wonder "How is this Pandaman traveling and appearing everywhere", he is just the lengendary Pandaman!!!
Also, it may feel weird that Sanji's morals makes him feed someone that's literally gonna kill him right after, but it informs the character for the future. Remember, this is the Sanji that would leave himself to die before hitting a woman. The Sanji that literally handicaps himself by not fighting with his hands because he just refuse to risk them, even if that may kill him. His strong attachment to his principles is his main atribute, and you can tell Oda doesn't see that as a weakpoint. So its fitting he's introduced along Don Krieg as his perfect foil: the villain that lies, cheats, and is willing to kill his own crewmates in order to achieve his goals.
That's a really great way of looking at it. He always handicaping himself with his principles and his crew always know what a kind of man he is so they just fullfill what he don't want to do instead.
To be honest, not just Sanji but the crew also has other character that has their principle, moral value tie to their jobs. Like Chopper who willing to save anyone even enemy and will become furious if he sees a doctor who doesn't live by the doctor's code (Hogback). Or Robin who willing to risk herself to protect historical ruin and enrage when seeing people disrespect history. Each of them is a true profession who integrate their job as a part of who they are
You're right. But Sanji doesn't actually handicap himself. Im pretty sure his punches are pretty weak since he doesn't train them at all. He only uses them for cooking.
@@phhh827 I think handicap here means more that he willingly limits his techniques. He could have trained his punches and that would've greatly expanded his options during fights, but that isn't what is important to Sanji. Cooking is.
The big scene you're thinking of from Arlong Park is Nami crying "Help me." I'm sure there's a million literary reasons to tell me why this ISN'T the best moment in the series, but to me, it's the best moment and solidified Nami as my favorite character. Certain female characters are so often depicted as needing help incessantly, with no redeeming qualities, or being useless until someone else comes along to help them, but this was completely subverted. Nami has been on her own for years and was traumatized from a young age that asking for help only gets those she cares about hurt. So she decided to never ask for help. Not from the villagers, not even from her sister Nojiko, and especially not some pirates she met on the sea, no matter how pure hearted and strong they may seem. Even after her backstory is revealed and things really start to go down hill with the marines finding her money and Arlong betraying their deal, she's still ready to just start over again so no one has to fight. But when they do, no matter how much she protests, she breaks down, is at her lowest point where there is no longer any hope and all the people she wanted to protect are marching off to get slaughtered. Even when Luffy approaches, she still tries to push him away so at least someone can live. But it finally becomes too much and she turns to Luffy, broken , bloody and desperate, and for the first time since she was 10 years old asks someone to help her. I will never get over how masterfully done this was. On the surface it's "weak, crying girl asks strong man to help her", but in reality it's "strong girl overcomes her trauma to ask her friend to help her in her time of need." As another parallel, this is not her giving up, but asking her crew to do what she cannot, just as she does what they cannot by navigating them through the harshest sea in the world. This is why Nami is best girl.
You've nailed it! Nami is also my favorite character in the series cos she's such a great model/icon for a strong girl character. I love the fact that she was in her most vulnerable state but still had the courage to overcome her traumas and finally willing to open herself up. No matter how many times I've reread/rewatch the 'help me' scene, it never fails to hit me so much knowing how much Nami has been through and how much it shaped her from then on. Most 'strong' female characters in fiction are depicted through being powerful/badass and who can handle themselves without a sweat. But in actuality, no one relates to that. Whereas Nami, she's not ashamed to display her weaknesses. She's not ashamed to say she's scared. But despite it, she's trying her best for the crew, for her loved ones and for the ppl who deserve help. That's a strong woman anyone can relate to! Oda's been criticized for how he doesn't give his female characters enough fight scenes and argue that he's not 'handling them well'. I disagree. Oda actually understands what a strong woman is. It's not measured by how powerful they are...but through their personality, core principles and their ability to stand up after being step on. His female characters are also strong willed, are also ambitious and are also free to fo whatever they want. They strive for their dreams like anybody else in the verse. And that's what I love about it.
@@dangerousstake8020 Oda really does do some of the best female characters out there. Yes, there's some of the same face/body syndrome, but lesser manga/anime have done this and it's a small trade off. You're absolutely right that strong/important does not always mean that you're one of the strongest fighters. To highly simplify it, Luffy, Zoro and Sanji are the real fighters of the group. Others can definitely fight, but save for Sanji who cooks, that is their utility to the group. Now look at Nami and Robin and you have two characters that are arguably the most important to the series. Nami for navigation as they would obviously go nowhere without her, but then there's Robin. I always thought it was interesting that her addition to the crew finally broke the trend of everyone having a clear function as part of the crew. Even Usopp was arguably their sharpshooter. But Robin was just an archeologist. But as the series progresses, you see how important she is to the grander story at large being able to read the poneglyphs and just being so smart to figure things out. Underratedly, she really shone in Skypiea when she did all that investigation on her own as well as in Fishman island and it will for sure pay dividends back into the story. So it again goes to show that you can make less physically (but still respectably physically) capable characters just as meaningful to the story if not moreso. Monster trio and the other boys have their place and help keep the crew functioning/moving forward when obstacles come their way, but you can tell the women are the ones who allow the story to advance and that's just so perfect that I could rant about it for hours. Besides, no one criticizes that Zoro has basically no other skills to offer the crew than fighting (and is agruably the least able to function outside of fighting after Luffy). So why would you criticize the story by saying that the best navigator in the world isn't in the battlefield a lot? Even when she becomes a heavy hitter, Nami knows to only fight if it makes sense, which is also why I love her. You can't/shouldn't just punch through everything. XD
@@dangerousstake8020 Thank you so much for this take. I understand that people WANT Nami and Robin to fight more because they are both cool and have awesome fighting styles, but when people say they SHOULD fight more and that Oda doesn't care about them anymore, I have to disagree fully. This is why I loved Murphy's take on Rebecca. Everybody wanted Rebecca to fight with her father, to finally get revenge on Diamante. But One Piece is a series about freedom. Did Rebecca actually want to fight? Of course not. Literally every scene she is in, Oda reinforces over and over again how much of a pacifist she is, like her mother. She is unable to ambush Luffy despite her conviction, she is unable to actually attack people, she fights by defending and countering. She inherently only fights because she is forced to, she's completely alone. So why is it a bad thing that when Luffy, Robin, and Kyros are there to free her from that burden, she gets to do what she wants? Same thing applies to Nami and Robin. As dark as Robin is sometimes, she's not someone who relishes a good fight. Robin's priorities will always lie in her pursuit of history and her time with her found family. Sure, if she has to fight, she can and will, but otherwise she likes peace and quiet. Nami, on the other hand, is scared of fighting, and her primary motivations are creating a world map and navigating for her crew. I just dislike that people use the critique of these women not fighting more and proving themselves like the strong guys, when the characters themselves don't actually want to do that.
Retrospectively, there are so many things you can link: - Shanks using Conqueror's in chapter 1 - Rayleigh appearing in Buggy's memories in chapter 17 - Jimbei being mentioned after Baratie - Mihawks' skills. When you look closely, he didn't cut the ship in half. He cut it in 3 pieces. The dude is a proper beast - Usopp's lies. That's all I'll say There is even more stuff, some of which I can't tell you and some that I simply don't remember. There's a lot
@@HawerTipeZero That never came true. Buggy's fever had nothing to do with Usopp's lie. It was a fake translation. Original japanese doesn't say anything remotely close.
@@franconicolas3995 Even the original japanese translation uses the word "byouki" when Usopp comes up with a lie to not go to an island. Byouki can simply mean a disease or fever. And yes as you already know, Buggy did get infected by a "disease" before going to THE island.
Murphy: *lays her heart out to her watchers* Also Murphy: *has begun to try and theorize with potential info* One Piece community: One Of Us! ONE OF US!
"I will only hit on the best best best moments" she says... creates an hour long review. Joking aside, it's been so long since I read the East Blue so I really love getting reminded of the crew's beginnings. Thank you!
Rewatching with my daughter has reminded me of a lot and she is in love with this show never have been able to get her to watch anything sequentially but this show she wont let me watch without her
One of the parallels I really enjoy is how Nami's treatment by Arlong reflects the fishmen's slavery at the hand of the celestial dragons. What Arlong did to Nami is essentially what the celestial dragons did to his people. All Arlong does is perpetuate a cycle of hatred that was passed onto him by humans doing the same things to his people. The tattoo of his crew on her shoulder is essentially Nami's slave brand. And similarly to the Sun pirates, once Nami was liberated, she had her tattoo rebranded into something else to signify that. Those are the kinds of things that really make a reread feel so worth it!
@@marocat4749 Ohhh, I never even thought of that before. I mean, obviously I knew that Nojiko got her tattoos to make Nami feel better, but I mean I've never even thought of the parallel with the Sun Pirate brand.
I'll always say it and will never stop saying it. One Piece is a modern epic in Literature and Monkey D. Luffy is the greatest (as in most impactful, special, interesting) Character in Fiction.
Love that you pick up on all the smaller moments that foreshadow greater moments later on. Another example of this is when Zoro turned around so the attack would hit his front instead. Later on, we learn that Whitebeard did the same during his life and died without scars on his back :D
Something that isn't brought up much is ace lived his life never turning from. To the point it literally kills him. But he dies from an attack through his back. He died facing away from a fight to save luffy
@@Zalied and the fact that in the process, he pretty much erases the tatoo that links him with WB, because he put everything at harm's way to protect him no matter what. He never backed down and in the entire arc you can see him breaking down due to this conflict for which he doesn't feel bad for dying, but also feels incredibly happy that his family is doing everything they can to help him. And all of that is nothing, if Luffy is in danger. Incredible characterisation
@@KS-xk2so if you're familiar with Sengoku Basara, I'd like to point you to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the only one who's chad enough to chad it out with the chadness of Edward Newgate. Absolutely Chadifying.
Loguetown is one of my favorite arcs, and I'll say, regarding Luffy's acceptance of his death, one thing I've loved with the series is how Post-Marineford recontextualizes Luffy. To me, Luffy has always admired Sabo for setting sail, even if he didn't make it anywhere. For him, even if he's going to die in that moment, at least he died trying. Sabo chose to try to find freedom, and even if he didn't attain it, he still respects that effort and never will look speak or think in a way that undermines Sabo's life.
Even harder, I'd argue. I think it's about the consistency of the characters throughout the series. Everytime you reread an emotional part, it has more context and it makes more sense, or you know the ramifications further down the line
You are actually right! I Sometimes thought it is because i'm older and have a different, much deeper perspective than previous rewatch (since I rewatched OP about dozens of Times over a decades, since I was a Teenager). However, that may definetely have a Part into my enjoyment, the gained context must also be a huge contributor! (Especially since the time between my rewatches shortened but my enjoyment Always deepend)
Kuina's ( zoros childhood friend) death is one of the most theorized topics in one piece. Many people believe she commited suicide and that "fell down the stairs" is just a metaphor since zoro was shouting at her corpse that she was "running away" since she believed deep down that she wouldnt be able to fulfill her promise with zoro because she was a girl or something like that.Other people think she faked her death. I guess many people don't accept that someone could die from falling down the stairs in one piece.
Yes many don’t believe she died from falling down the steps but that she committed a suicide? You’re the first one I’ve saw who wrote that in the close to 20+ years I’ve been reading one piece. There are theories where’s the dad is a bad person who pushed his own daughter to death in various ways but that she committed suicide? Haven’t heard that one... 🤔
One Piece has a strong point that rarely mentioned: it's reread-ability. It's not just something you can read and not bothered after that. Even when you reread it for the third time, there's something new that you can find there, making it not a boring experience
In regards to Zoro and Nami's relationship, I always viewed them as siblings; they annoy the crap out of each other and don't get along that well but they have a very strong sense of trust for the other. In fact, I see all of the original trio (Luffy, Zoro, and Nami), as siblings, to me it always felt like they had a closer and deeper connection to each other than the rest of the crew - not to demean the bond that all the Straw Hats have for each other but man, Luffy showing any sort of concern or worry for Zoro and Nami when they're in danger really hits different than for any of the other crew members. And for his part, he really does act like an annoying kid brother to both of them.
Rereading one piece is almost like finding a whole different set of stories in the one you initially read through. The level of world building and foreshadowing is absolutely mind boggling, especially when you realize that some of these things didn't get paid off until a decade later
Absolutely. When you're reading One Piece week to week you're constantly thinking about what comes next, but revisiting old arcs lets you just experience the adventure. Sky Island is one of my favorite sagas now and that never would have been the case before.
@@sheltondaal6425 Skypiea is in my top 5 arcs and was honestly top 3 along with alabasta and arlong park when I first watched it. Never really understood the hate for it. Noland’s backstory and Luffy ringing the bell I feel were some of Oda’s greatest moments from a writing perspective. The history and lore of the Shandians was very interesting, I liked Gan Fall a lot, Eneru was an amazing villain, I thought Luffy and Wyper’s dichotomy as characters was great and it was so satisfying when Wyper finally started to believe in Luffy. The buildup of this through Noland and Calgara’s backstory was beautifully done. Also just the premise of the arc; an island in the sky, and the history and significance it has. one of the most imaginative additions to the story til this day. It really tied into the main themes of adventure and wonder that One Piece has. Also loved how they used the shandian city (I forget what it was called) to explore Robin’s character and the history of the world more, and the fact that Roger went there just had me wanting to know more I never read it week to week though :p
The first time Zoro calls Luffy captain, the first time he calls himself a pirate, and when he calls Luffy "pirate king" at baratie are some of my favorite moments. Literally any time zoro shows his loyalty and trust in Luffy is the best.
Hearing you talk about how the series starts off by making you think it's going to be all fun and games reminded me of something I've thought about here and there. The way One Piece tackles racism and discrimination naturally hits hard because of the story... But I think what makes it resonate with me a lot is what you said here. Like in real life, you sort of grow up not knowing about racism and things like that (life is all fun and games as a kid), and for me I know growing up I always thought the world couldn't be THAT BAD. It's not until you're in a different place or circumstance in life that you see the world for how it really is (especially in some places). And like at Sabaody, it's a shock that changes how you see the world. I think I worded that really badly. Hope it came across okay. Maybe I'm tripping or looking too deep idk lol :D Love your videos :)
I think it's impressive how representative of that you see in the crew. They also jokes about them being fish people but I doubt they'd say any of that now to like jimbe. They start the adventure and over time as we learn they learn how terrible the world can be. Luffy starts thinking it'll be all fun and games and where she left off he was hit with the reality of the world. As we learn and grow so has the crew with us
Nah its a good description. Its also impressive how we get to hate fish prople in arlong park to later, arlong is horrible but i still fell sorry for the past and kizaru the sadistic troll did , and he id still bad, its really impressive how topics like the world government being excplicit in coups, in alabasta is so good criticism and not forced. Slavery of couree but also abuses people in power evetywhere. It is so amazing you can writeessays over it and there is always more. I love sanjis the modt the past and mentality.
Lol, it's do "fun and games" for some kids that they grow up liking the horror genre because it's kinda relaxing in comparison to life. But One Piece is good for a lot of people, it instills hope and all.
@@taripar4967 I mean not be way too 'i did an english major' but according to Roland Barthes, the moment a story is written and given to the world it is no longer the author's, it is for the readers, and the interpretation of the individual reader therefore becomes the most important thing. Western audiences are going to read it with a western lense, (honestly, i'm still unsure how destructive that is, you might be right), but we can't stop that, and if it is giving those western audiences (especially white people (i'm black)) a way to understand how institutionalised racism works and how bad that is for society as a whole, then who are we to dismiss their reading
@@taripar4967 shout out to you on using my argument to make the most odd reading of one piece yet, but I think only taking the authors intention and not reading it from every viewpoint is narrowing so your reading stands. I don't like it, I don't respect it even but it stands. Also making an equivalent between a murderous horde of pirates and BLM who have murdered zero people is questionable but hey that's your reading. Have a lovely day.
Chapter 1 of One Piece is one of the most brilliant chapters in the series. You instantly understand who Luffy is as a person, why he does what he does, and while Luffy is often unpredictable, every action he takes makes sense for who he is. While I think as a general trend the series has gotten consistently better, that first chapter is still one of the best self contained stories in the whole series.
Oda’s favorite character is Gaimon. (Box guy) I think I can understand a bit of why. He made the conscious decision of staying on that island to protect his treasure over the lure of being freed from the chest and continue adventuring. He came to the island looking for treasure and found it, even if it wasn't in the shape he expected. It fits so well with the "what's a treasure theme." Tbh, when I think in those lines my love for Brook grows a lot , he really went through a lot with the hope of seeing Laboon again.
Arlong Park is that one arc where i cry even just listening to people re-telling it and then remember the emotions i felt when i read it. it's one of the most tragic story ever told with an incredibly triumphant ending, it encapsulated everything i love about OP. "Luffy, help me!", is the moment when One Piece became a masterpiece, for me.
My favorite part of all of East Blue was when Nami's sister is about to tell the back story. And Luffy stands up and walks away. "Don't you want to know why Nami is the way she is?" "No. I dont care." Thats when I knew that One Piece was special.
Loved this moment as well. We, the readers, absolutely wanted to and needed to know why Nami was worth saving. But Luffy, someone who we now know is actually extremely emotionally intelligent, didn't need to know. This tells us, the reader, that Luffy doesn't need a reason to help someone beyond the fact that he just wants to help them. Meanwhile, because we learn her story, it makes Luffy all the more admirable for having been a step ahead in his ability to understand a person's true character. Zoro shares this quality with Luffy, and had a similar scene as well in that arc. Before he knew her backstory, Zoro was already confident that Nami would not actually kill him, and even challenged her to do so. Even though she had betrayed them, Zoro was willing to bet with his life that she was a good person at heart. I loved that scene as well.
Merphy, you know why it feels so nostalgic. TL;DR: One Piece is Peter Pan Maybe it’s just because I watched this review of yours right after your Marineford review but it’s Peter Pan. You stated in that review you loved the classic fairy tail novel nonsense ala Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan. Is that not just absurdism in world building like One Piece. You also talk about how throw away lines in Peter Pan that elude to darker themes are much more impactful than if the author went edgy description. Is that not the same statement you made about Boa’s backstory and what happened to her as a slave? You mentioned the whimsy of Peter... LUFFY=child like/whimsy. You mentioned how Peter can change his mind and rally people around that change of mind to the point where the sides have flipped... THE CREW FOLLOWING LUFFY AND HELPING HIS DREAM DESPITE THEIR OWN?! You’ve already made the connection to found family for both of these stories. I can keep going on but I think I’ve made the point.
Plus Luffy's first big ennemy in the Grand Line was Crocodile, and if my memory is correct Captain Hook got his hand bitten off by a crocodile, and Crocodile in One Piece has a hook aswell sooooo... Yeah I think you're onto something.
@@kinnaye8867 That fight was actually one big Peter Pan reference. Luffy the embodiment of childlike whimsy vs The Bitter and jaded older Pirate. The Name Crocodile, The Hook and to top it off the LITERAL ticking clock going on during their fight. Theres plenty of Disney references in One Piece. Once you see it you can't unsee it.
To the Lewis Carol reference, check out ohraha s most recent video. It's an interview with the Japanese UA-cam who he based his viral video on. According to the Japanese UA-cam oda is a huge Lewis Carol fan and the two sides of the story represent the two Alice stories he wrote. Wonderland grand line, New world through the looking glass. There's even art stuff.
43:20 I think Nami's moments are mostly just underrated in the series to be honest. For the first half of OP (up to Marineford) Nami is my favorite member of the crew. All of Arlong Park, Water 7 when she's running from rooftop to rooftop to save Luffy, the moment where she is willing to give everything the crew has to save Camie, every time that she's the perfect negotiator, every one of her fight scenes, she has so many great moments! IMO, she's best strategist in the team and she's always using her wits and knowledge of science to win fights and save the crew. I am always a proponent of more Nami moments, especially in the second half of One Piece, and I hate that so many times in the series she gets relegated to "girl to ogle at" but I really love Nami and she deserves more shine.
I resent the idea that Nami stopped having good moments post-timeskip. In fact I'd argue she has more than pre timeskip, but they're just ignored because there are so many more characters, and now she's wearing a bikini top. Just to name a few you have Nami forgiving Jinbei in Fishman Island, Nami deciding to save the children in Punk Hazard, Nami helping Luffy defeat Cracker, Nami breaking the mirrors on Luffy's orders, and more recently Nami's declaration to Ulti.
@@RoderickThe13 I feel that, I think the issue is like you said, she’s just so often reduced to be scared or a fanservice girl. I also think that her moments can just be super spread out. Like she has some great highlights, but you gotta wait forever between them. That’s true for a lot of characters, Brook and Chopper immediately come to mind. But *Spoilers for whole cake Island* I loved when Nami got the vivre card in whole cake, that shit was hilarious. I also loved that chopper got to face off with Big Mom, we hadn’t gotten to see him flex like that and actually be strong in a fight since like, Fishman island (I could be wrong about that).
Spoilers . . . One of my favorite Nami moments is her MVP role in taking down Cracker in Whole Cake Island. Luffy would actually be dead without Nami by his side. Later on, I loved her new dynamic with Zeus and the development it gets in Wano is gold.
33:58 One piece review can Never be too long. Feel free to talk as much as you like. It doesn't just have to be about Major moments unless you want it that way. Have fun! I know you want it that way for this video. But yeah hahaha. Looking forward to the in depth video of each arc later in the future xD
Another thing I loved about Zoro throwing himself into the water handcuffed in front of nami is how layered the situation is. Nami is saying these things to Zoro because she's grown attached to them and doesn't want them to get involved. Zoro basically forces her hand when he jumps in the water. She's so pissed off cause she's worked so hard to get to this point and it could jeopardize her relationship with Arlong. Such a good scene.
its incredible how things can come full circle. a few years ago while watching one piece theory videos, a certain youtube (joyboytheories) suggested Brandon sandersons books. Which eventually lead me to your channel and daniel greene's channel. and now watching my two favorite booktubers enjoy one piece brings joy to my heart.
I always thought that kuro’s plan was to have the pirates ransack the village and make sure to kill kaya. He would’ve had his hypnotist force kaya to leave everything to him in her will so it would look like she died in a pirate raid and left everything to the butler.
I came down to the comments to see if someone else said it so I didn't have to. Yes, that was the plan, and furthermore it was supposed to happen at dawn, so Merry's death in the dead of night wouldn't have been suspicious because by the time anyone was awake to find it *everything* would be in ruins, so what did it matter? Yes it was sloppy, yes it was a potential hole in the plan of his own making, but as he said himself, he was restless. Kuro had a sort of lunacy in the traditional sense, the crescent moon literally made him more inclined to violence and restlessness, and combine that with the eve of his three year plan, he let down his guard and his true malice came out. Further, if he had been able to kill Luffy and crew at the shore, the pirates could still go and ransack the town, and still raid the manor, and still covered up the murder scene, and Kuro himself could still have been "away" and come back and been "distraught" over what had happened in his absence. It still could have worked.
Also everyone says it’s out of character for Kuro to become a butler which is true considering his personality, but it still makes sense to for him to hide out as a butler in a small random village when he’s trying to avoid the navy. He faked his death and needed somewhere to lay low for a few years anyway.
@@HyakuJuu01300 he didn’t want to be a pirate anymore. He was tired of fighting the marines and tired of dealing with other pirates. Killing everybody would just clue the marines in on the fact that he faked his death and he’d be right back to where he was
Something I really love and people will missed often on multiple rereads is that the revolutionaries are mentioned in lougetown, nami mentions a coup in the newspaper and Oda confirmed that it was dragon’s doing and that’s why he’s in the area of lougetown. Love the little little details that are so easily missed yet can expand on the world so much if you’re clever enough/ astute enough to catch them. Really makes you think about what other things people have collectively glanced over that was staring us in the face the whole time.
I love the scene where Luffy turns back on Morgan in order to save Coby from Helmeppo. He leaves himself completely open to Morgan's attack, and he never retracted or tried to defend himself. Then Zoro immediatly knocks Morgan out, literally protecting Luffy's back. That was a beautifully executed trust moment. If you remember Marineford, there were a lot of instances in which Whitebeard didn't move away from an attack and there were a lot of opponents trying to backstab him or suckerpunch him: all of those attacks were stopped by his crewmates and he didn't tried to avoid them because Whitebeard knew his family was there to protect him. The legend states that Whitebeard died without a single scar in his back, and in the heat of the legend this would imply he never turned back because he was just so brave and relentless. While that was also true, we know that the main reason he never got a coward wound was because his crewmates always had his back. That and the Zoro parallels convey pretty strongly that "Luffy can't become the pirate king alone" theme in a masterful way.
If you look closely the marine that "captured" Kuro was Captain Morgan. It also seems like that even is where he lost his arm and probably what caused him to get that promotion. Very early example of Oda's subtle world building.
when you wonder about how peoples names in this series are pronounced - yes, if "kaya" was an american name, "kehya" would make sense, but the japanese pronounciation is indeed "kahya" :) as a german speaker, its a bit easier to imagine the original japanese pronounciation bc we pronounce the vowels in a pretty similar way to the japanese! :D
Arlong Park is SO good. It has so much emotional weight and really expanded on all the characters. That scene with Nami stabbing herself in pure sadness and rage and then to desperately plead for help... I still get a tear in my eye when, without hesitation, they are all just READY and Luffy entrusts her with his absolute greatest treasure. Even if you are not an anime viewer, this scene in the anime is every bit as impactful and "The Walk to Arlong Park" with the 4 is just SO epic with the music.
A good thing about my fridays is that I can read an awesome and new OP chapter and watch a really good OP review. Please Merphy, dont bother making your reviews short, we want all the details. Loved every second of this.
I absolutely love how so many people have gotten into One Piece over quarantine. It baits you in with a fun a whacky world early on and it sprinkles in what it will eventually be. Then the trap closes. Its too late. You're already a die hard.
I only started the series thanks to my girlfriend back in 2019 and now I am fully hooked so badly I bought the entire manga (in omnibus format) and watched every anime episode in both sub and dub at this point...
@@hei7846 I only have the omnibus format for cost related reasons, it's $11-12 bucks on Amazon for a single omnibus as opposed to a single volume which is about 8 or 9. So to answer your question, I'd say it comes down to personal preference. I have other series like My Hero in single volumes (1, 2, and 3) though
hearing you call going back to the start as "nostalgic" is fantastic. I'm 26 and i've had one piece in my life pretty steadily since i was 6 or 7, i still have the volume 1 my older friend gave me on my shelf. hearing how much this series now means to you and has become a part of your life reminds me of how special and worthwhile this series is to get into and all the great memories and friends its brought into my life and these videos are letting me live it all again and i can't thank you enough for it
One thing that I picked up on with the nami Luffy dynamic in East Blue is that Nami sees how much the strawhat means to Luffy and how angry he gets when it is damaged by Buggy that she offers to repair it for him. When Nami breaks down in despair and asks Luffy for help the strawhat is their to comfort her.
I can’t wait for Merphy to catch up with the manga, and then RE-re-read East Blue. Because man… it’s insane how Oda is able to make prior arcs feel even better after reading things far far in the future. Whether it’s bringing back things most people have forgotten, or hidden foreshadowing, or just giving more depth and context to things that happened long ago. Each time I reread, I always pick up on new things to appreciate and love.
One of my favorite things about Oda's writing is how it manages to recontextualizes what already happened often enough to make every re-read so fun to re-explore. Add in the grown attachments to characters, and you have a more emotional connection after the first read. I love it. Glad to see you're enjoying the story so much. ^^
31:52.. I mean his plan wasn't to inherit the fortune and live with the villagers, it was to inherit the fortune and destroy the entire village. He's not trying to stage something for the villagers, he's trying to make it look like a pirate raid for the military to have something to chase, knowing that they wouldn't suspect him, because the Marines think that he is already dead.
Ya it's convoluted but that's his thing he thinks he's smarter than everyone and so great nothing could stop him. Butnonce the village is gone and he has the legitimate money he'd probably go create a new persona again.
Exactly and his men were supposed to already be raiding the town when he killed merry but they were delayed by ussop and the kids who all knew his true identity and therefore would need to be killed.
You: "Other Onepiece people talk about fights a lot, maybe I should to." Me: *panik* You: "Nah, I'm gonna talk about it how I want." Me: *relieved sigh* On that note, I am REALLY enjoying your analysis and review of Onepiece. Its very unique and I am so here for it.
I want more of this, this video wasnt long enough! I want more theories! Also i just realized. It makes sense Nami and Zoro fought at the start. Firstly, sanji wasnt there yet. Secondly, Nami is a Navigator that can lead a crew through the grandline. Meanwhile, Zoro always manages to get lost in a straight hallway.
It's kinda like a trademark at this point that you don't know character names. It was really amusing seeing you talk about One Piece to Rogers base, struggling to remember names. It was a fun guessing game
I don't know why, but hearing you talk about One Piece the way you do always makes my day. I find myself looking forward to all of your One Piece Fridays every week now. It's become a highlight of mine. Thanks for making theae videos 😁
I really hope that you see the last message of a onepiece afgan fan's tweet where he reveals his love for one piece and its community.He even mentioned his love for your videos as well as other one piece youtubers. It is really sad to hear that he won't able to able to watch or enjoy one piece or any other media related.
I've never read One Piece before, but I want to after watching this! Having a memory of a goldfish, I'll probably not remember any plot points you have discussed here. Things I'll definitely remember, though, are the emotions. I am so excited to read it, AGH!
I'm so happy you're doing this re-read. It really does hit different the second time around. My favourite bit of "forshadowing" is in the very first chapter where Oda shows us Luffy eating the devil fruit without us knowing what it was. It's forshadowing Oda's forshadowing. Love it. Can't wait for your next one and I can't wait for you to revisit your tin foil hat sections. See you then.
The fact that Arlong went out of his way to create Arlong(Sabaody) park and enslaved people by putting tatoos on them is just Oda flexing his psychological foreshadowing
Maro Cat that’s kinda the creepy part about Arlong. Potential Spoilers ahead. He has members of his crew that used to be slaves. But he himself never was one. He just loves the self satisfactorily justice and hate boner that he gets from hurting humans, using his peoples suffering as an excuse. He is true evil. He borderline fetishizes the struggle others, but never suffered it himself. If you wished to draw a comparison to the real world, imagine him as the son of people, who escaped poverty and gang violence. He never suffered himself but is relatable to those who did. And he uses that suffering as a weapon to hurt and attack others.
Ishu Divan you are right. I messed that up. Arlong is just a sadistic dick. But unlike Hody, he did have teammates that used to be slaves. Hody is from a different generation. One that wasn’t saved by Fisher
tbh, enis lobby was the arc were I REALLY fell in love with OP and after the summit war I realized that OP is one of the greatest stories told. However, those two arcs elevated the WHOLE story for me and after rewatching it (after witnessing those two previous arcs) arlong parc hit not even way harder, till this day it is actually my personal favourite arc.
Ive said it before, I’ll say it again, its great that you’re taking your time with this series! Not only is it just a lot but more importantly, waiting a week for a new chapter is really exhausting! I’ve been caught up with the series for the past 5 years now so you can trust me on this! I hope you will keep enjoying the journey though!
I went through so many of these videos waiting for you to talk properly about Arlong Park. This brings me so much joy. I love your reviews and watching you get into this series is such a pleasure to witness.
I’ve been reading One Piece for over 15 years. At this point it’s fully part of my life story. I think as a child it inspired me to live for the adventure and the amazing people you meet along the way. Ive been living as an artist in Japan for over 5 years and got the opportunity to thank Oda-Sensei in person. I’ll never forget that day.
Thats awesome dude. I wish i could thank him in person too. Ive been into this series since i was around 12 and Oda has effected my life in more ways than 1.
Oda is so incredibly good at making the story resonate with his readers, it's why you felt like Nami's backstory was written for you even though you were like 8 years old when it was published. I've got my own theory about the guy in the box, I think it's foreshadowing and when they finally make it to Raftel the One Piece isn't going to be there cause like box guy said "It happens all the time when you get to the x on a treasure map and it's already been looted."
Merphy, I look forward to your reviews every week. Don't feel like you have to match your style to other One Piece reviewers. We watch you because we also love your style and take on things. You feeling the emotion of the story makes me relive them as if I first read them and I love it. There are even some things you've caught that I didn't!
we have plenty of power scalers and hardcore bro nerds analyzing fights and comparing relative strengths of characters. Your focus on character and theme is a breath of fresh air in this community. Please keep being you and bringing your perspective, it's so valuable and awesome
Discovered your videos today and I’ve watched… *calculates* quite a lot of them already. Your energy is so relatable! Getting to watch you discover each part for the first time is nostalgic, but watching you talk about it now that you’re invested is even more so, somehow. Glad you’re on the crew!
I love that scar placements are story devices Oda uses to perfection!!! Zoro - “Scars on the back are a swordsman’s shame” Whitebeard - “And on his proud back, … he never received a single scar from running away”
Nami's and Robin's breakdowns are two moments that get me emotional every single time - even just thinking about them. Oda is incredible at writing and illustrating such emotionally impactful moments.
Did you notice Oda name-dropping Jinbei right before Arlong Park? It’s an amazing detail that plays such a big role later on! I just love how Oda does small things like that.
I love seeing your joy at all these moments. And I just sit there like - omg yessss!!!! I think this is the first east blue review I ever saw where I can only agree wholehearted! The goosebumps, the tears, the smiles, they connect us as Readers and I think that's pretty awesome. Like, to think about all these millions of people who had the same reaction as you! I also am not that much of a fan of Syrup Village. Other stuff overshadwos it. Never thought about Gaimon protecting the One Piece - that would be so funny xD
Fun fact, almost all of Ussops lies from Syrup village have turned out to be true. You will notice them on your reread if you write down the little stories he told Kaya.
True lol, it there are only a few that I’m still looking for to come true. I won’t mention them Incase Merphy or another new reader sees this haha..... but sniper island IS real my dude, it is in your heart ❤️
I think the hardest One Piece will ever make me cry is when I read the last chapter. Not because of whatever the content of the chapter will be, but because it will be the end of a part of my life. And the knowledge that it is over will crush me with happiness and bitter sadness.
My favorite part of the Zoro Vs. Mihak fight is that it clearly establishes that getting hit in the back is a cowards wound, that's something that just never left my mind for some reason, and I'm so happy that it didn't because it pays of in a MAJOR way in Whitebeard's death when it's described how many wounds he suffered in the War, he endured it all without a singular coward's wound.
00:00:00 ⟾ Introduction, nostalgia, impact
00:01:24 ⟾ Tone, intensity, first saga, tonal promises/shifts
00:02:37 ⟾ Format - by arc, highs and lows
00:03:18 ⟾ Oda's art style, progress, panel focus, weight, action scenes
00:04:22 ⟾ Chapter 0001, Luffy's backstory, core values, Shanks' lessons
00:05:45 ⟾ Shanks as model, ambition
00:06:07 ⟾ (Re)introduction of characters, predicaments, Luffy winning over
00:06:39 ⟾ Zoro introduction, dog incident, Kuina & Tashigi
00:08:03 ⟾ Luffy, Helmeppo moment, puch scene parallel, Luffy's character
00:09:49 ⟾ Luffy-Zoro fight moment, Zoro's loyalty
00:11:42 ⟾ Koby and Helmeppo, Koby's core, bravery parallel
00:12:55 ⟾ Luffy's intelligence, provoking Koby, navy's role
00:14:14 ⟾ Luffy adoration/admiration - Hancock and Merphy
00:14:28 ⟾ Nami introduction, lies, deception, theft
00:15:05 ⟾ Buggy fight, absurdity, Nami's nature, Luffy and Zoro moments
00:16:09 ⟾ Chouchou
00:16:48 ⟾ Luffy: defender of dreams/freedom, character moments; winning over despite not common goal
00:18:11 ⟾ Luffy character moments
00:18:39 ⟾ Zoro vs. Cabaji
00:18:59 ⟾ Buggy-Shanks flashback
00:19:09 ⟾ Leaving treasure behind scene
00:19:27 ⟾ {Merphy makes bold claims}
00:19:38 ⟾ Gaimon arc, theory
00:21:13 ⟾ Syrup Village, Kaya, overview
00:22:10 ⟾ Yasopp and Shanks
00:22:40 ⟾ Kuro's plan, Black Cat Pirates, crew chaos
00:23:38 ⟾ Zoro and Nami dynamic, also Usopp
00:24:37 ⟾ Nami risking herself, also Zoro, trust
00:25:29 ⟾ Nami catching passed-out Luffy
00:25:54 ⟾ Usopp, incompetence, bravery, 'nothing happened' moment, crew invitation
00:28:54 ⟾ Kaya
00:29:01 ⟾ Arc overview: Kuro's convoluted, villainous 'plan'
00:32:29 ⟾ Arc overview: Usopp's backstory
00:33:36 ⟾ Intermission
00:33:44 ⟾ Two days later
00:33:53 ⟾ Baratie Arc, Overview, food, absurdism
00:34:45 ⟾ Sanji introduction, Fullbody, {R.I.P. Batchee}, morals
00:35:32 ⟾ Luffy invitation insistence, crew dynamics
00:36:16 ⟾ Sanji; depth, Zeff, influence, passion
00:37:20 ⟾ Big Moment - Zoro vs. Mihawk, Oda powerful scene parallels
00:38:58 ⟾ Zoro vs. Mihawk, honour, code, impact
00:39:54 ⟾ {*Spoiler**}
00:39:56 ⟾ Zoro vs. Mihawk, never lose again
00:40:14 ⟾ Zeff, dreams, passing of will
00:41:01 ⟾ Sanji saving Luffy moment
00:41:22 ⟾ Sanji dreams moment - All Blue
00:41:37 ⟾ Sanji 'forced' out moment, Overview
00:41:58 ⟾ Arlong Park
00:42:02 ⟾ Nami, progression, moments, background role
00:42:49 ⟾ Nami, character depth, growth, reasons, One Piece strengths
00:44:55 ⟾ Zoro trusting Nami moment
00:45:58 ⟾ Nami and Usopp moment
00:46:25 ⟾ Nami, character insights
00:46:56 ⟾ Zoro-Sanji dynamic
00:47:26 ⟾ Nami backstory, Nojiko, Bellemere: flaws & nuances, devotion, family
00:50:21 ⟾ Nojiko, family devotion, loyalty, love
00:50:55 ⟾ Nami second chance moment, complex motivations, devotion, sacrifice
00:52:42 ⟾ Overview, depth of One Piece
00:53:08 ⟾ Nami help me moment, hat pass off
00:53:44 ⟾ Luffy/crew motivation to fight
00:54:17 ⟾ Fights
00:54:47 ⟾ Zoro vs. Hatchan - fighting injured
00:54:48 ⟾ Nojiko & Genzo - support, keeping Luffy alive
00:55:11 ⟾ Usopp vs. Chew - bravery
00:55:26 ⟾ Sanji vs. Kuroobi - stopping Zoro, saving Luffy, underwater fight
00:55:40 ⟾ Nami entering the fray
00:55:46 ⟾ Luffy vs. Arlong - destroying room, Nami's reaction
00:56:19 ⟾ Parallels - Long Ring Long Land moment
00:56:43 ⟾ Nami moment, acceptance
00:56:52 ⟾ Retrospect Impact - fish-men history, symbolism, depth, Hatchan, pinwheel & grave
00:58:17 ⟾ Saga-ending Arcs - packed nature, foreshadowing, theory fodder
00:58:47 ⟾ Dragon - power speculation, weather
00:59:12 ⟾ Tashigi - shop scene, dynamics with Zoro, Kuina?
01:00:25 ⟾ Luffy platform scene, reaction to execution, crew rush to aid
01:01:05 ⟾ Loguetown Overview
01:01:14 ⟾ Re-read moments, in context
01:01:27 ⟾ Rayleigh
01:01:44 ⟾ Foreshadowing characters
01:01:50 ⟾ Smoker introduction
01:02:05 ⟾ Overview - little moments, foreshadowing, parallels, connections, intentionality, setup and payoff
01:02:31 ⟾ Future Plans - Re-read next two sagas, enjoyment, appreciation
01:02:55 ⟾ Outro
01:02:59 ⟾ [Promo]
merphy makes bold claims.. lmao
Thanks 🙏 bro 4 this
Thnx Legend
bro she paying u or something? this is too good
OP novice: "How am I supposed to read 1000 chapters?"
OP adept: "I should probably reread some of my favourite moments."
OP veteran: "OP is on break this week? Time to reread some arcs!"
I would usually just go to the OP wiki as a reminder
You just gave me an idea of what to do when OP has a chapter break
This is pretty much my life and has been since 2005... help 😂
OP veteran: theory time
@@jlassijlali290 hence the rereading of the series 😉
The 1st East Blue review: 10 minutes
Re-review: over an hour
The time difference is so indicative of how good Oda is and the levels one piece has, as well as what it does to all of us. I too can talk for hours on end about one piece without noticing the time haha
Honestly it was hilarious to go through her OP videos playlist and see them slowly grow larger and larger to where it’s obvious she’s no longer able to contain her excitement to small videos. Truly the greatest thing in the world is watching a new OP fan be born.
Also goes to show how well written and characterized every character in the series is that when you go back to reread the beginning actually becomes more intriguing because you can see all the elements of each character that stay as their base characterization later in the series, but the characters feel like a more immature and not as close version of themselves.
Even though they make sacrifices and trust each other a lot in the beginning, it still feels like a ragtag bunch of really sincere but not quite connected people adventuring together. I'm not entirely sure where the transition happens, probably Alabasta, but they truly start to feel like a family later on.
The one piece reverie 9 is prime example of this.
True. And when things really start to pick up with major arcs from Water 7 onwards, the videos are approximately 40 minutes XD
@@gregorypan I think that happened pretty much after Drum Island. Imo the first major arc in the series Alabasta. That's when the crew know each other and know more or less what they can do.
>1 hour review, yes! As a busy surgeon who also has family, it’s really hard for me to find time for other stuff. But no matter what, each Friday I look out for and listen to your One Piece reviews in between cases or clinic visits. Really helps me relax after long week.
Watch it during the surgery next time :)
so LAW is your favorite character right? haha
Nice
@@cooljo5881 don't give him ideas😭
yeesss this also happen to me, merph always opening for my weekend. this happens too with TotallyNotMark
It is incredible to take Oda's art into consideration as the story goes along. In 97 when One Piece started Oda was just 22 so we really have had the honor of watching him grow-up and develop his craft.
@@nichi_k I feel like Oda is pressured by both his fans and the publisher since the story is so long that he's forced to make the panneling to look small and convoluted so that he wouldn't have to reach the story and tell more information in a single chapter.
Being convoluted wasn't always a bad thing, reading week to week, you really need that knowledge so you know what's happening, also it brings some sort of realism in one piece
@@omarsabir1210 actually no, he loves to do it, adding a lot of details in the background with thought is always an Oda "thing"
He was making the first two versions of Romance Dawn before then (you know, Garp is a pirate, Nami is different, etc.), which are incredible in their own rights. Had to have been ~20 when he started.
oda really is just luffy- a young, excited, doe-eyed mangka, inspired by Toriyama to shake the world.
I also love how Zoro calls Luffy "King of the Pirates" so early on in their journey, after losing the Mihawk fight, and Luffy barely did anything yet, but Zoro already believes that Luffy can be the king of the pirates.
I interpreted this "King of the pirates" as Zoro just calling out Luffy for being a fellow ambitious dreamer. Later in the series, Zoro does firmly believe Luffy will be the pirate king, but I didn't interpret it that way here.
@@luiscortes4565 totally agree with you on this take.
@@luiscortes4565 I agree on both takes
@@luiscortes4565 true
Fun Fact for anyone that didn’t know: The guy Kuro allows to live in the flashback and take credit for his fake death is Captain Morgan. He gets hypnotised by Jango to think he’s like the greatest marine ever or something like that. Which kind of explains his personality in the 2nd arc of the story. Gotta love Oda’s storytelling right!!!
I wouldn't say the personality is due to Jango hypnotising him. They only make him think he captured Kuro and became the sole survivor of the incident. Which also fun fact Kuro is stepping on Morgans' bloodied jaw, meaning the reason he wears the iron Jaw is due to Kuro breaking it.
Question Hellmepo have captured him already or not?
@@mauriciomoreno997 Not, he escaped in their cover story last I remember
@@mahmii0174 thanks i knew that but i didn't knew if we get another update
@@mauriciomoreno997 And we also see him later at Jango's cover story, kinda resting on his dingy as they pass next to each other
Have you noticed the "Where's Pandaman?" thing in One Piece. It's some sort of "Where's Waldo?" or "Where's Wally?" that Oda does in his story: If you look carefully, there is always a man with a "panda head" that's hidden in the pages of the manga. He appears when there is a crowd of enemies, or when they see a lot of people, and sometimes it just randomly appears to be in the background. You will see the same Pandaman in all sorts of places of this story, it kinda makes you wonder "How is this Pandaman traveling and appearing everywhere", he is just the lengendary Pandaman!!!
That is something for the 3rd read ;D
I’m pretty sure she is aware
Legends speaks of Panda man also coming from Sniper Island.
yes pandaman is being chased. for a loan he couldn't repay. im not making this up. its legit. canon.
They give him a bounty and a crew and everything in the question corner, he's truly ascended.
Also, it may feel weird that Sanji's morals makes him feed someone that's literally gonna kill him right after, but it informs the character for the future.
Remember, this is the Sanji that would leave himself to die before hitting a woman. The Sanji that literally handicaps himself by not fighting with his hands because he just refuse to risk them, even if that may kill him. His strong attachment to his principles is his main atribute, and you can tell Oda doesn't see that as a weakpoint. So its fitting he's introduced along Don Krieg as his perfect foil: the villain that lies, cheats, and is willing to kill his own crewmates in order to achieve his goals.
That's a really great way of looking at it. He always handicaping himself with his principles and his crew always know what a kind of man he is so they just fullfill what he don't want to do instead.
To be honest, not just Sanji but the crew also has other character that has their principle, moral value tie to their jobs. Like Chopper who willing to save anyone even enemy and will become furious if he sees a doctor who doesn't live by the doctor's code (Hogback). Or Robin who willing to risk herself to protect historical ruin and enrage when seeing people disrespect history. Each of them is a true profession who integrate their job as a part of who they are
And there's more to him that changes but still keeps to his main core values later in the current arc
You're right. But Sanji doesn't actually handicap himself. Im pretty sure his punches are pretty weak since he doesn't train them at all. He only uses them for cooking.
@@phhh827 I think handicap here means more that he willingly limits his techniques. He could have trained his punches and that would've greatly expanded his options during fights, but that isn't what is important to Sanji. Cooking is.
The big scene you're thinking of from Arlong Park is Nami crying "Help me." I'm sure there's a million literary reasons to tell me why this ISN'T the best moment in the series, but to me, it's the best moment and solidified Nami as my favorite character. Certain female characters are so often depicted as needing help incessantly, with no redeeming qualities, or being useless until someone else comes along to help them, but this was completely subverted. Nami has been on her own for years and was traumatized from a young age that asking for help only gets those she cares about hurt. So she decided to never ask for help. Not from the villagers, not even from her sister Nojiko, and especially not some pirates she met on the sea, no matter how pure hearted and strong they may seem.
Even after her backstory is revealed and things really start to go down hill with the marines finding her money and Arlong betraying their deal, she's still ready to just start over again so no one has to fight. But when they do, no matter how much she protests, she breaks down, is at her lowest point where there is no longer any hope and all the people she wanted to protect are marching off to get slaughtered. Even when Luffy approaches, she still tries to push him away so at least someone can live. But it finally becomes too much and she turns to Luffy, broken , bloody and desperate, and for the first time since she was 10 years old asks someone to help her.
I will never get over how masterfully done this was. On the surface it's "weak, crying girl asks strong man to help her", but in reality it's "strong girl overcomes her trauma to ask her friend to help her in her time of need." As another parallel, this is not her giving up, but asking her crew to do what she cannot, just as she does what they cannot by navigating them through the harshest sea in the world. This is why Nami is best girl.
You've nailed it! Nami is also my favorite character in the series cos she's such a great model/icon for a strong girl character. I love the fact that she was in her most vulnerable state but still had the courage to overcome her traumas and finally willing to open herself up. No matter how many times I've reread/rewatch the 'help me' scene, it never fails to hit me so much knowing how much Nami has been through and how much it shaped her from then on.
Most 'strong' female characters in fiction are depicted through being powerful/badass and who can handle themselves without a sweat. But in actuality, no one relates to that. Whereas Nami, she's not ashamed to display her weaknesses. She's not ashamed to say she's scared. But despite it, she's trying her best for the crew, for her loved ones and for the ppl who deserve help. That's a strong woman anyone can relate to!
Oda's been criticized for how he doesn't give his female characters enough fight scenes and argue that he's not 'handling them well'. I disagree. Oda actually understands what a strong woman is. It's not measured by how powerful they are...but through their personality, core principles and their ability to stand up after being step on. His female characters are also strong willed, are also ambitious and are also free to fo whatever they want. They strive for their dreams like anybody else in the verse. And that's what I love about it.
@@dangerousstake8020 Oda really does do some of the best female characters out there. Yes, there's some of the same face/body syndrome, but lesser manga/anime have done this and it's a small trade off.
You're absolutely right that strong/important does not always mean that you're one of the strongest fighters. To highly simplify it, Luffy, Zoro and Sanji are the real fighters of the group. Others can definitely fight, but save for Sanji who cooks, that is their utility to the group. Now look at Nami and Robin and you have two characters that are arguably the most important to the series. Nami for navigation as they would obviously go nowhere without her, but then there's Robin. I always thought it was interesting that her addition to the crew finally broke the trend of everyone having a clear function as part of the crew. Even Usopp was arguably their sharpshooter. But Robin was just an archeologist. But as the series progresses, you see how important she is to the grander story at large being able to read the poneglyphs and just being so smart to figure things out. Underratedly, she really shone in Skypiea when she did all that investigation on her own as well as in Fishman island and it will for sure pay dividends back into the story.
So it again goes to show that you can make less physically (but still respectably physically) capable characters just as meaningful to the story if not moreso. Monster trio and the other boys have their place and help keep the crew functioning/moving forward when obstacles come their way, but you can tell the women are the ones who allow the story to advance and that's just so perfect that I could rant about it for hours. Besides, no one criticizes that Zoro has basically no other skills to offer the crew than fighting (and is agruably the least able to function outside of fighting after Luffy). So why would you criticize the story by saying that the best navigator in the world isn't in the battlefield a lot? Even when she becomes a heavy hitter, Nami knows to only fight if it makes sense, which is also why I love her. You can't/shouldn't just punch through everything. XD
@@dangerousstake8020 Thank you so much for this take. I understand that people WANT Nami and Robin to fight more because they are both cool and have awesome fighting styles, but when people say they SHOULD fight more and that Oda doesn't care about them anymore, I have to disagree fully.
This is why I loved Murphy's take on Rebecca. Everybody wanted Rebecca to fight with her father, to finally get revenge on Diamante. But One Piece is a series about freedom. Did Rebecca actually want to fight? Of course not. Literally every scene she is in, Oda reinforces over and over again how much of a pacifist she is, like her mother. She is unable to ambush Luffy despite her conviction, she is unable to actually attack people, she fights by defending and countering. She inherently only fights because she is forced to, she's completely alone. So why is it a bad thing that when Luffy, Robin, and Kyros are there to free her from that burden, she gets to do what she wants?
Same thing applies to Nami and Robin. As dark as Robin is sometimes, she's not someone who relishes a good fight. Robin's priorities will always lie in her pursuit of history and her time with her found family. Sure, if she has to fight, she can and will, but otherwise she likes peace and quiet. Nami, on the other hand, is scared of fighting, and her primary motivations are creating a world map and navigating for her crew.
I just dislike that people use the critique of these women not fighting more and proving themselves like the strong guys, when the characters themselves don't actually want to do that.
That is my second favorite moment in the series only behind zoro saying nothing happened after absorb the damage for luffy.
😭😭😭🫶
"Which one of you is Arlong?" is an absolutely incredible line.
It explains just so much about Luffy's personality.
Especially, with the punch that followed.
We need the Perona"ghost girl" cosplay of yours that you mentioned in RogersBase interview (as I recall)✌️
Thriller bark re-review in Perona cosplay?
usopp???
that interview was so much fun!
@@trentmurray7680 Horo horo horo!
Need a Tashigi cosplay as well.
Retrospectively, there are so many things you can link:
- Shanks using Conqueror's in chapter 1
- Rayleigh appearing in Buggy's memories in chapter 17
- Jimbei being mentioned after Baratie
- Mihawks' skills. When you look closely, he didn't cut the ship in half. He cut it in 3 pieces. The dude is a proper beast
- Usopp's lies. That's all I'll say
There is even more stuff, some of which I can't tell you and some that I simply don't remember. There's a lot
Yeah, also zoro saying to luffy that he is the devil’s son
What's cool is that
SPOILER
We see Zoro cut a ship in half like Mihawk when he comes back from the timeskip.
Also all the ussop lies that became true progressively, more recently the rare "fever before going to that island" lie
@@HawerTipeZero That never came true. Buggy's fever had nothing to do with Usopp's lie. It was a fake translation. Original japanese doesn't say anything remotely close.
@@franconicolas3995 Even the original japanese translation uses the word "byouki" when Usopp comes up with a lie to not go to an island. Byouki can simply mean a disease or fever. And yes as you already know, Buggy did get infected by a "disease" before going to THE island.
Murphy: *lays her heart out to her watchers*
Also Murphy: *has begun to try and theorize with potential info*
One Piece community: One Of Us! ONE OF US!
She was part of the community before most of the One Piece community boomed, you talking crazy.
"I will only hit on the best best best moments" she says... creates an hour long review.
Joking aside, it's been so long since I read the East Blue so I really love getting reminded of the crew's beginnings. Thank you!
I mean she didn't lie. She only talked about the best moments but it's One Piece so almost every moment is best moment
Rewatching with my daughter has reminded me of a lot and she is in love with this show never have been able to get her to watch anything sequentially but this show she wont let me watch without her
One of the parallels I really enjoy is how Nami's treatment by Arlong reflects the fishmen's slavery at the hand of the celestial dragons. What Arlong did to Nami is essentially what the celestial dragons did to his people. All Arlong does is perpetuate a cycle of hatred that was passed onto him by humans doing the same things to his people.
The tattoo of his crew on her shoulder is essentially Nami's slave brand. And similarly to the Sun pirates, once Nami was liberated, she had her tattoo rebranded into something else to signify that.
Those are the kinds of things that really make a reread feel so worth it!
And her sister got a similar out of solidarity.
@@marocat4749 Ohhh, I never even thought of that before. I mean, obviously I knew that Nojiko got her tattoos to make Nami feel better, but I mean I've never even thought of the parallel with the Sun Pirate brand.
@@diddyknux I didnt now eithertillnow butitsforshadowing
How have I read the series so many times and not recognized the rebranding parallel, that's so obvious in hindsight. That's amazing.
I'll always say it and will never stop saying it.
One Piece is a modern epic in Literature and Monkey D. Luffy is the greatest (as in most impactful, special, interesting) Character in Fiction.
You speak facts sir.
These are well known facts!
Love that you pick up on all the smaller moments that foreshadow greater moments later on. Another example of this is when Zoro turned around so the attack would hit his front instead. Later on, we learn that Whitebeard did the same during his life and died without scars on his back :D
Massive chads, both of 'em.
Something that isn't brought up much is ace lived his life never turning from. To the point it literally kills him. But he dies from an attack through his back. He died facing away from a fight to save luffy
@@Zalied and the fact that in the process, he pretty much erases the tatoo that links him with WB, because he put everything at harm's way to protect him no matter what.
He never backed down and in the entire arc you can see him breaking down due to this conflict for which he doesn't feel bad for dying, but also feels incredibly happy that his family is doing everything they can to help him.
And all of that is nothing, if Luffy is in danger. Incredible characterisation
@@DarkNorthEmperor I used to think Whitebeard was the Chaddest Chad to ever Chad..... then we met Oden.
@@KS-xk2so if you're familiar with Sengoku Basara, I'd like to point you to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the only one who's chad enough to chad it out with the chadness of Edward Newgate.
Absolutely Chadifying.
Loguetown is one of my favorite arcs, and I'll say, regarding Luffy's acceptance of his death, one thing I've loved with the series is how Post-Marineford recontextualizes Luffy. To me, Luffy has always admired Sabo for setting sail, even if he didn't make it anywhere. For him, even if he's going to die in that moment, at least he died trying. Sabo chose to try to find freedom, and even if he didn't attain it, he still respects that effort and never will look speak or think in a way that undermines Sabo's life.
The astounding thing about odas writing, is that after countless rewatches, 90% of the sad parts hit as hard if not even harder than before!
Even harder, I'd argue. I think it's about the consistency of the characters throughout the series. Everytime you reread an emotional part, it has more context and it makes more sense, or you know the ramifications further down the line
People still cry when watching/thinking about Merry 😭
The new information and backstory often colours some words and interactions so differently. That added insight makes it that much better
You are actually right! I Sometimes thought it is because i'm older and have a different, much deeper perspective than previous rewatch (since I rewatched OP about dozens of Times over a decades, since I was a Teenager). However, that may definetely have a Part into my enjoyment, the gained context must also be a huge contributor! (Especially since the time between my rewatches shortened but my enjoyment Always deepend)
For me it hits harder, wayy harder.
Kuina's ( zoros childhood friend) death is one of the most theorized topics in one piece. Many people believe she commited suicide and that "fell down the stairs" is just a metaphor since zoro was shouting at her corpse that she was "running away" since she believed deep down that she wouldnt be able to fulfill her promise with zoro because she was a girl or something like that.Other people think she faked her death. I guess many people don't accept that someone could die from falling down the stairs in one piece.
Yes many don’t believe she died from falling down the steps but that she committed a suicide? You’re the first one I’ve saw who wrote that in the close to 20+ years I’ve been reading one piece.
There are theories where’s the dad is a bad person who pushed his own daughter to death in various ways but that she committed suicide? Haven’t heard that one... 🤔
I'm 90% sure "falling from the stairs" is a slang for suicide in Japanese culture, specially towards kids
@@HawerTipeZero dunno if it is but (first time hearing it) though with my Japanese friends no one once mentioned to me that they thought she suicided.
I mean she was a child. It's not that unbelievable.
I remember in the dub (I'm not sure if it was 4kids or funimation) that it was she was beaten up/killed by the men she won against.
"I'm not a shipper, but I would like them to couple up please". I don't know, sounds like a shipper to me.
Nah. They don't delegate.
One Piece has a strong point that rarely mentioned: it's reread-ability. It's not just something you can read and not bothered after that. Even when you reread it for the third time, there's something new that you can find there, making it not a boring experience
In regards to Zoro and Nami's relationship, I always viewed them as siblings; they annoy the crap out of each other and don't get along that well but they have a very strong sense of trust for the other. In fact, I see all of the original trio (Luffy, Zoro, and Nami), as siblings, to me it always felt like they had a closer and deeper connection to each other than the rest of the crew - not to demean the bond that all the Straw Hats have for each other but man, Luffy showing any sort of concern or worry for Zoro and Nami when they're in danger really hits different than for any of the other crew members. And for his part, he really does act like an annoying kid brother to both of them.
Rereading one piece is almost like finding a whole different set of stories in the one you initially read through. The level of world building and foreshadowing is absolutely mind boggling, especially when you realize that some of these things didn't get paid off until a decade later
Absolutely. When you're reading One Piece week to week you're constantly thinking about what comes next, but revisiting old arcs lets you just experience the adventure. Sky Island is one of my favorite sagas now and that never would have been the case before.
And more are still to come!
@@sheltondaal6425 Skypiea is in my top 5 arcs and was honestly top 3 along with alabasta and arlong park when I first watched it. Never really understood the hate for it. Noland’s backstory and Luffy ringing the bell I feel were some of Oda’s greatest moments from a writing perspective. The history and lore of the Shandians was very interesting, I liked Gan Fall a lot, Eneru was an amazing villain, I thought Luffy and Wyper’s dichotomy as characters was great and it was so satisfying when Wyper finally started to believe in Luffy. The buildup of this through Noland and Calgara’s backstory was beautifully done. Also just the premise of the arc; an island in the sky, and the history and significance it has. one of the most imaginative additions to the story til this day. It really tied into the main themes of adventure and wonder that One Piece has. Also loved how they used the shandian city (I forget what it was called) to explore Robin’s character and the history of the world more, and the fact that Roger went there just had me wanting to know more
I never read it week to week though :p
14:19 I'd say Merphy is much more like a certain Rooster headed character then Boa when it comes to Luffy.
😂😂😂😂😂
She will love him like how she love buggy 😂
4 hour video for that arc.
@@doggygod and probably multiple parts
The character oda literally added to be his fans incert
The first time Zoro calls Luffy captain, the first time he calls himself a pirate, and when he calls Luffy "pirate king" at baratie are some of my favorite moments.
Literally any time zoro shows his loyalty and trust in Luffy is the best.
Hearing you talk about how the series starts off by making you think it's going to be all fun and games reminded me of something I've thought about here and there. The way One Piece tackles racism and discrimination naturally hits hard because of the story... But I think what makes it resonate with me a lot is what you said here. Like in real life, you sort of grow up not knowing about racism and things like that (life is all fun and games as a kid), and for me I know growing up I always thought the world couldn't be THAT BAD. It's not until you're in a different place or circumstance in life that you see the world for how it really is (especially in some places). And like at Sabaody, it's a shock that changes how you see the world. I think I worded that really badly. Hope it came across okay. Maybe I'm tripping or looking too deep idk lol :D
Love your videos :)
I think it's impressive how representative of that you see in the crew. They also jokes about them being fish people but I doubt they'd say any of that now to like jimbe.
They start the adventure and over time as we learn they learn how terrible the world can be. Luffy starts thinking it'll be all fun and games and where she left off he was hit with the reality of the world. As we learn and grow so has the crew with us
Nah its a good description. Its also impressive how we get to hate fish prople in arlong park to later, arlong is horrible but i still fell sorry for the past and kizaru the sadistic troll did , and he id still bad, its really impressive how topics like the world government being excplicit in coups, in alabasta is so good criticism and not forced. Slavery of couree but also abuses people in power evetywhere.
It is so amazing you can writeessays over it and there is always more.
I love sanjis the modt the past and mentality.
Lol, it's do "fun and games" for some kids that they grow up liking the horror genre because it's kinda relaxing in comparison to life. But One Piece is good for a lot of people, it instills hope and all.
@@taripar4967 I mean not be way too 'i did an english major' but according to Roland Barthes, the moment a story is written and given to the world it is no longer the author's, it is for the readers, and the interpretation of the individual reader therefore becomes the most important thing. Western audiences are going to read it with a western lense, (honestly, i'm still unsure how destructive that is, you might be right), but we can't stop that, and if it is giving those western audiences (especially white people (i'm black)) a way to understand how institutionalised racism works and how bad that is for society as a whole, then who are we to dismiss their reading
@@taripar4967 shout out to you on using my argument to make the most odd reading of one piece yet, but I think only taking the authors intention and not reading it from every viewpoint is narrowing so your reading stands. I don't like it, I don't respect it even but it stands.
Also making an equivalent between a murderous horde of pirates and BLM who have murdered zero people is questionable but hey that's your reading.
Have a lovely day.
Chapter 1 of One Piece is one of the most brilliant chapters in the series. You instantly understand who Luffy is as a person, why he does what he does, and while Luffy is often unpredictable, every action he takes makes sense for who he is. While I think as a general trend the series has gotten consistently better, that first chapter is still one of the best self contained stories in the whole series.
I'm so happy about this 1hr review also loved the stream with Roger yesterday
wait WHAT
@@UltraViolenceDoom Rogersbase did a livestream interview with her yesterday. It’s on his channel.
@@jcbanner5754 Yeah I watched it pretty much immediately after this video lol
It was 2 days ago... no?
@@oleksandrbyelyenko435 the comment was made 2 days ago
Oda’s favorite character is Gaimon. (Box guy) I think I can understand a bit of why. He made the conscious decision of staying on that island to protect his treasure over the lure of being freed from the chest and continue adventuring. He came to the island looking for treasure and found it, even if it wasn't in the shape he expected. It fits so well with the "what's a treasure theme." Tbh, when I think in those lines my love for Brook grows a lot , he really went through a lot with the hope of seeing Laboon again.
I think oda's fav character is Buggy sama, but i wouldnt be surprised if gaimon is actually his fav character.
Arlong Park is that one arc where i cry even just listening to people re-telling it and then remember the emotions i felt when i read it. it's one of the most tragic story ever told with an incredibly triumphant ending, it encapsulated everything i love about OP. "Luffy, help me!", is the moment when One Piece became a masterpiece, for me.
I just finished re-reading along park and absolutely cry EVERY TIME during the flashbacks even tho I know what happens 😭
My favorite part of all of East Blue was when Nami's sister is about to tell the back story. And Luffy stands up and walks away. "Don't you want to know why Nami is the way she is?" "No. I dont care."
Thats when I knew that One Piece was special.
Loved this moment as well. We, the readers, absolutely wanted to and needed to know why Nami was worth saving. But Luffy, someone who we now know is actually extremely emotionally intelligent, didn't need to know. This tells us, the reader, that Luffy doesn't need a reason to help someone beyond the fact that he just wants to help them. Meanwhile, because we learn her story, it makes Luffy all the more admirable for having been a step ahead in his ability to understand a person's true character.
Zoro shares this quality with Luffy, and had a similar scene as well in that arc. Before he knew her backstory, Zoro was already confident that Nami would not actually kill him, and even challenged her to do so. Even though she had betrayed them, Zoro was willing to bet with his life that she was a good person at heart. I loved that scene as well.
Merphy, you know why it feels so nostalgic. TL;DR: One Piece is Peter Pan
Maybe it’s just because I watched this review of yours right after your Marineford review but it’s Peter Pan. You stated in that review you loved the classic fairy tail novel nonsense ala Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan. Is that not just absurdism in world building like One Piece. You also talk about how throw away lines in Peter Pan that elude to darker themes are much more impactful than if the author went edgy description. Is that not the same statement you made about Boa’s backstory and what happened to her as a slave? You mentioned the whimsy of Peter... LUFFY=child like/whimsy. You mentioned how Peter can change his mind and rally people around that change of mind to the point where the sides have flipped... THE CREW FOLLOWING LUFFY AND HELPING HIS DREAM DESPITE THEIR OWN?! You’ve already made the connection to found family for both of these stories. I can keep going on but I think I’ve made the point.
Yes. Luffy is Peter Pan.
@@emperorluffy6001 minus the cutting off Hooks hand then yes
Plus Luffy's first big ennemy in the Grand Line was Crocodile, and if my memory is correct Captain Hook got his hand bitten off by a crocodile, and Crocodile in One Piece has a hook aswell sooooo... Yeah I think you're onto something.
@@kinnaye8867 That fight was actually one big Peter Pan reference. Luffy the embodiment of childlike whimsy vs The Bitter and jaded older Pirate. The Name Crocodile, The Hook and to top it off the LITERAL ticking clock going on during their fight. Theres plenty of Disney references in One Piece. Once you see it you can't unsee it.
To the Lewis Carol reference, check out ohraha s most recent video. It's an interview with the Japanese UA-cam who he based his viral video on. According to the Japanese UA-cam oda is a huge Lewis Carol fan and the two sides of the story represent the two Alice stories he wrote. Wonderland grand line, New world through the looking glass. There's even art stuff.
43:20 I think Nami's moments are mostly just underrated in the series to be honest. For the first half of OP (up to Marineford) Nami is my favorite member of the crew. All of Arlong Park, Water 7 when she's running from rooftop to rooftop to save Luffy, the moment where she is willing to give everything the crew has to save Camie, every time that she's the perfect negotiator, every one of her fight scenes, she has so many great moments! IMO, she's best strategist in the team and she's always using her wits and knowledge of science to win fights and save the crew. I am always a proponent of more Nami moments, especially in the second half of One Piece, and I hate that so many times in the series she gets relegated to "girl to ogle at" but I really love Nami and she deserves more shine.
I resent the idea that Nami stopped having good moments post-timeskip. In fact I'd argue she has more than pre timeskip, but they're just ignored because there are so many more characters, and now she's wearing a bikini top. Just to name a few you have Nami forgiving Jinbei in Fishman Island, Nami deciding to save the children in Punk Hazard, Nami helping Luffy defeat Cracker, Nami breaking the mirrors on Luffy's orders, and more recently Nami's declaration to Ulti.
@@RoderickThe13 I feel that, I think the issue is like you said, she’s just so often reduced to be scared or a fanservice girl. I also think that her moments can just be super spread out. Like she has some great highlights, but you gotta wait forever between them. That’s true for a lot of characters, Brook and Chopper immediately come to mind.
But *Spoilers for whole cake Island*
I loved when Nami got the vivre card in whole cake, that shit was hilarious. I also loved that chopper got to face off with Big Mom, we hadn’t gotten to see him flex like that and actually be strong in a fight since like, Fishman island (I could be wrong about that).
Spoilers
.
.
.
One of my favorite Nami moments is her MVP role in taking down Cracker in Whole Cake Island. Luffy would actually be dead without Nami by his side. Later on, I loved her new dynamic with Zeus and the development it gets in Wano is gold.
33:58 One piece review can Never be too long. Feel free to talk as much as you like. It doesn't just have to be about Major moments unless you want it that way. Have fun!
I know you want it that way for this video. But yeah hahaha. Looking forward to the in depth video of each arc later in the future xD
Insert reference to Tekking and his video on trees in One Piece.
Tekking approves!
Luffy wins over everyone in east blue by taking their burdens and making them his own. Such a wholesome MC
Another thing I loved about Zoro throwing himself into the water handcuffed in front of nami is how layered the situation is. Nami is saying these things to Zoro because she's grown attached to them and doesn't want them to get involved. Zoro basically forces her hand when he jumps in the water. She's so pissed off cause she's worked so hard to get to this point and it could jeopardize her relationship with Arlong. Such a good scene.
its incredible how things can come full circle. a few years ago while watching one piece theory videos, a certain youtube (joyboytheories) suggested Brandon sandersons books. Which eventually lead me to your channel and daniel greene's channel. and now watching my two favorite booktubers enjoy one piece brings joy to my heart.
I always thought that kuro’s plan was to have the pirates ransack the village and make sure to kill kaya. He would’ve had his hypnotist force kaya to leave everything to him in her will so it would look like she died in a pirate raid and left everything to the butler.
Yeah that's what I understood as well. I think it might have flown over Merphy's head.
I came down to the comments to see if someone else said it so I didn't have to. Yes, that was the plan, and furthermore it was supposed to happen at dawn, so Merry's death in the dead of night wouldn't have been suspicious because by the time anyone was awake to find it *everything* would be in ruins, so what did it matter? Yes it was sloppy, yes it was a potential hole in the plan of his own making, but as he said himself, he was restless. Kuro had a sort of lunacy in the traditional sense, the crescent moon literally made him more inclined to violence and restlessness, and combine that with the eve of his three year plan, he let down his guard and his true malice came out.
Further, if he had been able to kill Luffy and crew at the shore, the pirates could still go and ransack the town, and still raid the manor, and still covered up the murder scene, and Kuro himself could still have been "away" and come back and been "distraught" over what had happened in his absence. It still could have worked.
Also everyone says it’s out of character for Kuro to become a butler which is true considering his personality, but it still makes sense to for him to hide out as a butler in a small random village when he’s trying to avoid the navy. He faked his death and needed somewhere to lay low for a few years anyway.
Kuro has 0 iq. Just kill everyone on the village and take the treasure by force lmao. Isn't plunder what pirates are known for??
@@HyakuJuu01300 he didn’t want to be a pirate anymore. He was tired of fighting the marines and tired of dealing with other pirates. Killing everybody would just clue the marines in on the fact that he faked his death and he’d be right back to where he was
Something I really love and people will missed often on multiple rereads is that the revolutionaries are mentioned in lougetown, nami mentions a coup in the newspaper and Oda confirmed that it was dragon’s doing and that’s why he’s in the area of lougetown. Love the little little details that are so easily missed yet can expand on the world so much if you’re clever enough/ astute enough to catch them. Really makes you think about what other things people have collectively glanced over that was staring us in the face the whole time.
I love the scene where Luffy turns back on Morgan in order to save Coby from Helmeppo. He leaves himself completely open to Morgan's attack, and he never retracted or tried to defend himself. Then Zoro immediatly knocks Morgan out, literally protecting Luffy's back. That was a beautifully executed trust moment.
If you remember Marineford, there were a lot of instances in which Whitebeard didn't move away from an attack and there were a lot of opponents trying to backstab him or suckerpunch him: all of those attacks were stopped by his crewmates and he didn't tried to avoid them because Whitebeard knew his family was there to protect him. The legend states that Whitebeard died without a single scar in his back, and in the heat of the legend this would imply he never turned back because he was just so brave and relentless. While that was also true, we know that the main reason he never got a coward wound was because his crewmates always had his back. That and the Zoro parallels convey pretty strongly that "Luffy can't become the pirate king alone" theme in a masterful way.
If you look closely the marine that "captured" Kuro was Captain Morgan. It also seems like that even is where he lost his arm and probably what caused him to get that promotion. Very early example of Oda's subtle world building.
when you wonder about how peoples names in this series are pronounced - yes, if "kaya" was an american name, "kehya" would make sense, but the japanese pronounciation is indeed "kahya" :) as a german speaker, its a bit easier to imagine the original japanese pronounciation bc we pronounce the vowels in a pretty similar way to the japanese! :D
Arlong Park is SO good. It has so much emotional weight and really expanded on all the characters.
That scene with Nami stabbing herself in pure sadness and rage and then to desperately plead for help... I still get a tear in my eye when, without hesitation, they are all just READY and Luffy entrusts her with his absolute greatest treasure.
Even if you are not an anime viewer, this scene in the anime is every bit as impactful and "The Walk to Arlong Park" with the 4 is just SO epic with the music.
I love the walk to the park. It’s such an epic moment. And leads to one of the most satisfying beat downs in the series.
You know One piece is good when you have a booktuber saying that “you don’t need WORDS to truly hit your reader” and I love that.
I'm really liking these One Piece videos your making before entering the post time skip, their very refreshing to watch.
While the re-reding is going on, can we have a video of theories about the history so far? I am all about Merphi's Tin hat pirates
OMG that's what we should call Merphy and her OP fans. THE TIN HAT PIRATES
@@ResidualSol yes
A good thing about my fridays is that I can read an awesome and new OP chapter and watch a really good OP review. Please Merphy, dont bother making your reviews short, we want all the details. Loved every second of this.
I absolutely love how so many people have gotten into One Piece over quarantine. It baits you in with a fun a whacky world early on and it sprinkles in what it will eventually be.
Then the trap closes.
Its too late.
You're already a die hard.
One of the few good things of the last couple years, for sure
I only started the series thanks to my girlfriend back in 2019 and now I am fully hooked so badly I bought the entire manga (in omnibus format) and watched every anime episode in both sub and dub at this point...
I heard that omnibus has bad printing. Would you recommend it or the single volumes
Respec 🔥👏
@@hei7846 I only have the omnibus format for cost related reasons, it's $11-12 bucks on Amazon for a single omnibus as opposed to a single volume which is about 8 or 9. So to answer your question, I'd say it comes down to personal preference. I have other series like My Hero in single volumes (1, 2, and 3) though
Thats commitment
hearing you call going back to the start as "nostalgic" is fantastic. I'm 26 and i've had one piece in my life pretty steadily since i was 6 or 7, i still have the volume 1 my older friend gave me on my shelf. hearing how much this series now means to you and has become a part of your life reminds me of how special and worthwhile this series is to get into and all the great memories and friends its brought into my life and these videos are letting me live it all again and i can't thank you enough for it
One thing that I picked up on with the nami Luffy dynamic in East Blue is that Nami sees how much the strawhat means to Luffy and how angry he gets when it is damaged by Buggy that she offers to repair it for him. When Nami breaks down in despair and asks Luffy for help the strawhat is their to comfort her.
I can’t wait for Merphy to catch up with the manga, and then RE-re-read East Blue. Because man… it’s insane how Oda is able to make prior arcs feel even better after reading things far far in the future. Whether it’s bringing back things most people have forgotten, or hidden foreshadowing, or just giving more depth and context to things that happened long ago. Each time I reread, I always pick up on new things to appreciate and love.
One of my favorite things about Oda's writing is how it manages to recontextualizes what already happened often enough to make every re-read so fun to re-explore. Add in the grown attachments to characters, and you have a more emotional connection after the first read. I love it. Glad to see you're enjoying the story so much. ^^
Merphy made me cry again. The Arlong Park section was so good.
Every time I reread I just solidify my thought that One Piece is one of the best things ever written. It's just so GOOD.
We have to remember that Oda started thinking of One Piece when he was 11.
16:18 As a dog owner who just lost their 18 year old dog ( 6 months older than me ) this scene destroys my soul thinking back on it
bro ... 😔 rest in peace
@@MechaStorm7 Thank you
I love how Merphy's "I'll keep this short" ends up being split between 2 shoots and over an hour long
31:52.. I mean his plan wasn't to inherit the fortune and live with the villagers, it was to inherit the fortune and destroy the entire village. He's not trying to stage something for the villagers, he's trying to make it look like a pirate raid for the military to have something to chase, knowing that they wouldn't suspect him, because the Marines think that he is already dead.
Ya it's convoluted but that's his thing he thinks he's smarter than everyone and so great nothing could stop him. Butnonce the village is gone and he has the legitimate money he'd probably go create a new persona again.
Exactly and his men were supposed to already be raiding the town when he killed merry but they were delayed by ussop and the kids who all knew his true identity and therefore would need to be killed.
You: "Other Onepiece people talk about fights a lot, maybe I should to."
Me: *panik*
You: "Nah, I'm gonna talk about it how I want."
Me: *relieved sigh*
On that note, I am REALLY enjoying your analysis and review of Onepiece. Its very unique and I am so here for it.
Merphy be like: "I'm not ready for the new world I need to train"
I want more of this, this video wasnt long enough! I want more theories!
Also i just realized. It makes sense Nami and Zoro fought at the start. Firstly, sanji wasnt there yet. Secondly, Nami is a Navigator that can lead a crew through the grandline. Meanwhile, Zoro always manages to get lost in a straight hallway.
It's kinda like a trademark at this point that you don't know character names. It was really amusing seeing you talk about One Piece to Rogers base, struggling to remember names. It was a fun guessing game
Usopp's "Nothing Happened" moment - I've never heard it put that way before now, that's got me in the feels big time :D
I don't know why, but hearing you talk about One Piece the way you do always makes my day. I find myself looking forward to all of your One Piece Fridays every week now. It's become a highlight of mine. Thanks for making theae videos 😁
I really hope that you see the last message of a onepiece afgan fan's tweet where he reveals his love for one piece and its community.He even mentioned his love for your videos as well as other one piece youtubers. It is really sad to hear that he won't able to able to watch or enjoy one piece or any other media related.
mobile.twitter.com/LolonoaL/status/1427854202060034048
There are small spoilers in his tweet..
Usopp gets 500% better upon reread. The first time you met him you ignore all the god in him because of the flaws
I've never read One Piece before, but I want to after watching this! Having a memory of a goldfish, I'll probably not remember any plot points you have discussed here. Things I'll definitely remember, though, are the emotions. I am so excited to read it, AGH!
Do it dude! And stop spoiling yourself with watching reviews! ;)
@@furorteutonicus9045 Just finished the first chapter and still processing how EPIC it is :)
@@pink_florets Keep going. If you love the first chapter you're gonna be addicted to it real soon.
@@emperorluffy6001 Made some time to read and got to Chapter 5. Loved every second of it! Will definitely read more!!
@@pink_florets gotta know if you're still reading, if so, where you at now?
Going back is the best !! Everything starts to mean something so different and amazing it makes a person so excited !
Cant wait for the re-re-review, so many more details we're still learning about til this day.
I'm so happy you're doing this re-read. It really does hit different the second time around.
My favourite bit of "forshadowing" is in the very first chapter where Oda shows us Luffy eating the devil fruit without us knowing what it was. It's forshadowing Oda's forshadowing. Love it.
Can't wait for your next one and I can't wait for you to revisit your tin foil hat sections. See you then.
The fact that Arlong went out of his way to create Arlong(Sabaody) park and enslaved people by putting tatoos on them is just Oda flexing his psychological foreshadowing
Even more when feel dorry for him in a lster glasgback, and arlong, is horrible, but he was mistreated as well but is just continuing the cycle
Maro Cat that’s kinda the creepy part about Arlong.
Potential Spoilers ahead.
He has members of his crew that used to be slaves. But he himself never was one. He just loves the self satisfactorily justice and hate boner that he gets from hurting humans, using his peoples suffering as an excuse. He is true evil.
He borderline fetishizes the struggle others, but never suffered it himself.
If you wished to draw a comparison to the real world, imagine him as the son of people, who escaped poverty and gang violence. He never suffered himself but is relatable to those who did. And he uses that suffering as a weapon to hurt and attack others.
@@frankwest5388 I feel that is more on Hody's side, but I get what you mean
Ishu Divan you are right. I messed that up. Arlong is just a sadistic dick. But unlike Hody, he did have teammates that used to be slaves. Hody is from a different generation. One that wasn’t saved by Fisher
Please split up the re-review and the reaction I really love you being able to take your time and break down the earlier parts of this epic
tbh, enis lobby was the arc were I REALLY fell in love with OP and after the summit war I realized that OP is one of the greatest stories told. However, those two arcs elevated the WHOLE story for me and after rewatching it (after witnessing those two previous arcs) arlong parc hit not even way harder, till this day it is actually my personal favourite arc.
Ive said it before, I’ll say it again, its great that you’re taking your time with this series! Not only is it just a lot but more importantly, waiting a week for a new chapter is really exhausting! I’ve been caught up with the series for the past 5 years now so you can trust me on this! I hope you will keep enjoying the journey though!
This is the best way I could possibly think of to start my Friday morning!
I went through so many of these videos waiting for you to talk properly about Arlong Park. This brings me so much joy. I love your reviews and watching you get into this series is such a pleasure to witness.
Have you spotted Pandaman yet ? He's a hidden where's Waldo character in the book. Hidden in the panels.
A few examples of where he is hidden:
Chapter 106 - Page 17 - Panel 05
Chapter 107 - Page 13 - Panel 03
Chapter 117 - Page 03 - Panel 03
Chapter 117 - Page 05 - Panel 01
Chapter 141 - Page 01 - Panel 01
Chapter 141 - Page 03 - Panel 04
Chapter 142 - Page 11 - Panel 01
Chapter 142 - Page 12 - Panel 02
Taken from the wikia
I’ve been reading One Piece for over 15 years. At this point it’s fully part of my life story. I think as a child it inspired me to live for the adventure and the amazing people you meet along the way. Ive been living as an artist in Japan for over 5 years and got the opportunity to thank Oda-Sensei in person. I’ll never forget that day.
Thats awesome dude. I wish i could thank him in person too. Ive been into this series since i was around 12 and Oda has effected my life in more ways than 1.
Oda is so incredibly good at making the story resonate with his readers, it's why you felt like Nami's backstory was written for you even though you were like 8 years old when it was published. I've got my own theory about the guy in the box, I think it's foreshadowing and when they finally make it to Raftel the One Piece isn't going to be there cause like box guy said "It happens all the time when you get to the x on a treasure map and it's already been looted."
Re-experiencing One Piece through you has been great, keep it going!!!!!
Merphy, I look forward to your reviews every week. Don't feel like you have to match your style to other One Piece reviewers. We watch you because we also love your style and take on things. You feeling the emotion of the story makes me relive them as if I first read them and I love it. There are even some things you've caught that I didn't!
Merphy: talking about sanji’s backstory being sad.
Me: Yes… yes it is sad.
Hahahahaha 😂
Hahahahahaha!
...
Oh don't mind us, just some people having a random laugh, just keep reading the story
Zeshzeeshzeeshzeeshzesh
ZoRoRoRoRoRoRo!
we have plenty of power scalers and hardcore bro nerds analyzing fights and comparing relative strengths of characters. Your focus on character and theme is a breath of fresh air in this community. Please keep being you and bringing your perspective, it's so valuable and awesome
Discovered your videos today and I’ve watched… *calculates* quite a lot of them already. Your energy is so relatable! Getting to watch you discover each part for the first time is nostalgic, but watching you talk about it now that you’re invested is even more so, somehow. Glad you’re on the crew!
"I don't know. I love it." - Yeah, that pretty much sums up One Piece.
Don't talk about the fights unless you really want to, Merph! We love your reviews because they are yours!
I love that scar placements are story devices Oda uses to perfection!!!
Zoro - “Scars on the back are a swordsman’s shame”
Whitebeard - “And on his proud back, … he never received a single scar from running away”
I’m so excited for you to get to all these new parts
Nami's and Robin's breakdowns are two moments that get me emotional every single time - even just thinking about them.
Oda is incredible at writing and illustrating such emotionally impactful moments.
Did you notice Oda name-dropping Jinbei right before Arlong Park? It’s an amazing detail that plays such a big role later on! I just love how Oda does small things like that.
Not gonna lie, I started crying while listening to you talk about these moments and these characters. Nobody tells a story like Eiichiro Oda does.
I love seeing your joy at all these moments. And I just sit there like - omg yessss!!!! I think this is the first east blue review I ever saw where I can only agree wholehearted! The goosebumps, the tears, the smiles, they connect us as Readers and I think that's pretty awesome. Like, to think about all these millions of people who had the same reaction as you!
I also am not that much of a fan of Syrup Village. Other stuff overshadwos it.
Never thought about Gaimon protecting the One Piece - that would be so funny xD
Fun fact, almost all of Ussops lies from Syrup village have turned out to be true. You will notice them on your reread if you write down the little stories he told Kaya.
Not only there. Except sogeking because snyper island is in our hearts, they come all true.
True lol, it there are only a few that I’m still looking for to come true. I won’t mention them Incase Merphy or another new reader sees this haha..... but sniper island IS real my dude, it is in your heart ❤️
One Piece Fridaaaay! I love chilling on my friday nights with your reviews!
I think the hardest One Piece will ever make me cry is when I read the last chapter. Not because of whatever the content of the chapter will be, but because it will be the end of a part of my life. And the knowledge that it is over will crush me with happiness and bitter sadness.
I love your enthusiasm. Glad to have ya part of the fandom
My favorite part of the Zoro Vs. Mihak fight is that it clearly establishes that getting hit in the back is a cowards wound, that's something that just never left my mind for some reason, and I'm so happy that it didn't because it pays of in a MAJOR way in Whitebeard's death when it's described how many wounds he suffered in the War, he endured it all without a singular coward's wound.