#ch498

[opbackgrounds]

Oda famously came up with the idea of the Supernovas on the spot after one of his editors said that Sabaody wasn't interesting enough, and it's incredible how easily he justifies their existence on the archipelago. It's established that Luffy doesn't pay attention to the news so he's not going to know about all these potential rivals, and the various routes of the Grand Line were mentioned back on Reverse Mountain when the crew got the log pose. Oda really has made up a world that gives him the freedom to do whatever he wants whenever he wants to, and that flexibility has served the series well over the course of its run.

[iiloffy]

for anonymous

[opbackgrounds]

Luffy's utter guilelessness in conjunction with his complete and total ability to live in the present are two of his most compelling character traits to me. Yeah he declared war on the Government and helped burn down Enies Lobby, no he doesn't want to talk about it. Yes, he's related to all these famous and important figures, no he won't bring it up unless you ask him. But if you do ask, he'll tell you straight up that one of the most important marines is his granddad or that he's got a brother who's already a pirate. The only reason these things are secret is because people don't ask, and Luffy lives his life in such a way that people don't often think to when he's around, because what he cares about is the here and now.

[opbackgrounds]

Shakky remains peak Oda female character design. Oda also hints at her Kuja roots right from the beginning, labeling her right away as a former pirate and naming her after a flower like the rest of the girls on Amazon Lily.

[opbackgrounds]

It's wild to me that Shakky is in no way exaggerating here. Despite the Straw Hats getting knocked around by Kuma, we're still in a part of the story where the crew is riding high after a series of major victories against the Government and its system. It would be easy to think that what she's saying here is hyperbole, but no. Luffy and the rest are still nobodies, and they're about to realize how small they really are.

[opbackgrounds]

Hatchi knowing Rayleigh since he was a kid is one of those little touches that makes his eventual time with Arlong all the more compelling. Like, he's met and interacted with humans before and had positive experiences, but all that went out the window when Fisher Tiger was murdered.

[opbackgrounds]

Shakky is much more relaxed than I would be about the fact that skeletons can be alive and that one is eating her leftover beans

[opbackgrounds]

For the most part I think Oda's done a good job utilizing the Supernovas, but I am pretty disappointed with how Kidd's story turned out. Oda puts in a lot of legwork this arc setting him up as a foil for Luffy, and it's a sort of narrative promise that doesn't get fulfilled to its ultimate potential. Kidd and Luffy don't interact enough for them to bounce of each other. I could have accepted Kidd getting jobbered as an example of how his brand of hot-headed brute strength doesn't cut it in the political landscape of the New World--kind of like a post time skip Moriah--but that story thread didn't get enough attention to make it feel meaningful, especially compared to how much Law's story completely took over the plot after he skyrocketed in popularity.

It's an example of how Oda making shit up on the spot has its downsides. The Supernovas are Oda planting a bunch of seeds for the future seeing what sprouts up from the mess. It leads to some unexpected surprises like Capone Bege on WCI, but also plot lines that wither on the vine before they can bear any fruit.