Why Oda didn’t “betray” anyone
if you are a vivid FRobin shipper you are probably aware of the stirring the recent Colorspread caused in the whole of the One Piece fandom.
Suddenly people realised that “Holy shit! FRobin is a thing?! Franky and Robin together?!!! Who would have thought?!” and if you are a indeed a FRobin shipper you would have probably reacted along the lines of “Yeah, well there have been hundred of hints but better late than never, right?”
It’s been there since the Sea-Train.
Of course it might not be obvious to anyone because while reading something the focus is different for everyone and even more so if you ship something with all your might.
When I read a new chapter I’ll put my focus on every interaction Franky and Robin have because I hope for new hints towards my OTP. Almost every interaction will be analysed if they fit my picture of the relationship I imagine for them.
But I still read the rest too. Because focusing on only two characters of a story as big as One Piece would be a waste of time.
So, it does not matter if and which characters will get together in the end. Because that is not what the story is about and even if I - personally - think that if characters A and B don’t end up together, will be a shitty decision, I’ll still accept it.
Just because I - personally - misinterpreted whatever Oda was showing that does not mean he was wrong.
In the end, all creative decisions are the authors to make and even if they are wrong - in my personal opinion - I still have to accept them. Because the author owes me nothing. They don’t even know me. Why should they care what I - personally - want out of this story when there are millions not agreeing with me or hope for a completely different outcome?
Yes I put time and money in the franchise. I followed the characters on their adventure but that was my decision. I can criticize and cry and curse the creator of any kind of media. And it’s okay because grieving over something that was a huge part of my life makes sense and is healthy. But in the end of everything comes acceptance. The story is finished and told and I have to accept that the canon is as it is. And maybe a huge part of the fans are even happy with it? Who am I to demand that they have to suffer instead of me?
It’s not the authors fault.
People create headcanons and theories because they read a story a certain way and maybe one of them will prove to be canon. Maybe not.
For example, despite all of the theories about her, will Luffy only have one biological mother. Which one that will be decided by the author.
Being extremely passionate about a fandom or a ship is an amazing experience and a dangerous one. It can consume you. It’s sometimes a thin line to tread. So, be careful that it won’t become an obsession.
Don’t become obsessed with something trivial like a ship so that it’s the only thing that keeps you in a fandom!
In conclusion: an author owes you nothing. The way you read and understand things is not necessarily correct. A creator can change opinions or how they see their own characters. Something said and done five or ten years ago may be answered different today.
And most importantly, don’t forget fanart and fanfiction exist. If you don’t like the outcome of something a lot of people (not all) will agree with you and write and draw their own versions. Create your own little world and ignore the canon. No one can take that from you.
