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First Thoughts
I was looking forward to seeing Oars Jr. in this episode, and luckily most of the episode featured him as the ‘main battler’. It was really interesting, seeing the Marines attempt to take down a giant of a giant, so to speak. Especially after seeing his past, I really like Oars Jr. Also, everybody’s reactions to him were great. Kinda scary in some places, but great. Luffy’s ship didn’t make an appearance, surprisingly enough. Perhaps he shall Finally show up soon...
Also, some more on Coby and Helmeppo (Yay! I remembered his name, I’m so proud.) Coby is still having a hard time with how weak he is, poor kid. Well, for once Helmeppo may be right: “Those who chose to run today, can go and fight another day.” Haha.
All-in-all, I’d say that I was quite satisfied with the episode, and I can definitely see how the animators are keeping the plot moving quickly and satisfactory. The ending though…oh man, there was a lot of emotion there. The seriousness of this episode really got to me.
Summary
Oars Jr. is set on saving Ace from the executioners platform, no matter what. Plowing through waves of Marines, even the giants cannot stop his determined stride. Whitebeard warns him to be careful, but the giant of giants takes no mind as he opens room for the rest of the pirates to enter the bay and is closer to Ace than anyone else could manage.
Before the giant can reach the plaza however, he is hit by an attack by Kuma. This is the first time in the duration of the war that Kuma has made any sort of reaction to anything, and the destructive force equals the same as it was last seen at Thriller Bark.
As Oars Jr. struggles to stand up again, a short flashback is shown of Oars and Ace’s friendship. Revealing his past with “Flame-Fist”, Oars Jr. was good friends with Ace, and the fiery young man made the giant his own giant-sized hat, beginning their good friendship.
The giant attempts one more time, practically unconscious already, to reach his friend on the platform. He decides to take out one of the Shichibukai, and unfortunately picks Doflamingo. The Warlord leaps over the giant and uses his mysterious powers to slice off the giant’s right leg. He is then attacked by Moria’s shadow-clone through his chest as he continues to reach for Ace, now only a few short feet from his fingertips.
Thoughts
First up, let me say that Oars Jr. is a lot like his ancestor, “Continent-Mover Oars” in…well, basically every way. Big, strong, rather brute-strength kind of guy…yeah, he and Luffy would get along well. Must be why he is friends with Ace.
Hancock keeps commenting on all of the men here, which is pretty amusing. I bet she could have a great sports announcer voice, if all she commented on were how awful all the men were doing in the war. Besides Luffy, that is. Haha!
Oh man, Moria looks like he’s gonna convulse if he can’t get Oars Jr. for a corpse. He is a sick, twisted freakishly-tall man. Seriously dude…
Ah, and here is a nice flashback to the original Oars when Moria was using him as a Zombie. Oh…oooh…or, not so nice, since the specifics of the flashback consist of the part where Oars is totally killing the StrawHat crew and blasting them around.
Ok, so I like this slowish-running/march thing that the giants have going. Can anyone else see how weird it is that they just do this weird run-thing in a straight line like that? I mean, it probably makes sense because they are bigger than humans and are going slower or something, but still.
Dude, I love his hat. And Sengoku is a mean freak for just calling Oars Jr. a ‘creature’ and such. Plus, the general guy is still not even doing anything! Man, he burns me up.
You have to admit, tossing a Marine battleship like a kid’s toy and thinking nothing of it is rather impressive. Oars Jr. is so cool.
I have to say, these battle scenes are really impressive. Having to draw out thousands of fighters is really challenging, but the animators are doing a good job of managing in how huge and terrifying this fight is. Although…all of this violence and death…it just makes me wonder. Is this really what the Marines want? All of this bloodshed and horror, is it worth the cost to be rid of the strongest pirate crew? Are these sacrifices really what the Marines are about?
This style of animation…turning everything red and showing cut scenes from the battle…it amplifies the terror and fear by magnitudes. Finally we can see what their war is like. It is animalistic, barbaric and cruel. How can anyone fight like this? And, still the whole world watches. The world is Watching as these events play out. It is…horrible.
If any fans were on the Marine’s side before, they are certainly not anymore. It was the Marines who instigated this after all, not Whitebeard. Also, this gives a look at how complex this matter is. It is not just a simple battle, but a full-scale war. Everyone knows this know. If any battles in One Piece were serious and deadly before, they are roughly blown away by this all-in throw-down battle to-the-death. It reminds me of a Roman coliseum battle, one of the ones where they pit 100 fighters against 100 other fighters. It is horrible…
Coby…he really isn’t strong enough, poor kid. Helmeppo is taking it better than him because he is a natural coward, but how does one who wishes for strength run away? It is exactly like if a normal person from our universe was suddenly in this battle. They can’t do anything like the big Vice-Admirals or Admirals. They are not powerful enough to fight here, yet he wants so badly to be like Luffy. Of course, Luffy is Luffy, and not everyone is really made to be the hero. Poor Coby…
“I’ve never had to ‘look up’ to anyone before!” What a great line. Even though this episode is entirely serious, I must say that this is a great line. This whole scene with the giants attempting to fight Oars was really sad to me. When Oars had to hurt those guys, I actually began to doubt that I was entirely on Whitebeard’s side with this one. That guy who he hurt, the one who the lady-giant was going to avenge, he looks like a nice guy.
How could Sengoku send out these people to fight like this, knowing that a good many of them will not return alive? I don’t believe that hundreds of innocent Marines are worth the lives of two men, Whitebeard and Ace. It isn’t brought up enough, but not all the Marines are bad. Most just don’t know the truth about the Marines. Heck, I doubt any of them but those 5 old geezers who are higher up than Sengoku even know the true story.
Even though a lot of Marines let their power get to their heads, or are just plain rude, a lot of good men and women joined the Marines to protect their families and those they care about from bad people. Like, Bellemare, Coby, Tashigi, and that little girl’s father from the Little East Blue filler arc. A lot of those Marines, people who just are doing their job or think that they are doing the right thing, they are the ones dying today.
Yeah, the story is really serious and actually deadly in this episode. No glorious defeats of freaks, no great boasting, there is only the screams of those dead or dying, the fighters who are smashing their way through the ranks of Marines to get to their comrade. I wonder…who’s conviction is stronger? The pirates to save their nakama…or the Marines to protect their base, and ultimately, their way of life? Didn’t someone say that once, that whoever’s conviction was strongest shall be the victor?
I realize that my entries are getting more and more philosophical here. Haha, I apologize! I cannot help myself, when this war brings so many ideals into question. I believe that perhaps this is what Oda-sensei is trying to teach us, or maybe I am just taking it too seriously!
Well, I must say that I feel really bad for the lady-giant. Giantess…right? Yeah. I seriously flinched, badly, when that guy who rushed out and got sliced by Oars Jr. It really…it really got to me. I mean, he looks like a good guy. I don’t know…this war is turning everything on its head.
Hm…I hope Oars Jr. is going to be alright. Whitebeard warned him…so that worries me. The head guy always warns the really strong guy to be careful right as something is going to happen to him…
Oh buddy…he was seriously foolish enough to attempt to attack Boa Hancock? Oh dude…this scene is wicked. I really cannot say much more than that. This whole scene with Hancock, I love it.
Hancock is great. Haha, she is really mean to guys, but it is fun because a lot of them deserve it in the One Piece world. Good for her, doing whatever she likes. Of course, I think that all of the Shichibukai are doing that…
I love how she thinks that everyone should and will forgive her just because she is beautiful. Haha! She is correct, of course, other than in Luffy’s case.
And here is Kuma making his first move. He only speaks his attack, and it is the first thing he has spoken or heck, even reacted to since the war began. That is really weird…I wonder what happened to him since he went back for another ‘upgrade’? I am worried…I have always thought that Kuma sent the Strawhats away for a good reason. Separating them…I don’t know why, but I had always pondered if he just saved them from being captured or killed by Kizaru. I mean, there was no other reason for him to send them away like that, after all. But…now, Kuma is acting strange. Really, really strange…
And oh no…Oars! This was a bad thing, a very, very bad thing. This is the exact same level of power and destructive force that was witnessed on Thriller Bark. Oh Oars…
And now, his awesome hat, made even more awesome by this terribly sweet flashback. Oh man, this makes what is happening to Oars Jr. right now almost unbearable to watch. You can totally understand how Ace feels right now, having to watch his friend literally being slowly killed before his eyes but refusing to stop. It is bittersweet, the terribly innocent memories coupled with the tragic present.
Moria is trying to ruin this beautiful moment with his big ugly face and horrible comments, but the greatness of Oars Jr. and the kindness of Ace still are too strong for Moria, haha!
AAHHHHHH! On my initial run-through of the episode, I actually MISSED the part with Doflamingo, AAAHHHHHHH!!! Sometimes (like NOW) I really hate the video player. It seriously skipped like 2 minutes…beep. This part…is so amazing…oh wow…
Wow, Doflamingo has a great developed evil laugh. I must say, I am very impressed. Hmm…it is kinda attractive…really not bad at all...hehe...
Oh gods…I sucked in my breath when this part occurred, I didn’t even know that this had happened…oh gods…Doflamingo is really sick…this does, however, prove the fact that Doflamingo does not play mind games with his powers. They must be literal puppeteer strings, since they cut…
I must admit, this is probably the best pained expression Ace has had this whole time, even though seeing your friend being cut up only a few meters in front of you would probably do that to a guy…
Oars Jr. is still pushing himself…that far…
…silence.
Yes, lots of screen-caps, I apologize. This was such a Moment though! This entire last half of the episode got so intense so quickly…amazing.
Plus…how far would you go to make sure that your friend was happy once more?
I have to admit, this arc has had some of the best music that One Piece has shown in a while. Especially this episode, the music is beautiful. It changed so much, from sad, to reflective, from danger to violence, to hate and to determination. Wonderful stuff. Now that the epicness has begun to heat up, only one question remains:
...Where is Luffy?
Preview
On the next episode of One Piece, it looks like Sengoku has some sort of plan, and Oars has opened up a path for the pirates to enter the plaza and get closer to Ace. As more of the people press onward, what is Garp doing sitting next to Ace?
What is Sengoku’s plan as pirates fill into the plaza, and what in the world is Doflamingo doing with that evil smile!? One thing is for sure: next week's episode shall be even more epic than this, and each one shall be better than the last up until the very end, and I fear and notice, even past the end!
Next Episode: The Winner will be Justice! Sengoku’s Strategy!
Make sure to tune in next time to an exciting new episode of the most popular anime in Japan, direct from some young Japanese people I know! And (hopefully) to come back here afterwards to hear all about our comments, and express yours!
I loved Moria's face at the beginning of this episode. haha So glad you included one. haha
ReplyDeleteStill that is some good stuff you said.