Behind the panty jokes and feigned cowardice, the Straw Hat Pirates’ Brook is One Piece’s finest example of a support character and survivor.
Underestimating the Straw Hat Pirates is a mistake many villains make in Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece. Every crew member is talented, adaptable and quick to support their team despite adversity. Even at this late point in the story, certain members get criminally overlooked or misjudged because of the pervasiveness of their quirks and how hard it is to shine in the shadow of Luffy, Zoro and Sanji.
If it isn’t the constant and overplayed panty jokes Brook falls back on, it’s his moments of cowardice that draw the ire of some fans. Too often, the ever-present humor and eccentricities take over the perception of a character and sequester their peak moments. These traits harm Brook as his humor is excessive, and his shining moments often fall into the background since he prefers to play a supporting role. However, his life as a musician and the trauma he survived set him up to be the perfect team player or support role that deserves more respect.
Brook’s Time as a Musician and Rumbar Pirate Made Him an Ideal Ally
Members of the Rumbar Pirates formed a strong bond that led them to play their death ballad upon realizing their fate. Brook preferred playing as part of a band rather than a solo act because of his desire to support and connect with others. While he spent time away from the crew developing a thriving solo show, Soul King, it was all intending to improve himself for when reunited with his new family, the Straw Hat Pirates.
Big, dramatic and exciting fights with moments of extreme emotion remain the most remembered and discussed scenes from One Piece, which pushes characters like Brook — who do better with the assist than the lead — into the background. Brook continuously provides information and support to his crew mates, starting with his introduction arc, where he helps Moria and grows in the New World with impressive feats. His time devoted to a dying crew developed a deep level of commitment to his allies, seen through Brook’s willingness to face down Big Mom and the Oniwabanshu.
Brook’s Panty Jokes and Cowardice Hide His Deeper Nature in One Piece
The Straw Hats’ navigator Nami despises Brook’s incessantly perverse approach to humor. Most of the crew seemingly ignore his endless skeleton jokes, but they do pay mind to his positive energy. Unfortunately, all the time spent alone after the trauma of losing his original crew left Brook in a state of social ineptitude, removing his filters and paving the path for inappropriate jokes. Unable to see how much of an annoyance he can be, he gleefully embraces his new self, bad jokes and all.
These and the occasional moments of spoken cowardice are front and center, but the force driving him from within is much braver and kinder. Brook provides the Straw Hats with the best source of escape and relief through his extraordinary musical talents, which strengthen Luffy and the others’ natural happiness. Thanks to his musical numbers and willingness to make himself into the joke, Brook provides a bright light for the crew from the darkness that seems to find them on nearly every island.
Brook’s Willingness to Wait on His Dream Shows Patience and Selflessness
Dreams are the driving force of One Piece, with the crowning example being Luffy’s pursuit of Gol D. Roger’s treasure and ultimate freedom. But while the Straw Hat Pirates are all willing to put their dreams as secondary goals for the crew as they support Luffy in his goals, Brook is the most selfless. Having already waited decades, he has honed a deep patience that drives him to back up Luffy and the others, knowing he will take care of his own goals in time.
The force that drives Brook the most is being part of a family again. Having found another crew and escaped his purgatory, he is delighted to play second fiddle and push his friends to obtain their goals. During One Piece‘s time skip, Brook sharpened his skills and evolved faster than ever before to become a better crewmate. He doesn’t need any more strength, speed or abilities to reunite with Laboon. Brook could hitch a ride and reunite with the whale any time, but his current role is so enriching and comforting that he is willing to extend his time away.
Cartoonish and obnoxious behavior makes it hard for many fans to connect with Brook. His truncated path to crew membership was jarring after the emotional tales that led Robin and Franky to commit to the Straw Hat Pirates. Upon closer inspection, however, Brook’s addition didn’t just help Luffy obtain his perfect crew by adding a musician. It also aided everyone else as Brook uses his music, unique soul skills and selfless nature to save them from dark times while assisting them in following their respective dreams.
Src: cbr.com
