Just watched episode 300, which I think corresponds to the penultimate chapter of this volume. I confess it's only now I realise that Spandam's black cape must be a deliberate contrast to Sogeking's red one. That and the question of who the legendary hero is, in the following chapter, is not the only thing contrasting them. Spandam takes a vicious pleasure in hurting and undermining Robin with words as well as physically, while Usopp on the other hand used words to reach out to Robin on the sea train even when he was no longer able to fight
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I do recall one undignified act from Zoro during a fight - that whole "My goggles do something!" scene from his fight with Braham on Sky Island. He seemed to be channeling Usopp for a while there (and having roughly the same amount of success).
But yeah, even that was meant more for comic relief than actual plot development.
Without the frightened, angry, fighting, "shameful" Robin - to quote Spandam's word - the others would have been too late to save her.Yes, agreed. And I find it all the more moving, in that I get the impression that Robin genuinely never feared death before. She had nothing to lose by it, until now. (She seems positively grateful for the prospect in Alabasta
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You're probably right about your ETA, although Luffy has still shown some comic petulance, like I think towards Buggy? "Sorry. Now let me go" or something? Okay, not heartfelt, but less than complete stoic acceptance... But generally I think Luffy manages to not fear death because he embraces living life completely, with all of his heart, and so he has nothing to regret.[post-Marineford]Certainly as a kid Luffy cried when he was beaten and threatened with death - but never enough to betray someone he wanted to be friends with. He always hated being alone more than dying, even back then. Maybe it's because he was so open with his emotions then that he could be so sure of himself, and be able to master his fear of death before he reaches 17 and the story proper starts?
I don't quite see that with Zoro, though maybe that's just because he doesn't show things as much - it could all be on the inside. I agree that it would be nice to see them encountering their fears more often. (I'd relate more to Zoro that way, at least.)
But generally I think Luffy manages to not fear death because he embraces living life completely, with all of his heart, and so he has nothing to regret.
Yes. The moment that sticks in my mind is when he was almost executed at Loguetown. Certainly, as long as there's any chance of survival, he will often react with "oh crap I'm gonna die!" comic-panic, but at that moment when it looked like he'd gambled and lost, his acceptance of fate is so complete. "Sorry guys, I died!" No regrets.
Also agreed that young Luffy and Zoro would both have needed time to develop their personal philosophies. Young Zoro, to the extent that we see him interacting with Kuina, shows frustration, anger and disappointment far more readily than his adult self.
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But yeah, even that was meant more for comic relief than actual plot development.
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I don't quite see that with Zoro, though maybe that's just because he doesn't show things as much - it could all be on the inside. I agree that it would be nice to see them encountering their fears more often. (I'd relate more to Zoro that way, at least.)
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Yes. The moment that sticks in my mind is when he was almost executed at Loguetown. Certainly, as long as there's any chance of survival, he will often react with "oh crap I'm gonna die!" comic-panic, but at that moment when it looked like he'd gambled and lost, his acceptance of fate is so complete. "Sorry guys, I died!" No regrets.
Also agreed that young Luffy and Zoro would both have needed time to develop their personal philosophies. Young Zoro, to the extent that we see him interacting with Kuina, shows frustration, anger and disappointment far more readily than his adult self.
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