Jinbe, Jinbe, oh Jinbe…. the perpetual girl-next-door of the Next Crewmate discussions.
Before I go any further with this, please let me be clear, because I would rather not be misunderstood, and having a hundred people tear me to shreds for my opinions is just, well, not my idea of a good time. I'm happy for the people who like the big fish. I really am. He has a lot of great things going for him, and some of the arguments on his behalf on this very thread, particularly from RomanceDawn, have made me seriously reevaluate my opinions of him as a character, and yet... as far as him being one of the crew... I'm just... eeeeeeeeh.
I think the biggest thing for me that's keeping me from really liking Jinbe as anything more than a supporting cast member is just that he's so, and I know this is weird considering his design, toothless.
When I think of what I really want to see in the next crewmate, I'm not just looking at the characters themselves, I'm also looking at who's already on the boat, and what kind of chemistry they would have. Whenever a new face is added to such a tight-knit group, I think they should be able to bring to the table something that nobody else has. I don't really mean in terms of abilities or fighting style or any of that, that's completely secondary and I don't care about it. Just in terms of personality, of who they are, and how we see them through the eyes of the other characters. And that's where Jinbe falls flat for me. There's no edge to him. Note when I say edge, I don't mean it the way most do, but more something intangible, that gripping element, that extra that pushes them past good and makes them great.
By far the biggest complaint I can bring up in this regard is that, in terms of interactions, he can pretty much only play the role of the straight man, which would be fine, except we already have at least three of those. In terms of his stoic seriousness, Zoro's already standing in his place, and as far as wisdom and knowledge are concerned, Robin and Brook both are already there. His face faults have been mentioned as a bonus for him comedically, except, wow, is your best argument for him really that he's doing the thing that another main cast member is already notable for not doing? More than that, however, he's just so… nice. Not great, not exemplary, just... nice. Harmless, might be a better word. Compared to the other characters, there's this distinct sense that Oda's not taking any risks with writing him, which is a shame, considering that those risks, even when they don't work (like Sanji's womanizing) are the spice that make the whole story come alive. The thing about nice, harmless guys is, while they may be safe for a good, chill time occasionally, they're not really the first choice for people you wanna bring along on a wild, crazy adventure, and that's pretty much the definition of what One Piece is.
The truly great character moments from One Piece all come from the characters not always doing the right thing, or the expected thing. They come from a solid, relatable foundation with real meaning, yes but it's the way in which they're taken to such outrageous, dramatic heights that has kept the series going for so long. I want to see characters who make mistakes, I want to see characters with big, obvious flaws, who do things that I would never expect them to do, but ultimately makes sense. I want to see them get better. And more than that, I want something different.
A new crewmember joining shouldn't be so expected, nor should it have been so telegraphed. In Fishman Island, I was more onboard with having Jinbe on the boat. He was still kinda new then, and while the arc wasn't good, his involvement in it was, and I was ready to ride with the good Jinbe vibes. But now, after how many years of "yes, I will join the crew" and then it not happening, the thought has stopped being appealing. A new crewmate should be amazing, should wow me with something that nobody else in the story has, should sweep me off my feet and, if only for an arc or two, become my new Favorite Character Forever. That's how it's been for me every time someone new has joined thus far. Even if Jinbe joined in Fishman Island, he would have been the first time that streak was broken. Now? I'm just disappointed.
There. I've said it. Now do your worst.
The face of a Straw Hat.
Nothing exists; even if something exists, nothing can be known about it. Even if something can be known about it,
