@theackwardstation:
What matters to me is not the amount of arcs or anything like that, but the context of the narrative. I'm fine with not having a lot of fights for many arcs as long as the progression keeps some sense and credibility. My criticism to the NW in this regard is that we're already facing enemies of the highest level without a previous taste of what the Strawhats can do. There is no point of reference. Even for Zoro and Sanji. Everything about their current level is super vague… and yet we see power ups coming too, which is weird too...
Is Kaido's crew of the highest level? We just got the SSG, then Shanks, Cipher Pol and Teach are still left. I have my own thoughts of why the Yonko Saga involves the 2 lesser familiarized Yonko and why they are the 2 lesser known in the first place. It makes sense. The crew gets a taste of the New World with BM and Kaido, then venture into SSG (who are filling in for Warlords in that dynamic). Mihawk was said to be Shanks rival. This entity can represent a lot of issues. Especially if they are said to equal or be greater in value than the Warlords who (some) plagued Paradise. Their weapons and who they are connected to. Jinbe wasn't physically an obstacle, but what he was responsible for was Arlong and that was an issue. Same as Dressrosa's issues (Doffy) or Baroque Works Saga (Croc). I see the SSG filling in that void. I don't have to go into why Teach and Shanks are part of the much larger picture than Kaido and BM.
They just don't seem like the highest level to me. It's like when people said Jack was the top guy and I was confused because in narrative, the writer tends to not give up all the cards for a mission like this or just introduce them this early in general. It came out that most were wrong and Jack wasn't the top guy. I've read a lot of stories and it would be off if Jack was Kaido's top guy and was familiarized first. Same as fleshing out the lesser known Yonko first. Teach and Shanks were introduced first, but they weren't fleshed out like BM and Kaido are about to be. They aren't the top guys. Those ahead of the game and who scheme and forecast the way that Teach and Shanks do are the ones who are of the highest level. The next would be the Warlords, but look what Oda does. He replaces them. How many Warlords can you sprinkle into this New World adventure as main opponents if most of them have already been spammed? He took the SSG, which has been hinted and sets them up as a fine replacement.
What Zoro and Sanji received seem more complimentary than an upgrade. Zoro needs a sword that can challenge his new skill. It will take time to get used to it. Shusui was just Zoro becoming familiar with what it means to have a black blade. It's just that he didn't make Shusui black himself. Sanji has an issue with using science and that is to protest his family. Yet, he showed growth when he put it aside to protect his friends. I see that as preparing Sanji for something that has been coming to him for a while now. Sanji trained under Iva and barely shows off Newkama Kenpo. I think the same way he protest his family, he is somewhat against Newkama Kenpo and will put his pride to the side and showcase his results of training. So, this is why I don't see it as an upgrade.
Is it vague? I agree with that to an extent. We don't know if they are worthy of fighting Yonko execs or lower, yet we are here ruining the party of 2 Yonkos and there is enough enemies to go around. This says something.
That's why I think the comparison with pre-timeskip is not completely analogous. In particular, your example for Chopper doesn't make much sense to me, since his Monster Point was not something that he could control, just a desperate move before defeat, so it's normal that he never used it before. That's not what I'm asking for.
What happened for the most part of pre-timeskip was that some members of the crew were already pretty strong and above average since their recruitment, so they didn't face a real challenge until Alabasta, which made sense. But even before Alabasta we still got a good taste of their abilities and strengths. Arlong Park gave us a point of reference for the entire crew. Only Nami was the exception since she hadn't done much onscreen fighting beforehand (even her weapon was completely new, lol). And from Alasbasta we could keep watching their evolution step by step… so there was a good sense of progression.
In contrast to Alabasta, the crew didn't arrive at the New World already ready to face a Yonkou in the same way that they were ready to face Baroque Works. And yet that's what's happening...
A natural progression only happened for Luffy. First we saw enemies that were much below his level like Hody Jones and CC. Then we saw a worthy opponent like Doflamingo. Then we saw two guys that were above him, Cracker and Katakuri.
In comparison, Zoro only found opponents below his level... and most of the other Strawhats didn't get even that...
That's weird. Not because of how many arcs it has been without fights, but because they are about to go against the Leading Performers, the Tobi Roppo, the Numbers and whoever else... enemies that are supposed to be beyond what they achieved during the timeskip.
Monster Point showed that there was another level for Chopper. Desperate or not, it was something up his sleeve to protect his friends, even tho it could hurt them and he knew it could beat his opponent. It predates him joining. If the crew all have things up their sleeve, whether desperate, against their code (pride) or not, they have it to protect their nakama and represents their strength. It is comparable in that matter to what is going on. Whether an opponent is worthy of what the crew have as assets when fighting is crucial. The crew know when it is necessary. Who did we see Robin defeat for us to know her limit before EL arc? Can we put a finger on Robin's capabilities? Pell and Vivi? Between Brulee and Dosun, I can't tell where Chopper is, but it provides enough for me to know that he is formidable. That is why I say I agree to an extent.
Of course the Strawhats shouldn't use their craziest abilities against weaker opponents. My point is that Oda should have invented some worthy opponents for them before Wano for us to get a point of reference of their level. Give one fight to Robin in Dressrosa. Give Franky a better fight in Dressrosa. Maybe give a fight to Nami in Punk Hazard (against Monet, maybe). Give a full-fledged fight to Sanji instead of those isolated clashes that go nowhere. And the list goes on.
Robin showed that she was competent against Diamante. She protected Rebecca and wasn't defeated, but that goes more to the point of fleshing out allies. Oda could've had Kyros beat Diamante while Rebecca was somewhere else. He used that to dramatize Diamante's actions against the family while making Robin's strength still noticeable. Again, this is my understanding and not critique. Whether it's worth it to flesh out allies, while just teasing the crew's strength in this manner will be judged later.
That's another thing… and of course this focus on other characters is one of the reasons why the Strawhats got less of the spotlight.
That said, I'm not against this route that Oda has chosen. Nonetheless, I still think that even in this structure he could have found room to display the Strawhats a little more. In fact, the Strawhats did get a lot of screentime in PH, Dressrosa and WCI. Their screentime was just not optimal combat-wise.
As I stated, it's just the difference in where we think the story is at. If you think that the story is almost over, you feel like it is too late and Oda should've gave the crew more formidable opponents, instead of Hody and Caesar. I don't see the crew jumping that fast into the realm of Teach and Shanks yet. They gradually went through those connected to Kaido and are now at his doorstep. He is someone that would have loved to be part of MF War, but Shanks got in his way somehow and still managed to get there himself.
- Shanks seems like he's invested in the balance and can envisage those who might disrupt this. Is there another who can mess things up just as much as Teach? He's obviously warning the Gorosei of someone
- Then we have the Rev Army that directly oppose the WG. Why did Dragon care enough to mention a weapon mastermind behind the Liquor Iron Ore when he has the Reverie on his plate?
There are obviously others after BM and Kaido that can serve as worthy opponents before reaching the endgame worthy Teach and WG. That's why I can see the possible larger scheme.
). But by then, the anime was starting to become unbearable to watch, so I lost my patience, went ahead, and read the rest of Thriller Bark and Sabaody, right to the moment the Straw Hats were separated. The first chapter I read weekly was the very first or second chapter of Amazon Lilly. And what a time it was to become a new fan, right before the big boom of Marineford and Strong World.
