@Mog:
I decided to download it anyway, due to some irresistible urge to do so.
Kickass! I'm getting more and more used to Kazuki Yao as Franky, which was about time. Lucci's voice… fits, but sounds a tad boring, though I'll have to wait for the ''revelation'' to see how it matches up to his persona. I adore Blueno's voice. Though I might just have to kill myself if he keeps it. Also, the whole ''goodbye'' scene was handled incredibly well... And Chimney and Cocoro rock.
Besides all that, the next episode preview got me really pumped up. It seems we're heading into the big stuff, at last.
I second everything you just said.
I actually thought the animation and overall production of this episode was unusually high. With the storm coming in, the next once lost the feeling of the high winds and tension in the air. Nami and Luffy didn't have those wierd-ass faces on their profile view either.
Oh, and when the heck are they going to change the commercial break animation?! I liked the wanted posters with songs for each individual character a lot more.
On that note, shouldn't we be getting a new opening song soon?