I finally finished Wano the other night. When I binge watched the anime, I thought it was amazing. Now that I have gone back through the story in manga form, I started to see the issues people have with it.
To try to put my feelings succinctly, I really appreciate the grandiosity of the arc and the kind of story it was trying to accomplish, but it definitely had pacing issues that diminished the quality.
It's length made it feel dragging at times and I had a harder time getting through chapters some nights. But then at the same time, it seemed like as soon as
Luffy defeated Kaido, the story was suddenly thrown on fast-forward and we were racing to get to the end of the arc.
A new admiral shows up and starts fighting, only to be quickly chased off by Shanks who was there for... no reason(?). ((Edit: ok, I see from a line in Egghead that he was looking for Blackbeard. But at the time its feels like his presence is solely film Red hype.)) Yamato spent dozens of chapters reminding us that they were going to be on the crew, literally even the chapter before, but then... nope, staying behind. And by the way Carrot is the king of Zou now?? It was like stuff that felt thrown on at the end just so we could move on. But at the same time my personal bias for something else that happens, feels like it balances it out. I absolutely love the part when
Luffy gives Momo his Jolly Roger and makes Wano his territory as a Yonko. I've been waiting for a moment like this since
Fishman Island when he told Big Mom he'd make FI his territory in order to protect it. This is just like what Whitebeard did, why I loved and respected him so much. This is the definition of manliness to me, to have absolute strength and power AND compassion, to use the threat of your strength to protect the places and people you care about. So this really made Wano for me, that Luffy is that kind of man now. Respected, powerful, compassionate.
The way Wano dragged on was made really apparent when I started Egghead, because I was reading chapter after chapter smooth as butter. It's New Year Day right now, and last night when midnight struck, I was reading the "rematch" of
Luffy vs Lucci.
It's a hard call when placing Wano on my tier list, so I have to create a new tier for it.
{S+} - Water 7, Enies Lobby
{S} - Skypeia, Marineford, Whole Cake Island
{S-} - Wano
{A+} - Arlong Park, Drum Island, Alabasta, Sabaody, Impel Down, Dressrosa, Zou
{A} - Baratie, Little Garden, Jaya, Thriller Bark, Return to Sabaody, Fishman Island
{B} - Syrup Village, Whisky Peak, Amazon Lily, Punk Hazard
{C} - Romance Dawn, Loguetown, Reverse Mountain
{D} - Orange Town, Long Ring Long Land
I'm really torn about it, because all the time we spent in certain places with certain people WAS meaningful, and the purpose was to make the climax more bombastic and emotional... But I just feel like, if somehow all these plot points happened quicker and more concisely, making Wano shorter, people might have liked it more and wouldn't have been so tired by the end.
BTW I got a shirt for Christmas of Luffy's gear 5 wanted poster. I love it!
Now onto Egghead! (Well, I already started) It won't be long before I finally catch up to where the anime left off, then I can FINALLY start seeing things I haven't seen yet. So excited.
Doodeedoodah wrote on 2024-12-06 19:12:09:
That's a sick looking Zoro! The outfit is perfect
Thank you!!!
adult 
