So, this one promised to be the end of Oden
aaaaaand it wasn’t XD
But let’s get through things a bit chronologically shall we?
- Toki’s smile still unnerves me, I think it’s putting on a brave face or believing in the will of her husband but something seems off. We’ve also never seen her have prophecy powers so it does feel like the Nine Shadows is just an empty threat
- That taste tester had the Kozuki Crest, so what happened to the Shimotsuki lot? Yasu was guarding Oden’s family was he not?
- Momo seems to be aware that his dad is being executed, which is rough obviously, but wasn’t he present for Oden’s death? That’s how he got triggered by Doflamingo wasn’t it?
- That is indeed one huge pot of oil, I guess he’s not gonna be boiled like Oden like some people thought, probably would be too grim to eat the dude
- Is it me or does Kaido seem really small in this chapter? I mean we know how huge the guy is now but he seems like he’s about Whitebeard’s height right now. Maybe it’s because he’s younger and the Yonko growth spurt hasn’t hit him yet but it is odd to see
- Also weird is Kaido’s mannerisms, he seems to shrug off that Oden is the reason he’s in bandages, downplaying his strength and being angry when he barters for a chance at survival, but then completely changes his mind after
- But Oden did need to do something to recapture the respect of the people and how, carrying his retainers for an hour while in a cauldron of bubbling oil. Now that is something impressive
- I wouldn’t put it past Kaido and Orochi to cheat though, even Oden seems to wise up to taking Kaido’s word with a pinch of salt
- With all this I’m hoping we can put to bed the ‘Shinobu traitor’ theory, maybe even the retainer traitor theory, they all saw and they all seemed dedicated to Oden even during his sacrifice
- Shinobu finally, FINALLY, telling us the nature of the deal. Oden destroyed his own credibility to save hundreds of kidnapped Wano civilians per week, he was tricked into thinking he’d lose war then and still clashed with Mini-Kaido but this is a good explanation. I wonder what they were kidnapped for though, probably labour camps for Kaido
- Orochi isn’t holding back though on his motives, people hunted his family so he plans to destroy everyone in Wano. It fits in line with Kaido’s ‘war of all wars’ plans so that’s probably how they buddied up. But really, someone that power hungry and out only for himself should be removed from office before a court or senate, delegated by a vote where the Republican Party does not hold the majority vote by default...or something similar to Wano
- Still not sure about these boats though, are we implying that Kaido - who can fly - was shipwrecked here and spent 5 years building a boat to leave? I wouldn’t buy, especially since Galley La and Franky took a few days to build the Thousand Sunny.
- And then we end ON ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER! One hell of a shot though
So I’m 90/10 on this, 90% is definitely ‘great chapter, finally stuff gets answered and Oden looks like a badass’ but then there’s 10% of me like ‘we’re kinda dragging this a little aren’t we? We were told Oden would perish 3 chapters ago and he still hasn’t. Why hasn’t the hag died? Why does Orochi attack Kozuki Castle? What causes Inu and Neko’s divide? Where does Denjiro go? I kinda miss Luffy and co and what they’re doing’.
It’s all valid stuff, but between rushing the first half of the Oden flashback it does feel a little long. Excellent though
But please, next chapter let’s get to Oden’s actual end. I can get not killing him on Valentine’s Day (I half expected a grand gesture of Toki and Oden’s love here because Oda waited a week) but the hour has to be up and Oden needs to meet his end so we can get back to the present. Also kill the hag, she wasn’t here this chapter but she’s lurking, I want to frame her death on my wall ¬u¬
