@RobZilla:
I don't mean it would have been as easy as simply mentioning Lola or whatever, but Lola would surely have been at the centre of it some way.
Now if it does happen it doesn't really make much sense to me.
It would make sense if Pudding's been manipulating some memories here and there…
She kind of already does, or at the very least seems to have been wildly optimistic.
A character having quirks, even irrational ones, does not mean they're completely naive/dumb. And Oda's been giving a lot of levity towards Lola's marriage and tense relationship with her mother, so I doubt that he would play it off with something as contrived as Lola being that gullible. It's a legitimate mystery that needs to be solved, especially when we see her say something similar to that in Pudding's brief flashback of when she left (hinting there's more to Lola leaving than meets the eye since Pudding is centric to the arc's plot and pretty mysterious/suspicious in a bunch of ways). Especially since it also seems contradictory for her to run out on a marriage when she's so willing to propose to every guy she glances at.
I actually wouldn't be surprised if the Luffy-Big Mom confrontation took place on Fishman Island tbh.
It's Big Mom's turf and Luffy's initial challenge to her was over that particular island.
Also we know that Luffy is going to "destroy" Fishman Island in some fashion.
That's the most obvious route. But honestly, I think that's just what Oda WANTS us to think. I believe it's too early in the plot for Fishman Island to get "destroyed". An event that big and circumstantial fits more in line with the endgame of the series, right before or after Raftel. When all hell should start breaking loose to break the familiar arc progression structure of the series, since we NEVER backtrack. All I know for sure is that if Jimbei is joining the Straw Hats at the end of this arc, which he should after all of this build-up and the fact he has nowhere else to go, then we need a solid resolution on Fishman Island's safety (for now) so that Jimbei will be comfortable adventuring with the Straw Hats.
We have Wano Country and the Reverie coming right up next, and then the fourth Road Poneglyph probably right after since these Road Poneglyph arcs have been consecutive so far. The Straw Hats leaving the island and allowing Fishman Island to be in jeopardy just doesn't make sense narratively when they're going to be busy for a while in Wano Country, which is the timeframe of when Big Mom should be trying to destroy Fishman Island after the Straw Hats wreck the wedding IF they still hate each other.
Luffy would still the underdog in his first one on one battle with a Yonko though?
Yeah, which is why it would still be a big deal to go from 3 on 1'ing a Yonko to 1 on 1'ing them.
Sort of. There's be plenty of hype involved and it would be a next big battle. But it would be at a point where we as an audience can tell Luffy is "ready" for a Yonko. Oda likes to subvert expectations like that.
Also, we're moving into the part of the story where Luffy has to be genuinely legitimised as a top player.
He can't be the underdog forever.
I understand why you say this, but Oda can get away with underdog Luffy as long as he wants. Even when he becomes a big player. Even up to his final battle. If say, Blackbeard becomes Pirate King first and Luffy needs to steal the title (just throwing possibilities out there for the sake of them).
Teach has had and will continue to have way more build than any other villain.
He might be in the same ball park as the other Yonko but with 2 devil fruits to himself and probably Shanks' corpse in his dust he'll still be head and shoulders above the rest.
In terms of personal attachment to Luffy, sure. But he's still going to be around the level and title of a Yonko. And knowing Oda, he's probably lose a fight or something in general first against Teach to hype him up like what's happened with every other arc villain.
Oda loves to recycle characters though.
Recycling characters is different from recycling threats, which Oda has never done. The likes of Buggy, Crocodile, and probably Lucci are never going to become real arc antagonists again. You could maybe argue the Admirals, but Kuzan's not a part of the Marines anymore (and I doubt he really wants to help Teach), Fujitora's a good guy, and Kizaru might be fought again, I can see that happening.
Right now is Big Mom's best time to shine with all of this suspense, all of these plot threads, being on her home turf, etc. Invading Elbaf is cool, and we can certainly have a bunch of fights. But it won't be as definitive for her portrayal and threat level as this arc is. Oda's just a one and done guy. And every time we have an antagonist group in an arc, Oda likes to save what their identities and powers are for when they're fought. But with Big Mom, he's already completely pulled back the curtains on both fronts. So knowing his patterns and intentions, I'm inclined to doubt that the Straw Hats will ever decisively fight against the Big Mom Pirates.
Zoro doesn't always need to fight a swordsman though.
Oda apparently needs it though. I wish Zoro would fight less swordsmen, as there are more ways to test swordsmanship than just clashing blades. But even Pica, who was a great opponent to showcase Zoro's raw power with his rock fusion personification powers, was forced to become a swordsman for two seconds in Dressrosa. We should never underestimate how much Oda loves Zoro and swordsmen in general.
I dunno, I don't think the SHs escaping here does anything to make Big Mom less intimating.
Also, a full on confrontation between the SHs/SH fleet and Big Mom Pirates will be way more awe inspiring.
Not as awe-inspiring as the first time they take down a Yonko in Wano Country. I daresay that it would feel pretty repetitive if we had two Yonko war arcs back-to-back. This isn't really just about Big Mom not being able to surpass her villain portrayal in this arc, but also surpass the threat level of Kaido. Who is the real built-up big cheese of this saga while Big Mom, as cool as she is, is kind of just there as a contained antagonist that's not all that relevant outside Fishman Island and her island.
At least they managed to repel Jack.
That would have been one kick in the balls too many I think.
Which was because Jack was a meathead who thought he could take on an Admiral, the former Fleet Admiral, Garp's Peer/Vice Admiral, and at least three Vice Admirals. I don't really think that should be taken as a credit to the Marines as much as how rash the Beast Pirates can be. Like when Usopp invaded the Franky House.
The Marines didn't show up in Fishman Island, although we heard about Akainu's promotion at the end. Smoker got trashed by both Vergo and Law, while Tashigi was… Tashigi and G-5 was a bunch of nobodies. And we heard about how they're planning for the Final War in a vague monologue by Law. In Dressrosa, as cool as Fujitora, he chose to not act during the arc, stalemated with Sabo, and then apologized on behalf of the Marines' incompetency with Shichibukai antics to Akainu's dismay. Then he let Luffy and Law get away, making Fujitora not being able to return to any Marine bases for the meanwhile. They're not in Totland, although we did find out more Vegapunk info and their history with fighting Germa 66 (if the WE Times comic is even authentic). And right now, they don't seem to have any links to becoming prevalent in Wano Country to Elbaf, although that can easily change.
I would like to think that Oda has something planned for their plot relevance besides mishaps and ineffective threats given how major of a revelation it was to learn that Akainu is the new Fleet Admiral, the Marines are going to do, well, ANYTHING before the Final War. Maybe they'll make some sort of big move in the Reverie though. Right now, I could hardly care about whatever they're doing.