Anime: Marineford Arc- Episode 485

Don't be a 1337 loser! Watch your One Piece episodes at OnePieceOfficial.com

First Thoughts 
I don't know how I got stuck with the episodes where people get killed. I thought Sora would have gotten these but I guess it wasn't in the cards. Too many times we had to switch weeks due to things going on in real life I guess.

Blackbeard is a prick. I really think that Blackbeard doesn't deserve the praise that people give him and this episode was a good example of this. There was certainly some awe inspiring moments but they didn't involve big old Blackbeard. This was clearly Whitebeard's episode as the guy gave it his last stand. Literally.



Summary
Whitebeard and Blackbeard face off in battle.

The Blackbeard Pirates attack Whitebeard.

Whitebeard makes a declaration to the world and then dies.

Thoughts 

Before we get to the episode, I want to bring your attention to the opening. It seems like there was a small change in the part that has Blackbeard and his crew. Seems like Toei decided to update Blackbeard's crew to include the new additions. I have to say that the way San Juan Wolf is there in the background is a bit creepy. Very creepy.

Another thing to notice that there was no recap or 'The time is the Great Pirate Era....' thing. This must be a very serious episode and they (Toei) must have wanted to use up as much of the time that they have.

Was it just me or did this episode have a lot of chest shots of guys? I guess you got to give something to the girls that are fans of Sengoku. The old guy is pretty fit for his age I admit.

Just wanted to point this little fact out since we saw a few good shots of Laffitte. Got to love a big buffy guy. The girls also deserve some fanservice. haha

Seems like Blackbeard really did have plan set since the first time we saw him. He only wanted to become a Warlord just so he can sneak around behind the Marine's back and get the privileges of being a Warlord. I give him props for coming up with such an elaborate plan since it seems like nobody had predicted this. The  whole time he wanted to break into Impel Down to get some guys out then head over to Marineford.

I bet Blackbeard even wanted a war between the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates to happen. If Luffy was the one captured then that means Ace would have gone and rescue Luffy. Whitebeard would have  supported Ace with all of his forces. Then Blackbeard had to make sure to be there when stuff goes down. Still how could the big guy benefit from having a war between Whitebeard and the Marines...

One thing that the anime needs to be given props for is expanding upon the fight between Blackbeard and Whitebeard. The fight between these two men was kind of short and seem pretty one sided against Blackbeard when it was being read in the manga. Here in the anime it seems like Blackbeard had a good shot at taking down Whitebeard. Blackbeard got a few punches in against Whitebeard and looked as if he did know how to use his powers a bit better compare to the time against Ace.

These scenes also proved that Blackbeard is a bit of a d-bag in how he was assaulting Whitebeard. The big guy held Whitebeard with one hand and was hitting him with the other.  Blackbeard really wanted gets in as many punches in while making sure that Whitebeard doesn't attack back. Kind of wonder why Whitebeard just didn't give him a good punch since that surely will hurt Blackbeard. Then again maybe Whitebeard though that the Dark Dark Fruit powers was similar to all the other Logia types.

In the end it seems like Blackbeard finally got around to mastering his fruit powers a bit better and took advantage of it's strengths.

And this here is your so called 'End Game Villain'...

Yeah...I really don't care much for Blackbeard and really don't see how he can be such a big villain when you compare him to the likes of Crocodile or Arlong. The guy takes a slash and then falls to the ground to yell in pain. Yes, a normal person would have done the same thing but also remember that this is the world of One Piece where people get slashed all the time. When Zoro slashes somebody, that somebody flies in the air and grunts in pain. It kind of looks lame if you are howling in pain while in the middle of a cool fight.

Then Blackbeard goes ahead and starts pleading with Whitebeard to not hurt him. Even goes as far to claim that he is a 'son' even though the old man disowned him at the beginning of the episode. I can understand how the latter can be used to show that Blackbeard can resort to 'dirty tricks' but pleading...really? This guy is suppose to be the guy that everybody thinks Luffy will defeat at the end of the series?

Yeah...I kind of challenge anybody to go into the comments and explain to me why Blackbeard is so impressive. I am even saying this knowing what will happen next seeing that I am caught up with the manga. Please convince me why I should consider Blackbeard as part of my top five villains list.

Then we see maybe one of the most underhanded thing in One Piece. A gang up on Whitebeard via the whole Blackbeard Pirates. Blackbeard and his men too advantage of a weak moment of Whitebeard and just assaulted the guy.

This moment though was nicely done. Making everything monochrome and leaving the splatting of Whitebeard's blood as the only source of color was really dramatic. The anime really stressed what is going on and you can see how each member of Blackbeard's crew (minus Wolf) took part of this moment. It was a crazy free for all as the Blackbeard Pirates went all out to carve up Whitebeard and fill him up with lead. Still the tall old man took it like a man and just stood there. Not a look of pain on his face.

Even in the middle of all of what is going on. We get a flashback to maybe the last meeting between Whitebeard and Roger. Proof that even though these two men were rivals that they still were able to come together to enjoy a good drink.

The 'Will of D' goes a long way. So long to a time even before Roger it seems. I wonder if this will be like in US comics where everybody that learns the secret identity of the hero will eventually die. Is knowing the 'Will of D' a death sentence? Interesting if true. Shame that we didn't get to hear it before the end of the small flashback.

Damn awesome.

Whitebeard really knows how to go out with a bang. He just stares off the people that had tired to kill him and tells ir straight to Teach that he isn't a person that deserves to hold the Will of D. Whatever Roger told Whitebeard that day stayed with the guy.

How powerful is the Will of D? People have been trying to guess what it is since the time that it was brought up. Is it One Piece? Is it the name of the ancient kingdom that was brought up during Ohara? Is it the key to some sort of ancient weapon? Are people with the Will of D a special type of person that can bring great destruction? What is it's connect to One Piece?

Whatever the Will of D and One Piece is it is clear that the World Government wants to keep it a secret. Sengoku looked as if he was going to have a heart attack when Whitebeard yelled out to the world that One Piece actually exist. He was proud in what he said and didn't care if Sengoku didn't want him to say it. Just another layer on the awesome cake that One Piece is.

Sword wounds: 267

Gun wounds: 152

Shot by cannons: 46

Overall awesome: 1

The difference between Ace's and Whitebeard's death is how you felt after it happen. Ace's death we were shocked that it happen. After all that we saw, the audience was left to believe that Ace was going to live but then out of left field we see Ace die. It was just shocking and surprising to see.

Whitebead's death leaves a different feeling. It is a feeling of awe. During the whole Marineford arc we saw moment after moment of Whitebeard doing something impressive. May it be forgiving his 'son' that stabbed him or taking out Marines one after another. Whitebeard was a beast throughout the whole thing. Even with two holes in his chest (In the manga it was only one while he had almost half of his face melted off by Akainu but still another huge hole in the chest has the same effect in my opinion.), Whitebeard kept going. He stare down Blackbeard and then told the world that One Piece actually does exist before dieing.

Then once the curtain falls you see Whitebeard standing tall and proud. Not a scratch on his back.

Preview

Looks like the real show beings in the next episode. Blackbeard and his guys look like they have have something planned up their sleeve. A private party for only them and surely this can't be good. Guess that there is more to Blackbeard's plan then just breaking into Impel Down and attending the war at Marineford.

Akianu on the other hand seems like he isn't down and out. The guy looks red hot mad and I am guessing he still wants to get his lava-y hands on Luffy's torso. The worse part is that Luffy doesn't seem to be in the best condition to do anything about it.

Next Episode: The Start of the Show- Blackbeard's Plot Revealed!

Come back next week true believer as we see what this plot is!