Revisiting old One Piece arcs during the series’ final sequences is a unique experience ripe with foreshadowing, world-building and hidden gems.
With less than a decade until the expected end of One Piece, bittersweet emotions arise as the final goodbye to the Straw Hat pirates feels closer than ever before. Revisiting story threads and older arcs is more enriching than ever, as many moments and sequences carry extra weight. With certain elements in play for decades coming to fruition and other aspects of the story drastically changing, it is refreshing to delve into old One Piece material.
Information about Blackbeard, Vegapunk, Saul and other vital players resonates deeply with the collision courses that Oda has put into place. Story arcs rich in world-building and those filled with genuine Straw Hat crew interactions provide wonderful windows into how far the journey has come, what lies ahead and classic crew dynamics. The familiarities built over thousands of chapters give One Piece a unique, lived-in connection that can pluck heartstrings as powerfully as the deepest epics.
The Giants of Little Garden Have Always Been Important
From humble, lie-filled beginnings, Usopp has paved a powerful path of infamy and bravery. While the conflicts in Syrup Village force Usopp to rise and protect someone he loves, his drive to become a brave warrior solidifies after meeting the giant duo in Little Garden. His bond and admiration for the fierce fighters are now reaching an essential peak as the crew will likely head to Elbaf.
For such a short arc, the crew all shine with memorable and telling moments. The extent to which Zoro injures himself to break free from Galdino’s wax plays into the recurring theme of Zoro getting severely injured before more giant fights and accepting his death in style. Even with Usopp’s commitment to bravery and Zoro’s madness, it is Sanji’s slick solo mission to gather information and begin his legacy as Mr. Prince that impresses on a revisit. Sanji may have to use his broad skillset, as future conflicts will require more than brute force to succeed.
Jaya Is Brimming With Charm and World-building
Pre-timeskip arcs have a knack for packing a lot into shorter stories. “Jaya” is specially packed with information and charm that ages beautifully. The theme of dreams is potent in this arc, manifesting through Luffy and Blackbeard’s convictions. There are other implications about Blackbeard and his crew, which grow more relevant with his crew on course to fight Marines and pirates.
However, it is the wonder, mystery and path to an unknown destination that makes Jaya feel relevant. Luffy’s drive and power are impressive as he one-shots Bellamy and elevates Cricket and his friends. The collision of powerhouses at the end of the arc feels like the groundwork for both Marineford and the final conflict between immense forces from the Marines, Warlords and Emperors. A strange balance of crew dynamics and humor, with the overwhelming amount of world-building, makes “Jaya” an extremely fulfilling arc to revisit.
Long Ring Long Land Is Pirate vs. Pirate Madness
Of all the early One Piece arcs, few are as infamous or divisive as “Long Ring Long Land.” Having the unfortunate circumstance of falling between the brilliant epics of “Skypiea” and “Water 7,” Long Ring Long Land feels lackluster and ridiculous. However, with pirate versus pirate battles on the horizon, the Davy Back fight feels oddly essential.
Ingenuity, adaptability and absurdity made the Davy Back fight interesting. Those elements will manifest in one form or another when a mixture of Shanks, Blackbeard or Luffy collide as they all aim for Laugh Tale. On top of interesting future implications, crew dynamics are high, with Sanji and Zoro showing off their potential as a team when they take down the Groggy Monsters.
It’s Wild Who All Collided at Sabaody Archipelago
For such a small and chaotic stop, the time on Sabaody Archipelago rippled through One Piece’s future stories as the Worst Generation became more active and present. Oda pulls back the curtains on Sabaody Archipelago, fully revealing the reviling racism and slave trade stemming from One Piece’s entitled upper echelon. The importance of Luffy’s goal of total freedom starts to hit harder with this arc as it becomes evident that the world needs freedom.
When the Worst Generation displays portions of their power against Kizaru and the Pacifista, it highlights the potential of pirates and the raw power of the Marines, especially the tools acquired from Vegapunk. The recent introduction of Seraphim poses the question of how well they will fare against the strength of up-and-coming pirates. Sabaody also builds the ongoing mystery around Bartholomew Kuma, who quickly becomes a vital player with his re-emergence.
Different Aspects of Punk Hazard Hit Hard
Luffy and the Straw Hat’s foray into the New World is rich with lengthy stories and abundant details that are continually paying off. “Punk Hazard” is an estranging and often tedious arc because the amount of time spent in a dull factory feels drawn out when this island adventure turns out to be more of a prequel tale for the grandiose “Dressrosa” arc. However, thanks to the introduction of Vegapunk and the cover story flushing out MADS, “Punk Hazard” has gained a new life.
The frozen creatures lost in Vegapunk’s lab feel very important with the re-emergence of Jaguar D Saul and Aokiji. Momonosuke’s cloned Devil Fruit is developing into an exciting point as Vegapunk explains the potential origins of Devil Fruits and discusses the unique personalities of Zoan Fruit. “Punk Hazard” also spotlights the likely teamwork between pirates and Marines with Smoker and Tashigi. Before long, Smoker will return. Likely, his morality and values will drive him to fight against the darker side of One Piece’s world, even if that means allying with pirates.
Every single One Piece story arc has moments of world-building, foreshadowing and crew dynamics that render revisiting a rewarding experience. On the precipice of world-changing events and finding the One Piece, the story threads that tie directly to Roger, Vegapunk and other famous figures are extra-enriching, providing material for theories, discovering Easter Eggs and revisiting classic crew dynamics. While it will be brilliant to re-read One Piece after it ends as a victory lap, revisiting story threads right now feels special and helps connect the fandom in preparation for the inevitable conclusion.
Src: cbr.com
