@theackwardstation:
Sure thing.
However, what I'm saying is not that we won't see new payoffs from Sulong, but claiming that chapter 888 was a payoff in itself more than a mere build up to a true payoff.
It's a matter of how people want to frame these situations. I'm just recollecting that it was not uncommon to see people undermining that moment to frame it in a way that Carrot was not important, but merely a tool. It's a type of framing that avoids acknowledging how much Oda tried to make CARROT herself look awesome, but instead changing the focus to the minks as a whole and "despersonalizing" that moment.
I'm pointing it out because her transformation was much more highlighted than what's happening now. There's still hope that the dukes will be amazing, but right now I'm underwhelmed and becoming skeptical.
You can go even beyond that if you re-read the Volume 6 Nakama thread when Chapter 888-889 came out. What was basically a highlight of Carrot in a packed and oversaturated arc turned into a discussion of being fuel for a future power-up for Chopper to have his own version of Sulong, even though it was pointed out by some that Chopper didn't even fully witness all the action Carrot was doing.
Also @Shift, some other stuff you said back then coming true lol
I’m not arguing against any of this. What I’m against is the fact Chopper has to learn these derivative moves at all, and if he will, that Oda didn’t just do it on Zou and introduce them now without needing Carrot. Just like Sanji’s fire moves, just like Brook’s ice, etc. In fact, it would have made more sense to do it ahead of time, since there’s no way Chopper’s in a position to emulate Electro or Sulong right now, and the payoff would have to happen at least a hundred chapters from now in Wano.
EDIT: Also, you said this back in May of 2018 as well, so it shows how long this argument of Carrot in Chapter 888 persisted:
(1) Oda made much more noise about Carrot being added to the journay than Pedro or Pekoms. Pekoms was added in 2 pages to guide them into Totland, Pedro was added in 2 pages because he could deal with Pekoms, and Carrot got half a chapter of her joining the squad with no plot justification, with the narrative dedicated to showcasing some of her quirks for the sake of making her likable, because that's the only reason why she's there.
(2) Throughout WCI, Carrot has been treated in the same beat as the Strawhats, with much more screentime given to her than the sum of Pedro's and Pekom's participation. In fact, even before Pedro's death, we followed Carrot's side quest much more closely than Pedro's… and Pekoms, well... let's say he accomplish his duty of guiding them to Cacao Island.
(3) Talking about duty in the story, Pekoms did his, Pedro died to raise the stakes of the arc and Carrot… hyped the minks? lol
(4) The samurai were anticipating Wano in the narrative, preparing the ground, and that's why they never did anything outside their own plot. They were not hyping the samurai (because they did nothing) and there's no parallel with Carrot.
About time some people are finally listening
