To me there are two main strands of this volume: the struggle of the Strawhats in the tower which in general turns from distress to victory in this volume (not for everyone against individual opponents, like how Usopp couldn't handle Jyabura and Monster Chopper needed saving himself in the end, but as a collective effort); and Spandam bit by bit forcing Robin over the bridge in his abusive shithead way, an agonising journey that's finally halted in the last chapter. The continuous battle between Luffy and Lucci is of course part of it too, but since it isn't resolved here it doesn't yet feel as significant as the other scenes. (But practically it is of course essential that Luffy engages Lucci, keeping him from the rest of the crew so that victory on that part can be possible - as shown very clearly here when he allows Franky to slip past on his way to Robin
( ... )
Although one plot hole I never could figure out is how Usopp got ahold of the keys he shot to the bridge where Franky could pick them up and free Robin.
Oh, wow, you're right! How did I miss that?
Now that is going to bug me. Maybe Sanji and Zoro went up to the roof first - but in that case, why were they down below later?
And I actually wondered (even before you said anything) whether Sanji was expecting Usopp to go up to the roof at all. I mean, when he told Usopp to figure something out, had he already guessed what Usopp could do to help, or was he just expressing confidence in Usopp's ability to think of something? Because later, when he and Zoro meet up, he says something about "the others are probably on their way to Robin now." If he didn't expect Usopp to go up to the roof, I was thinking that maybe he only realized where he was when he started shooting/singing.
Ah well, perhaps best not to look too closely at the plot holes.
The continuous battle between Luffy and Lucci is of course part of it too, but since it isn't
( ... )
That kind of reminds me of an entry that someone wrote on TV Tropes (not sure if it's still up anymore) about One Piece actually being a subtle deconstruction of Shonen tropes. The big toughest-hero-versus-toughest-villain fight here doesn't actually accomplish anything in and of itself; all it does is neutralize both parties while the secondary characters are the ones actually saving the day
( ... )
Also, I think that Zoro vs. Kaku was always my least favorite of the Enies Lobby fights.
Heh, and it's probably my favorite fight, for the same reason - I like the silly. But I can see why it wouldn't appeal to someone who likes the serious fights.
I didn't realize this was the first time he had used Asura, but you're right. The wiki says it has been used on two other occasions.
FWIW, I think he needed Asura to beat Kaku. The giraffe jokes undermine the degree of threat Kaku presents, but he is a strong enough fighter to hold Zoro at bay for a good amount of time.
Aw, frobitz. I decided to skip volume 42 and figured I was winning because it would reduce the amount of time I spent with pornstar Kalifa, but it also means I miss Kaku's initial transformation scene. For the record, giraffes cannot fold themselves into cubes.
Nami: "Is she a COMPLETE idiot?"
*sniffle* She was such a competent secretary to Iceberg.
[Cover Arc (last): Crocodile, Mr. 1, Bon Kurei and Mr. 3 are all shipped off to Impel Down.]
Future spoiler awe at Oda's planning.
he gets her back under control easily with his elephant sword
Funkfreed, no!
not to mention the fact that Chopper's nakama would still stand up for him when he turned into THAT
Everyone's response ('cept you, Franky) was so awesome. Even monster Chopper deserves cuddles.
Nami: "Well then, we've got death behind and the unknown ahead of us. Which do we choose?"
Reminds me of Delenn.
[Love Zoro's satisfied "Hmph!" when he sees Sanji.]
Totally.
Sanji tells Usopp that if he thinks hard enough, he'll realize that they have a way to save Robin, as long
( ... )
I am just going to use the heck out of this iconsara_tanaquilMarch 30 2014, 21:56:49 UTC
Aw, I am sorry the library is witholding 42 from you. I hope you get to see giraffe transformation eventually.
Future spoiler awe at Oda's planning.
Ooh, you know spoilers! (I won't ask what.) But that is funny, since I spent a lot of the BW arc going "... ok, is (X) in custody yet? When did they arrest (Y) again?"
Everyone's response ('cept you, Franky) was so awesome. Even monster Chopper deserves cuddles.
Especially monster Chopper! Not being able to control the form is so upsetting to him.
Ooh, Nami as Delenn. I wish she would channel Delenn more often.
I have no idea what that means.
I honestly don't know whether Sanji had worked out in his tactical brain how Usopp could help them with his sniper skills, or if his faith in all his comrades is just that firm that he assumed he'd think of SOMETHING.
Zoro: "Saa, na."
I have no idea what THAT means.Hee! That phrase is so hard to translate. In my head I usually translate it as "Who knows?", but I noticed Viz translated it "Let's find out, shall we?", which I thought was a
( ... )
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
( ... )
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
( ... )
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.)
I'm moving on to volume 44, and need to comment because swiss cheese brain will erase these thoughts too soon:
1. Rob Lucci does not deserve leopard spots. 5 out of 5 kuronekos agree. [Spoiler (click to open)]But OH! The scars in the shape of the World Government flag. DOOM! That can't be his tragic backstory. His tragic backstory had better not make me sympathize with him.
2. I am so glad I wasn't spoiled on the flooded underground passage reveal. (Is that clear enough for me to remember yet vague enough not to spoil anyone? I hope so.)
3. [volume 44 spoiler]SOBBING FOREVER. If I didn't already know Merry's fate, would this brave action have raised my hopes?
Aw! I am behind on reading/summarizing volume 44. I may have been dragging my feet on this one, because, er, reasons.
[Volume 44] Rob Lucci's backstory only creeps me out MORE. I mean, sure, world government flag shaped scars, cool and all, but he KILLED 500 HOSTAGES. Yeesh.
I'm glad I kept the flooded underground passage reveal quiet! That one is so hilarious and random.
*sniff* Have you finished 44 yet? (I should probably point out that the end of 44 isn't a cliffhanger, it's a climax. The Post-Enies Lobby arc picks up in the next volume a day or two later.)
[volume 44 - do not read if you haven't read 44]I finished 44 by the time I edited my comment to include note #3. Even thinking about Merry's apology and desire to go on more adventures with the strawhats makes me cry while typing this. How can I love the Sunny after this?
Rob Lucci's backstory only creeps me out MORE.
That's why I'm thinking there has to be a different backstory coming up. One that explains how a 13-year-old becomes a coldblooded killer. Or are we done with CP9? Bye, Kaku. You're the only one we'll miss.
I've kind of slogged my way through the first two chapters of 45. Either I've caught your and w_10_00's springtime slump or I just can't embrace a denouement after Merry's funeral. Oh, except I applaud Iceberg's ambitious plans. Tom would be so proud. I'm sure the mouse is.
I wonder if Spandam figured out that the guy who shot him on the bridge from the tower was the same one who set the World Government's flag on fire? Spandam's not too bright, so maybe not, but if he did, that could help explain [volume 45 spoiler]why Sogeking got a relatively high first bounty. I could very much see the vindictive Spandam insisting on something like that (while not paying much attention to the reports from Marines on the island talking about Nami's terrifying abilities - because after all, those hadn't hurt him personally!).
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Oh, wow, you're right! How did I miss that?
Now that is going to bug me. Maybe Sanji and Zoro went up to the roof first - but in that case, why were they down below later?
And I actually wondered (even before you said anything) whether Sanji was expecting Usopp to go up to the roof at all. I mean, when he told Usopp to figure something out, had he already guessed what Usopp could do to help, or was he just expressing confidence in Usopp's ability to think of something? Because later, when he and Zoro meet up, he says something about "the others are probably on their way to Robin now." If he didn't expect Usopp to go up to the roof, I was thinking that maybe he only realized where he was when he started shooting/singing.
Ah well, perhaps best not to look too closely at the plot holes.
The continuous battle between Luffy and Lucci is of course part of it too, but since it isn't ( ... )
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Heh, and it's probably my favorite fight, for the same reason - I like the silly. But I can see why it wouldn't appeal to someone who likes the serious fights.
I didn't realize this was the first time he had used Asura, but you're right. The wiki says it has been used on two other occasions.
FWIW, I think he needed Asura to beat Kaku. The giraffe jokes undermine the degree of threat Kaku presents, but he is a strong enough fighter to hold Zoro at bay for a good amount of time.
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Nami: "Is she a COMPLETE idiot?"
*sniffle* She was such a competent secretary to Iceberg.
[Cover Arc (last): Crocodile, Mr. 1, Bon Kurei and Mr. 3 are all shipped off to Impel Down.]
Future spoiler awe at Oda's planning.
he gets her back under control easily with his elephant sword
Funkfreed, no!
not to mention the fact that Chopper's nakama would still stand up for him when he turned into THAT
Everyone's response ('cept you, Franky) was so awesome. Even monster Chopper deserves cuddles.
Nami: "Well then, we've got death behind and the unknown ahead of us. Which do we choose?"
Reminds me of Delenn.
[Love Zoro's satisfied "Hmph!" when he sees Sanji.]
Totally.
Sanji tells Usopp that if he thinks hard enough, he'll realize that they have a way to save Robin, as long ( ... )
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Future spoiler awe at Oda's planning.
Ooh, you know spoilers! (I won't ask what.) But that is funny, since I spent a lot of the BW arc going "... ok, is (X) in custody yet? When did they arrest (Y) again?"
Everyone's response ('cept you, Franky) was so awesome. Even monster Chopper deserves cuddles.
Especially monster Chopper! Not being able to control the form is so upsetting to him.
Ooh, Nami as Delenn. I wish she would channel Delenn more often.
I have no idea what that means.
I honestly don't know whether Sanji had worked out in his tactical brain how Usopp could help them with his sniper skills, or if his faith in all his comrades is just that firm that he assumed he'd think of SOMETHING.
Zoro: "Saa, na."
I have no idea what THAT means.Hee! That phrase is so hard to translate. In my head I usually translate it as "Who knows?", but I noticed Viz translated it "Let's find out, shall we?", which I thought was a ( ... )
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LIES.
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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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1. Rob Lucci does not deserve leopard spots. 5 out of 5 kuronekos agree. [Spoiler (click to open)]But OH! The scars in the shape of the World Government flag. DOOM! That can't be his tragic backstory. His tragic backstory had better not make me sympathize with him.
2. I am so glad I wasn't spoiled on the flooded underground passage reveal. (Is that clear enough for me to remember yet vague enough not to spoil anyone? I hope so.)
3. [volume 44 spoiler]SOBBING FOREVER. If I didn't already know Merry's fate, would this brave action have raised my hopes?
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[Volume 44]
Rob Lucci's backstory only creeps me out MORE. I mean, sure, world government flag shaped scars, cool and all, but he KILLED 500 HOSTAGES. Yeesh.
I'm glad I kept the flooded underground passage reveal quiet! That one is so hilarious and random.
*sniff* Have you finished 44 yet? (I should probably point out that the end of 44 isn't a cliffhanger, it's a climax. The Post-Enies Lobby arc picks up in the next volume a day or two later.)
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Rob Lucci's backstory only creeps me out MORE.
That's why I'm thinking there has to be a different backstory coming up. One that explains how a 13-year-old becomes a coldblooded killer. Or are we done with CP9? Bye, Kaku. You're the only one we'll miss.
I've kind of slogged my way through the first two chapters of 45. Either I've caught your and w_10_00's springtime slump or I just can't embrace a denouement after Merry's funeral. Oh, except I applaud Iceberg's ambitious plans. Tom would be so proud. I'm sure the mouse is.
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