Another delayed review(s) but I wanted to wait for the Jaimini’s box translation because their translations are more accurate (according to mates who can tell the difference), Anyways, these chapters, especially the most recent one are quite a blast I’d say!
btw forgot to write the previous review last week but nevermind that because I’m bad with numbers anyway :D ( actually didn’t just have time for that, sorry again!) Well, didn’t feel like skipping a whole review so this will include the two latest chapters!
So there are two main points in chapter 868: Flashback of Linlin’s past and how she became... crazy plus Streusen who reveals to be the main chef and part of Linlin’s childhood. Now that he has this ku ku no mi-devil’s fruit it might explain why that wedding cake was huge. Actually his skill is pretty useful if he can turn everything into food he could end world hunger. Anyway, he befriends with “abandoned” Linlin (assuming that she is alone because she just ate her friends and not-so-sweet Mother “just dealing kids” Carmel).
Then we have Bege and his gang who are shooting according the plan and everyone is waiting to see what happens (and Pudding is creepy with her third eye in that situation). I by the way still love a lot how Oda placed Sanji standing on table and having Nami and Carrot in front line. It doesn’t even have to mean anything shippy because that panel is so damn cool! Probably been saying this earlier but I think New World has been a great character development for Nami in total. She used to be a scaredy cat and weak compared to monster trio (maybe bad to compare because Luffy’s, Zoro’s and Sanji’s powers are beyond normal) but now she has not only become hella confident but also such a badass fighter who is ready to face everything.
Another important point of this chapter is definitely the failing plan. There was already a joke how Luffy once follows the plan accordingly and then it all goes wrong meanwhile he usually does his own solos and everything goes fine in the end so yup, the alliance has to retreat and big time. Of course when things go wrong it happens and don’t they say that broken mirror brings bad luck for 7 years? (their faces are priceless by the way xD)
Now we have currently a full chaos unleashed in wedding and the alliance having some troubles ahead because their escape route is broken. Bege decides to take another form (which reminds me of Pica from Dressrosa xD) but things aren’t still going to be as smooth as wished so the team is going to be sheltered by Bege (and Luffy is again being his precious self who gets excited about Bege’s new form in middle of everything). Biggest Momma still keeps screaming so the younger generation of Charlottes needs to take things in control.
First they take Brulee back by force of course and the next ones in target are Nami, Chopper and Carrot who probably couldn’t hear or notice early enough the Charlotte siblings because they are wearing those super muting earplugs.
(another side note but why was Chopper’s comment “a cha cha chaa” so freaking cute xD?)
I can’t tell how happy I am to see this panel where Sanji glares at his father and tells him to follow the plan and his orders! Simply moment what probably the majority of the fandom has been waiting for, Sanji facing his biological father who has now to get humble and admit that the kid he thought was a failure has grown up and become stronger than ever and ended up being their savior with his crew (Judge must’ve felt so ashamed already for the fact that they were saved by the “weakest link”)
And for some reason Ichiji has stared that capsule thingy whatever it is called for couple of chapters but at least FINALLY Vinsmokes are stepping into the game with stylish (Sailor Moonish) entry and they finally show their full potential while helping the captured SH out of trouble seriously it’s about time.
From shipping perspective there is one really interesting panel here among the rise of Vinsmokes: Reiju is saving Nami which could be a parallel to Arlong Park arc where Nojiko was ready to protect Sanji from Hacchi .
I’ll return to the set of panels that caught some attention among the shippers later because there is a bit more to talk about (actually just wanted to save the best panel for the last ;p). Anyways, someone screwed up pretty hard by dropping the valuable tamatebako accidentally. Probably a moment not to forget like in last chapter Big Mom broke the mirror by her scream just when the alliance-team was about to be ready to escape.
Katakuri messes up things by blocking the canons with mochi so Bege can’t do much and they are now pretty much surrounded by the enemy. Things don’t look great but at least Luffy and Chopper are still is able to smile out of excitement (and Brook is so chill while drinking his tea XD). Also, I wonder what Judge is going to do because he looks like he is thinking of something and also it almost looks like Sanji is also planing something back there (maybe with Jinbe and Pedro?) We shall not forget that Sanji has accomplished succesfully many plans that he has made during the SH history and like he said in Enies Lobby, it requires also brain power to overpower the enemy (I don’t remember the excact quote but that was his main point there)
I must say that although I don’t like Bege much as a character I still like that Oda has put so much effort on him, also in gags. He has been showing those “oh crap”-faces a lot even though he is quite serious character in general and now the series of the funny facial expression are continuing while Bege and his wife are freaking out seeing Big Mom making a comeback.
Like I’ve told, this arc is filled with paralles and in my opinion the best one was the moment when Sanji catches Nami and carries her in bridal style which is a parallel to what happened in Thriller Bark. Yes this understandably melted the hearts of people inside Sanami fandom but it was indeed really interesting to hear that also many of non-shippers/neutral readers acknowledged this. Of course this necessarily doesn’t make our otp canon but still is a nice moment to enjoy and trust me, those two deserved this after all the crap they’ve gone though ;) !
I won’t lie that my dash has been recently filled with the panels where Sanji catches Nami from air (but that’s only lovely thing that you fellow shippers post those <3!!). What makes this scene even more significant in general is the fact that they don’t hear a thing because of the earplugs and gosh that smile of theirs could cure everything in this world :’> (it really doens’t even have to mean anything romantical but their expressions talk a lot, not only things seem to be reconcilied between them but also showing the trust and strong nakamaship they share).
This was pointed out in OJ but a sharp eyed shipper mate noticed those little lines above Nami which indicates that she was facing a positive surprise and well it’s good that she didn’t fell on the ground because damn that would’ve hurt. My fellow mate @eleamaya wrote about the different conciliations here: Luffy and Sanji made up their disagreements with bento so this definitely sorts out things between the cook and navigator judging to her reaction (just look at her eyes :>). She could’ve be pissed off or something else for gag reasons but she isn’t and on other thoughts why would she be, the prince saved her ;D of course she doesn’t know about him being a royality but the main point in this fangirling is that Oda finally made Nami aware of that Sanji is always there for her. Again to point out yes, she has been saved by other guys as well but like said, it’s pretty odd that she has been unconcious in those cases when Sanji saves her (the best example is Thriller Bark) and when Nami acknowledges and praises Sanji’s sacrifies he is in most cases also unconcious.
I opened this point up a bit earlier but Pudding’s reaction and role is left really open. One mate asked my point of view to that panel via IM so I’ll quote my reply (there might be some same points I’ve stated earlier so sorry for repeat):
Actually I don't think Pudding's reaction has anything to do with romance. I mean for me it looks like she is more envious than jealous. She can envy that Sanji chose his crew mates over the marriage or that he has such stron bonds between his mates unlike Pudding who grew in questionable environment.
Oda actually gives very conflicting info about her relationship towards her family because it seemed like she was Big Mom's favorite but then when she had the "mental breakdown" when Sanji calld her third eye beautiful the flashback says she was bullying others and bullied by Big Mom as well. So I honestly don't know what to say but somehow I have a feeling that because of the flashback with Lola (which seems to be important for the story) Pudding might want to follow her sister's footsteps.
She is now having a very confusing situation: she failed the murder but she also betrayed Straw Hats. So in my eyes she is kind of lost at the moment and now seeing Sanji having a supporting web of friends she might start to think what she really wants instead of being constantly controlled by Big Mom (who for example didn't even let her chose the wedding dress, she wanted her to wear the one she chose)
I also heard people are wanting her to become nice and join Straw Hats but somehow I doubt that. She has a sad past like SH but still she has done so many things that make her not deserve the place in the crew. She doesn't have an role there (she can shoot but Usopp shoots better, she can bake but they already have a chef and she could read poneglyphs but then it would make Robin useless). Also unlike Robin Pudding has never really helped the Straw Hats, she lead them to trap so that's one reason I don't think she would be welcomed to crew.She might help Straw Hats after this chapter but still I highly doubt that she will ever be SH herself. I believe she seeks for freedom and takes Lola's path :)
Marriage is a big theme in the whole One Piece story but I think I’ll open up this topic more detailed in the next Sanami in the New World-part (which is still on it’s way, thanks for patience beforehand!) but shortly said we can say that in One Piece it’s an opposite thing for the definition of freedom, as we’ve seen in Sanji’s case so I’m terribly sorry to say again that in my opinion Pudding kind of lost her game if we talk about the possibilities of romances between her and Sanji. However she might become the key for this arc (if she decides to help and if SH accept her help). So now all we can do is to wait to see what’ll she do, we have another week to wait!
And by the way, Nami definitely deserves her nickname since she literally stole the husband in this chapter ;)
This chapter was out earlier than I expected but the strategy meeting moves forward and it seems like they are agreeing the methods how they are going to create a unforgettable tea party that’ll be in less than two hours and 30 mins !
Today’s chapter’s theme is the assasination plan of the yonko like the chapter title says and mainly the chapter focuses on the alliance group brainstorming and of course the preparation of wedding will be also seen.
Capone’s gang knows Big Mom pretty well so they tell Straw Hats that there is only 5 seconds time to succesfully fulfill this plan since the enemy reacts fast to unexpected situations, otherwise they can bid farewell to the victory plans.
Capone tells others that it won’t be easy to harm Mama since she is a tough iron ball but he knows her weakness, it’s a photo of someone called “mother Caramel” (maybe Linlin’s relative or friend?) that according to Bege is the most valuable thing Linlin has and yes it’s so important for BM that she went nuts last time someone dropped it acciendtally. She let a supermassive shriek and actvated her haki and after all that she was on her knees and wounded even though she is pretty much unbeatable.
Related to this fact now Ceasar (or Gastino) has a important job. He has the weapons that will be useful in his mission and to kill their biggest enemy. (Meanwhile bragging himself the others simply ignore him and Luffy keeps laughing because Ceasar was called “Gas boy” and we know how much the rubber brain loves poop jokes xD)
So the other part of the plan is to use Luffy as a bait. It ill be risky but Luffy is already pumped up and ready for action. He is so excited that he even has a cool entrance. It’s understadable that Nami and Chiffon are not 100% agreeing beause well, it’s a hella risky plan in general but again, Luffy is all ready and they agree with Sanji that the captain will arrive after the mark (gunshot)
Not sure if Oda revealed all but this plan sounds quite promising, despite the risks. Also because this is One Piece there is a high possibility that nothing will go according the plan and everything is messed and they end up fighting anyways against each other anyways. Also we musn’t forget that Brulee and Bobbin are still around so they can ruin this all as well !
It seems by the way that Carrot does not 100% trust their new allies, not only staring them with hesitating face in the panel where they all are but Oda drew her a separate panel which indictates to these thoughts of mine (btw her outfit is so damn cute, why this arc has such stylish cool outfits :>?) and no wonder though, remember how Robin tried to warn Luffy about alliances in Punk Hazard? Yes we all have reasons to doubt this alliance as well, even though now it seems like they really are co-operating to take Big Mom out of the game but it might bet´that once she is maybe out then the war between Straw Hats and Capone’s gang might be declared.
So, elsewhere people around the Whole Cake Island are preparing for happy news and also Vinsmokes are getting ready for party. I must say Ichiji’s tattoo makes him look like even more badass ! (yes he is a ultimate douche in canon but I must say the portrayals of Sanjii’s brothers in rp commnunity has made me like them more but it still doesn’t erase the fact that they treated tiny Sanji like crap :<) that stupid coffee/tea cup made me smile xD. Actually was wondering whether all the siblings have some sort of tattoos and according to this chapter it seems so. Speaking of Reiju, she hasn’t been shown so I wonder whether she is up to. She has been in her thoughts lately and hasn’t said much so we have no idea what she is going to do (first she was talking about deserving to be killed but maybe she wants to stay alive after all)
Big mom is having some “first world problems” being sad over a broken doll but on the other hand she is so excited for the wedding, super duper lalalal-kinda feelings. I still feel very complex about ther character, at times she is actually funny but most of the times she is a awful twisted character (especially after finding out that she abuses her own kids) but maybe Oda made her being part silly to compensize her total insanity.
Bride Pudding is also preparing for the wedding and she is actually really pretty there but also really nervous. Even her homies (Nitro jelly Rabian) are noticing this but yeah I asumme it’s very normal to be like that at big days like this, right? She is not in her “evil 3-eyed”- mode but still something really is odd with her. I mean she isn’t as vulgar as she was when she talked with Reiju but again, she has a big task ahead so she needs to focus and it’s not the easiest one so pressures over her. Also there was speculation at OJ that she might be changing her plans, like maybe she is actually turning against her own mom which could be another plot twist, who knows.
Even in that wedding dress all I can think of are the countless parallels to Thiller Bark. I wonder how Sanji will react when seeing Pudding in wedding dress but like I mentioned in one reblog, despite the fact that Sanji “falls” for all possible ladies Nami is the only one whom he has called a Goddess, twice. Also now that the situation is like what it is (Sanji is heartbroken by Puddin) I really doubt he would go all mellorine because he does also care about the personality, not just the looks.
I have to say that there is a tiny part of me that still doesn’t give up the belief of the bride swap-theory. I’ve probably explained this before but as a quick recall, it would be something like the name says, that instead of Pudding the bride would be Nami but again although there are many pros supporting this but there is also many cons that make this theory very unlikely and far fetched. Also, absolutely nothing has confirmed this to become true and it’s really just guessings but main reason why I still tend to ponder this is because Oda has made Nami and Pudding resemble each other various times and that really can’t be pure concidence.
but again, to keep the feet on the ground and not getting way too carried away with shipping goggles I will pinch myself and tell us all to wait because probably the next chapter will determine whether there was any point in these thoughts. Like said, it’s all just some speculating and only Oda knows for certain how things will move on !
