Hello, I’m @wesleysniperking, also known? as Usopp’s lawyer. A while ago, my life changed forever when I stumbled upon an anime about a straw-hatted boy and the world of pirates. From the start, I declared a long-nosed, “lying” underdog—Usopp—as my favorite Straw Hat and character in One Piece.
Before diving into One Piece, I received one warning and plenty of surprises. The warning? To steer clear of the fandom due to its toxicity. My twin sister told me this, and I heeded her advice for a while…until, inevitably, I found myself tangled in heated debates defending a certain long-nosed sniper. Now, I can’t even return to my YouTube account without being reminded of those arguments.
As for the surprises, most revolved around Usopp, and I embraced each one with a healthy dose of skepticism and acceptance. What draws me to Usopp is his complex and often polarized reception, his charm, and his status as an underdog. That’s why I’ve taken it upon myself to represent him. Usopp isn’t my first “case”—I’ve championed similar characters in other fandoms, and those cases are still ongoing.
While I’m 100% Team Usopp, my goal isn’t to gatekeep, rage bait, or play the victim (despite being accused of all three). My mission is to understand why Usopp is so frequently ostracized, penalized, and subjected to unfair perceptions. From unconscious bias to harsh, off-target criticism, it’s been a long battle—but no complaints here. Usopp is worth rooting for.
Flaws aside, I can never justify the level of unfairness and so-called "objective" criticism thrown his way. Maybe it’s projection, maybe it’s bias, but what I bring is a fresh perspective. I’m Usopp’s lawyer, here to fight his case! Reporting for duty—Usopp-centric, baby!
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If there’s one fandom consensus that I wholeheartedly agree with, it’s regarding Usopp’s screen time in the One Piece movies. He’s a scene-stealer and always manages to do something cool or worthwhile. If you’ve watched the movies, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
The movie I want to focus on is "One Piece Film: Red." This is the movie where Usopp meets his dad amid battle, and they do that iconic Observation Haki thing together. It’s a scene I rewatch time and time again.
"One Piece Film: Red" is many things: fun, ambitious, messy, high-budget, and a wild ride. Uta’s character design was rad, and the overall vibe with the other characters was well-executed.
But in hindsight, I noticed that the movie did a lot of foreshadowing, especially concerning the final battle where everyone tries to take down Tot Musica. We see most of the Straw Hats with power-ups and battle moves that weren’t canonically revealed until the Wano arc was nearing its end. Here are some of the foreshadowed power-ups:
Luffy: We get a preview of Luffy’s Gear 5.
Zoro: Demonstrates his mastery of Enma and Conqueror’s Haki.
Sanji: Uses advanced fire attacks, reminiscent of "Ifrit Jambe."
Nami: Shows her integration with Zeus, who finally gets to shine.
Robin: Showcases "Demonio Fleur," which she uses against Black Maria.
Brook: Utilizes more of his soul-related abilities, similar to his actions in Wano.
Koby: Even Koby had a bit of foreshadowing regarding his growth, hinting at his future role as a Garp-like figure to Luffy’s Roger.
Given all this, I wondered why Usopp didn’t receive a similar foreshadowing in the movie. The answer seems clear: Usopp’s “power-up” or significant moment is being saved for a much later, possibly even more impactful, event.
Many fans speculate (and yes, I’m using some “Oda said” hearsay as a source here) that the people behind the One Piece movies have insight into how the series will end or what the One Piece actually is. If Usopp didn’t showcase his Observation Haki in the Wano arc like he did in the movie, it likely means Oda is reserving his moment for a bigger payoff.
Consider the scene where Usopp and Yasopp perform incredible Observation Haki feats together—something we haven’t seen canonically. Not even Katakuri could maintain such a level of Observation Haki for long. There’s also the part where Katakuri tells Shanks he can see through his sister’s eyes, but only for a few seconds, to which Shanks replies, “You’re not the only one who has Observation Haki.” It then cuts to Yasopp saying, “Yeah. My son has it, but he’s too panicked.”
This interaction might hint at the unique potential of Usopp’s Haki. Perhaps Observation Haki users can link up with others they’re related to, or maybe it’s just a matter of Usopp honing his abilities. Either way, the fact that this was showcased in the movie but not yet in the manga suggests that Usopp’s true power is yet to be revealed.
Another point that stands out to me is the conversation between Katakuri and Shanks. Shanks’ words wouldn’t necessarily lead anyone to believe he was specifically talking about Yasopp. We didn't even know if Yasopp was aware of his son's abilities. Yes, the movies aren’t canonical, but still, it’s intriguing. When Yasopp mentions that his son has Observation Haki but is too nervous to use it effectively, it raises questions. How does Yasopp know this about Usopp, given they haven’t spoken in over a decade (if ever)?
What also stood out was the scene where Usopp is running and says, "If we only did something to Tot Musica’s legs, we could defeat him” (paraphrasing here). Usopp then stops, tells himself to stay calm, presses his fingers to his temples, and suddenly, he’s seeing through his dad’s eyes. Yasopp exclaims, "D*mn, son! You finally managed to link up with me?! Finally!” (Paraphrasing here). They then guide everyone on where to attack Tot Musica’s limbs, resulting in a spectacular team effort. Afterward, Shanks remarks, “Yasopp and his son work well together,” with a thoughtful and brooding expression.
None of this is canonical, but it makes me wonder about Usopp’s story in the main series. Does Shanks know the limits of Yasopp’s Observation Haki? Can Yasopp do things with it that even Shanks can’t? Given Yasopp’s role as a sniper, it makes sense. In real-world terms, snipers use spotters to help locate targets and assess their surroundings. Yasopp’s Observation Haki might serve a similar purpose, acting as a “spotter” for pinpoint accuracy.
Additionally, considering the non-canonical nature of the movies (last time I'll mention this), what if they have their own internal canon? In "One Piece: Red," what if Yasopp and Usopp had already talked before the events of the movie? Yasopp might have advised Usopp to train his Observation Haki and stay calm to tap into its full potential. That’s why, during the fight with Tot Musica, Usopp reminds himself to stay calm before successfully linking up with his father. Usopp’s smile when he realizes he’s connected with his dad, and Yasopp calling him a “knucklehead,” suggests a prior relationship and training.
This scenario could potentially work in the canon of the main story. It opens up possibilities for Usopp’s future development, hinting at a deeper mastery of Observation Haki and a stronger connection with his father.
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all my usamerican one piece fans!!! wanted to ask what yall think which state each of the strawhats would be from, just based on vibes or maybe even cultural connections?
extra points if one of them is from california…….. do it for me…
Any Usopp headcanons you wanna share with the class?
Hey! I loved that you asked this. So, here they are:
Usopp Headcanons
1. Usopp wears a bonnet to bed. Oda doesn’t really show the Straw Hats during their low-key, mundane moments aboard the ship anymore, so I have adopted this headcanon deeply and personally.
2. Usopp is actually better with a gun than he is with a slingshot. He simply prefers slingshots.
3. Whenever Luffy and Usopp argue after Water 7, Luffy has to be careful about how he speaks to him. Usopp doesn’t respond well to yelling or “because I said so.” Yes, Mr. Straw Hat is the captain, but not everyone operates like Mr. Straw Hat. Respect is still a two-way street.
4. Usopp is surprisingly chill when the cameras stop rolling. He can handle most of the crew’s insanity with a calm head—right up until Luffy starts Luffying.
5. Usopp is the acting shipwright. Whenever Franky is unavailable or out of commission, Usopp has his blessing to take over. At this point, I consider him the crew’s co-shipwright. Franky’s mentorship gave him the experience and knowledge he desperately needed back when Merry was barely holding together.
6. Usopp knows how to use the Clima-Tact. He may not know every one of Nami’s techniques or be able to incorporate Zeus, but he can still accomplish plenty with it on his own, especially with the pre-timeskip moves. The Clima-Tact has backward compatibility. That is another headcanon, but stay with me.
7. Usopp is extremely intelligent. He’s a biologist, an engineer, and everything that falls somewhere beneath those umbrellas. He’s like that kid who jokes too much and constantly gets in trouble because he sits beside a friend who refuses to apply himself—Luffy—but when the teacher returns everyone’s papers, you glance over and discover that Usopp got an A with a circle around it.
8. Usopp knows basic self-defense because Heracles taught him. Besides, a sniper still has to graduate from boot camp before moving on to specialized sniper training.
9. Usopp is the person everyone asks to kill bugs. Sure, Robin, Franky, Zoro, Brook, and Jinbe are perfectly capable of doing it, but Usopp is approachable, dorky, and possesses one-shot accuracy. He is clearly the best person to call when there’s a giant bug sitting in the corner of your bedroom or food pantry. Sometimes “spanking” and “SUUUPERRR!” simply aren’t going to cut it.
10. Usopp can fight at close range by using Kabuto’s stem as a melee weapon. He even did it in one of the One Piece specials or movies, so I’m taking it.
11. Usopp has mental health issues involving anxiety and dissociation. Because he’s highly functional, many of those symptoms are mistaken for simple cowardice.
12. Usopp uses Observation Haki far more often than he realizes. He simply hasn’t learned to recognize it yet. He also has a genuine ability to detect danger before almost anyone else does.
Recently, my sib and I went with my mom to visit an old friend of hers from her basic training days. At some point my mom brought up politics, and regardless of whether I agreed with her friend’s views, what made me laugh was how my mom and sister kept exchanging looks, glancing at the friend, and then looking at me like, “THIS is exactly what you look like when you talk about Usopp.”
And honestly, it made me realize how beautiful it can be to watch someone speak passionately about something they genuinely believe in. When a person cares that deeply they are often giving you access to knowledge they have taken the time to seek out, question, and understand.
Her friend explained that all the upheaval surrounding the subject had pushed them to look in another direction simply because continuing to look at it the usual way had started to feel strange. Whether I agreed with every conclusion or not, it was still fascinating to listen to someone speak with so much conviction and to see the subject through an angle I had never considered.
It also reminded me that, regardless of whatever is happening in the Usopp-verse, there is something genuinely joyful about loving a subject because it means something to you. Sometimes the passion itself is beautiful to witness.
Has a myriad of skills and talents other than marksmanship: storytelling, charisma, drawing, sculpting, engineering, chemistry, carpentry, horticulture, and weapon-crafting
Excels as a strategist who can defeat stronger opponents by exploiting their weaknesses, utilizing psychological warfare, using the environment to his advantage, and coming up with ingenious battle tactics on the fly
Is extremely dependable to the point where Luffy and the other Straw Hats know they can count on him to come in clutch when all hope seems to be lost, and he always delivers
An essential crew member who has more than earned his place as a Straw Hat and contributed to their successes in both big and small ways
Manages to be a major source of comic relief without becoming incompetent or detracting from his importance to the plot
A well-rounded character whose strengths, flaws, and insecurities make him extremely relatable to the audience
Has proven himself as a brave warrior of the sea on his own merits without riding on his father’s coattails
One of the bravest characters in the series who will overcome his fear and fight to protect his loved ones and those who depend on him
Has a big heart and is an amazing friend who stick by you through thick and thin, even if he sometimes disagrees with you
Fights his own battles and wins them like a boss
Utilizes his skill at lying and tall-tales to help and uplift others (Kaya, Straw Hats, Tontatta Dwarves)
Even weaker than the average Marine grunt, contributes absolutely nothing both in and out of battle
Relies on his subordinates for everything and fight his battles for him
Uses his “Dark Justice” as an excuse to do whatever he wants no matter how many innocent people get hurt or killed by his actions
Rides on his father’s coattails and obtained his position solely through nepotism instead of his (nonexistent) merits
Consistently ignored, mocked, and disrespected by his own subordinates who recognize how useless he is
Status as comic relief emphasizes his ineptitude
Humiliates and beats up Robin while she’s restrained with Seastone cuffs, but is completely defenseless when she and Franky fight back
Is so stupid that he accidentally invokes a Buster Call on Enies Lobby, and then lies that he purposely invoked it to eliminate the Straw Hat Pirates
Shifts the blame for destruction of Enies Lobby squarely on his subordinates even though it was entirely his own fault, and sends government agents to hunt them down while they’re on the run
Demoted to Lucci’s bitch during the time-skip
This is for @bottlepiecemuses @usoppssketchbook @perfectlyimperfectcharacterfan @wesleysniperking @acesbeadednecklace @murphmurphthejerk @one-piece-thoughts-only
Basically, we’ve got privilege versus someone who genuinely worked for everything they have. Spandam represents the kind of privilege people get away with all the time. He’s the guy who gets into a prestigious school because he was born into the right group, while Usopp is the guy who has to work twice as hard because he wasn’t born with the kind of privilege that keeps you from getting pulled over and immediately reaching for your phone because you don’t feel safe, if you get my drift.
Anywho, these are fabulous points, and thank you! Spandam is an utter guttersnipe, and Usopp is the dynamo.
hey! i saw ur post about tr and I didn’t see the mikey and mitchy friendship matching usopp and luffy till now. and chopper and chifuyu is unexpectedly fitting too.
but i was wondering why you thought to compare mikey and mitchy to usopp and luffy when they don’t seem so similar at first.
sorry. i can’t word it right. i hope you get what im trying to ask. and i know this isn’t a tr sideblog but i didn’t expect u to mention tokyo revengers. n i didn’t expect u to make it about one piece too 😅.
Hey! Thanks for the ask. 😆
What’s funny is that my sister was the one who first tried to get me into Tokyo Revengers. she was watching the anime in the background, and when I asked what it was, she explained, “You know how One Piece is about pirates? This is basically that, but with gangs.” Then she told me the protagonist was “the Usopp,” the gang leader was “the Luffy,” and his right-hand man was “the Zoro.”
Naturally, I was annoyed by the Usopp comparison at first. It’s complicated whenever I come across an unconventional male shonen protagonist who gets immediately classified as weak. Plus, with everything happening in One Piece and Elbaf, I’d been too exhausted to get invested in another anime 🙄. So, I ignored her.
Then, while reading some fun Usopp discussions online, I found someone comparing Luffy and Usopp’s friendship to other famous fictional friendships. They mentioned Takemitchy and Mikey, and I immediately thought, “Wait. Aren’t those the two characters my sister compared to Usopp and Luffy?”
I went back to her and asked what their names were. In her very helpful way, she said, “Mitchy something and… Mikey?” 😭 Once I confirmed the names, I decided, fine. I’m reading the manga.
I finished it basically in one sitting and was crying by the end.
And yeah, I completely understood the comparison. (vague spoilers start here)
Out of everyone in the Straw Hats, Usopp is the only person who has genuinely fought Luffy and meant it. I honestly don’t think most of the others could bring themselves to do that. But I also think that, if Luffy ever truly needed to be saved from himself, Usopp’s will would be strong enough to lead everyone and say, “just help me get close enough. I’ll do what I have to do.”
Like Takemitchy, Usopp would admit that he was terrified. He would admit that he didn’t want to die. And then he would do it anyway
Takemitchy tells Mikey that he is his friend for life and that, no matter how many times it takes, he will keep coming back to save him. That is the kind of intensity I’ve always felt was possible between Usopp and Luffy. We see glimpses of it in Water 7, Dressrosa, and even a little in Stampede, but I wish their friendship was explored that deeply more often.
At the center of both friendships is this incredibly strong, charismatic leader who becomes attached to someone everyone else dismisses as a weak crybaby. Early in Tokyo Revengers, people (other gang member) constantly wonder why Takemitchy follows Mikey around and, more importantly, why Mikey allows it. Even the way Mikey casually invites him into Toman reminded me of Luffy and Usopp. They connect through dreams, and neither Mikey nor Luffy looks down on the “coward” beside him. They genuinely admire him. Like, even Takemitchy was thinking he going to be the leader of Toman one day, and that reminded me of Usopp’s captain bit.
making comparisons between the East Blue boys and the Toman members ended up being surprisingly effortless. The Black Dragon Christmas fight in the church especially gave me Arabasta and Skypiea vibes. Mitsuya felt like Sanji, a talented fighter who arrives at the perfect moment and helps take control of the situation. Takemitchy felt like Usopp, getting beaten bloody but refusing to abandon his position. Chifuyu felt like Chopper, loyal, supportive, and doing everything he could to protect the friend he believed in.
Draken also somehow helped me understand Zoro more. He is firm, takes the role Mikey gave him extremely seriously, follows his captain’s decisions, and will step forward for anyone who is too frightened to fight. Even their ridiculous, unserious sides match.
And Chifuyu’s friendship with Takemitchy reminded me so much of Chopper’s relationship with Usopp. Chifuyu’s loyalty feels incredibly genuine and human He believes Takemitchy even when everyone else doubts him, and honestly, I finished the manga wishing I had a friend like him. 😭
Chopper will always be in his own special category for me, though. Seeing how deeply he admires, trusts, and believes in Usopp makes me ridiculously happy every time.
I could genuinely go on forever, but that’s basically how my sister accidentally got me obsessed with Tokyo Revengers.
the usopp slander and sh*tty takes is starting to get to me.
at this point is usopp just gunna get elbaf crumbs?
do you really think he has any more story left?
wes, as his lawyer, what's the verdict as of now?
guilty or not guilty?
yasopp isn't my favorite person but I'm starting to jump on the “don't hate yasopp” train too. i hate being this stuck. i feel so delulu rn. ugly. i reread w7 and then wanted to throw the last volume to the water 7 saga in the trash and pile dog sh*t on top of it. how are you getting through this? are u thinking of leaving the fandom?
(if u don’t answer this i completely get it. but your posts get me through these dark usopp times. because dressrosa happened a lifetime ago and people keep making it a point to remind usoppians that in a really ugly way).
- blu 💙
hey, blu. first off, you made me realize i’d accidentally turned off my DMs, so thank you for that. 😭 but since you sent this as an ask, i’m going to answer it here and respect the fact that you reached out this way.
come here. seriously. biggest hug. 🫂
i understand exactly where you are right now because i was there during my brief hiatus. the constant Usopp slander, the smug takes, and the uncertainty surrounding Elbaf can really start eating at you. but One Piece isn’t supposed to make you miserable, and spiraling over every possibility will only make this period hurt more. been there, done that.
so here is my official verdict as Usopp’s lawyer:
not guilty. never guilty. and he is not going to jail on my watch.
regardless of what Elbaf ultimately gives him, Usopp is still loved. there are still people who recognize that something feels wrong about how he has been handled and refuse to dress that discomfort up as anything prettier than it is. Oda never officially promised that Elbaf would be “Usopp’s arc,” sure, but that does not mean fans were unreasonable for expecting meaningful payoff after years of connecting Usopp to giants, warriors, bravery, and Elbaf itself.
and even if Usopp receives a major moment here, i don’t think his story can—or should—end with that.
i genuinely believe there is more left for him. Yasopp alone connects Usopp to unfinished business from Syrup Village, Shanks and Luffy, sniping, and Haki. Then there is Usopp’s Observation Haki, Van Augur, his dream, his lies coming true, and all the emotional material Oda has left untouched. People once assumed Brook’s story was essentially finished too, and Elbaf proved otherwise. One Piece still has room to surprise us.
Elbaf itself is not over either. This is the land of warriors, giants have been tied to Usopp for too long to dismiss, and his entire fighting style lends itself to a David-and-Goliath moment. Fans have also suggested weapon upgrades, Ragnir, or even Usopp staying behind to train. Those are not necessarily my favorite theories, but at this point, i am willing to keep the door open.
My point is that there are simply too many loaded guns sitting on the table. It would be genuinely awful writing to build all of that around Usopp and then leave it unexplored.
And if this truly is all Elbaf gives him, people cannot simultaneously laugh in Usopp fans’ faces and insist that the arc handled everything perfectly. If the payoff never comes, then Elbaf failed Usopp in a very specific and painful way. His fans are allowed to say that. Oda is a writer, not a god above criticism.
I’m not planning to leave the fandom, but I may step back whenever I need to protect my peace. Loving Usopp should not require sitting through people degrading him every day. Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is close the app, return to the parts of his story you love, and let the fandom scream into an empty room for a while.
So yes, blu, this is a painful and exhausting period for Usopp fans. Your disappointment is valid. Your fear is valid. None of that makes you delusional or ugly. It means you cared, you invested in the story, and you expected the narrative to honor what it spent years building.
But Elbaf isn’t over. Yasopp still exists. One Piece isn’t over. Usopp’s story still contains too many unanswered questions for me to declare the case closed.
That’s where my heart lives.
So come grieve with me for a minute. We’ll grab the Kleenex, complain about how messy this has been, and then keep holding on together.
The Tokyo Revengers and One Piece Parallels I Can’t Unsee (tl;dr)
okay, so I’ve been lowkey obsessed with Tokyo Revengers. I read the entire manga in 2 days and I have already watched the anime 2 times. 😅
Since Takemitchy isn’t the strongest fighter, is a self-proclaimed crybaby, can take an absolutely ridiculous amount of punishment, and has a very loyal and steadfast love interest, I naturally started thinking about Usopp. Then the rest of the East Blue boys got pulled into the comparison, with Chopper unexpectedly joining them.
i could go much deeper into all the parallels, but I don’t want to make this post unbearably long. So, for anyone who has read or watched Tokyo Revengers, my comparisons are:
Luffy and Mikey
Zoro and Draken
Usopp and Takemitchy
Sanji and Mitsuya
Chopper and Chifuyu
Slight One Piece and Tokyo Revengers spoilers ahead.
Luffy and Mikey are both leaders, insanely strong fighters, short, food-loving, and deeply attached to their older brothers. Mikey’s friendship with Takemitchy also reminds me a lot of Luffy and Usopp’s friendship, especially the version of their bond that I wish One Piece explored more often. 😔
Zoro and Draken are both fiercely loyal, give off major big-brother energy, show affection through tough love, and take their responsibilities very seriously. They are also the second-strongest fighters in their respective groups and serve as their leaders’ right-hand men.
Usopp and Takemitchy are underdogs with genuine leadership skills, enormous willpower, and the ability to keep standing after taking injuries that should have put them down. Their fandoms also get frustrated with them because they do not fit the conventional image of a powerful male shonen protagonist, even though their emotional strength is the entire point.
Sanji and Mitsuya are caretakers whose talents allow them to look after the people around them. sanji does it through cooking, while Mitsuya does it through sewing and fashion. They both clearly care about their appearances, have very distinct eyebrows, and possess a friendliness that contrasts nicely with how intimidating they can initially seem.
Then there’s Chopper and Chifuyu. Both are incredibly supportive of the people they are loyal to, but Chifuyu’s unwavering respect for and admiration of Takemitchy especially reminds me of Chopper’s relationship with Usopp. Seriously, Chifuyu and Takemitchy even fought some battles that felt weirdly adjacent to Usopp and Chopper fighting Miss Merry christmas and Mr 4 in Arabasta.
anywho I just wanted to share the connection because once it entered my head, I couldn’t stop seeing it.
note: regarding Zoro—the “right hand man” thing and “second strongest fighter’ can be disputed, but I can digress that in this particular post.
Usopp’s Observation Haki Is Basically a Sniper’s Thermal Vision
I was watching a movie starring Dylan Sprouse where his character was being hunted by a lone sniper, and the sniper was using thermal, basically infrared, vision. I immediately thought, wait… in One Piece’s own fantasy way, is a sniper’s Observation Haki kind of the equivalent of that?
Y’all, anytime a sniper shows up in something I’m watching or reading, my brain automatically goes straight to Usopp. That was honestly one of the only reasons I enjoyed the movie. 😭 But seriously, Oda probably didn’t plan this connection and it’s more of a fridge brilliance thing. Still, come on. Whenever One Piece YouTubers talk about Usopp’s Haki, they never really connect it to how actual sniper optics work. So yes, I got a little giddy when it clicked for me.
I feel your concerns with Elbaf. And it sucks cause at the end of the day, while it is just a story, the Elbaf connection has been established and alluded to for YEARS, so to not give Usopp his moments to shine while they're there, at least to the extent that the other Strawhats get to, it can... sting. Especially when you're this attached to and passionate about the character.
I'm glad to hear you're taking a step back from jumping into every online argument though, cause at some point it becomes unproductive and just fuels your own frustration instead of channeling it into creating something, like your lovely essays about Usopp. :) Wishing you well
Hey! 😊 Thank you for the lovely asks. I took a small hiatus, so coming back to this was really nice.
And yes, it does sting. Deeply. I feel like I’m grieving something I don’t even have the name for yet. I haven’t caught up with the last few chapters of One Piece because reading it right now stings too. I can’t help but feel kind of lied to, and in some ways, I understand why people feel contempt when it comes to Usopp. But like I’ve said throughout my blog, I think that contempt is misguided and directed at the wrong person.
At this point, I feel like the only thing that can really soften the blow is for canon to give Usopp something clear. Something that isn’t easy to refute. Something people can’t argue around because the story has confirmed it loudly and plainly.
I know a lot of people don’t like Yasopp, but he really is my true north right now.
Anywho, for now I’m going to focus on creating and catch up with the manga when I can. I’ve actually been working on a small Usopp project, and I hope to share it soon. Thank you again for your inspiring words. I do plan on writing more essays, and I promise they won’t all be such downers.
I’m still staying away from the toxic parts of the internet, though.
There are several things regarding usopp that keep me up at night
Right now I’m stuck playing the waiting game. I haven’t really been anywhere besides tumblr, but the lack of morale around Elbaf has been bringing up a lot of ⛈️ thoughts. And honestly I keep thinking this waiting game wouldn’t hurt so much if Oda had given Usopp any kind of buffer.
Usopp does not really have outside content to soften the blow of his lack of screentime or the constant critical scrutiny he gets from the fandom. I keep asking myself why Oda would do that to a character like him. Sometimes I wonder if Usopp is intentionally written as the character who represents the unexplained humanness in all of us. but if that is the case, why is he so often left without a clear win, meaningful attention, or narrative reinforcement?
If the ambiguity surrounding usopp is intentional. and if so many of the fan misconceptions really do come from a lack of media literacy, then why are those misconceptions so easy to form in the first place? Why leave so much of his value open to interpretation while other characters receive clearer validation?
that’s is what makes the situation feel so lopsided. Usopp’s observation haki has barely been touched since Dressrosa. his relationship with Yasopp still has no proper payoff. His elbaph connection has been built up for years, but the uncertainty around it is painful because fans are left wondering whether all that setup will actually matter.
One Piece Film: Red does not count as enough of a buffer to me. 5 minutes of screentime is not enough for a character with this much emotional and thematic weight.
I want to believe Oda’s recent message suggest that the story can no longer afford to let characters drift or “regress” 🙄 without purpose. I want to believe he would not dangle Elbaf in front of Usopp fans for this long without intending to give Usopp his flours. I know I cannot predict or control Oda’s story, but I still cannot help asking, why has Usopp’s predicament been allowed to become this unfair?
I do not condemn Usopp’s essence or his journey. I love what he represents But I also cannot pretend the imbalance does not bother me. Sometimes I find myself resenting how other Straw Hats receive clearer payoff, clearer validation and more protection from the narrative, while Usopp is left exposed to the harshest (unbearably worst and wrong) readings possible.
That is why i can not dismiss and wave away big Usopp expectations for elbaf. oda never gave us a real reason to stop associating Usopp with Elbaf, giants, or warriorhood. The story never clearly said, “This connection is over” or “Usopp is not that tied to this theme.”
If anything, the story has continued to keep that door open.
An author is not obligated, shouldn’t be forced to answer every fan expectation. I understand that. But when a character is so widely mocked, misunderstood, and reduced to “a bum,” I think it is definitely fair to question whether the issue is only the fandom…
….or wether Oda’s writing choices have contributed to that perception too.
that doesn’t mean usopp is a bad character. It doesn’t mean his journey has no value. But it does very much mean I struggle with the dilemma. Because if Usopp is written with intentional complexity, then I want the story to protect and reward that complexity. And if the story doesn’t, then I think it is fair to say that Oda, while brilliant, is not a perfect writer.
I dislike this dilemma very much.
😮💨
P.S. i know people are probably tired of posts like this, but this really did come from the heart. I’m not saying the story has to cater to me. I’m just trying to work through why a character I care about so much has been left in such an uncertain spot for so long. It’s funny because when I first started making posts about Usopp and Elbaf, I felt so passionate and sure. I could joke, argue, and stand on it with my whole chest. But lately, I just haven’t been in that same headspace. I still love Usopp with my whole heart, and that hasn’t changed but the waiting has been weirdly devastating. i know i probably look contradictory or depressing right now, but I’ve taken a step back. I’m not doomscrolling everywhere or throwing myself into every fandom argument. I’ve mostly just been quietly lurking and staying on tumblr. But even with that distance, it still feels defeating. elbaf isn’t over, and I know that. But damm.
Oooo thank you for the tag @sothisish0witends friend I really appreciate it :) six favorite characters-
Tagging @lilyofthisvalley18 @hanafubukki @avoyuki-avocado @jellyfishhyy @itsdesssuyo @wyvernslovecake @fiden-criatura and anyone else who wants to join in. No pressure tags as always!
AHHH THIS IS SO HARD!! Thx for the tag, Pariah! Ill try my best~
(it took me a month to reblog cuz I can't upload pics from my phone 😭)(Also Mob & Mao Mao are GOATed picks)
They are, in order: Corazon from One Piece, Usopp from One Piece, Tenma from Monster, Lemon & Tangerine from Bullet Train (both the movie and the book, and yes they're together cuz they're a pair), Conn from The Magic Thief, Sazed from Mistborn
Honorable mentions: Luffy from One Piece, Jonas from The Giver, Vin & Elend from Mistborn, and literally any of the main or supporting characters from The Tyme Series
It was very very VERY hard picking them, and I'm not 100% sure of them being my actual top 6, but they are def in my top 100. GOD I love fictional characters...
Tagging: @alwaysanovice , @spongebobafettywap , @wesleysniperking , @oorea , @rowantheduchess , and anyone else who wants to join!!
Ooh! Thank you, ‘tulip! This was fun. And your top 6 say a lot about you. Open-minded, curious, eclectic, all for a good time, steadfast, and endearingly profound! 🤗 Anywho, here is my top 6.
Are you an Usopp fan who's tired of the lack of content? A fanfic writer who doesn't know what do write about him? Or an artist who can't find inspiration for drawing him? You might be interested on this blog!
The idea is simple: every monday, I will post a prompt related to our beloved sniper. It can go from crossovers to simple poses. To participate, all you gotta do is follow this blog, and tag me when you post the result! In case of writing a fanfic, tag it as "Usopp weekly prompt" and I will share it here!
Rules
Don't harass other creators over their work. If you do, you will be blocked and I will not repost your work.
Don't post racist, xenophobic or queerphobic content related to the prompts. If you make a racial caricature of Usopp, or do drawings with him doing fascist things like supporting Trump/MAGA/Israel, you will be blocked and I will not repost your work.
Mystery vs Tragedy vs Comedy!!! That's so interesting~
Since it isn't July yet, you can choose which team you want but I like getting sorted randomly. I got Mystery! Currently it's the team with the least members lol. Hopefully it evens out by July =)
