@dwo:
These moments will never return because they already have been. It is simple as that. OP is evolving and I prefer to enjoy what is happening now rather bemoan the loss of the beginning style/events. btw similar happened with the anime.
Like Rotten the Wizard said Zoro and Kuma scene in thriller bark was an epic scene just like the ones I linked. You seriously think we won't get those kind of moments again?? You're dead wrong my friend. That's the only reason people are reading this manga because very little manga or comics or stories give you these kind of moments because they rarely happen. And oda's produced the best of em. His dialogues are perfect and the moments don't feel fake nor forced like the ones in Naruto/Bleach few other mangas around.
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@DoctorPhil:
Luffy's over the top sad faces kind of ruined that moment tbh. I prefer the way sad scenes were handled in earlier One Piece. If there's one criticism I have for the current Oda is that he lacks subtlety in many ways. My biggest biggest gripe is how sad moments are too overblown and have ridiculous faces that ruin the moment. That example of Zoro, rituel gave now that was well done and not overblown.
I agree Zoro & Kuma was great but that wasn't such sad scene, it was badass and Oda is good at that.
I agree LUffy on amazon lilly crying over ace wasn't that epic as i hoped it would be
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@parklane21:
Well, in fights, a devil fruit ability is just as strong as the devil fruit user. It only gives them a lot of "element of surprise" factor. But once it's known what it can do, it always resolves into a fist fight. Especially on the case of Luffy because, on every arc, Luffy always get his ass beaten once. This is a pattern that is followed every time, and every time it drives me nuts. Then, he will beat his enemy up badly. On DD's case, I'd say Luffy shouldn't play defense, and use an undodgeable Red Hawk to the torso right off the bat. While he's disoriented, follow-up with an elephant gun and massacre him with elephant gatling. But he will probably fuck up his first try, and get his crew disadvantaged.
Well the story has to be kept interesting after all. After a character development like Dofla's one wouldn't expect him to be fodder