One Piece Theory 103 (With Roger): The Life and Death Conundrum

Welcome back folks. I'm Roger and this is another installment of One Piece Theory. Here I will delve deep into the intricacies of Oda Sensei's Magnum Opus in an attempt to uncover secrets that could shine light on important events to come. Not all these exhibitions are expected to be successful, in fact most of them probably won't be. That is the unpredictable nature of One Piece at work. Despite this, it can't hurt to at least try to understand the future by learning from our past.

So with that in mind, lets put up the SPOILER ALERT, and get this theory started with the question of the day:

"To be, or not to be: that is the question:"

Just about everyone on the planet has heard the most famous passage from the most famous play written by the most famous playwright in the history of Western culture at least once in their life. For  those of you who don't know what it actually means, Prince Hamlet from Shakespeare's Hamlet is contemplating the moral ramifications of life and death, which is what we will be discussing today. When is it right for characters to live and to die?

Almost two years ago, I wrote one of my lists titled Top 5 Miraculous Survivors, detailing the incidents in which particular characters should have died, but for various convoluted reasons, didn't. It sparked a little debate in which fans defended these incidents saying that Oda saves death for moments in which it will really matter and teach a lesson to our heroes. While I understand that is the reason why Ace's death was so impactful to the audience (and our heroes), being the first official death of a major character after almost 500 episodes of story, it troubles me that holding the death card that long was a bit manipulative on Oda's part, not to mention undermines some of his earlier story arcs in which death would have been very effective. I keep coming back to the Alabasta Arc, specifically concerning the events of Pell. Remember when Luffy and Vivi had that argument in the desert about whether their focus should be on saving lives or stopping the conflict at it's source? Vivi was so desperate to stop any and all casualties, while Luffy is trying to explain to her that is impossible, that death is inescapable. Looking back at this, we know Luffy is speaking out of experience, cause he has already lost his brother Sabo (at least for the time being), but Vivi just won't have it to the point where she strikes him in disapproval.

Vivi ends up winning this fight (sure, several unnamed rebels and soldiers probably died in the fighting, but no one she genuinely knew or cared about was lost) but does it really seem fair that she did? The story played out as if Pell was set up to be the Martyr to teach Vivi this lesson about the imminence of death, but the story cops out at the end by letting Pell survive, even after they gave him a funeral and everything. Why does the Princess get to have everyone she knows and loves survive this dangerous ordeal. Meanwhile the man who tried to teach her a lesson about loss, is ironically the one who actually has to suffer watching his brother die in his arms 400 episodes later? And before any of you say that Vivi did believe Pell to have perished in the blast so she technically did have to briefly deal with his loss, the same way Luffy thought Sabo was dead but wasn't, so their situations at the time aren't really that different,

No! There is a big difference between Vivi mourning Pell for less than a week before he comes back, vs. Luffy literally living with the belief that Sabo was gone forever for 12 years, especially when by the time he does find out Sabo is still alive, he's suffered the loss of his other brother Ace, but for real this time.

But that's all in the past. Now, let us fast forward to one of the more recent arcs. In Punk Hazard, two of the main antagonists actually kicked the bucket at the end of the arc: Vergo and Monet. Dead. The first time in a series that has been going on for 17 years in which the villains weren't simply defeated, dethroned, incarcerated, or blasted off again. No, they are very clearly Wiki confirmed deceased. An interesting change of pace surely, but what exactly brought about that change? For that, perhaps we should look no further than the mantra of Eustass Captain Kid, that quite bluntly but still eloquently sums up just what's at stake here in the New World.

The New World is truly a brand new era in the story that is One Piece, and Oda has highlighted this fact by demonstrating that there will be permanent consequences for characters actions. Everyone is putting their lives on the line from here on out. Vergo and Monet set the first examples, and if you consider the film One Piece Z as part of the canon, you can count Zed among the New World casualties as well. So what does that mean for the fates of the characters at Dressrosa. The prevailing theory: when this arc finally blows over and the dust settles, Donquixote Doflamingo will forfeit his life.

As I am writing this, the Dressrosa arc is closing in on its climax. The battles are wrapping up. Doflamingo's crew is falling one after another. It's only a matter of time before the young master finds himself out of options and is given his just desserts for all the pain and suffering he has brought this Kingdom over the last ten years. Of course there are still several ways the final showdown can play out. Can Law find a way to recover from all his wounds (perhaps Princess Mansherry could heal him) so he can get his second wind and take him out? Could Luffy finish up his ordeal with Bellamy and rejoin the fray to kick his ass? Will Fujitora get fed up with Doflamingo's game and take him into custody? Does Riku resume his rightful place as King and pass down Doflamingo's sentence? Would Doflamingo be so selfish as to take his own life before anyone gets the satisfaction? Regardless of what the answer turns out to be, I still retain my theory that the end result will be the same: Doflamingo is going to die.

Even if the arc does appear to end with Doflamingo fleeing Dressrosa and somehow he manages to escape, my guess is he won't get too far before Kaido tracks him down and kills him for his failure to protect the SMILE factory. In fact, a part of me hopes that is what actually happens. Have Doflamingo think for a brief moment that he actually got away with all that crap, only to be cornered by his angry business associate who slaughters him right then and there. Not only is it an epic way for Doflamingo to go out, it serves as an excellent introduction for our new Antagonist. Like," You thought that pansy flamingo punk was bad? HA! He was a mere appetizer compared to one of the Four Pirate Emperors!" 

While Vergo and Monet's deaths were a decent start, they were still just henchmen at the end of the day. Doflamingo's death, if and when it does happen, will be a strong official turning point for the series, making it very clear that the New World doesn't take prisoners. Now it's one thing for villains to start dying, will any more heroes be doomed to fall in the foreseeable future? That's difficult to say. I would have predicted Law might die, but he's too popular for now, so I doubt Oda would take that risk. Eustass Kid's probably most certainly going to die when his own story arc comes along. As for the Straw Hat's themselves, definitely not with too much of the story left to tell. When the finale of the series comes close way down the line, I would not be surprised if one or a few of them end up falling, but which one's specifically?

Luffy seems like the obvious choice, given that he's working to follow in Roger's footsteps. The problem is that's too predictable, and for Luffy to truly accomplish his end goal, he needs to achieve a legacy beyond Roger's. My theory is either Zoro or Robin will be the ones to make the ultimate sacrifice. Zoro's already proven he will put it all on the line to save everyone. Robin is the unsung matriarch of the crew, and given her history of  each of her previous organizations being annihilated while she survived, she may feel her chance to sacrifice herself is long overdue. Usopp and Sanji are maybes. Nami's navigation skills are essential to the plot, so I think she has immunity. If it's Franky, it will be him going down trying to protect the Sunny. Brook's death would feel too easy. Considering he's technically already dead, most of us wouldn't help but find it kinda funny. But if Chopper died...well...that's only if Oda is feeling really REALLY mean spirited and wants to make the whole world cry.

Keep in mind readers, while these theories are based on my own premonitions and perspective of the series, that does not necessarily mean I want each of these things to happen. Of course I don't want Zoro or Robin to die. I'm just saying from a story standpoint, I can see it happening.

Now, all that's left is to wait and see the story play out, and discover just how much Oda can prove me wrong. Feel free to share your own theories in the comments below. Class dismissed, and for any of you attending Sakuracon in the coming weeks, maybe I will see you there. (I'll be dressed as the guy in the first screenshot of this article.)