(Untitled)

[capt_liarpants]

More canon-reviewing. As before, there is no mind-shocking analysis here. It's mostly me pointing out things that I find interesting or had forgotten about.

Comments

[kick_up_a_notch]

M-mangy octopus. Man, I have to start getting more creative with my insults again.

[capt_liarpants]

I don't even know how an octopus can be mangy.

[tsundeer]

THIS IS ONE PIECE. Somewhere out there is an balding octopus, I promise. I bet it's even a 'fro.

[capt_liarpants]

OCTOFRO!!

[printfogey]

I still think abandoning Zoro like that is the worst thing Usopp's done in the series. There's no way to justify it at all, it's just really low. But he never does anything like it again, I think (even when he tries to bail against Mr 4 and Miss Merrychristmas, he announces it loudly and Chopper wasn't restrained or otherwise unable to go escaping right with him). And as you note, right after being so cowardly towards Zoro, he bravely steps up to defend Nojiko and the kid.

Sabo?! Holy shit, I don't recall that... *looks up swedish translation* He's "Chapo" in this one, I think I prefer that.

I think Nami taking Going Merry with her and leaving while they were having trouble with both Mihawk and Krieg made Usopp extra peeved with her, but he'd probably be angry in any case as he'd counted her as a friend.

[capt_liarpants]

No kidding. It is weird that he just abandons Zoro and then sticks up for Nojiko and the little kid. I'm thinking it was done more for comic effect by Oda? Still, so weird.

Yeeeeah, it probably depends on the translation. I just thought it was interesting.

If you think about it, Usopp's used to friends being super steadfast, like the Veggie Pirates. (Or as super steadfast as we know.) So this turnabout would be a hit in the gut, especially since she was sneaky about it. Shades of Kuro?

[sutureourfuture]

I still don't get the octopus jokes. I've noticed it tends to get used a lot, even in fanart, and I'm like... "tako (octopus)? wha... what does that even mean?" Then again there's this weird thing going on in the fandom with Zoro and octopuses so....wow that sounds horrible. But yeah. idgi

>volunteer Zoro to fight Usopp's battles

:|a

[capt_liarpants]

Ahahahaha, I don't know either. Maybe it's because Zoro has that move where it's like he has six arms? No idea.

Don't worry, Zoro, it'll just be against the small fry. We don't want to waste my Great Fighting Abilities against them.

[sutureourfuture]

whoa, I never thought about that. Except I think Sanji tends to use the octopus insult the most and I can't recall if he's even seen Asura. /pulls hair hgkdfsj

...no, of course not. how dare I even consider stealing your spotlight.

IGNORE THE RL JOURNAL

[alice_and_lain]

Eh, when logic fails, just ignore fandom! IT LEADS TO LESS HAIR-PULLING.

When you reach my level, Zoro, we'll consider sharing the spotlight, okay?

[tsundeer]

A few weird un-nakama things happen early on in the series that make me vaguely uncomfortable in my bromance place. Usopp abandoning Zoro is definitely one, and the Luffy and Zoro fight on Whiskey Peak always seemed super random and forced to me. WHO KNOWS. I tend to chalk the former up to Oda needing a plot device to get Usopp into Cocoyashi alone so Nami can savestab him, and the latter to... idk, I can't really explain that one as anything but a poorly-characterized gimmick to generate reader excitement? :|a

SABO WHAT. I TOTALLY MISSED THAT. (This is why I love it when people do recaps and reviews and meta, I'm dumb and I just don't catch a lot of this stuff.) Now I wondering whether Oda remembers what he named that kid, or...?!

[capt_liarpants]

POSSIBLY? Now that you mention it, the Whiskey Peak fight is weird. Also really forgettable because I always forget it. I guess that's a sign that there wasn't adequate build-up or justification.

WARNING: IT COULD BE JUST THE TRANSLATION THAT I READ? Names change depending on the translator sometimes.

[printfogey]

I read an interesting perspective on the Whiskey Peak fight. Let's see... it was here (scroll down a bit) if you're curious. -Better treat that as a read-only link, though, because the writer isn't much on-line anymore these days to answer comments.:((((

[printfogey]

*jumping in* There's also Nami saying "Nice knowing you guys" and starting to walk away at Whiskey Peak, after Vivi lets slip that Crocodile is Mr 0. But that didn't really feel serious in tone to me, though - she'd probably have sighed and soon turned back again even if one of the Unluckies (those Internal Inquisition Baroque Works birds) hadn't drawn her likeness so she knew it was useless.