A small collection about Zorobin ... (Part 2 of ?)
Part 1
Last time, we left off at the scene on the altar, but I need to backtrack briefly to the arrival scene—right after Robin’s comment about adventure, before she gets off the boat.
I can't believe I forgot this scene—Zoro's headfirst crash landing into the cloud sea.
What I've always wondered is, why did he splash down into the clouds? Why does Oda show us that specifically?
Could Robin's words about “the idea of an adventure” have preoccupied him so much that, while he was mulling it over, he wasn't paying attention and fell overboard?
In any case, this moment has always stuck with me.
Let's go back to the so-called adventure scene.
If you look at this panel, it’s actually a very private moment, with no one else on board except the two of them.
The other Straw Hats are romping around on the beach in the background and seem like children, while Robin and Zoro—the supposedly more mature crew members who are supposed to be staying behind—share an intimate moment.
I’d even go so far as to say that, by Oda’s standards, it’s a romantic moment, since scenes like this in movies are exactly that—romantic moments in which the supposed future couple gets the chance to get to know each other better.
And once again, the question: why does Oda devote so much space on the manga page to this scene and go to the trouble of drawing it separately?
Consequently, the scene must actually be important, right?
And yet we still haven’t gotten an answer as to why we were shown this scene, but maybe we’ll find out sometime in the future.
This scene here is also quite interesting, as it shows once again that Robin and Zoro are on the same wavelength and pay attention to their surroundings.
Meanwhile, Luffy and the others are running around, and Sanji is completely engrossed in a conversation with a beautiful woman, while Zoro and Robin remain suspicious and keep pressing for answers.
That said, Robin's curiosity also plays a certain role; she always questions everything and absorbs every bit of information she can.
Here in these panels, we can see it clearly once again: Zoro and Robin are watching from the background and asking questions.
(Also, Zorobin family time with Chopper)
Another thing I find quite interesting is the position of Zoro’s swords.
It would be easier to pull them closer to his lap or position them to his right, and yet he’s placed them on the left side of the backrest, near Robin—the woman who’s only just joined the crew and whom he doesn’t yet trust.
He knows her Devil Fruit powers; she could easily reach the swords if she wanted to, and yet he’s put them right there.
After that, Zoro takes a nap and they have a meal, until Sanji brings up his concern about Nami.
And while the captain brushes it off by saying that Nami is still running around, who’s the one keeping a close eye on things and listening carefully because he cares about this crew, protects them, and is always on the lookout for dangers around them?
That’s right, Zoro.
That’s why it always upsets me when people dismiss him as a dull, emotionless blockhead.
He isn’t emotionless; he just expresses his feelings differently.
And he definitely has an eye for his surroundings, even if he doesn’t always say what’s on his mind.
(Just like a certain other someone who stays in the background)
Mr., I sacrifice myself.
Oda's Jesus (Zoro), who once again throws himself into the line of fire for the crew's safety—all while they're being kidnapped by one of God's Lobster Expresses.
That's downright hilarious, (btw—has anyone ever noticed that the lobster has little horns?
I looked into it, and lobsters actually have horns—I had no idea.)
Zoro's sacrifice would be pointless, because everyone would end up as fish food anyway.
On top of that, this scene is also quite interesting
From west to north-east/east, from Angel Beach to the Altar of Sacrifice.
Straight from heaven to hell.
It’s funny when you view the whole thing through the Zorobin lens.
Okay, back to the altar and Chopper.
Here, we get a brief recap regarding the crew and the whistle Ganfor gave them for emergencies.
After some back-and-forth, Nami hangs the whistle on the mainmast and permits its use only in dire emergencies; she explicitly forbids the four strongest crew members from using it, under threat of punishment.
These members include our "Monster Trio" and Robin.
And everyone agrees in unison.
What I always find particularly amusing here is Robin's attitude.
She is the oldest member of the crew, yet she has no problem acknowledging the established chain of command.
She grasped the crew dynamics immediately and fit right in, despite the fact that, as the eldest, she might technically be expected to hold the most authority.
She quickly realized that while Luffy is the captain, Nami is the one calling the shots—since she’s the navigator and the brains of the group.
We see a great example of this in an earlier scene where she covered Luffy’s mouth so Nami and the crew could be briefed on the Log Pose—you might remember that one.
Zoro is the unofficial vice-captain—a role she also acknowledges, as we’ll see later on.
There’s also an SBS section in the chapter (247) featuring this scene that’s quite interesting in this context.
So, Sanji addresses Nami like an adult, yet treats Robin as if she were younger than him—interesting.
And Sanji seems to be someone who doesn't care about age (like so many characters in this manga when it comes to relationships; strangely enough, age only becomes an issue for people when it involves "Zorobin")
And while Anti's get worked up over the age gap of Zorobin, Oda simply creates couples with significant age differences—he doesn't care about it either.
But why does Sanji treat Nami like an adult?
Perhaps, as Oda suggests, it’s because she has a queen-like personality; she also takes a leading role, acting like someone with long-standing experience in a position of authority.
Meanwhile, Robin is quiet and reserved, and she even accepts orders from Nami.
And—(this is very important to me)—she has a childlike nature.
Her physical age doesn't match her inner age; in terms of intelligence, there’s no question—she could be a thousand-year-old scholar.
But I think that because external circumstances forced her to grow up so quickly—forcing her to suppress her curious, childlike personality—she never got to live out her childhood… until now.
Now—especially after Enies Lobby, where she has a safe environment and knows she is protected—she can finally experience that missed childhood.
Psychologically speaking, it is not at all unusual for someone who couldn't live out their childhood to make up for it later on.
Think back to Manga Chapter 200, when Luffy fights Crocodile and we get "Water Luffy."
Crocodile is completely baffled by the situation—and by the fact that Luffy doesn't seem to take anything seriously—while Robin bursts into hearty laughter.
Crocodile embodies the serious adult who has no patience for such childish antics, whereas Robin represents the childlike side; she simply laughs, just as children would in that situation.
We didn't realize it at the time, but looking back at this scene with what we know now, something interesting stands out.
Luffy makes people laugh (Joy Boy/Nika); he laughed.
For Robin, laughter is deeply connected to her history and her suffering (Saul).
Oda weaves laughter like a common thread throughout the entire Story of One Piece: people who are suffering laugh, just like their chain-breaker, Nika.
We see this with Bartholomew Kuma and his story; with the people of Wano who, due to the cursed SMILE, have no choice but to laugh; with Dr. Hiriluk, who laughed and wanted to make others laugh—that was his idea of healing.
To give them something they can believe in and hold onto, even in difficult times.
We see it in people like Uncle Toto in Alabasta, who always smiles and never gives up hope, and even in Gol D. Roger himself, who laughed on the scaffold.
Laughter is a key element in One Piece; it signifies freedom, which is why seeing Robin laugh is so significant.
Her future is foreshadowed right here—and laughter is something most strongly associated with children.
Her childlike side is a core aspect of Robin.
This side also emerges when she joins the crew and uses her hands to sprout antlers on Luffy—mimicking Chopper’s—and we see this childlike side on Zou.
That scene appears only in the anime, unfortunately, but the scene stands out and could just as easily have occurred exactly that way in the manga.
The scene appears in Episode 768.
It takes place shortly after Nami scolds Luffy and Usopp, while Robin, by contrast, is exuberantly jumping down the steps.
That’s why it makes absolutely no sense to me when anti-Zoro fans call him too young for Robin.
And what about Zoro himself—does he act his age?
No; even though he’s quite young, he is often very serious and solemn—traits you’d usually associate with an adult.
Besides, the oldest members of the Straw Hats are often the most childish—take Franky or Brook, for example.
Age difference doesn't matter in Oda’s world; Oda plays by his own rules.
Let’s move on to Chopper, who now facing one of Enel’s four guardians. Shura!
The name Shura (Russian: Шура) originates in Russia and is a diminutive form of the names Alexander (male) and Alexandra (female). It is derived from the Ancient Greek name *Alexandros* and is composed of the elements *aléxein* (to ward off, protect) and *anēr* (man, human).
Its meaning is therefore "the protector" or "he who wards off men."
How fitting, considering that Chopper is currently defending the Flying Lamp against him.
This is the situation that will lead to Chopper’s "nothing happened" moment.
Let's move on to the part where we meet the Shandia warriors—specifically Wyper and Raki.
Don't the two of them remind you of someone?
I always found it funny that the two of them sort of remind me of Zoro and Robin—even in terms of their personalities.
Wyper is rather rough and combative, while Raki is calm and analyzes the situation.
''You'll only be in the way!!''
Words Wyper will definitely come to regret when he fails to protect Raki from Eneru later on.
You'll only be in the way!! → As long as you don't slow me down.
Meanwhile, with our three escaped sacrificial offerings ...
So much for "don't slow me down."
He even keeps the Skyshark away so that Robin can collect samples at the well undisturbed.
(Who exactly do you think you're kidding, Zoro?)
*Nothing happened*, right Chopper?
You know what? Those two have Morticia and Gomez energy.
No, Dad, nothing happened; I was super tough.
You know what I always find remarkably stupid?
When people claim that Zoro and Robin hardly spoke to each other throughout the entire manga.
Aside from the fact that the two of them have their own quiet, subtle way of communicating, the Skypiea Arc alone offers plenty of conversation.
Then again, maybe the people who say that are the same ones who consider the Skypiea Arc unnecessary and didn't watch or read it.
Which is a crime in itself, seeing as the Skypiea Arc is one of the most important arcs—including for explaining what One Piece actually is. How do these people expect to understand the story?
One of my absolute favorite pages.
This highlights the similarity between Zoro and Robin once again; unlike the others, both are quiet observers from the sidelines, yet still part of the crew.
But we can't leave it like that, can we, Oda?
The two of them alone on the sideline under the starry sky by the campfire?
That's way too romantic, that just won't do, so we need some kind of distraction.
Ah yes! How about we just position someone between them, hmm? Yep, much better already, nobody will notice.
(Does that mean Ganfor was Oda's first Zorobin diversionary tactic?)
And Zoro expresses his thanks to Ganfor—what does that remind me of? Ah, yes…
Thanks to @Kushinauwu for her post; it immediately reminded me of that.
I’m afraid I have to wrap up this post here, as I’ve reached the maximum number of images.
We’ll see when I manage to put together the next post, but I’d definitely like to continue this series.
Thanks for reading!
⚔️🎴🌸💚💜
