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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Water 7 Is Not a Trophy. It’s a Battleground. | TL;DR
(Elbaf spoilers 🚨)
I saw a take recently that basically used Water 7 as a reason why Usopp fans should not expect Elbaf to be especially meaningful for him. The general idea was that Usopp already had his big emotional arc, so if Elbaf ends up giving more focus to someone else, then Usopp fans should not act like he was deprived. 💀
and to be clear, this is not about attacking Brook fans or anyone who is excited for another character. People can think Brook has stronger relevance in Elbaf. People can be excited for Brook. People can prefer whatever character they prefer. That is not the issue.
The issue is that when people bring up Water 7 like it somehow settles the entire Usopp conversation forever. 🙄
like, “Usopp already had Water 7, so what are his fans complaining about?
And that is where I have to pause, because that is such a shallow way to talk about what Usopp fans have actually been dealing with.
Water 7 gave Usopp incredible material. I’m not denying that. But Water 7 also became one of the biggest weapons fandom uses against him. That arc did not just become “Usopp’s big emotional arc” in fandom memory. It became the place people return to whenever they want to call him disloyal, useless, replaceable, weak, selfish or undeserving of his place on the crew.
So, no, Water 7 is not some clean trophy Usopp fans get to hold up forever while everyone respects it. For a lot of us, Water 7 is a battleground.
That is why it feels dismissive when someone uses it like a reason Usopp fans should stop expecting payoff. Because it ignores the actual burden we have been carrying in fandom spaces for years.
And, Wano only made that worse.
Yes, I can argue Wano all day long. I can talk about what Usopp did what he represented, what moments mattered, and what people overlook. But even then, Wano left Usopp fans in debt. It gave us things we can argue from, but not always things that are undeniable enough to shut down bad-faith dismissal.
That is the problem.
Usopp fans are constantly having to perform narrative CPR (my fave term rn) just to keep his contributions alive in fandom conversation. We are always explaining why his moments count why his fear does not erase his bravery why his victories are still victories why his role matters even when the story frames it messily or comedicaly.
So when elbaf comes around, an arc that has been emotionally tied to Usopp since Little Garden, of course Usopp fans are watching closely. Of course expectations are high. Of course people are anxious. This is not random. This is not us pulling an arc out of thin air and demanding ownership of it.
Elbaf is tied to Usopp’s dream. His idea of warriorhood. His admiration for giants. His insecurity. His bravery. His lies becoming true. His relationship with fear. His desire to become someone he can be proud of.
So when someone says, “well, Water 7 already happened,” it feels like they are skipping over the actual dilemma.
Because the question is not, “has Usopp ever had a good arc?”
– the question is, “why does Usopp keep getting setup that the story and fandom do not always protect?”
– the question is, “why are Usopp fans expected to be satisfied with moments that are constantly minimized mocked or treated like accidents?”
– the question is, “why is his fandom burden dismissed by people who have not actually cared to understand what we have been fighting since Wano, and honestly long before that?”
u can have an opinion. You can disagree. You can think Brook deserves focus. You can think Elbaf is doing exactly what it needs to do. fine.
But you cannot speak for Usopp fans like you have witnessed our dilemma if you have not even bothered to understand it.
Because for us Water 7 is not just payoff. Wano is not just “he did some stuff.” Dressrosa is not just “he got a gag win.” Elbaf is not just “Usopp likes giants.”
This is years of emotional setup, fandom dismissal, narrative debt, and waiting for the story to finally give Usopp something so clear that people cannot strip it from him the second the chapter drops.
And maybe that payoff is still coming.
i hope it is.
But if Elbaf skips over Usopp after all this build up, then I am not going to pretend the setup was never there just because other people did not care about it.
Usopp’s importance is not invalid just because fandom keeps treating his moments like they need a lawyer present to count.
I know I probably sound like I’m in a dark mood, but honestly I’m trying to keep morale. This is not about attacking Brook fans or any one excited for Brook. This is about naming the weird uncomfortable position Usopp fans are in right now, especially when peopl are already using brook’s focus to rub salt in the wound. Sometimes saying the quiet part out loud is the only way to keep from feeling crazy.
With everything happening in Elbaf lately, both in the anime and manga, my strongest hope for Usopp payoff is Yasopp. And no, before anyone starts, I am not saying Usopp only matters if his dad enters the picture. That is not what I mean. Usopp is valuable on his own. Usopp deserves the world on his own.
But I need some return on investment here.
I know some people feel like the Imu stuff is enough, and I respect that. Truly. But at this point, after years of Elbaf being tied to Usopp, after OPLA season 2 also pushed that emotional connection, after all the giants, all the setup, all the carrots being dangled in front of us, I cannot be okay if all Usopp gets is a speech
I can compromise. I can accept trade-offs. I can be patient. But I cannot accept this being all there is.
If Oda didn’t intend for Elbaf to give Usopp meaningful payoff then I do think it feels insulting and unfair to keep reminding us that Usopp has this connection to Elbaf and the giants, only for it to amount to crumbs. That’s where my frustration is coming from.
So right now, I’m holding onto Yasopp. It’s risky. I know I might end up hurt all over again. Since if Yasopp started this arc off with a bang then I need his son to end it with one too. That is the hope I can cling to right now.
I got really stressed over Oda’s recent message and had to go to my family. They told me to keep hoping, so I will.
My mom said, “Don’t mind that. He probably wrote that in the middle of the night half asleep. Old people problems.”
My sister said, “You know how in fanfiction when an author posts an update, but it’s not an actual chapter? Just one big author’s note? That’s all it is. Chill.”
So, yeah I’m trying to chill.
It’s Oda’s story. I know that. I know he’s aging. I know, yada yada. But I’m frustrated. I’m hurt. I’m human. I will never give up on Usopp, and I will never “drop him,” but I can absolutely complain about the process.
The arc isn’t over Not even close. But right now? Oda is being cruel.
You know, there’s always been that debate about who would make the best vice captain of the Straw Hats. And while I do like that the crew doesn’t really operate on strict titles beyond Luffy being captain, I honestly think Usopp being his VC would have added a completely different kind of flavor to the story.
Not because Usopp is the obvious choice 👀.
That’s exactly why it would have worked.
Zoro makes sense as the powerhouse right hand. Nami makes sense as the one who keeps the ship functioning. But Usopp? Ha. Puh-leez.
Usopp would have made people stop and ask what Luffy actually values in a 2nd-in-command. Because Luffy choosing Usopp would not be about rank, strength, intimidation, or clean leadership optics. It would be about trust. It would be about Luffy picking the one person who understands fear, morale, survival, performance, and hope in a way the others don’t.
And I think that’s where the human and monster thing comes in.
Luffy is bright, loving, ridiculous, and freeing, but he is also dangerous. He’s a monster of willpower. He throws himself at the impossible like normal limits don’t apply to him and half the time, they don’t. That’s inspiring, but it’s also terrifying if you really sit with it and think about it. Usopp on the other hand, is painfully human. He’s scared. He bleeds. He panics. He lies. He knows exactly what it feels like to be small in front of something bigger than him.
So if Usopp were vice captain his role wouldn’t be to match Luffy’s monster. It would be to balance it.
Not by controlling Luffy. Not by being stronger than him. But by being one of the few people who can still reach him when everyone else only sees the captain, the miracle, the future Pirate King, or the monster. Usopp would be the one who can look at Luffy and still see his best friend underneath all that power.
And that’s what would make it interesting.
Usopp’s job wouldn’t have to be “win until Luffy gets there.” It would be “hold the world together until Luffy gets there.” Keep the crew from breaking. Keep civilians alive. Stall the enemy. Lie well enough to preserve hope. Stay standing long enough for the miracle to arrive. And sometimes, when Luffy himself becomes too much, Usopp would be the one who reminds him where home is inside himself.
That wouldn’t take anything from Zoro or Sanji. They’d still be monsters in their own right. They’d still be Luffy’s wings and pillars. But Usopp as VC would give the narrative a different edge. Edgy. It would make the crew feel less like it’s built around obvious power structure and more like it’s built around belief.
Two 17 year olds. Captain and vice captain. Best friends. Both ridiculous. Both underestimated in different ways. One a Devil Fruit user, one painfully mortal. One the monster who can bend the world. One the human who survives long enough to keep believing in him. Front line and support. Sun and shadow. Dream and doubt. Two sides of the same freakin’ coin.
That’s why I wish Oda had kept the Usopp-as-VC idea, because it could have made One Piece wrestle more openly with what Luffy is becoming and why Usopp matters to him. Especially now, knowing what Luffy’s power really is, it adds a whole other layer. Luffy’s power in the wrong hands would be terrifying. But Usopp beside him would say something important: that Luffy is not just dangerous because he’s powerful, and he’s not safe just because he’s good. He’s safe because he has people who love him enough to reach him.
And Usopp being one of those people, officially, would have hit.
Water 7 would have been devastating in a completely different way too. Because then it wouldn’t just be Usopp leaving the crew. It would be Luffy’s human tether snapping. The person he trusted to hold the line would be the one saying, “I can’t stand beside you anymore.”
Human versus monster, huh?
That’s the part I can’t stop thinking about. Not just Usopp as vice captain for the title, but Usopp as the proof that Luffy’s crew was never supposed to be built on power alone. It was built on trust. And Usopp, of all people, being chosen for that role would have made that impossible to ignore.
We really did get robbed of cool edgy one piece, like this on top of cyborg Nami I would dieeeeee. But this is also so important to me, because the second most human on the crew is probably the nonhuman ones, like chopper and brook. I would maybe say Nami but I feel not as much, especially with her natural leadership. Chopper isn't even really a human but I feel so much more like him than Sanji or Nami or Zoro, who are technically Just Normal People.
Their flaws seem tangible, a big one for all three being loneliness. Brook on the boat for 50 years, Chopper is neither human nor reindeer AND has a blue nose, and Usopp's mom died and Dad left.
It's the opposite of Luffy, who has never really been alone. He's always had family. He was in that barrell for like a day until he met Koby, it's not in his blood to be alone. It's part of his godliness, his natural draw to people. It would make Usopp's loneliness so important as Luffy would do anything for strangers because he's got so much love in his heart and willpower, but Usopp would do anything for strangers because he relates to the struggles of humans. Luffy doesn't let go, neither does Usopp, but Luffy loves easier, and I think having a vice captain like Usopp who is kind to strangers YET suspicious makes a better fit than Zoro, who intimidates others and putting him second in command makes it seem, again like you said op, like the pirate crew is about power rather than family.
You know, there’s always been that debate about who would make the best vice captain of the Straw Hats. And while I do like that the crew doesn’t really operate on strict titles beyond Luffy being captain, I honestly think Usopp being his VC would have added a completely different kind of flavor to the story.
Not because Usopp is the obvious choice 👀.
That’s exactly why it would have worked.
Zoro makes sense as the powerhouse right hand. Nami makes sense as the one who keeps the ship functioning. But Usopp? Ha. Puh-leez.
Usopp would have made people stop and ask what Luffy actually values in a 2nd-in-command. Because Luffy choosing Usopp would not be about rank, strength, intimidation, or clean leadership optics. It would be about trust. It would be about Luffy picking the one person who understands fear, morale, survival, performance, and hope in a way the others don’t.
And I think that’s where the human and monster thing comes in.
Luffy is bright, loving, ridiculous, and freeing, but he is also dangerous. He’s a monster of willpower. He throws himself at the impossible like normal limits don’t apply to him and half the time, they don’t. That’s inspiring, but it’s also terrifying if you really sit with it and think about it. Usopp on the other hand, is painfully human. He’s scared. He bleeds. He panics. He lies. He knows exactly what it feels like to be small in front of something bigger than him.
So if Usopp were vice captain his role wouldn’t be to match Luffy’s monster. It would be to balance it.
Not by controlling Luffy. Not by being stronger than him. But by being one of the few people who can still reach him when everyone else only sees the captain, the miracle, the future Pirate King, or the monster. Usopp would be the one who can look at Luffy and still see his best friend underneath all that power.
And that’s what would make it interesting.
Usopp’s job wouldn’t have to be “win until Luffy gets there.” It would be “hold the world together until Luffy gets there.” Keep the crew from breaking. Keep civilians alive. Stall the enemy. Lie well enough to preserve hope. Stay standing long enough for the miracle to arrive. And sometimes, when Luffy himself becomes too much, Usopp would be the one who reminds him where home is inside himself.
That wouldn’t take anything from Zoro or Sanji. They’d still be monsters in their own right. They’d still be Luffy’s wings and pillars. But Usopp as VC would give the narrative a different edge. Edgy. It would make the crew feel less like it’s built around obvious power structure and more like it’s built around belief.
Two 17 year olds. Captain and vice captain. Best friends. Both ridiculous. Both underestimated in different ways. One a Devil Fruit user, one painfully mortal. One the monster who can bend the world. One the human who survives long enough to keep believing in him. Front line and support. Sun and shadow. Dream and doubt. Two sides of the same freakin’ coin.
That’s why I wish Oda had kept the Usopp-as-VC idea, because it could have made One Piece wrestle more openly with what Luffy is becoming and why Usopp matters to him. Especially now, knowing what Luffy’s power really is, it adds a whole other layer. Luffy’s power in the wrong hands would be terrifying. But Usopp beside him would say something important: that Luffy is not just dangerous because he’s powerful, and he’s not safe just because he’s good. He’s safe because he has people who love him enough to reach him.
And Usopp being one of those people, officially, would have hit.
Water 7 would have been devastating in a completely different way too. Because then it wouldn’t just be Usopp leaving the crew. It would be Luffy’s human tether snapping. The person he trusted to hold the line would be the one saying, “I can’t stand beside you anymore.”
Human versus monster, huh?
That’s the part I can’t stop thinking about. Not just Usopp as vice captain for the title, but Usopp as the proof that Luffy’s crew was never supposed to be built on power alone. It was built on trust. And Usopp, of all people, being chosen for that role would have made that impossible to ignore.
I bring up the "Usopp shouldn't have been forced to apologize the way he was, in the first place" to the "Why was X/Y/Z crew member not forced to apologize and kicked out of the crew when the example was already set after Enies Lobby with Usopp" argument which most people do not like—
Translation: “Stop using Usopp’s apology as the measuring stick for how every Straw Hat conflict should go. Maybe the issue isn’t that other crew members weren’t forced to grovel the way Usopp was, but that Usopp shouldn’t have been put through all that in the first place. And it’s wild how this fandom loves pirates and rebellion until it’s time to talk about respect, then suddenly everybody wants a military chain of command.” 💅🏾
did you see Usopp's placement in the popularity poll midterm top 100 list? He's, like, #17 (iirc)!! I'm sure we can overtake some more placements in the next couple months! <333
Yes. And I just checked, he’s actually #16! He may not be top 5 or top 10, but top 20 is still really good. He’s definitely not forgotten. I’m talking to you, haters!
There are so many One Piece characters, so I think that still says a lot. And honestly, I’m positive we can overtake a few more placements too. Who knows? One Piece isn’t over yet, and Oda still has more writing to do. Things can still swing in our favor.
Usoppun for the win! 🥇 ❤️ 💪🏽
I can definitely take top 20, because at the end of the day, it’s still a popularity contest, and popularity contests are always affected by screen time bias… and other uncontrollable things. That’s not meant to invalidate anyone else, of course. but seriously, the worldbuilding really did tank things for some characters.
Oh well. My petty a** still thinks it’s a win if he beat Yamato. No shade to Yamato fans.
Btw just letting you know that somebody accidentally reported my blog and it got terminated (🙄🙄🙄) so this is my backup until I get it back. @theviolettulip if it wasn't obvious XD
Hey! Thanks for letting me know, and I see you’ve regained access to your account! So, thanks for keeping me in the loop. That reminds me... I need a backup plan just in case too... but seriously. Thanks.
Another counterpoint to the "Usopp will die" nonsense: I'm currently rewatching WCI and a CRITICAL line in that arc is Luffy saying that he cannot become King of the Pirates without Sanji. WCI obviously is building off of previous times someone has left the crew, and Luffy's learned how to handle this self-sacrificial bullshit better. He says this about Sanji specifically, but I think it applies to ALL the strawhats. Luffy CANNOT achieve his dream without them. (Yes, you could argue that if they're actually fighting together and someone dies during that, it's different, but I don't care. Don't give a single fuck. Usopp dying would be so stupid and if Oda actually pulls that I will be salty for years after.)
I truly do not like grading Straw Hat bonds (I’m not saying you did—I’m talking about myself), and I don’t think it’s fair to do so. But even tho I’ve been trying to dodge these Usopp death theories and not give into the fearmongering anymore, this ask does line up with some things I’ve been thinking about.
Yes, Luffy says this about Sanji specifically in WCI, and I’ve always stood by the idea that it’s not only because Luffy loves his cook dearly. It’s also because Usopp leaving in Water 7 was one of the hardest lessons Luffy ever had to learn as a captain.
That’s why I’ve never liked the argument that Zoro needed to “put Sanji in his place” for leaving. To me, that downplays Zoro’s growth and makes him seem meaner than he actually is. WCI was not about repeating Water 7 beat for beat. It was about showing that Luffy, as captain, is going to do whatever the hell he believes is right, and the crew has to trust him enough to follow that.
Because at the heart of the Mugiwara crew is friendship.
And that brings me to Usopp.
Someone else pushed back against the whole “Usopp will die” theory by saying they firmly believe Usopp is Luffy’s best friend, and honestly, that is part of why Water 7 hurt the way it did. So why would people want Usopp sacrificed when Luffy would not only be losing a crewmate, but also one of the few people who matches his freak, his humor, his childishness, and his sense of play?
Sure, people can put the “best friend” label on other crewmates too. Zoro’s bond with Luffy gets framed heavily through captaincy and loyalty. Nami has immense trust in Luffy because he always comes when she calls, and she believes in him to get the job done. Sanji’s bond with Luffy is not detached at all, but it has this more complicated older friend energy, like someone reliable, intense, protective, and deeply affected by him.
But Usopp???
When you put the best friend label on Usopp, it is not easy to take it off. Doing so feels like denying the impact of Water 7, Luffy’s youthfulness, and the way Usopp brings out a very specific part of him. Their bond has always carried something loud, funny, immature, painful, and deeply personal.
So if Usopp died, I would not find that poetic. I would find it disrespectful, cheap, and mean.
One Piece is Oda’s story. Clearly. It is. But you can’t place Chekhov’s gun after Chekhov’s gun around Usopp and then reduce all of that buildup to death. We still have his Observation Haki to explore. We still have Yasopp. We still have years of Usopp’s dream, insecurity, bravery, and narrative potential sitting there waiting to be handled properly.
At that point might as well fire Jacob Gibson from the live action and hope OWN has another role lined up for him because what are we even doing?
And even if someone says, “Well, what if a Straw Hat dies while fighting?” I still don’t care. That still feels cheap and stupid to me in general. Oda did not spend decades investing in a group of main characters with unfinished dreams just to kill one of them off before they actually reach what they’ve been fighting for. The Straw Hats are not random casualties in a war story. They are the heart of One Piece. So a Mugi dying in battle would not automatically make it meaningful to me. A Mugi dying during a fight or just eating a slice of pie would still feel insulting and gross if the death cheapened the character instead of honoring them. It would feel like the story undercut its own promise, especially if that death was treated like a shortcut to prove bravery or raise the stakes. It would leave me wondering where Oda’s editor was, and honestly, I can’t even fully trust the editor either.
And yes, I was being absurd on purpose with the slice of pie thing, but that is the point. Whether it happens in the middle of some grand battle or while someone is eating dessert, the method itself still feels gross to me. I do not want a Straw Hat death dressed up as “stakes” when these characters still have dreams to fulfill. It would leave me wondering where Oda’s editor was, and honestly I can’t even fully trust the editor either. Ugh.
But yes, the WCI point works extremely well, and I’m going to hold onto it as optimism. I haven’t reread WCI yet, and when I tried rewatching it a few months ago, I was already feeling tender because the Water 7 residuals always do me in. People always want to strip Usopp of dignity before anything else. That is the real issue. Even in death.
Because then what happens? People say Elbaf was good because “Usopp’s death ate,” or they say Imu carried the arc and Usopp’s death was stupid and he never really fulfilled his dream anyway. It would be the Water 7 saga all over again. The Luffy and Usopp fight helped make that arc iconic, but fans will still celebrate the arc while praising everyone except Usopp because “he fought his captain.”
Ugh.
Anyway, I’m choosing to take your WCI catch as optimism, because I need more of that. I’m not giving into the idea that Usopp will die. He deserves better than that. And honestly, Usopp couldn’t do that to his friends either
It would feel incomplete. It would feel unfair. And after everything, it would feel like the story forgot what made him matter in the first place.
Another counterpoint to the "Usopp will die" nonsense: I'm currently rewatching WCI and a CRITICAL line in that arc is Luffy saying that he cannot become King of the Pirates without Sanji. WCI obviously is building off of previous times someone has left the crew, and Luffy's learned how to handle this self-sacrificial bullshit better. He says this about Sanji specifically, but I think it applies to ALL the strawhats. Luffy CANNOT achieve his dream without them. (Yes, you could argue that if they're actually fighting together and someone dies during that, it's different, but I don't care. Don't give a single fuck. Usopp dying would be so stupid and if Oda actually pulls that I will be salty for years after.)
I truly do not like grading Straw Hat bonds (I’m not saying you did—I’m talking about myself), and I don’t think it’s fair to do so. But even tho I’ve been trying to dodge these Usopp death theories and not give into the fearmongering anymore, this ask does line up with some things I’ve been thinking about.
Yes, Luffy says this about Sanji specifically in WCI, and I’ve always stood by the idea that it’s not only because Luffy loves his cook dearly. It’s also because Usopp leaving in Water 7 was one of the hardest lessons Luffy ever had to learn as a captain.
That’s why I’ve never liked the argument that Zoro needed to “put Sanji in his place” for leaving. To me, that downplays Zoro’s growth and makes him seem meaner than he actually is. WCI was not about repeating Water 7 beat for beat. It was about showing that Luffy, as captain, is going to do whatever the hell he believes is right, and the crew has to trust him enough to follow that.
Because at the heart of the Mugiwara crew is friendship.
And that brings me to Usopp.
Someone else pushed back against the whole “Usopp will die” theory by saying they firmly believe Usopp is Luffy’s best friend, and honestly, that is part of why Water 7 hurt the way it did. So why would people want Usopp sacrificed when Luffy would not only be losing a crewmate, but also one of the few people who matches his freak, his humor, his childishness, and his sense of play?
Sure, people can put the “best friend” label on other crewmates too. Zoro’s bond with Luffy gets framed heavily through captaincy and loyalty. Nami has immense trust in Luffy because he always comes when she calls, and she believes in him to get the job done. Sanji’s bond with Luffy is not detached at all, but it has this more complicated older friend energy, like someone reliable, intense, protective, and deeply affected by him.
But Usopp???
When you put the best friend label on Usopp, it is not easy to take it off. Doing so feels like denying the impact of Water 7, Luffy’s youthfulness, and the way Usopp brings out a very specific part of him. Their bond has always carried something loud, funny, immature, painful, and deeply personal.
So if Usopp died, I would not find that poetic. I would find it disrespectful, cheap, and mean.
One Piece is Oda’s story. Clearly. It is. But you can’t place Chekhov’s gun after Chekhov’s gun around Usopp and then reduce all of that buildup to death. We still have his Observation Haki to explore. We still have Yasopp. We still have years of Usopp’s dream, insecurity, bravery, and narrative potential sitting there waiting to be handled properly.
At that point might as well fire Jacob Gibson from the live action and hope OWN has another role lined up for him because what are we even doing?
And even if someone says, “Well, what if a Straw Hat dies while fighting?” I still don’t care. That still feels cheap and stupid to me in general. Oda did not spend decades investing in a group of main characters with unfinished dreams just to kill one of them off before they actually reach what they’ve been fighting for. The Straw Hats are not random casualties in a war story. They are the heart of One Piece. So a Mugi dying in battle would not automatically make it meaningful to me. A Mugi dying during a fight or just eating a slice of pie would still feel insulting and gross if the death cheapened the character instead of honoring them. It would feel like the story undercut its own promise, especially if that death was treated like a shortcut to prove bravery or raise the stakes. It would leave me wondering where Oda’s editor was, and honestly, I can’t even fully trust the editor either.
And yes, I was being absurd on purpose with the slice of pie thing, but that is the point. Whether it happens in the middle of some grand battle or while someone is eating dessert, the method itself still feels gross to me. I do not want a Straw Hat death dressed up as “stakes” when these characters still have dreams to fulfill. It would leave me wondering where Oda’s editor was, and honestly I can’t even fully trust the editor either. Ugh.
But yes, the WCI point works extremely well, and I’m going to hold onto it as optimism. I haven’t reread WCI yet, and when I tried rewatching it a few months ago, I was already feeling tender because the Water 7 residuals always do me in. People always want to strip Usopp of dignity before anything else. That is the real issue. Even in death.
Because then what happens? People say Elbaf was good because “Usopp’s death ate,” or they say Imu carried the arc and Usopp’s death was stupid and he never really fulfilled his dream anyway. It would be the Water 7 saga all over again. The Luffy and Usopp fight helped make that arc iconic, but fans will still celebrate the arc while praising everyone except Usopp because “he fought his captain.”
Ugh.
Anyway, I’m choosing to take your WCI catch as optimism, because I need more of that. I’m not giving into the idea that Usopp will die. He deserves better than that. And honestly, Usopp couldn’t do that to his friends either
It would feel incomplete. It would feel unfair. And after everything, it would feel like the story forgot what made him matter in the first place.
