@Zach:
I'm really unhappy with this chapter on several levels, and since I'll never get a chance to bitch about it on the air or anywhere else, I figure I'll post it:
Concerning the Jinbe decision, regardless of the decision you may want to be made, it's ultimately incredibly disappointing. The action and the drama all lead to Luffy making a relatively important decision about this. The tie-in to this resolving the wounds of Fishman Island in a more metaphorical sense makes this decision ultimately a profound disappointment by Oda. He's now literally taking the words out of his own mouth. It's as if the last chapter was sound and fury signifying nothing. Regardless of whether you like Jinbe or not, and I understand if you don't, it makes this whole arc seem far more meaningless to me. This makes the whole party scene directly after even more useless, and empty, in my opinion. The ultimate "reveal" at the end isn't all that surprising either, I think the theory has been floated around that Noah or Shirahoshi or some combination thereof was the ancient weapon Poseidon (which I know we mentioned at least a few times on the podcast). I feel like Oda dragged us back to Fishman Island solely for that confirmation at this point, and that's also a hallow narrative. Had Luffy just left, I think this would have been a more poignant chapter. The only thing staying could possibly solve is clearing up Sharley's prediction. Of course, my full opinions ride on what happens next chapter, but this was just let-down after let-down. This chapter was mixed the predictable with the unpredictably disappointing, and this is coming from someone who loves just about every chapter of One Piece.
Now I'm gonna get back to work.
Well, I will have to humbly disagree with this post.
The action the drama, culminating in a fishman joining a human crew. It would obviously be stupid if Jinbei just said "NO!". Jinbei accepted, so its still the same.
The guy just has some serious business to take care. Can't he do it? Something he HAD to do, but was afraid to do it till now. Thats just character development, whats disapointing about it.
This could only be considered rejecting if when your girlfriend said "Come live with me in (other side of the world)" and you said "Ok, but I'll have to get my life in touch, and say good bye to a few guys, and get some business done" she would consider it a rejection.
Why is the arc meaningless. Its not like Jinbei would be the first ever Fishman to join a Human Crew. And he will join a human crew… Whats the deal?
I don't get why the sound and fury of the last chapter signify nothing... It was basically an "OK, I'll catch up later", promising some interesting plot.
Explain the diference:
this:
->Fishman go nuts and wants to destroy everything
->Luffy, a Human, fights with is life to stop him.
->Luffy lost to much blood.
->Jinbei, a fishman, decides to give him is own blood.
->It was the first time a fishman gave blood to a human in decades.
->Luffy asks him to join the crew, as a fishman would be in crew of humans.
->Jinbei says yes.
or this:
->Fishman go nuts and wants to destroy everything
->Luffy, a Human, fights with is life to stop him.
->Luffy lost to much blood.
->Jinbei, a fishman, decides to give him is own blood.
->It was the first time a fishman gave blood to a human in decades.
->Luffy asks him to join the crew, as a fishman would be in crew of humans.
->Jinbei says yes, I'll join later.
Whats the diference?
And about Poseidon... WTF?
Shirahoshi is Poseidon. Surely that was flying around for ages. Obviously... not.
Noah is Poseidon was a common theory.
Shirahoshi is Poseidon wasn't.
Who in living hell would think a human was a weapon.
And even if someone tought of it, it doesn't make it predictable. It was 1 people in like more than 10,000,000 readers.
And even if it was predictable, why would it be bad?
And obviously Luffy had to stay... So many plot points. Joyboy, the ES, Caribou, Urashima's casket... And why in hell would Luffy refuse a banket?
Well, I came to realize I don't get your point at all...