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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2019 15:38:46 GMT -5
Episode 483: "Looking For The Answer! Fire Fist Ace Dies On The Battlefield!"
...well, the title already tells you whether Ace makes it or not.
This is again one of those emotional episodes where I could feel my eyes watering as well. After all the effort Luffy took in the previous 50-60 episodes before, it all boils down to this: having to watch his brother die in his arms after the latter threw himself in the line of fire to protect him. And the episode definitely gives this event all the gravitas it deserves with the war participants on each side watching in shock about what transpired and Mayumi Tanaka giving an awesome performance in getting Luffy's despair across of him losing his only brother with not even the Whitebeard ship doc or Ivankov being able to help Ace in any form.
On the other hand, we have Ace calmly trying to give Luffy words of encouragement and leaving this world having finally found an answer to the question whether he should have been born at all, given the disgusting answers people gave to him in regards to what if Gold Roger had a son. He dies without any regret having lived a free life and making friends who accepted him for who he is and who cared for him, enabling him to breathe his last breath with a smile upon his face. Following that, even Whitebeard has to shed tears over the loss of one of his sons.
The music, the sound effects, the scene composition...everything works perfectly to highlight the somber note of this episode which has very few laughs (basically only one scene by Mr. 3) and very little action (Jinbei as well as Marco and Vista attacking Akainu), putting his whole focus on the death of a pivotal character in Luffy's life. And we are left to wonder...who are Dadan and Sabo that Ace talked about?
Hopefully, Luffy makes it out OK.
A great episode to watch since it really manages to tug at the heartstrings in regards to Ace's death.
Manga Differences: -Marco sending out the others to bring Mr. 3 to him (since they noticed him creating the keys to Ace's handcuffs from scratch) is anime filler. We only see the later scene in the manga after he is brought to him. -Luffy begging the Whitebeard pirates' ship doctor who is helpless and Ivankov who refuses due to the hopelessness of the situation is also added to the anime. In the manga, immediately after the ship doctor runs towards Ace, Ace begins his farewell speech. -The usual scene extensions.
Until 'morrow!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2019 10:25:10 GMT -5
Episode 484: "The Navy Headquarter Falls! Whitebeard's Unspeakable Wrath!"
Luffy.exe has stopped working. Please reboot program.
So yeah, after Ace's untimely demise, Luffy's psyche is completely broken (emphasized by flashbacks to Ace admonishing Luffy for thinking that he is dead and promising Luffy that he will never die and leave him behind) and he is unable to react to anything, leaving him a perfect sitting duck for Akainu's attack. It is only through the efforts of the Whitebeard pirates who decide to protect Luffy as a final favor for Ace that Jinbei is able to run away with Luffy.
The highlight of the episode, however, is Whitebeard going absolutely berzerk on Akainu and trouncing him for all the viewers who wanted somebody to clean his clock for some time now. It is so satisfying seeing Whitebeard beating him to a bloody pulp and him falling down the chasm created by Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor power (that also destroys Navy HQ as a side effect). Hopefully, he drowns in the water below.
Finally, satisfaction turns to anger again when the person responsible for the whole mess, Blackbeard, appears...and he brought some people that he must have gotten from the State Home For The Ugly, or rather from Level 6 of Impel Down. What will be their course of action now?
A good and satisfying episode here.
Manga Differences: -While I had a few in the recent past, this is the first time in a long, long time that I actually have a major change from the manga to the anime. *Anime: While attacking Akainu, the latter launches a counterattack, burning another hole into Whitebeard's torso, leaving it burning for a while afterwards. *Manga: While attacking Akainu, the latter launches a counterattack, burning ONE-FOURTH OF WHITEBEARD'S FACE OFF INCLUDING HIS LEFT EYE! Yes, it really gets that gruesome at this point (though Akainu's magma welds the wound shut so that we don't have to see any brain bits hanging out) and I can kinda understand why the anime producers opted for a more "easier to stomach" wound instead.
-Otherwise, only the usual scene extensions to report.
Mata ashita, yarodomo!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2019 15:35:09 GMT -5
Episode 485: "Ending The Matter! Whitebeard vs. The Blackbeard Pirates!"
What is with that guy with the cat dialect in Blackbeard's crew? Did he go to the same school as Nyasu or something?
After the son, we witness the father's death in this episode as well. Following some explanation about his motivations (becoming a Warlord only to gain access to Impel Down in order to recruit some very vile people for his pirate crew), Blackbeard and Whitebeard clash and although it is again satisfying to see Whitebeard beat the crap out of Blackbeard, the latter's Darkness Fruit ability cushion Whitebeard's blows far more than what Akainu was capable of. Ultimately, Whitebeard cannot do anything against the whole pirate crew slicing and shooting in an unnerving scene where they unleash everything on him, shot in black and white with only Whitebeard's blood loss being any sort of color. It almost feels like a torture porn of some kind, seeing Whitebeard handled like this (although his torso looks far better than expected given the punishment).
With his dying breath, Whitebeard manages to drop some big hints about the background story (apparently Whitebeard knows the meaning behind those people having a D in their name and cryptically says that Blackbeard is not the one that Roger was waiting for) including hinting at a big war that will come in the future and giving off the bombshell that the One Piece, mostly thought about to be a legend, exists (drawing a big chagrin from Sengoku).
That being said, we say goodbye to Whitebeard in a serene sequence that really highlights that his wish he wanted to have (a family) came through and that his journey finally ended at 72 years of age (including dying upright in the battlefield with no wounds on his back). But what will happen now?
Another very good episode.
Manga Differences: -Besides the usual scene extensions, nothing much to report (there might be a big omission but I will save that after the next few episodes. Perhaps it will come up there).
A break tomorrow for Manga Volume 61, so see you on Thursday!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2019 15:46:54 GMT -5
Episode 486: "The Show Begins! Blackbeard's Plot Is Revealed!"
...OK, if this turns into necrophilia, Blackbeard, I am out of here!
Following Whitebeard's death, we learn one other reason why Blackbeard appeared at Marineford. Doing...something...under a black cloak that covers both him and Whitebeard, he somehow gains Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor fruit power, a feat thought to be impossible (as we learned from the Water 7 Arc, one person normally cannot have two Devil Fruit powers at once). The only explanation we get from Marco is that Blackbeard always had a different body structure, though other than being fat, I don't see anything that strange about him. Anywho, having now two devastating Devil Fruit powers in his possession, this makes him perhaps the most dangerous enemy Luffy has ever had to contend with.
Not that he cannot react much to it since he is still frozen stiff from the trauma he received. Unfortunately, Akainu didn't drown and became a bloated corpse, but is still alive and continues going after Luffy's life that Jinbei wants to protect. Cool character moment from Jinbei here in that he does not protect Luffy because he is Ace's brother but because he became through his actions a man that Jinbei grew to respect. With the other Whitebeard commanders as well as the Ivankov/Inazuma pair offering support, will they manage to escape Akainu?
Otherwise, there is not much going on here. Jinbei running away, various lingering reaction shots from the crowd on the Sabaody Archipelago watching the proceedings, another rather dry Captain Buggy funtime scene etc. that just feels like padding.
So yeah, a decent episode only this time around.
Manga Differences: -We never actually see how Akainu managed to save himself and appear in front of Jinbei in the manga. That scene is anime filler. -Only the scene with Buggy running away and the prisoners misinterpreting his crying was in the manga. The whole flashback to their antics while Whitebeard and Blackbeard were fighting was an anime-only addition. -The comment I mentioned above regarding Jinbei is also added to the anime. Jinbei says nothing of the sort in the manga where it is mostly implied. -All the scenes with Coby and Helmeppo are also not in the manga. We don't see them again until a certain Coby scene in a while. -The usual scene extensions.
See y'all morrow!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2019 16:48:56 GMT -5
Episode 487: "The Insatiable Akainu! Lava Fists Pummel Luffy!"
*cues up Randy Orton's theme song for Coby*
Despite the major reason for this war being dead, the marines seem to have gotten a taste for blood and want to kill as many of the fleeing pirates as possible which paints them in a pretty unsettling light. Even Coby and Helmeppo think that this is too much when suddenly Coby starts hearing voices in his head for some reason. This further emphasized the eerie and uncomfortable mood that this part of the war has settled into.
Meanwhile, Akainu continues relentlessly hunting the injured Luffy with not even Ivankov and Inazuma being able to stop him. It gets even harder to protect Luffy when one has a hole in the body oneself, thanks to Akainu's magma fist, but with the combined efforts of Crocodile and Buggy (with his followers reaching ridiculous levels to forming reality to their own liking) it gets delayed a bit when suddenly...
...the Beatles show up?!?!
No, its just a yellow submarine containing the crew of Trafalgar Law, one of the supernovas we met on Sabaody who wants to save Luffy (although his reasoning is not exactly easy to understand). Will he be able to save Luffy?
A good episode I'd say with some nice action, creepy atmosphere and still a bit of humor regardless.
Manga Differences: -The fight between Inazuma/Ivankov and Akainu is anime filler. In the manga, we cut back to them when they are already defeated by Akainu. -The scene where the vice admiral rallies his troops to kill all of the fleeing pirates as well as Coby's and Helmeppo's scene afterwards is also added to the anime. In the manga, there is no rallying and we see Coby and Helmeppo a while later. -We never see Law's submarine below the sea level before it appears on the surface in the manga. There, it only appears when it surfaces. -The usual scene extensions.
May you see me tomorrow!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2019 17:04:53 GMT -5
Episode 488: "The Desperate Scream! Courageous Moments That Will Save The Future!"
Will War finally turn into Peace?
The main focus of this episode is on Coby surprisingly. As mentioned in the last episode, something seems to have awoken within him, allowing him to hear all the voices on the battlefield and, consequently, their disappearance after they have been killed. This is very similar to the ability the Shandia child, Aissa, displayed during the Skypiea Arc though it seems that in Coby's case, it was not something he was born with since he lived pretty normal until now. Through him, we get perhaps the most gruesome look at this war until now where everything is silent except the cries of anger and wrath both issued by the pirates and the marines as well as their attacks with which they fell each other. Emphasized by further scenes showing that wounded marines should be ignored in order to continue killing pirates as well as Tashigi and Smoker commenting on the state of both parties, it gives one of the most disturbing insights into the human psyche in this show (well, as far as this show will dwell into it. It is no Evangelion by any means).
After being pushed over the edge by seeing a pendant near a dead marine soldier containing a picture of his family, Coby releases all his frustration into a scream for the fighting to stop. I love that this scene recalls the very first time Coby took a stand (against Alvida back in the very first episode) and how similar both settings are: Coby being on the verge of getting killed and getting rescued just in time by another person (more on the latter later).
In other scenes, we get a fight between Sengoku in his Buddha form (where we really don't know what his power really entails other than being able to shoot shockwaves) against Blackbeard who continues testing his newly acquired Tremor-Tremor Fruit, causing a tsunami big enough to hit the far away Sabaody Archipelago. Also, Buggy hesitates and hesitates until he ultimately hands Jinbei and Luffy over to Trafalgar Law in a funny bit.
Ultimately, in a surprise twist Luffy's idol, the Red Shanks, appears, intending to end the war. Will he succeed?
A very good episode here.
Manga Differences: -One of the most poignant scenes, Coby finding the pendant of the dead marine soldier, is anime filler that does not appear in the manga. Between him crying over hearing the endless voices in his head and him appearing in front of Akainu to stop the fighting, there are also no scenes of him running in the manga. -Otherwise, I mostly recognize the usual scene extensions.
Until 'morrow!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2019 15:22:41 GMT -5
Episode 489: "Here Comes Shanks! The War Of The Best Is Finally Over!"
Now I know why Bepo's (the high-ranking bear on Law's crew where we still don't why he's a walking, talking bear. Are there more forms of the Human-Human fruit than we previously thought?) voice sounds so familiar when he's agitated....It's the same voice as Wanze, that annoying and revolting chef from the Water 7 arc. But as long as Bepo is not as revolting, it is OK.
As the name of the episode implies, Shanks's arrival heralds the end of this war that lasted for about 30 episodes. It contains both dramatic (Law's submarine's escape from the attacks by Aokiji and Kizaru), funny (Shanks messing around with Buggy in order to get the latter to bring Luffy's straw hat back to him and their argument afterwards including the prisoner's resulting adoration of Buggy over it) and somber scenes (the aftermath after Sengoku declares the war over with the commanders openly crying and the marines tending to the wounded with an overview of the battlefield and several of the participants). It was good seeing some flashbacks to Luffy's first encounters with Shanks way back in the fourth episode.
For now though, it is interesting what will happen. With Luffy being critically injured both physically and mentally, will he ever achieve a full recovery? And how will the story move forward now? Questions among questions....
A good episode again.
Manga Differences: -Of course, the flashbacks to Luffy and Shanks's first meetings are not in the manga. -Bepo arguing with Law to get under deck so that they can submerge is a bit longer in the anime version compared to the manga. -There are lots of scenes in the interior of Law's submarine including him starting the operation on Luffy and Jinbei (although we don't exactly see how he operates) that were not in the manga. In fact, in the manga we do not see any scenes on the ship's interior at all. -Otherwise, we get the usual scene extensions.
Tomorrow will be a break to watch One Piece Movie No. 11, so see you all on Tuesday!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2019 16:24:40 GMT -5
Episode 490: "Mighty Leaders Face Each Other Down! Heralding The 'New Era'!"
Bepo, you should really get a shave if you get so hot every single time you submerge.
And so we get a winding down episode this time around with the foci on different parts:
-Following their joy over Whitebeard being defeated, the harsh reality sets in as it is implied that Whitebeard's final words, similar to those uttered by Gol D. Roger at his execution, inspired a new vigor in the pirates of the world including those who look to take over Whitebeard's old territory. It is really jarring seeing the people celebrate the deaths of Whitebeard and Ace (though they are excused for not knowing any better unlike the dumb Hercule worshippers in Dragonball Z) and then seeing them realize that peace is not really certain after all.
-Among the Supernovas' reaction to the events at Marineford, the only one who really sticks out is Jewelry Bonney. First, she was crying during the broadcast at the Sabaody Archipelago and then here she seems eager to hunt the one down whose fault the whole mess is. But who does she mean? Luffy? Not even I know what the whole background is here (even until July 2017 this secret has not yet been revealed).
-On the marine front, Sengoku is forbidden to make the escape of the Level 6 prisoners public in order to protect the government's image which understandably angers him (seems about right as far as this government is concerned). Meanwhile, Doflamingo is ordered to kill Gecko Moria after an order from even higher than Sengoku...intriguing.
-In the most important part, Boa Hancock finds the submarine of the Heart Pirates and learns about Luffy's critical condition, leading her to lead the pirates to Amazon Lily where Luffy can rest. But what will his reaction be when he awakens?
A good winding-down episode here.
Manga Differences: -The whole bit with Bepo complaining about the heat and ordering the ship to rise whereupon he meets Hancock is all anime filler. In the manga we immediately cut to Hancock on the submarine demanding to know about Luffy's condition. -Otherwise, it's the usual scene extensions.
Let us meet tomorrow again!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2019 17:00:45 GMT -5
Episode 491: "Landing At The Maiden Island! The Harsh Reality Falls Upon Luffy!"
Blackbeard, Whitebeard, Brownbeard...how many beards are there?
After a brief look into how things are pretty tense around the world (pirates plundering villages in Whitebeard's old territory and being a menace to the law-abiding citizens), we revisit the maiden island, seeing all the characters we met previously like Marguerite, Sweet Pea, Aphelandra, Grandma Nyon etc. who like Luffy as much as they did before. The first act thus is mostly a reintroduction with some funny moments (mostly of the "Boa Hancock being giddy like a schoolgirl thinking about Luffy" which drives Granny Nyon nuts or the amazon with the whore make-up emphasizing her point of not talking to the men very...uhm...forcefully).
However, things turn serious in the second act with Luffy awakening (the look he has when going around the submarine is truly something to behold...really unnerving) and being totally out of control. While he does calm down a little, the trauma from having the memories of Ace's death haunt him continuously in very eerie scenes that really emphasize how much this damages his psyche. Ultimately, he breaks down crying after Jinbei reaffirms that indeed Ace has died. How will we go from there?
Another good, dramatic episode here.
Manga Differences: -The whole start of the episode involving the marine base commenting on the situation in the world and the first pillaging scene we see is anime filler. Only the scene with Brownbeard is from the manga. -The whole sequence of the Snake Princess + the Heart Pirates arriving on Amazon Lily is also added to the anime. Basically only the scene at the palace is from the manga. -The first scene in the bay with the amazons bringing food to the Heart Pirates including Luffy's awakening is also anime content only. The manga enters the bay for the first time after Luffy has already awoken and is running amok. -The usual scene extensions.
Until 'morrow!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2019 15:11:31 GMT -5
Episode 492: "The Strongest Tag Team! Luffy And Toriko's Hard Struggle!"
And now...for something completely different...
Yeah, a filler episode here but not an ordinary one since it is part of a 2-episode crossover with another Jump series called Toriko. This here is the conclusion and the set-up was probably down in the other series's run time but...I may love One Piece and all, but I am not watching another show for it.
While Toriko seems to have an interesting setting (apparently its a world full of ingredients come to life like lions with manes made of castella cake called Caste Leos, koalas with cocoa beans sprouting on their backs called cocoala and Toriko is hunting those to create a full-course meal), the characters are not that interesting. Toriko looks like a character from Fist Of The North Star that picked up the Super Saiyan Blue transformation along the way and he is a brash and loud character while he is accompanied by the usual shy character who looks up to him (aka the Shinpachi of the group). The other characters are not that interesting as well.
Still, it is a fun time-wasting episode mostly due to the Straw Hat Crew reactions to everything and I liked the twist with the whole island being revealed to be a giant pudding...that Luffy and Toriko promptly eat up.
So, its decent but for my gourmet manga/anime needs I'll stick with real fare like "Food Wars", thank you very much. Hopefully, we go back to the main story now.
Manga Differences: -It's filler for your stomach, so eat up!
See you in the time known as tomorrow!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2019 17:32:16 GMT -5
Episode 493: "Luffy And Ace! The Story Of How The Brothers Met!"
And here I thought those days were over...
Yeah, Crunchyroll skips another intro again:
This one is kinda a pity. It starts off pretty non-descript but it gets better and better as it moves along. Especially love the scenes of young Luffy and Ace (and that third lad who runs with them) as well as the small recap of how Luffy met and had pivotal moments with each of his crew members. The song was decent as well, so it is a bit regrettable that Crunchyroll skipped it.
With this episode we dwell into another chapter of Luffy's youth. Although we have seen the part of his life that inspired him to become the Pirate King, in this one we learn how he became close to Ace...which was not an easy task. We also finally learn who Dadan is, a name that was first dropped some 175 episodes ago: a boss of a group of mountain bandits who takes care of Ace for Vice Admiral Garp (not quite "voluntarily" as it is implied). Not exactly a friendly type of person going by her remarks about Ace that are in the same vein as the vile remarks he hears regularly regarding the son of Roger, she does have a lot of funny scenes here (mostly being afraid of what Garp will do and being flabbergasted by Luffy's nonchalant attitude). She also has two lieutenants that get a bit more focus but they are not important.
As for Luffy's and Ace's relationship...well, it was not a good one from the very beginning with Luffy running after Ace every day while Ace just does everything in his power to keep him off his back, be it throwing him off bridges, dropping rocks on him etc..Yet Luffy still comes back after him for some reason (including a nice callback to an event between Luffy and Shanks that shows Luffy already having learned something from Shanks) and it is certainly sweet to see him try time and again. Ultimately, he succeeds and comes to a strange place. What kind of place is this? We shall see.
A good episode and a nice start to this flashback part.
Manga Differences: -The walk of Garp and Luffy up to Mt. Corvo where Dadan and her gang live is a bit longer in the anime including Luffy having a fun little tree bit. -The scene of Luffy entering the hut, getting hold at knife point by the other bandits until they get the memo that this is Garp's grandson and seeing the others fighting over the meat Ace has given them is anime filler. After the scenes outside in the manga, we immediately go inside to Dadan reading Luffy the rules of the house. -The usual scene extensions.
Until 'morrow!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2019 16:23:36 GMT -5
Episode 494: "Here Comes Sabo! The Boy At The Gray Terminal!"
So, this is the illustrious Sabo that Ace alluded to in his dying breath....
But first, we meet another area of the place where Luffy grew up: The Gray Terminal, a lawless zone in a big junkyard. Definitely a big counterpoint to the quiet, peaceful Windmill Village where Luffy first spent his childhood. And in this area we meet perhaps the only friend Ace had at that point: Sabo. Nothing much is yet revealed about him other than him and Ace having started "saving" money by stealing from people in order to buy a pirate ship and sail out to sea. We do not know how they both met or where Sabo came from originally but he and Ace get along pretty well considering we were under the assumption that Ace was a loner the whole time before meeting Luffy.
Speaking of meeting Luffy, his appearance causes them big problems. It is really cute and adorable in a sense seeing Ace and Sabo argue over who should kill him and Luffy making the total opposite of a poker face when a pirate, that Ace and Sabo stole money from, asks him point-blank whether he knows their whereabouts.
However, things soon turn serious when this pirate called Porchemy, a member of the Bluejam pirates, beats Luffy to a bloody pulp with spiked gloves to get him to reveal the location of Sabo and Ace. Luffy, showing immense strength at this age, continues to keep still even after being punched for hours, surprising them both and even causing a member of the pirates to second-guess himself. Ultimately, Sabo and Ace come to Luffy's rescue. Will they escape?
Another good episode with a neat mix of humor and drama.
Manga Differences: -The opening scene with the Bluejam pirates exiting the city, talking about the money they just got, as well as Ace's ambush on them is anime only filler. We see them for the first time in the manga when they are already searching with Porchemy for Ace and Sabo. -Luffy's search for Ace in the Gray Terminal area is a lot longer compared to the manga version. -The usual scene extensions.
Until the day that follows today!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 16:24:32 GMT -5
Episode 495: "I Won't Run! Ace's Dangerous Rescue Operation!"
Congratulations, Luffy! You might become the main focus of a new sporting event sometime soon!
Here, we get to witness the beginning of Luffy and Ace's brotherly relationship. After managing to free Luffy in a neat little fight scene (that ends pretty dark with Captain Bluejam killing Porchemy in cold blood), we learn one important facet about Luffy: him believing that being all alone hurts more than all the bodily injuries one can attain. That is the reason why he so desperately clung to Ace despite the latter trying everything to get rid of him. This (and that he accepts Ace being alive despite Luffy not knowing the full background) finally leads to Ace accepting Luffy being around him inspite of them still having a rocky attitude towards each other.
The rest of the episode mostly deals with the three boys (after all, Sabo is also still there) having their first full day together which is really sweet to see (save for a bit when Dadan gets confused why there are suddenly three brats sleeping which goes on a bit past the point where it was funny). Hunting, talking and just enjoying each other's company. We also get to see the origin of Luffy's Gum-Gum Balloon technique (though it is not quite effective here and is mostly used for Ace and Sabo to get a little bit of soccer training). All in all, it is just plain fun to watch those three brats together.
All in all, another good episode again.
Manga Differences: -To be honest, the whole second act (except for Dadan's and Sabo's making acquaintance with each other) is filler material including the three sleeping and getting woken by Dadan, Dadan and her bandit crew trying to figure out a way out of this whole Bluejam mess, their first day together with Luffy showing off his Gum Gum Balloon and getting almost eaten by a crocodile etc.. Still it is very good. -The usual scene extensions.
Later days!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2019 15:31:15 GMT -5
Episode 496: "To The Sea Someday! The Pledge Of The Three Brats!" I thought that Sabo's voice sounded familiar. Turns out he is voiced by the same VA who is most famous for voicing Naruto. Guess she is sorta the go-to VA for blond boys. The most pivotal information we get out of this episode is Sabo's origin. Turns out he was born into a family of nobles (who are certainly among the ugliest persons both outwardly and inwardly in all of one peace) where he felt like they did not care about him as a person but more as a means to get into a higher hierarchy. Poignant is really the moment where he got attacked by a kid from the royal family and his mother punished him instead while being all toady towards the mother of the prince. Certainly a parental household where one would rather get away from and a really good insight into Sabo's characters. Otherwise, we spend more time with the three brats in their everyday lives: doing fights against each other to see who is strongest (with Luffy having a streak that Barry Horowitz would be proud off and bucking up his Gum-Gum pistol in a most hilarious fashion ), hunting crocodiles, selling stuff in the city and doing eat-and-runs (with Sabo finally getting to taste ramen for the first time...guess they only get French haute cuisine in a noble household...or rather Japanese kaiseki cuisine), culminating in them doing a pledge with sake to declare themselves as brothers that is really a sweet scene. We also learn more about where Luffy actually is with this small island being the Kingdom of Goa...pretty impressive considering that we have only seen the Windmill Village until now. Another good episode to see here. Manga Differences: -We actually do get to see Ace and Sabo square off in the anime which we don't in the manga. The manga only has the Ace vs. Luffy fighting segment. -The scene at the ramen shop is a lot longer and detailed compared to the manga where it just shows them finishing their meal and running off (by going out the window). -In Sabo's flashback the two poignant events (his father tearing up a drawing and scolding him to study instead, his mother hitting him and apologizing to the prince and his mother) are presented in a lot more detail including showing us why the prince attacked Sabo in the first place. In the manga it was kept to 1-2 panels each. -Our usual scene extensions. A break tomorrow for Manga Volume 62, so see you on Wednesday!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2019 16:10:23 GMT -5
Episode 497: "Leaving The Dadan Family For Good?! The Kids' Hideout Has Been Built!"
Makino may be one of the most underappreciated beauties in One Piece in my opinion.
Well, I guess we cannot let this part of the story go by without some filler episodes. It mostly deals with the three brats building their own tree fort in the woods and getting to learn that Dadan, despite outwardly displaying how annoyed she is with those three, cares a lot about them. Also notable is the appearance of Makino and the mayor of the Windmill Village; it's always nice to see characters from the very first part of the story again, seeing how far we have come since then.
It is for the most part an enjoyable filler episode. We get more insight into the daily life of the three brats (beating up gangs with Luffy still getting used to his devil fruit powers, eating, taking baths and doing final trainings before bed) and the scenes with Dadan getting more and more annoyed by their antics is fun to watch. Garp has another appearance (meeting Sabo for the first time but immediately showing him his "love") and it is adorable to see how Ace gets flustered around Makino. Watching the three build their tree fort is also enjoyable to see as is their imagine spot imagining them as fearsome pirates. Finally it ends with a comical exclamation point in Dadan getting whacked by one of the traps set by them when she just wants to look if they are well.
All in all, a good filler episode.
Manga Differences: -House of Filler Lights, home is where your heart is, going to Dr. Hyde, I was looking for moneh...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2019 16:22:18 GMT -5
Episode 498: "Luffy Becoming An Apprentice?! A Man Who Fought Against The King Of The Pirates!"
Those three brats are tough, not freezing to death in those mostly summer clothes.
We now enter a filler episode taking place during winter which gives us a sweet visual setting that we don't get too often. As has been the theme the past few episodes, we get an inside into their everyday life: hunting elements and training to beat the Big Tiger which is short of the big boss of this arc. This also offers the chance to witness a conflict between them: who will captain them when they grow up.
We also meet a filler character who fought with the Pirate King, but he is not very interesting. More interesting is the inside into Luffy's reaction to Gold Roger being Ace's father which leads to a rift between the first brats. Will they get to mend it?
All in all a good episode that leaves us with two cliffhangers: First, Sabo's dad hiring the Bluejam pirates to bring Sabo back to him and an impending visit by a Celestial Dragon. What will happen next?
Manga Differences: -Besides the short scene where Dadan learns of the visit of the Celestial Dragon (which actually takes place in the manga before Sabo's past is revealed), this is filler time 100%.
See y'all tomorrow!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2019 16:51:16 GMT -5
(Sorry for yesterday's post being that way. Felt very under the weather yesterday and was on the verge of falling asleep while writing it but just wanted to get it done. That's why it may have felt off a bit.)
Episode 499: "The Battle Against The Big Tiger! Who Is Going To Be Captain?!"
Well, at this point in the story, Luffy certainly makes for a worthy projectile.
And so the mini-filler arc in the past concludes with the three brats after having undergone weeks of training under Naguri (the filler character I mentioned last episode; an old man who once fought the Pirate King Gold Roger and now lives at the Gray Terminal). In a decent fight, they ultimately defeat the big tiger through teamwork, leaving the question of who will become captain uncertain for the future.
Besides that, we get some nice interactions between Ace and Naguri, particularly on what makes a good captain (with Naguri getting a bit philosophical about it); a few funny moments involving Luffy now being able to stretch his arm in a straight line but completely missing the target or Sabo dropping hints about checking on Luffy which Ace completely no-sells; and a sinister cliffhanger that forebodes the Bluejam pirates springing into action in the next episode. In general, it is really enjoyable seeing those three innocently enjoying their childhood and living as free as they want.
Another good episode.
Manga Differences: -This is now again a 100% filler episode.
Until 'morrow!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2019 16:21:09 GMT -5
Episode 500: "Freedom Taken Away! The Nobles' Plot Closing In On The Brothers!"
*looks at Stelly* Gah, put him back in the oven! He's obviously not done yet!
We get back into the manga plot again with Sabo being forced to return to his home after Bluejam captures the three brats and the prospect of them getting killed on the spot. With that the three brats are split up and we get more of an inside into the high town...and it is really a place that's pretty on the outside but rotten on the inside. You are not allowed to live there if you have a criminal record (causing Sabo's father to bribe a guard after Sabo stubbornly refuses to lie regarding his relationship with Luffy and Ace) and they actually hatched a plan to lay fire to the Gray Terminal in order to get rid of this "black mark" before the Celestial Dragon arrives. Despite that, they happily go about their day as if nothing is wrong...which drives Sabo crazy and causing him to realize that the High Town is even more crazy than he actually thought in a pretty chilling scene.
Unbeknownst to them, Luffy and Ace decide to do a job for Bluejam...which is actually laying the explosives and fire material for the fire for which Bluejam was hired. It is also interesting to see that Luffy and Ace do question whether they can decide what makes Sabo happy or not and decide to just leave him be for the time being, being unsure of what to do. Definitely shows that they do think about stuff and not go after their gut feeling (perhaps something Naguri taught them?).
All this stuff including some last interaction between the three brats at the very start makes for another good episode. How will this plot move forward?
Manga Differences: -The whole start of the episode until Sabo's father arrives is anime filler. The manga starts with the Bluejam pirates already having captured the three brats. -The scene with Sabot sitting on a rooftop and watching the people walking by, causing him to believe for a short moment that the fire plan is not true, is also added to the anime. Originally, it immediately goes to him asking the nobles at the cafe about the fire. -Otherwise, the usual scene extensions.
See you all tomorrow!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2019 5:32:55 GMT -5
Episode 501: "The Fire Has Been Set! The Gray Terminal In Crisis!"
Why, girl? With your facial features, you should have been born a cockroach instead of a noble! How stupid you are...
So yeah, in this episode the Gray Terminal gets set on fire to the absolute non-sympathy of the nobles who just draw the curtains of their windows and sprout such illogical poppycock such as that they should have been born nobles. Only Sabo tries to stop it but gets brutally beaten in by the royal army who look creepy in their sorta hazmat suits (I understand them not wanting to get subjected to the heat but it does give off eery vibes of not wanting to come into contact with any impure elements). Finally, Sabo gets attended to by none other than Luffy's father, Dragon, to whom he pours his heart out about the whole rotten state of this city and ending with him proclaiming to be ashamed of being born a noble, surprising even Dragon. A really strong statement that is completely sold by Dragon's facial expression.
On the other side of the city gates, Luffy and Ace are left to die in the fire by Bluejam after being made aware that they were tricked. Turns out that Bluejam is not a bright bulb either, doing all this out of the king's promise to make him and his crew nobles after the task has been completed. Of course, he got screwed over and is left there to die with his crew in the fire. Enraged, they decide to take Luffy and Ace with them into death in a pretty chilling scene but most of the crew gets taken out by Ace's Conqueror's Spirit awakening, but not keeping Bluejam from striking his sword at Luffy. Who will survive?
Another good episode marred only by some unnecessary filter, but its not too bad.
Manga Differences: -Sabo getting captured, being thrown in a cellar by his father and then fleeing again is anime-only filler. After Sabo runs away from the old man in the last episode, the next time we see him, he is at the gates trying to open them in the manga. -The usual scene extensions.
Until 'morrow!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2019 17:40:56 GMT -5
Episode 502: "Where Can Freedom Be Found? The Sad Departure Of A Boy!"
Well, that might be the shortest time of employment for those guards.
The Gray Terminal Fire Incident comes to a close in this episode with Ace and Luffy getting rescued from Bluejam by the Dadan Family...or rather Luffy gets rescued while Ace and Dadan stay behind to take care of Bluejam (after a fun moment where the the Bandits intended to run after setting up such a convincing aura of badassery). At the same time, we meet some familiar figures in Ivankov, Kuma and Luffy's father who rescue the inhabitants of the Gray Terminal from the fire (and presumably encruit them as members of his future Revolutionary army).
On the other side of the spectrum, Sabo gets brought back to his family and finally realizes that he cannot escape the influence of his father and see Luffy and Ace again at that moment. Therefore, after a nice set of scenes showing everything in grey except Sabo and some birds he sees flying towards the ocean, he decides to set out to sea to be free of the stifling influence of his household. Unfortunately, he crosses the ship of the Celestial Dragon who proceeds to mercilessly shoot at his boat. What will become of Sabo next?
Another good episode not so much for action but for the serene and calm atmosphere depicting Sabo making his decision and the joy one feels when he finally sets out. Sabo is really a wonderful character....I cannot wait to see what becomes of him.
Manga Differences: -Sabo getting found by one of the royal guards and brought back to his house is anime filler. The next time we see him we are already in the talk with his father (that is also a bit longer in the anime). -The subplot with the two guards getting hired out of the army to serve as guards to watch Sabo is an anime-only invention. A subplot like that did not exist in the manga. -Sabo's parents' appearance at the welcoming ceremony and their reaction to Sabo's getting away on a ship is also added to the anime. We don't see them at all during the ceremony in the manga. -Otherwise, the usual scene extensions.
Mata ashita, yarodomo!
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