Hm, there was a lot of padding and filler in this episode, but for the most part it was good padding and filler. Did not expect there to be a flashback to the Sengoku/Garp vs. Shiki fight from the OVA. That was cool. Townspeople actually giving reasons for why they think Roger was a horrible person is a plus too. They showed a lot more of Dadan than the corresponding manga scene did.
whitebeard doesn't take like any damage from attackers during this time. he doesn't until after the big event
No, he got magmafisted in the chest by Akainu at the end of the episode (and it looked pretty brutal of a hit, too), yet the scene in the preview of him blowing away a bunch of marines doesn't appear to show a wound like the manga did. Now that I look at it again the dust and stuff seems to be blocking his chest from view, but I still think it'll be toned down.
On that note, Whitebeard coughs up mud. He shouldn't be eating that stuff.