These are just some of my thoughts after reading One Piece 843. This is very late, but I decided to post anyways, since I wrote it last week.
This chapter was really shocking. I totally didn’t expect the chapter to go this way. It was also a huge emotional rollercoaster. I was personally thinking Luffy and Nami were going to burst into the tea party, and the reunion with Sanji would happen there. I had no idea they would run right into the Vinsmoke catriage. Although it didn’t go the way expected, after thinking about it, I think it was a great chapter because it shocked me so much. I like it when Oda does something completely different from what I expect.
Sanji’s speech
I noticed a lot of people mentioned the similarities with Water7/Enies Lobby, and I think people were disappointed because it felt like Sanji was pulling another Robin speech. I personally think differently. Even though on the surface, Sanji’s speech gives off Enies Lobby vibes, I think he’s doing something different. I think Sanji is actually asking Luffy for help and sending a hidden message, that he wants to obviously go back with them, but he can’t at the moment.
When Robin made her speech, she really meant what she said. She really wanted the Strawhats to leave her in order to protect them, and was willing to die for them.
Although I think Sanji is also doing what he did to protect them, I think he intentionally worded his speech to hide a secret message to Luffy and Nami there.
He said:
“You guys really need to learn how to read between the lines!”
He’s telling Luffy and Nami to read between the lines in his speech.
“Return to your ship and gallivant and roam the sea with you buffoons…or stay put and live in eternal glory wanting for absolutely nothing with Big Mom’s beautiful daughter by my side? I’m sure even the world’s biggest idiot can tell which of the two is the better option!”
I think what he’s telling them that the obvious “better option” is to return to them and roam the seas together. What he really means is, “Even the biggest idiot should be able to tell I want to go back with you!”
And then, in the end when he talks about taking out the trash, he most likely means the Vinsmokes, and he may be telling Luffy that he will take care of them.
So rather than telling Luffy and Nami to leave him for good, like Robin wanted in Water 7, I think Sanji is actually asking Luffy for help here. I noticed some people thought Sanji didn’t trust Luffy enough, or saying, does Sanji really expect to pull a Robin, and expect Luffy to believe him?
Although I think Sanji would be totally willing to sacrifice himself for Luffy and his crew, just like Robin in Water 7( I think he has shown very sacrificial tendencies throughout the manga), I personally think here Sanji knows Luffy won’t buy his speech and is hoping to tell Luffy and Nami about his situation so they can help him without doing something reckless.
Or maybe I’m reading too much into this. What I’m not sure about, is whether Luffy or Nami got the message. Both of them look so emotional, I’m not sure if he understood it. Luffy looks angry, but I don’t think he’s buying the speech. Nami looks like she might cry ;_; I don’t know which of the 3 to feel most sorry for in this chapter.
By the way, I thought the Vinsmoke brothers’ reaction to Nami was hilarious.
It’s ironic, that while the Vinsmoke brothers all get heart-eyed at seeing Nami, we actually don’t see Sanji going heart-eyed at seeing her, which is rare. I think this emphasizes the “show” Sanji is putting on and how serious he is, because throughout the manga, even in dire situations or battles, we see Sanji having heart-eyed moments with Nami/pretty ladies. It’s also sad, because Nami looks so happy to see Sanji this time, but Sanji is actually the one being so cold. Normally Sanji would be ecstatic if Nami was this happy to see him.
The mask
I also think the mask that Sanji is wearing is interesting, because it hides his true face both literally and figuratively. Not only is it hiding his physical injuries, but it’s hiding his true feelings when he sees his crewmates. It’s also a reference to his childhood, when he had to wear an iron mask to hide his face. I don’t think the mask has any special powers, although I saw some theories about it. I do think it has some symbolic meaning because as soon as Sanji put on the mask, he became “Vinsmoke Sanji” and is no longer the usual Blackleg Sanji that we know.
The 3 threats
Before Sanji makes his speech to Luffy, it shows the three threats which keep him from fighting back/escaping. Zeff, his hands, and then the threat from Vito. If you include the flashback with the Strawhats, I guess that makes it 4 things that Sanji wants to protect, actually.
I’m pretty suspicious about what Vito whispered to him back when they were in Bege’s body. I don’t think it’s something obvious like Zeff or just threatening to kill the Strawhats. I think it must be something big, because that was what made Sanji change his mind and go with the Big Mom pirates. Originally, he rejected the tea party invitation, but when Vito whispered something to him, he looked quite surprised, and after pushing Nami, Chopper, and Brook out of Capone’s castle, he decided with Vito.I think there’s a reason Oda kept the threat a mystery, and it’s probably going to be something I couldn’t predict. I also suspect it might be the most important reason that Sanji is putting on a show and giving this arrogant speech to Luffy. If it was something obvious like Zeff’s life or the Strawhats’ life, I don’t think Oda would keep it a secret (if it does turn out to be something predictable I’ll be disappointed).
Luffy vs Sanji?
Oda definitely left us with a huge cliffhanger, and I’m already so impatient for the next chapter. As for the Sanji vs Luffy, I don’t know what to expect. It seems like Oda is hyping us for a fight, but I wonder if he’s going to surprise us all again, and make something else happen? Since Luffy fought Zoro, Usopp, and Franky at some time or another, I guess we need to have a Luffy-Sanji fight too, though.
But will Judge actually let Sanji fight Luffy alone? He told Niji not to kick Sanji, because it will ruin his face. It seems he doesn’t want Sanji to show up at the tea party all battered, so would he let the fight happen?
Also, people noticed that Sanji’s eyebrow was swirling the wrong way in one of the panels. I think it’s most, most likely a mistake. Oda has made mistakes drawing Sanji recently, although I think the eyebrow is really important, since it’s what sets him apart from his siblings.The only explanation I can think of, if Oda drew it on purpose, is that Sanji’s eyebrow actually morphed for a second, and it’s maybe a sign of his dormant Vinsmoke powers awakening :/But this is just a wild theory, and most probably, it’s just a drawing mistake.
I also thought the first half of the chapter about Big Mom’s powers and the new characters was great. The weather manipulation immediately made me think of Nami, and also Dragon, so I really hope Nami will get a lot of spotlight this arc.
When Luffy showed up in front of the carriage Reiju seemed happy/interested seeing him
but then, when Sanji told he is now Vinsmoke and not coming back, Reiju seemed almost disappointed while others were amused
Like all the hopes for Sanji to be rescued has gone.
I can’t help but think I really start to believe she still truly cares about Sanji. But shoudn’t she know that Sanji just can’t go and leave that easily because his hands and Zeff! And they are basically surrounded by very powerful enemy!
There's no way Luffy doesn't know Sanji's lying. He's not THAT oblivious, and if he could figure out Robin during W7/Enies Lobby he can sure as hell guess what Sanji's up to (or again, at least know he's lying).
