@Zephray:
Jee, people are so aggressive on forums. Show some tact. Just because you can't see someone doesn't mean you should be rude to them.
F*cking forums, man. I hate forum mentality. Everyone enjoys debates and arguments a bit too much…
A lot of those are arguable and, I think, missing the point. How many of those villains lasted for 13 episodes worth of fighting? All I'm saying is that this is the biggest example for when a bunch of villains just show up out of nowhere and take up a considerable amount of time. Reading it week to week almost felt like filler at some points (as fun as the fights were) because it just felt like a waste of time to explain how they couldn't save her before the train got to the destination.
Skypeia seemed to do it a lot, which is one of the reasons I don't care for that arc. Significant villains don't really count, like sentomaru. I meant random ass guys who show up out of nowhere for a major battle that actually lasts for a while.
Dont forget Nero and the bones guy. That's four random fights.
Yeah, I think Oda could've done without those fights; especially considering how much fighting comes in Impel Down, he didn't need this end of W7 fighting. I'm not saying the train portion doesn't serve a purpose. It does. It just could've been handled differently. But once again, there are plenty of good moments within the train fights that I love.
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Another example would be the second half of the CP9 villains. But at least those are more significant characters than Nero, Wanza, Jerry, and Bones, who aren't seen ever again (except in a cameo at marineford).
I understand where you're coming from with the whole "introduction of random-out-of-nowhere" villains, but firstly, if they weren't there, then the Sea Train would've just been a cake walk in general (in terms of moving up the train). The train was kinda like Oda's version of Game of Death…except on a train...on the water. Secondly, we can't just assume that any area/facility is a blank slate with no new characters. We have to take into account that there are characters that, like the SHs, we don't know of. We see and learn about these characters along with the SHs as they fight/interact with them. I'm fuzzy on it, but could Jerry have been someone from the Long-leg tribe (or something) or was he just tall? Jerry also shows us the government isn't all too bright...I mean c'mon...someone that size with his specific type of fighting style...on a train? XD T-Bone was introduced to show us that there are still affable Marines that care deeply for their own, and retains a strong sense of justice. Wanze was the cook of the train...seems reasonable that a train would have a cook...even an eccentric, obnoxious Anti-Sanji kinda cook. Plus what happens to Wanze is used as foreshadowing for what will happen to a future character. He even mentions he's from CP7, meaning there might be more characters that may come from that sector or w/e. Nero was a "noob" who was learning the Rokushiki and was gonna be enlisted into CP9 (I'm fuzzy on this too). This tells us that CP9 is still actively looking for new members to add to the roster...meaning even if the current CP9 gets defeated, there will be a new one down the line.
Wow, I went on a typing spree. Either way, this is how I viewed the Sea Train Arc and the characters that were introduced. Whether they come back or not, we don't know yet, but for me, I think they served a purpose...even if you guys think I may be grasping at straws...pun intended. XP