@looking_at_you:
Kaidos island had someone protecting it as well so someone from Big Mama must be protecting it because they make stuff for her and Brownbeard also protected his island and so did Arlong.
The reason Whitebeards island had no one protecting it and the weak Brownbeard just came in and took was because no defenders which was because Whitebeards forces went to the war and could not make it back in time.
How strong they are against people attacking them is not the point however each time they were the strongest person protecting the island against other people taking over or removing them.
So you quoted me to say someone on Big Mom's crew is protecting the island and will fight the SHs?
@Reyairia:
Mocktown was specifically a jumping point to another arc.
Yeah, it was.
And Mocktown wasn't hyped since East Blue.
So what? Plus I think you meant to say "Mocktown wasn't mentioned since East Blue." Only ppl that have been hyping Fishman island have been the fans. Oda went out of his way to show us a fat ugly mermaid way before we got to the island where they're from.
If we go by this logic (that the island was mentioned early in the story so it must important and/or an amazing arc) then the SHs adventure on Fishman island should be the greatest adventure in the story 2nd only to Raftel (with Elbalf and Wano country coming in 3rd and 4th respectively). I don't subscribe to that train of thought. Just by looking at the fandom Oda mentioning fishman island so early is probably going to do nothing good for it on this forum. I can already see the members complaining an arc or two from now of how they were let down with this arc.
@I:
So with Mocktown being the pre-show to the whole Skypeia arc, then FI would "the Mocktown" to what, exactly, Zik?
I dunno but I am more focused on the NW. I've simply been enjoying this arc for what it is. Killed off high and insane expectations for this island and I won't be disappointed if all we get is Hodi and Decken. Them alone could work out fine in the island is going to be destroyed prediction.
Are you seeing it as a preview to Mariejoia?
Not at all. Although if this turns out to be a saga and it goes there, it wouldn't be a great one without some magma fist.
I think I agree with Robby–FI has been talked about since Arlong. As he has gotten more and more into the story, Oda has gotten more comfortable with taking his time and really dotting every i and crossing every t, so I think this'll be one long-ass arc, and it will build slowly and take forever to climax. In it he is laying the foundation for the rest of the second half of the story. He himself, iirc, has said he feels like he's started a whole new story, in a way. This will be his foundation for that story.
I like the idea of some of the things Robby said but there's no reason for me or anyone really to assume Oda's planned for this arc top be years long (not that he ever really plans these things when it comes to pacing and sticks to them). Outside of a couple more revelations this arc can just be what it is now and be a start for the NW where the latest gossip is how the SHs destroyed fishman island/saved fishman island/some huge event on fishman island.