@Robo:
I know that Oda has shown the necessities, my point was that is all he's shown. Everything necessary is there, he just blew through it to fast without taking the time to actually make them seem like a family, or even friends. They never actually have any fun together or care about each other, save a moment or two. It's more like they need to be together to survive than it is them choosing to be together because they're friends.
That’s just your opinion. One could make the argument that Oda does make them seem like a family given how Arlong treats Jimbe like an older brother, how they both greet Tiger, or how everyone is crying when Tiger dies. And lol at the bolded statements. One or two caring/fun moments isn’t enough for you in a flashback? How many is appropriate? Half a dozen? And I’m pretty sure surviving is more important than making friends in the slums of the Fishmen District. As we’ve seen they don’t have to be friends to work together for a common goal.
@Robo:
No, it wouldn't. Everybody knows that what Arlong did was wrong and that he was an ass as an adult. Showing why Jinbe, Tiger and Hachi (all heroes) respect him would not ruin Arlong as a character, it would simply justify the other 3 for associating with such an asshole. Especially since Jinbe started this flashback specifically to justify his relationship with Arlong and so far it seems like he's always been an ass.
First off, the story never implies that Jimbe or Tiger respect Arlong. Jimbe clearly doesn’t and Tiger only looked after him and tried to guide him down the right path. Hachi has already addressed why he went along with Arlong so kiddie Arlong isn’t necessary, and frankly, would be weird to see.
@Robo:
How is it NOT ambiguous? Tell me anything from their life in the fishman district where the entire relationship started. We've had 2 panels about that life.
It's not ambiguous because Arlong admires Tiger for taking charge and assuming leadership in his previously corrupt hometown. It's clearly a older/younger brother relationship. Why do we need their entire relationship from day 1? It’s not exactly uber complex. This flashback is supposed to be about the events that happened to the Fishmen Pirates and Queen Otohiime which caused the current situation on the island. Not their humble beginnings as little tykes.
@Robo:
And you don't think maybe seeing the start of that relationship would be important? No, you're right, only the part where the bond between them gets strained to hell is important.
Actually, it’s not important to this flashback. There’s no point in painting Jimbe and Arlong to be BFFs when we know they will both have conflicting ideologies and serve as the Strawhats’ friend and foe respectively. Just because you thought they were BFFs before this flashback doesn’t make it necessary. The most important bond between them is their shared admiration of Fisher Tiger; the reason they joined the same crew.
@Robo:
When he relates himself to Arlong, he talks about the demons inside of him. Yeah, he seemed like he was pumped to compare ideologies with his good pal Arlong.
Who said anything about Tiger being glad that he can relate to Arlong? It’s simply the reason why Tiger doesn’t give up on Arlong and why he has a place in the crew.
@Robo:
No, I want Oda to show their childhood in the fishman district in order to explain why people who are so different are able to get along. So far its been worshiping FT, somebody they held in high regard even before he freed the slaves. The only explanation we've gotten is 2 panels of him taking over the district… by saying that he's taking over the district.
He has already explained why people who are different can get along. It’s been more than just admiring Tiger. We’ve seen that (1) most of the key figures in the crew have some amount of disdain towards humans and (2) they don’t like the fact that their kinsmen are slaves. Oda doesn’t need to draw the Playhouse Disney version of the Fishmen Pirates to explain that. If you can't understand it, it's your problem.
No need to delete posts mods. I’m done pursuing this topic.