Theory time!!!
After the skirmish of Luffy at Totland. Charlotte Lin Lin prepares an assault on Fishman Island, thanks to Brûlée's powers, an army of Luffys will destroy the city closing the gap on the prophecy made by their fortune teller.
Theory time!!!
After the skirmish of Luffy at Totland. Charlotte Lin Lin prepares an assault on Fishman Island, thanks to Brûlée's powers, an army of Luffys will destroy the city closing the gap on the prophecy made by their fortune teller.
@Shobu:
Theory time!!!
After the skirmish of Luffy at Totland. Charlotte Lin Lin prepares an assault on Fishman Island, thanks to Brûlée's powers, an army of Luffys will destroy the city closing the gap on the prophecy made by their fortune teller.
Nah. I think the one to destroy Fishman Island is going to be the real Luffy when time comes to convince all the fishmen to get aboard Noah and go to the surface.
Nah. I think the one to destroy Fishman Island is going to be the real Luffy when time comes to convince all the fishmen to get aboard Noah and go to the surface.
But, fishmen can go by themselves to the surface xD they don't need Noah for that.
Another theory!!!
Gear Fifth would be the mix of Second, Third and Fourth.
Blood, Bone and Muscle… i don't see anything else hard enough to use for inflict some damage in a human body xd skin would be kind of lame, so i discard it.
Luffy would be able to use the gear, only 1-3 minutes tops. Aaand would be pretty if he can help himself with a Rumble Ball to reach the level.
Second ties with VA, Third ties with mid-tier Shichibukais and Fourth ties with Yonko Commanders, so Fifth would tie with Admirals and maybe Yonko.
@Shobu:
But, fishmen can go by themselves to the surface xD they don't need Noah for that.
That's a bit too presumptuous. The boat was built to transport someone or something to the surface, and lots of them at that. The Fishmen may need to travel in it through very peculiar circumstances. Ones that may restrict them from being able to survive on the surface or even on the way up without a huge vessel to protect and lead them.
@Count:
That's a bit too presumptuous. The boat was built to transport someone or something to the surface, and lots of them at that. The Fishmen may need to travel in it through very peculiar circumstances. Ones that may restrict them from being able to survive on the surface or even on the way up without a huge vessel to protect and lead them.
Hahaha, i was kind of joking.
Actually, i did it because i believe that Noah's function was for transport Fishmen to a singular place -nor surface- that only a stronghold such as the ark could withstand to reach it. The Kozuki Clan from the time of the Void Century made the Joyboy's apology, this makes you wonder: Why fishmen were instructed to make such ship and the Ancient Kingdom weren't? and Why the Kozuki clan only made a letter for the Fishmen?
Facts for me are that :
I think that Joyboy, which belonged to the Ancient Kingdom, asked to a singular race to make the Ark for everyone to reach a certain place and asked Poseidon to do it because he knew that the Families could never touch Noah underwater.
But i don't wanna theorize on that yet.
@Shobu:
Hahaha, i was kind of joking.
Ah, my bad. Couldn't really tell without an emoticon after the second sentence.
I was thinking him as the first pirate.
The battle against Kaido will be similar to the Oars fight, it will be the entire crew vs him. The major damage to Kaido will be dealt when the crew orders Moria to take their shadows and create a new nightmare luffy ("sanji is strong like 1000 people".. it will be much stronger than the 100 random shadows on thriller bark). Moria will definetly return, why else would Oda create that scene with Doflamingo? We know that Moria has already been to Wano Kuni.
The battle against Kaido will be similar to the Oars fight, it will be the entire crew vs him. The major damage to Kaido will be dealt when the crew orders Moria to take their shadows and create a new nightmare luffy ("sanji is strong like 1000 people".. it will be much stronger than the 100 random shadows on thriller bark). Moria will definetly return, why else would Oda create that scene with Doflamingo? We know that Moria has already been to Wano Kuni.
I was thinking the exact same thing yesterday, some scenario in which the crew is beaten up badly, Luffy is the last man standing and everyone - not just the crew, the whole alliance - asks an unwilling (and yet beaten up again) Moria to put their shadows into Luffy.
That would be awesome.
I was thinking the exact same thing yesterday, some scenario in which the crew is beaten up badly, Luffy is the last man standing and everyone - not just the crew, the whole alliance - asks an unwilling (and yet beaten up again) Moria to put their shadows into Luffy.
That would be awesome.
Yea thats exactly how i believe it will be. Coolest thing would be if Moria was completely different when showing up and none would recognize him - well trained again (like in old days when he faced Kaido) instead of fat.
plx fanart contest for best "well trained" Moria and in couple of months (maybe years) you can compare to Oda (i assume we atleast see a flashback if Moria hasnt changed back to his former state at that time, that big scar and stuff)
Yea thats exactly how i believe it will be. Coolest thing would be if Moria was completely different when showing up and none would recognize him - well trained again (like in old days when he faced Kaido) instead of fat.
plx fanart contest for best "well trained" Moria and in couple of months (maybe years) you can compare to Oda (i assume we atleast see a flashback if Moria hasnt changed back to his former state at that time, that big scar and stuff)
The thing is that Moria hates Luffy too, he actually hates him more than any past villain does I think (Crocodile or Enel). Think about his reaction at the war. So it is not that easy for him to lend his power to Luffy (for example, I think that in a standard situation he could choose to put all the shadows inside him instead). Something meaningful has to happen between the Strawhats and him before this situation can become possible
He hates kaido more. Moria is showing up and helping during the arc for sure. The nightmare luffy is the best case scenario.
The thing is that Moria hates Luffy too, he actually hates him more than any past villain does I think (Crocodile or Enel). Think about his reaction at the war. So it is not that easy for him to lend his power to Luffy (for example, I think that in a standard situation he could choose to put all the shadows inside him instead). Something meaningful has to happen between the Strawhats and him before this situation can become possible
Nothing meaningful happened between Luffy and Crocodile, and he still ended up covering his back in the war. Crocodile had as much reason to hate Luffy as Moria has.
There's still time for something to happen between them, though. I imagine Zoro's connection with Perona might play some part in the future. Oda didn't just put them both on the same island for no reason.
The thing is that Moria hates Luffy too, he actually hates him more than any past villain does I think (Crocodile or Enel). Think about his reaction at the war. So it is not that easy for him to lend his power to Luffy (for example, I think that in a standard situation he could choose to put all the shadows inside him instead). Something meaningful has to happen between the Strawhats and him before this situation can become possible
I am with maxdex, that Moria hates Kaidou more than Luffy. Kaidou was the first to shatter Moria's dreams in becoming PK. I hope we will see a thinner Moria who helps Luffy defeating Kaidou. Absa (who obviously saved Moria at Marineford) was at Kid's base, that is why his alliance was in the News. And iirc Kaidou landed on that base Island after trying to kill himself. So Moria might be not too far away from Wano if Kidd is locked up there.
–- Update From New Post Merge ---
Also, it'd make a lot of sense if Kaidou had a mythical zoan just like Marco. We have BM with a paramecia, we have BB with a logia and we have Shanks with no DF at all. Only a Zoan-Yonkou is missing.
--- Update From New Post Merge ---
A thought I shared in the last chapter thread:
Could it be that the bald gorousei with the Kitetsu-Katana is from Wano?
Ohara was destroyed by a Buster Call because Oharans READ the Poneglyph and Wano (whose maysons MADE the poneglyphs) just gets told:"No one enters this Island and no one leaves it, ok?"
So, you gotta admit, that Wano at least gets treated pretty "nice" by the WG.
Look at what the WG has done so far (Frevance, Ohara, the case with Roger's newborn child, anything any tenryuubito has done yet,...), so why did they not nuke this place?
IMO the Connection between Wano and the WG is deeper than it seems right now.
And the bald gorousei gives me the same feudal Japanese Feeling as Kinemon or Momo does.
I'll wait for the Shogun to have the Nidai Kitetsu. That would be awesome for this thought.
A thought I shared in the last chapter thread:
Could it be that the bald gorousei with the Kitetsu-Katana is from Wano?
Ohara was destroyed by a Buster Call because Oharans READ the Poneglyph and Wano (whose maysons MADE the poneglyphs) just gets told:"No one enters this Island and no one leaves it, ok?"
So, you gotta admit, that Wano at least gets treated pretty "nice" by the WG.
Look at what the WG has done so far (Frevance, Ohara, the case with Roger's newborn child, anything any tenryuubito has done yet,…), so why did they not nuke this place?
IMO the Connection between Wano and the WG is deeper than it seems right now.
And the bald gorousei gives me the same feudal Japanese Feeling as Kinemon or Momo does.
I'll wait for the Shogun to have the Nidai Kitetsu. That would be awesome for this thought.
He wouldn't be the only japanese looking person who isn't from Wano in this manga.
They didn't attack Wano probably because it's no piece of cake and because they would stick their neck out too far into New World, in which they didn't have a strong military presence until last year or so. It's not likely Emperors or other groups or aspiring pirates would just sit on their hands while Marines try to expand their territory right in their neighborhood.
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I mean, if Japan can beat Russia then Wano should not be understimated.
Said this in a piece together already but if we think the D's are from the moon doesnt it make since the CELESTIAL dragons are as well, like generally good people and generally bad people from the moon
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@Long:
Said this in a piece together already but if we think the D's are from the moon doesnt it make since the CELESTIAL dragons are as well, like generally good people and generally bad people from the moon
Sent from my SM-T550 using Tapatalk
I don't know how it will turn out in the end, but Celestial Dragons' appearance was inspired by king and queen of the Moon in Adventures of Baron Munchausen.
!
I posted this in the Chapter Thread but it seems more relevant here since it's not related to immediate events, but current ones.
I had a theory about Lola and Chiffon replacing each other with the help of Pudding's power, but let's set that aside for a minute, because my brain just broke.
Lola and Chiffon are the 21st and 22nd or the 22nd and 23rd children in the family. Based on Prospero (the eldest son) and Brulee (the eldest daughter we've seen so far) appearing to be in their late 50's - early 60's, We can assume that Lola and Chiffon are in their late 30's - Mid 40's.
An indeterminate number of years ago, she ran away from an arranged marriage that would have made Big Mom (or gotten her closer to becoming) the Pirate King.
Based on Pudding's flashback panel with Lola, she looked to be in her late teens, probably around 18-19.
So, let's assume that Lola is 44 now. If she was 18 when she left Totto Land, that was 26 years ago.
26 years ago was the year Roger was on the way to becoming Pirate King. This was also roughly 2 years before Ace was conceived.
An indeterminate period of time ago, Big Mom made a "Mistake" in dealing with Roger that allowed him to get the Road Poneglyph info and continue to Raftel.
Let's see:
A "Mistake" was made that allowed Roger access to a very well guarded treasure of Big Mom's. In general, Totto Land is very highly patrolled and would be certain death for anyone attempting to enter uninvited unless they had a direct route, like the Sanji rescue crew did.
Roger would need access to Whole Cake Chateau (and the Poneglyph) through other means than a direct assault.
A Marriage was planned to form an alliance that would give Big Mom enough power to declare herself "Pirate King".
As has been shown, Married family members and their crews/vassals are allowed free access to Whole Cake Island (The Firetank Pirates, the entire Germa Kingdom).
So, what if… Roger pretended to agree to Marry Lola?
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I mean, if Japan can beat Russia then Wano should not be understimated.
The minks also have good fighters, but it just took a nasty gas attack and they would've been defeated if the SHs haven't shown up there. If Wano is based on Feudal Japan, I can't imagine they have "sophisticated" warfare like the WG has with Vegapunk. IMO there is a silent Agreement between Wano and the WG. The gorousei might not be from there, but Wano's existence still is strange.
The minks also have good fighters, but it just took a nasty gas attack and they would've been defeated if the SHs haven't shown up there. If Wano is based on Feudal Japan, I can't imagine they have "sophisticated" warfare like the WG has with Vegapunk. IMO there is a silent Agreement between Wano and the WG. The gorousei might not be from there, but Wano's existence still is strange.
A nasty gas attack that came from an underworld rogue scientist to be exactly.
Back when Sengoku was Fleet Admiral, all the weapons Caesar done it was rejected it.
@Fire Fist:
So, what if… Roger pretended to agree to Marry Lola?
If you can explain why Lola didn't wanted to marry Roger, then i support your theory. The part with Momma to check the Road is perfect though.
@Shobu:
If you can explain why Lola didn't wanted to marry Roger, then i support your theory.
His moustache was dumb.
His moustache was dumb.
She prefers beards, such as the gloriously long, braided one Teach is going to have.
@Fire Fist:
I posted this in the Chapter Thread but it seems more relevant here since it's not related to immediate events, but current ones.
I had a theory about Lola and Chiffon replacing each other with the help of Pudding's power, but let's set that aside for a minute, because my brain just broke.
Lola and Chiffon are the 21st and 22nd or the 22nd and 23rd children in the family. Based on Prospero (the eldest son) and Brulee (the eldest daughter we've seen so far) appearing to be in their late 50's - early 60's, We can assume that Lola and Chiffon are in their late 30's - Mid 40's.
An indeterminate number of years ago, she ran away from an arranged marriage that would have made Big Mom (or gotten her closer to becoming) the Pirate King.
Based on Pudding's flashback panel with Lola, she looked to be in her late teens, probably around 18-19.
So, let's assume that Lola is 44 now. If she was 18 when she left Totto Land, that was 26 years ago.
26 years ago was the year Roger was on the way to becoming Pirate King. This was also roughly 2 years before Ace was conceived.
An indeterminate period of time ago, Big Mom made a "Mistake" in dealing with Roger that allowed him to get the Road Poneglyph info and continue to Raftel.
Let's see:
A "Mistake" was made that allowed Roger access to a very well guarded treasure of Big Mom's. In general, Totto Land is very highly patrolled and would be certain death for anyone attempting to enter uninvited unless they had a direct route, like the Sanji rescue crew did.
Roger would need access to Whole Cake Chateau (and the Poneglyph) through other means than a direct assault.
A Marriage was planned to form an alliance that would give Big Mom enough power to declare herself "Pirate King".
As has been shown, Married family members and their crews/vassals are allowed free access to Whole Cake Island (The Firetank Pirates, the entire Germa Kingdom).
So, what if… Roger pretended to agree to Marry Lola?
If that was the case Big Mom wouldn't believe that marriage would have made her king of pirates since she talk of Roger as the one who got the better of her.
Roger also refused to submit to Shiki when nothing indicate he could get out of the situation alive. I can't imagine him agreeing to marriage leading to subordination. Even for show.
If that was the case Big Mom wouldn't believe that marriage would have made her king of pirates since she talk of Roger as the one who got the better of her.
Roger also refused to submit to Shiki when nothing indicate he could get out of the situation alive. I can't imagine him agreeing to marriage leading to subordination. Even for show.
That's what I'm saying: It was a ruse. Roger needed a way to get to Whole Cake Chateau and get access to the Poneglyph, so he (or a crew member) pretended to agree to marry Lola. During or just before the wedding, Roger got the Poneglyph and left with his crew, possibly during the night, while Lola, who wanted to leave anyway, left with them and then parted ways once out of Totto Land. Once Big Mom found out, she would be understandably pissed at both Lola (because she would think that she helped Roger and then left) and Roger (because he tricked her and got her poneglyph rubbing in the process).
@Fire Fist:
That's what I'm saying: It was a ruse. Roger needed a way to get to Whole Cake Chateau and get access to the Poneglyph, so he (or a crew member) pretended to agree to marry Lola. During or just before the wedding, Roger got the Poneglyph and left with his crew, possibly during the night, while Lola, who wanted to leave anyway, left with them and then parted ways once out of Totto Land. Once Big Mom found out, she would be understandably pissed at both Lola (because she would think that she helped Roger and then left) and Roger (because he tricked her and got her poneglyph rubbing in the process).
Desa is saying that Roger, like Luffy, would be too pridefully arrogant to try marrying Lola. Even as a ruse. It's just not their style at all compared to how rash they can be. Unless lives are on the line in very tricky situations, they're not going to listen to reason or use much of their wits outside of instinctive combat.
@Fire Fist:
That's what I'm saying: It was a ruse. Roger needed a way to get to Whole Cake Chateau and get access to the Poneglyph, so he (or a crew member) pretended to agree to marry Lola. During or just before the wedding, Roger got the Poneglyph and left with his crew, possibly during the night, while Lola, who wanted to leave anyway, left with them and then parted ways once out of Totto Land. Once Big Mom found out, she would be understandably pissed at both Lola (because she would think that she helped Roger and then left) and Roger (because he tricked her and got her poneglyph rubbing in the process).
After all those years, Big Mom still believe that the marriage could have happen and that Lola was the one to screw her. She would not believe so if the marriage was with Roger because she knows Roger was just here for the glyph. So her feeling on both the marriage and Roger are to conflicting to fit together.
Plus what Mario said.
Maybe Roger gave her that second Poneglyph, pretending he cannot read it. We'll probably have at least one more flashback. I would not be surprised if two.
I think if it WERE to be true, then it would be too much in mirroring Roger and surpassing him. Stealing the same Poneglyphs? Rescuing a nakama? Leaving her weakened? I just don't see it. Plus what earlier posters already mentioned, their rash and basically selfish attitudes will say no, even for a ruse. If Luffy cant keep an act, imagine Roger.
Anyone here has a theory on how the Dragon, Sabo, Stelly & Goa Kingdom situation will go down?
Stelly is kinda a rival(?) to Sabo in terms of opposing ideology. Them being adopted brothers might also come into play somehow.
Even if Stelly actually know how to fight, I doubt he can actually defeat Sabo. Of course, there are other factors that can affect a fight outcome.
Stelly may even have strong vessel to protect him but I doubt so…This is East Blue, one of the weakest sea. But then again, it's not like the fighters in New World are that much stronger...
They may not even fight directly but indirectly through an revolution.
Dragon definitely has more backstory in Goa to tell. But I think it's more likely Sabo is the one who will overthrow Stelly.
@Count:
Desa is saying that Roger, like Luffy, would be too pridefully arrogant to try marrying Lola. Even as a ruse. It's just not their style at all compared to how rash they can be. Unless lives are on the line in very tricky situations, they're not going to listen to reason or use much of their wits outside of instinctive combat.
They'd both refuse but I think roger in luffy's place would just go straight to fight big mom and try to beat her. Roger in the man child version of luffy who didn thave shanks to teach him some sense
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Time to post a theory that doesn't even deserve its own post!
Jinbe dies… probably in some heroic way. Whether on Whole Cake Island or more towards the end of the series.
I say this because he's always so self-sacrificial to Luffy and he doesn't have any character faults/quirks like the other strawhats, making his most meaningful role (potentially) in being a big sacrifical lamb.
More than half of me does not believe this will actually happen-- there aren't enough dots to connect it that way as far as events go. However, I can't help but look at him and think, "Something's not right with him joining the Strawhats... this hunk of self-sacrificial fish meat is just too perfect for that crew."
Time to post a theory that doesn't even deserve its own post!
Jinbe dies… probably in some heroic way. Whether on Whole Cake Island or more towards the end of the series.
I say this because he's always so self-sacrificial to Luffy and he doesn't have any character faults/quirks like the other strawhats, making his most meaningful role (potentially) in being a big sacrifical lamb.
More than half of me does not believe this will actually happen-- there aren't enough dots to connect it that way as far as events go. However, I can't help but look at him and think, "Something's not right with him joining the Strawhats... this hunk of self-sacrificial fish meat is just too perfect for that crew."
You're right, he is more of a serious char most of the time (compared to the likes of Brook).
Aside from a few face-faults and giving plans proper names on FI, we haven't seen many funny moments with him starring. Maybe he'll develop a quirk among the SHs (Zoro sense of direction also developed post-Eastblue, didn't it?).
It would Show that he has fun sailing with Luffy & co. The sun pirates have been more of an Obligation for him (the Story with Tiger and so on). Robin felt more home with the SHs after EL (she called them by their names, not by their Profession on the ship anymore).
Aside from a few face-faults and giving plans proper names on FI, we haven't seen many funny moments with him starring. Maybe he'll develop a quirk among the SHs (Zoro sense of direction also developed post-Eastblue, didn't it?).
The reason he even became a bounty hunter is because after he went to search for Mihawk and couldn't find him, he realized he didn't know how to get back home, and was then forced to hunt pirates to survive.
I think he told Luffy when they left Morgan's base.
The reason he even became a bounty hunter is because after he went to search for Mihawk and couldn't find him, he realized he didn't know how to get back home, and was then forced to hunt pirates to survive.
I think he told Luffy when they left Morgan's base.
Oh, didn't remember that. Thanks for clarifying. To me it felt like this was used as a running gag at the start of the Grand Line. Anyway, Robin now also has face-faults just like the rest of the Crew. Once Jinbe gets sh*t done in tottoland, he'll also grow funny ino the Crew.
Oh, didn't remember that. Thanks for clarifying. To me it felt like this was used as a running gag at the start of the Grand Line. Anyway, Robin now also has face-faults just like the rest of the Crew. Once Jinbe gets sh*t done in tottoland, he'll also grow funny ino the Crew.
I think it didn't come up again until Little Garden.
I think it didn't come up again until Little Garden.
I believe Zoro got lost again in Syrup Village, but that may have just been the anime for all I know.
@Count:
I believe Zoro got lost again in Syrup Village, but that may have just been the anime for all I know.
That was Luffy. Ended up on the wrong side of the island, then came back just in time to stop the pirates who got past Usopp.
During Dressrosa arc, I really wanted Buffalo to join the Happo Navy, due to how attached he was to Baby 5 and his 'easy' defeat by Kyros hands really made me think it was possible since Buffalo got lost for the rest of the arc, unlike Lola and Sugar who came back.
but he actually got arrested, sadly. However I'll keep a lil bit of hope that during the ruckus caused by Jack on his mission trying to retrieve Doflamingo and taking in consideration how clumsy and even incompetent the marines seem to be, that Buffalo somehow got the chance to get away, I mean, as long as he got the Kairouseki handcuffs off, his ability would allow him to escape quite easily.
Time to post a theory that doesn't even deserve its own post!
Jinbe dies… probably in some heroic way. Whether on Whole Cake Island or more towards the end of the series.
I say this because he's always so self-sacrificial to Luffy and he doesn't have any character faults/quirks like the other strawhats, making his most meaningful role (potentially) in being a big sacrifical lamb.
More than half of me does not believe this will actually happen-- there aren't enough dots to connect it that way as far as events go. However, I can't help but look at him and think, "Something's not right with him joining the Strawhats... this hunk of self-sacrificial fish meat is just too perfect for that crew."
Yeah, it really does feel like his joining could go either way. Lots of people are so sure he's joining, because Luffy asked him, because Jinbe said he will, because hints in coverpages, because this and that. It seems to me like "Ace is not dying, lol" all over again. Oda knows how to play us. He proved us many times he can break his patterns, so we can never be sure what's going to happen.
And losing Jinbe during the escape from Big Mom would be incredible I think. They are going after a yonko after all, so losing someone as valueable as a crewmember in a confrontation with Big Mom would hype yonko even more, teach Luffy a lesson before the confrontation with Kaido and rise the stakes even more. Poneglyphs for a crewmember, a fair trade I'd say, one that would make BM not look like a complete loser once SH escape.
And I'm not saying Jinbe has to die, because there is really no reason for it unless Oda plans some heavy character development for Luffy/other SH's, but being permanently unable to join the crew for whatever reason would be quite something. A big L for the crew that does not break the flow of the story. I'd like to see that much more than SH making peace with BM or SH making BM a total loser.
Oda isn't going to kill Jimbei just to hype up Big Mom, especially when her antagonistic relationship with the Straw Hats likely ends with this arc to switch over to Kaido. He only kills characters when it's necessary for the plot to move forward and brings forth major consequences. All Jimbei dying does it make about a decade of waiting completely go to waste. Oda does twists, but in the form of executing specific moments and details uniquely. He always leaves behind trails of comprehendible, subtle buildup that we can likely detect years ahead of time if we objectively analyze the story narratively. Jimbei's theoretical death only entails shock value for the sake of it, and that's not Oda's style. He has a point to his writing rather than relying on cheap tricks to surprise readers.
Jinbe isn't dying without seeing his dream fulfilled. Sure Ace and White Beard both died before we discovered what they were after in life but with Jinbe's goals being a known quantity there is no way all that build up won't be seen all the way through with his own eyes.
Whitebeard's dream was a family, which he had.
Ace wanted to make Whitebeard Pirate King. That was never going to happen, anyways, but that was one of his stated purposes.
@Galaxy:
Whitebeard's dream was a family, which he had.
Ace wanted to make Whitebeard Pirate King. That was never going to happen, anyways, but that was one of his stated purposes.
That was one of them sure but it seemed to me his ultimate dream since being a kid was just to find out if he was loved.
@Count:
All Jimbei dying does it make about a decade of waiting completely go to waste. Oda does twists, but in the form of executing specific moments and details uniquely. He always leaves behind trails of comprehendible, subtle buildup that we can likely detect years ahead of time if we objectively analyze the story narratively. Jimbei's theoretical death only entails shock value for the sake of it, and that's not Oda's style. He has a point to his writing rather than relying on cheap tricks to surprise readers.
Same could have been said about predicting Ace's death before Sabaody arc. Point is, Oda could make his death meaningful if he wanted to. It won't happen, but it could be well executed and not just for shock value. Just to give a simple example - Jinbe was ready to sacrifice his life for Luffy on Marineford(and almost did). This scenario(hint 1) could repeat itself now, but with dire consequences. Jinbe dies, but his blood(hint 2) and his dreams/will are carried on by Luffy, then we get some sad flashback that adds depth to the whole thing, Luffy goes through some serious character development because another person died on his watch, this time because of his recklessness(hint 3, callback to Zoro's comment on PH and Luffy's reaction) and voila, you got yourself a pretty solid build up. Now I repeat - it's not going to happen (Luffy and character development kills it lol), but it could and not necessarily be "cheap".
I'll stick with my theory that he is going to sacrifice(not die) himself to let SH escape and won't be able to join. I just don't feel him as a SH. Was FI flashback HIS flashback? If yes, then that's pretty weak. If no, when is Oda going to show us his personal story? There just doesn't seem to be much space for it. Jinbe feels to me like Vivi 2.0 to be honest. Both would like to join, but they are not able for different reasons.
Those types of moments will come when the character is seen struggling to accomplish his goal. I would say Fishman Island is just what made him get to Luffy. The same way Sanji is getting to the most profound moments of his life as he grew up, we have only met Jimbe when he was already a soldier and 30 years old. I am not sure where the picture of Jimbe as a kid came from, but whatever his ambition was to keep training everyday he will succeed by going in his journey with Luffy. A fishman has to accomplish his goal.
@Dahaka.:
Same could have been said about predicting Ace's death before Sabaody arc. Point is, Oda could make his death meaningful if he wanted to. It won't happen, but it could be well executed and not just for shock value. Just to give a simple example - Jinbe was ready to sacrifice his life for Luffy on Marineford(and almost did). This scenario(hint 1) could repeat itself now, but with dire consequences. Jinbe dies, but his blood(hint 2) and his dreams/will are carried on by Luffy, then we get some sad flashback that adds depth to the whole thing, Luffy goes through some serious character development because another person died on his watch, this time because of his recklessness(hint 3, callback to Zoro's comment on PH and Luffy's reaction) and voila, you got yourself a pretty solid build up. Now I repeat - it's not going to happen (Luffy and character development kills it lol), but it could and not necessarily be "cheap".
I'll stick with my theory that he is going to sacrifice(not die) himself to let SH escape and won't be able to join. I just don't feel him as a SH. Was FI flashback HIS flashback? If yes, then that's pretty weak. If no, when is Oda going to show us his personal story? There just doesn't seem to be much space for it. Jinbe feels to me like Vivi 2.0 to be honest. Both would like to join, but they are not able for different reasons.
Just because Oda COULD make his death meaningful doesn't mean he will or should. With Ace's death, we kept getting all sorts of neon signs from Oda about how Luffy needs to become stronger to protect his friends as they approach the New World ever since Aokiji first showed up. Yes, Jimbei is selfless all of the time. But that's just because it's a part of his personality. It doesn't have to be foreshadowing for him actually dying during one of his selfless attempts to save someone. And the Marineford scenario did repeat itself, but not in the way you think. In the form of Jimbei saving Luffy FOUR TIME. The first was from Akainu, the second was when Luffy was dealing with grief over Ace, the third was the blood transfusion at the end of Fishman Island, and the fourth was saving Luffy and Nami in Totland (which is an ironic roundabout way of fate since Luffy first met Jimbei by breaking him out of Impel Down).
Luffy is not going to get "serious" character development. I know you were just giving a hypothetical example that you don't think is definite, but I'm still going tot ankle it anyways since it's literally the only scenario I see from people trying to justify the possibility of Jimbei's death/sacrifice. If he didn't get it from Ace, he's not going to get it now. Luffy typically being a reckless jolly idiot is what makes him a unique protagonist, and Oda never drastically changes any of his character's personalities (although some could argue that maybe it happened to Zoro to a degree). What you said IS cheap because it doesn't change anything in the story, there's no legitimate point to it. You're just pointing at how Oda typically uses a formula of having traumatic meaningful flashbacks (and for the record, we knew we were getting some sort of Luffy and Ace flashback since Alabasta, Oda just timed it a bit weirder than we thought) and saying it will happen despite neglecting to focus on why Oda would think this particular flashback changes things. And it doesn't. When Ace died, Luffy was convinced to undergo the timeskip. When Whitebeard died, Blackbeard rose to power and a whole new Pirate Age began. Jimbei dies? Luffy might more serious. Do you see the difference between the ramifications of these character's deaths and how Oda as an author utilizes death? Luffy getting some extra symbolic inherited will doesn't change anything on its own either. Also, right after Zoro's warning in Punk Hazard, Luffy replied by using Gomu Gomu no UFO. That pretty much sums up how Oda probably feels about making characters become more serious all of the time just because the stakes are higher. Luffy not being serious more often isn't a problem aside from the occasional gag and mishap that may give the Straw Hats a bit more of a risky predicament. It's all about about the romance.
His dream is about being selfless for his race, so it's fitting for his flashback to not be about himself. It's different, but Oda tries to change things up with every Straw Hat. Just look at Brook's dream connecting to Laboon and only being about wanting to visit him again instead of something more grandiose and selfish. Jimbei wants to improve Human-Fishman relations, and teaming up with Luffy (who is the most likely to become Pirate King and thus change the dynamics of the world) makes that more possible. And it also allows Jimbei to learn to be more selfish after being so selfless for others all of the time since he genuinely likes Luffy as a person that much. That was the point of the scene with his crew earlier in this arc when they were telling him that it's okay to become a Straw Hat.
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Oda's not emphasizing Jimbei's selflessness because it can happen to backfire with him dying one day, but so that he can build up an intimate relationship with Luffy (probably moreso than most of the Straw Hats at this point despite not being a Straw Hat yet lol) and finally learn to get some deserving me time. The difference between Vivi and Jimbei is that with the latter, her character journey was all about building up the credibility to live up to being a princess of her kingdom as it was undergoing a crisis. With Jimbei, his island is continuously put at peril and Jimbei has to go back and forth between alliances with the World Government and Yonko to protect his homeland at the possible cost of his life. All his life has been about is shouldering the burden of others. If he dies because he's being selfless again as usual, then all he offered to the story was being a plot device for Luffy not getting killed and Fishman Island staying safe long enough for Luffy to make it his territory. He deserves better than that after literally a decade of build-up hyping him to become the tenth Straw Hat, because than it's just a copout.
I didn't knew there were people expecting Luffy to be a deep and serious character with a dark(er) past.
@Count:
Just because Oda COULD make his death meaningful doesn't mean he will or should
I don't know why you're trying to argue then when I basically said the same thing :P Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that you can't know for sure what is going to happen. People can throw hypothetical scenarios at you, and you can feel free to try to shot them down like you did above, but there are many possibilities and there might just be one that would make perfect sense. His death may seem very unprobable now, but it doesn't mean it's impossible to frame the whole thing so that it would make perfect sense and be well-written. After all, that's what clever writing is all about, to deliver something that the audience do not expect but makes perfect sense once executed.