I figured it would. I'm just wanting to see all the Minks we've met so far's Sulong forms. Bepo's would probably be awesome.
I wouldn't doubt it, can't wait to see Inurashi and Nekomamushi the most, since we don't know the Minks' complete abilities during the full moon.
Though Carrot will still be our first experience.
I figured it would. I'm just wanting to see all the Minks we've met so far's Sulong forms. Bepo's would probably be awesome.
Considering Inuarashi's comments back on Zou about showing Kaidou's forces the Minks' "trump card" the next time they fight, we may well see more than a few new Sulong forms come Wano.
Of course, that does push back the in-universe timing of the conflict by roughly a month, assuming the moon in One Piece's world orbits/rotates similar to our own and that whatever Eneru's been doing up there for the past two years isn't going to affect matters in some way. Maybe enough time for a short side arc…
Did we ever get an idea of whether or not the Reverie would be occurring before Wano? (Been somewhat out of the loop...)
Without love, it cannot be seen.
I'm just disappointed we didn't get to see Pekoms' in all its glory. Just one roar-face and then he got knocked and pinned down. I wonder how bad he'll be hurt by the end of it.
There has been 2 color spreads without him since then. I’m afraid we have to wait for the chapter "the ninth person" before we see him in a color page with the other
Oh, yeah. For some reason I forgot about all the recent colorspreads aside from the zodiac signs one. I take back what I said, then…
When was the poll taken? I heard something about Carrot being one of the new favorites but didn't see her in that picture so I'm not sure if it was before or after Zou was reached.
Just like otakufan, I don't know when the votes were closed, but it was at at some point during the wedding since Katakuri is included. Carrot placed 27, but was originally thought to be 26 because Mihawk was mistakenly omitted from the results (and he placed 22nd):
http://onepiece.wikia.com/wiki/Popularity_Polls
(On a side note, I honestly don't get why Kin'emon and Momonosuke are so unpopular)
@.access:
(On a side note, I honestly don't get why Kin'emon and Momonosuke are so unpopular)
Because they're annoying.
Prepare for 2-3 more years of Momo.
Prepare for 2-3 more years of Momo.
At least there should be plenty more new characters to take focus off the little turd.
At least there should be plenty more new characters to take focus off the little turd.
Prepare for 2-3 more years of generic wAckY feudal Japan characters like Kinemon and the ugly guy
I'm just disappointed we didn't get to see Pekoms' in all its glory. Just one roar-face and then he got knocked and pinned down. I wonder how bad he'll be hurt by the end of it.
I still hope for him being new Nakama. Even if just for some time. Him taking part in action during Wano would be awesome in my opinion.
Also his role should not be over as we just seen a glimpse of his use of Turtle Devil Fruit.. He will play bigger role.
I don't think that Carrot will ever join, but there's one point that the whole discussion about her joining touches: She's female.
With Jinbe (very likely) joining, we would have 8-2 ratio in regards to gender (Male-Female). I know it's a shonen manga and all that stuff and the author's target audience being boys around the start of puberty, but at least a third woman wouldn't be that much to ask. The question is if Oda also sees it that way… 
Carrot's still never gonna join the crew. 
@Big:
I don't think that Carrot will ever join, but there's one point that the whole discussion about her joining touches: She's female.
With Jinbe (very likely) joining, we would have 8-2 ratio in regards to gender (Male-Female). I know it's a shonen manga and all that stuff and the author's target audience being boys around the start of puberty, but at least a third woman wouldn't be that much to ask. The question is if Oda also sees it that way…
Very ground breaking argument, but being female would not put her above any other female candidate. In addition, Carrot is a femboy with a wig.
@Big:
I don't think that Carrot will ever join, but there's one point that the whole discussion about her joining touches: She's female.
With Jinbe (very likely) joining, we would have 8-2 ratio in regards to gender (Male-Female). I know it's a shonen manga and all that stuff and the author's target audience being boys around the start of puberty, but at least a third woman wouldn't be that much to ask. The question is if Oda also sees it that way…
I think there's an opening for the return of Vivi, depending on how the Reverie goes.
I firmly believe that she will always do what's best for Alabasta, but with her father already gearing up to press for answers on the sensitive subject of the Poneglyphs, "what's best for Alabasta" may depend heavily on how the WG/Celestial Dragons/etc. react to his inquiries.
Then again, I reread the manga up through the Alabasta arc recently and just started watching the FUNI dub, so I'm neck deep in Baroque Works era nostalgia at the moment…
Not that I'm necessarily against Carrot either, though...
Prepare for 2-3 more years of Momo.
I think more like 3~4 years.
WCI arc is nearly hitting the 2 years mark.
I can imagine Wano arc will get stretched out even more than Dressrosa arc.
I imagine "Momo for next nakama" will be at its peak in that arc.
I imagine "Momo for next nakama" will be at its peak in that arc.
Nah. Momo has a dream that is only achievable in Wano (being shogun), not by sailing the world on a pirate ship. And Robin fulfills the purpose that his father served on Roger's crew, so any parallel there is moot.
I don't see Momo having more people thinking he'll join the crew than Rebecca had.
Purely coincidence
Nah. Momo has a dream that is only achievable in Wano (being shogun), not by sailing the world on a pirate ship. And Robin fulfills the purpose that his father served on Roger's crew, so any parallel there is moot.
I don't see Momo having more people thinking he'll join the crew than Rebecca had.
You forgot to mention that he's also a 10-year old child. Why else did Shanks not let a kid Luffy sail with them? Or an even more recent example, Roger to a kid Pedro?
You forgot to mention that he's also a 10-year old child. Why else did Shanks not let a kid Luffy sail with them? Or an even more recent example, Roger to a kid Pedro?
True. Although its within the realm of possibility that Luffy would ignore that and take on a cabin boy.
And Momo is unloveable.
I think more like 3~4 years.
WCI arc is nearly hitting the 2 years mark.
I can imagine Wano arc will get stretched out even more than Dressrosa arc.I imagine "Momo for next nakama" will be at its peak in that arc.
4 more years of Momo
Are there any characters that redeem Wano?
I for one look forward to Momo taking on one of Blackbeard's fleet captains.
4 more years of Momo
Are there any characters that redeem Wano?
We'll always have Carrot to brighten our day.
The Momo for NN supporter are just in slumber right now.
When Wano arc start, Momo will definitely be in the spotlight as he is the main drive to take down Kaido.
That is when the supporters will bring out their 20 pages thesis of why Momo will join the crew.
Or random Nami clone kunoichi will be the talk of this thread.
Pick your poison.
I don't see Momonosuke as a Strawhat, but he may keep traveling with the Strawhats just like his father did with Roger. Fact is that he won't be shogun until he reaches majority and there's a lot of important knowledge of the Kouzuki family that was not transmitted to him because of Oden's death, so his growth to recover the traditions of his clan could happen going to Laftel and learning the forgotten language with Robin.
As for Carrot becoming a Strawhat, I see good arguments on both sides here, but sometimes people are so extreme that this looks more like a discussion between lawyers than people honestly trying to reach an understandment of the events. To point out with whom my bias is right now, some arguments against Carrot joining the crew baffles me, honestly, since they generalize too much her character and abilities. With ten other Strawhats, it's evident that there will be juxtapositions between some of her traits and the individuals of the crew (the same can be said about anyone), but she is different enough in all those very same things to be unique if she ever joins. The most important thing is that she blends really well with the others, so much that there's a really strong visual aspect of how she moves and how she lays around the Strawhats to make a complete picture… instead of just being a figure at the back of the frame. And it's really endearing to see her affectionate manners.
As for the signs in the series, her position in the story right now is much closer to a Strawhat than a citzen of Zou for all the reasons already mentioned. The argument that she will revive the Nox Pirates doesn't really fit with the narrative, since the will she inhirited from Pedro is not to go out searching for Poneglyphs (like the Nox Pirates), but to aid the crew that will bring the dawn of the world, something that she is already doing for her own self desire.
Also, regarding the patterns of the recruitment of the previous Strawhats, one thing that one must not forget is that Oda tries to make everything new everytime. Each Strawhat had very different processes of joining the crew and even different structures for the full presentation of their character. That's what keeps things interesting and fresh.
I for one look forward to Momo taking on one of Blackbeard's fleet captains.
He has better chances than Vivi taking them on :ninja:
I want Pekoms to join.
Even if only for some time, even if he will make Nox Pirates captain of himself and join Luffys fleet.
Guy was underused combat wise and shown qualities that made Luffy consider him a friend. After what is happening on Cacao, Pekoms has nowhere to go..
As for Carrot becoming a Strawhat, I see good arguments on both sides here, but sometimes people are so extreme that this looks more like a discussion between lawyers than people honestly trying to reach an understandment of the events.
Thanks for your candid thoughts. I think it's true that sometimes, in our desire to be right, we downplay the significance of what others are seeing and where they're coming from. I know I've been guilty of it. Here's hoping that whatever happens, we can all enjoy the crew getting bigger and even more fun to watch!
Like the Avatar? / Like the Miis?
Dragalia Lost ID: 97617932505
Kinemon just seems to be a major ally in the way East Blue had Johnny and Yosaku, BW had Vivi and Carue, Skypiea had Conis, and CP9 had Kokoro, Chimney, and Gonbe.
We all know the three-eyed girl from Big Mom's crew is gonna join anyways. She will fill the role of the psychic. She is Big Mom's actual daughter. Her sad past involves living with a mom like Big Mom, seeing all the horrible things she has done, and not being able to freely leave. Her dream is to escape and and make the world safe from Big Mom. This is where the Straw Hats come in and help her. She will fit in at around Robin and Franky's in terms of power. Her animal will be a goose and she will be the younger sister in the crew. Her interactions will involve her reading the crew's minds for kicks, revealing their horrible secrets - Chopper's rumble balls are full of steroids, Nami is actually bulimic, Brook's skeleton includes some bones that aren't actually his own, and the Zoro/Sanji doujins are actually happening during those periods between islands.
I'm bored.
From like 6 years ago damn. I was hoping for a Pudding like this and I was hoping she'd be a strawhat, wasted potential :(
Year of Sanji, let's go!
Also, regarding the patterns of the recruitment of the previous Strawhats, one thing that one must not forget is that Oda tries to make everything new everytime. Each Strawhat had very different processes of joining the crew and even different structures for the full presentation of their character. That's what keeps things interesting and fresh.
I think what's throwing people off is that she would be a newbie recruit and we haven't had one of those in ~16 years with Chopper. Since then we've had Robin (#2 of Baroque works), Franky (head of the underworld on his island), Brook (TONS of seniority over the strawhats), and Jimbei (former warlord). Carrot would be a newbie again except that unlike when they recruited Chopper, the strawhats aren't newbies themselves anymore. So the story would present her in a completely different way than it did before.
A part of me is pretty ecstatic that Jinbe formally joining the crew is extremely likely to happen by 2018. It's the first time I will be seeing a new crewmate joining in real time.
He was invited to join the crew in like 2011? That was nearly 7 years ago…
I think the issue with Carrot is that she has the creativity and irrelevance of the average temporary supporting ally, as well as lacking a compelling backstory (whether it's already happened or is happening now does not matter when it's still mediocre). These are things that even newbies like Chopper and Usopp had.
Spoiler:
"Life's not about finding out which card is yours, but finding out which cards you're not."
A part of me is pretty ecstatic that Jinbe formally joining the crew is extremely likely to happen by 2018. It's the first time I will be seeing a new crewmate joining in real time.
He was invited to join the crew in like 2011? That was nearly 7 years ago…
Not only that, but he was first mentioned way back at the start of the Arlong arc. Jimbei was the longest set up in the series except for the one piece, and Luffy returning the hat.
You claim like we have something against her joining or that people are thrown off…
Nobody is arguing against her because of her character, we are discussing the likelihood of her joining based on her current state of development and everything that comes with it.
I really like 5 of the Strawhats (now 6 with Jinbe), tolerate three and really dislike one, a character that was mostly ruined by Oda post-TS.
Having a fun but shallow addition to the Strawhats would bother nobody.
The likelihood of it though? Another story.
He has better chances than Vivi taking them on :ninja:
While we've obviously seen very little of her in action since the timeskip (hell, since Alabasta), the simple act of jumping fearlessly out of the crow's nest of Hina's ship and landing safely on deck implies that Vivi hasn't been idle over the past two years.
Above and beyond her duties as Princess and diplomat, she's obviously done some kind of physical training, probably under Pell/Chaka/Igaram, which I think is perfectly consistent with how the Alabasta arc went for her - putting her desire to avoid needless bloodshed on full display, while driving home the fact that some battles can't be avoided and must be faced head on. I'd never presume to estimate her current combat ability with so little to go on, but I don't think Vivi's behind Usopp or Nami in terms of physical prowess, and all three are "weapon-focused" fighters anyway. Give Usopp and Franky a chance to work their magic on her Peacock Slashers and she might catch up faster than you'd think.
By contrast, Momonosuke is still a child. Shenlong-zoan or no, the only fight he'll be winning without significant help is if Kaidou or the Daimyou/Shogun of Wano have a kid of similar age that he ends up scuffling with.
Without love, it cannot be seen.
From like 6 years ago damn. I was hoping for a Pudding like this and I was hoping she'd be a strawhat, wasted potential :(
oh man how did you even find one of my 6 year old posts. I was extremely aggro back then but yeah she kinda pseudo-psychic I guess since she can access memories and maybe hear voices actually maybe voat is mass schizophrenia
Ever since Momo stated his wish to become Shogun (and it was revealed the current Shogun is an ally of Kaido), any possible chances he had of joining went straight to 0. The outcome of Wano regarding the Shogun position should be obvious by those facts*
Plus, the fact he will eventually be able to understand Ponelyphs even better than Robin and is already ahead of Luffy in the "hearing things voices" ability should take the zero chances to a negative.
A shame, I really like the kid (I'm probably the only one) and would love to have him around, but that's what it is. As for his age, I don't think that would be a problem since the SH "core members" are incredibly young (if they are as old as Roger's cabin boys were, it would make sense their own cabin boy would be considerably younger).
While we've obviously seen very little of her in action since the timeskip (hell, since Alabasta), the simple act of jumping fearlessly out of the crow's nest of Hina's ship and landing safely on deck implies that Vivi hasn't been idle over the past two years.
Above and beyond her duties as Princess and diplomat, she's obviously done some kind of physical training, probably under Pell/Chaka/Igaram, which I think is perfectly consistent with how the Alabasta arc went for her - putting her desire to avoid needless bloodshed on full display, while driving home the fact that some battles can't be avoided and must be faced head on. I'd never presume to estimate her current combat ability with so little to go on, but I don't think Vivi's behind Usopp or Nami in terms of physical prowess, and all three are "weapon-focused" fighters anyway. Give Usopp and Franky a chance to work their magic on her Peacock Slashers and she might catch up faster than you'd think.
By contrast, Momonosuke is still a child. Shenlong-zoan or no, the only fight he'll be winning without significant help is if Kaidou or Wano's Daimyou have a kid of similar age that he ends up scuffling with.
Oh no, another jumping feat just like with Carrot 
None of them are physical fighters, and the damage Nami is capable of could be seen in this arc, and Usopp´s feats as sniper speak for themselves, so please let´s not kid ourselves.
His devil fruit has more potential to be powerful than any training Vivi might have done in the two years, if at all.
–- Update From New Post Merge ---
@.access:
Ever since Momo stated his wish to become Shogun (and it was revealed the current Shogun is an ally of Kaido), any possible chances he had of joining went straight to 0. The outcome of Wano regarding the Shogun position should be obvious by those facts*
Plus, the fact he will eventually be able to understand Ponelyphs even better than Robin and is already ahead of Luffy in the "hearing things voices" ability should take the zero chances to a negative.A shame, I really like the kid (I'm probably the only one) and would love to have him around, but that's what it is. As for his age, I don't think that would be a problem since the SH "core members" are incredibly young (if they are as old as Roger's cabin boys were, it would make sense their own cabin boy would be considerably younger).
- on a side note, while people expect Kaido to have a Dragon fruit, I am kinda expecting the Dragon zoan to be the "mark" of the true Shogun. Maybe the current Shogun is not the legitimate one and that's why some Daimyo oppose him, Kaido would have ordered Doflamingo to make an artificial dragon fruit to make his claims gain weight.
Logic does not matter when it comes to nakama, people want a cruel scientist who experimented on children for his own gain in the crew after all.
Understand Poneglyphs better than Robin? Unless there is a hidden message that you can only enter with the voice of all things, i doubt it.
Nah, i like him as well, i think he bring in a good dynamic.
Kaidou is gonna be a dragon that has eaten the Oni fruit or vice versa.
Logic does not matter when it comes to nakama, people want a cruel scientist who experimented on children for his own gain in the crew after all.
…...... I must keep my disguise, I must keep it.... I mus- I'M SORRY BUT CEASAR WOULD BE THE PERFECT ADDITION TO THE CREW!!!
I mean, I know it's not going to happen, I know better than to mistake what I want to happen with what I think can happen. His chances are nonexistent and they were even worse in the past. But Caesar joining would be the best thing to happen to this manga and no one will be able to convince me otherwise.
@.access:
…...... I must keep my disguise, I must keep it.... I mus- I'M SORRY BUT CEASAR WOULD BE THE PERFECT ADDITION TO THE CREW!!!
I mean, I know it's not going to happen, I know better than to mistake what I want to happen with what I think can happen. His chances are nonexistent and they were even worse in the past. But Caesar joining would be the best thing to happen to this manga and no one will be able to convince me otherwise.
I am with you on that. he would be the only Logia on the crew, he has a unique design, operates ina specific niche as a mad scientist, and has amusing interactions with everybody. It is such a shame that he is supposedly completely irredeemable.
No one is going to forgive him for what he's done and everyone on the crew absolutely hates him, especially Nami and Chopper. Say what you will about Robin and Franky, they at least had the decency to not conduct human experiments on children that were kidnapped, create weapons of mass destruction that ended up being used to wipe out an entire civilization, and treat their loyal subordinates like guinea pigs for personal experimentation. In the words of Sanji: "There is absolutely nothing redeemable about you."
I will admit though his interactions with the crew is hilarious and he's quite the character. It'd be a shame if this would be the last we see of him.
No one is going to forgive him for what he's done and everyone on the crew absolutely hates him, especially Nami and Chopper. Say what you will about Robin and Franky, they at least had the decency to not conduct human experiments on children that were kidnapped, create weapons of mass destruction that ended up being used to wipe out an entire civilization, and treat their loyal subordinates like guinea pigs for personal experimentation. In the words of Sanji: "There is absolutely nothing redeemable about you."
Oh no, another jumping feat just like with Carrot
The difference is Carrot's explicitly a physical brawler, whereas Vivi is not. It's more in line with seeing Nami make that kind of jump than someone like, say, Sanji.
Also, Carrot's a rabbit. Of course jumping is part of her repertoire. :p
None of them are physical fighters, and the damage Nami is capable of could be seen in this arc, and Usopp´s feats as sniper speak for themselves, so please let´s not kid ourselves.
Take away Zoro's swords and he can still kick your ass - he even has "No-Sword Style" techniques for that express purpose. Take away Nami's Climatact or Usopp's…well, arsenal, and while they're not entirely helpless, they'd be in a fair deal of trouble.
Also, Vivi has literally never had a weapon upgrade - it's like trying to predict what Nami would become capable of based solely on her pre-Climatact days.
His devil fruit has more potential to be powerful than any training Vivi might have done in the two years, if at all.
Long term, sure. I fully expect to see an older Momonosuke with a full grown Shenlong form as part of whatever we get as a series epilogue, or if there's a late series timeskip of ~5 years or so in setup for the final arc.
But again, right now he's still a kid. His powers are new and he's inexperienced at using them (there's also their being the result of a "failed" artificial fruit, for whatever effect that might have), and beyond that we have no indication of what level of training he's had to begin with. He isn't like the young Buggy, who got his powers when capable enough to master them as he went, he's like Kid!Luffy, who was as likely to throw a punch and hit himself as hit his target.
Momo's a Shogun in the making, but he's going to have to grow into that role, just like Kid!Luffy did.
Without love, it cannot be seen.
@.access:
I am so nominating this post for the 2018 AP Awards.
The difference is Carrot's explicitly a physical brawler, whereas Vivi is not. It's more in line with seeing Nami make that kind of jump than someone like, say, Sanji.
Also, Carrot's a rabbit. Of course jumping is part of her repertoire. :p
Take away Zoro's swords and he can still kick your ass - he even has "No-Sword Style" techniques for that express purpose. Take away Nami's Climatact or Usopp's…well, arsenal, and while they're not entirely helpless, they'd be in a fair deal of trouble.
Also, Vivi has literally never had a weapon upgrade - it's like trying to predict what Nami would become capable of based solely on her pre-Climatact days.
Long term, sure. I fully expect to see an older Momonosuke with a full grown Shenlong form as part of whatever we get as a series epilogue, or if there's a late series timeskip of ~5 years or so in setup for the final arc.
But again, right now he's still a kid. His powers are new and he's inexperienced at using them (there's also their being the result of a "failed" artificial fruit, for whatever effect that might have), and beyond that we have no indication of what level of training he's had to begin with. He isn't like Buggy, who got his powers when capable enough to master them as he went, he's like Luffy, who was as likely to throw a punch and hit himself as hit his target.
Momo's a Shogun in the making, but he's going to have to grow into that role, just like Kid!Luffy did.
Vivi is still a physical fighter, if you can call ther that, using a weapon doe snot negate you using your physical prowess
Which is completely besides the point, Usopp and Nami are never gonan fight without their weapons.
No, i mean in Wa No. He will not suddenly turn into a mosnter fighter, but he will ahve his own progression in his own right.
Momo will become a Shogun, no doubt, and it´s gonna happen at the end of Wa No.
@.access:
Hahaha that is so meme worthy, I like.
You claim like we have something against her joining or that people are thrown off…
Nobody is arguing against her because of her character, we are discussing the likelihood of her joining based on her current state of development and everything that comes with it.
I really like 5 of the Strawhats (now 6 with Jinbe), tolerate three and really dislike one, a character that was mostly ruined by Oda post-TS.
Having a fun but shallow addition to the Strawhats would bother nobody.The likelihood of it though? Another story.
One of the arguments in this thread is that Carrot is not unique for the Strawhats. That she has electrical powers just like Nami, that she transforms just like Chopper, that she is boyish just like the boys, that she is cute/"mascotish" just like Chopper, and we can continue to make any vague comparisons with the other Strawhats. I'm only pointing out my opinion that none of these features are really similar in practice. Carrot's visual appeal is not the same as Chopper's, Carrot's fighting style is completely distinct from Nami's, the Sulong transformation gives a completely different vibe (more mystic) from Chopper's many utility forms, and I can keep going. She has her own charisma and archetype.
That's important because the likelihood of her addition also depends on the portrayal of her character, even if this is a complicated discussion, after all we're reading an adventure manga that works based on the interactions of the main cast with the world and between themselves. So people are right to give some thought to this subject, even if I disagree with their conclusions. But just to be clear, I'm not talking about liking Carrot or not, but if you can see her flowing naturally in their adventures or not. In One Piece, a lot of characters are likeable and interesting, but they (a) only work inside a plot because they don't have an easy personality to write in any kind of random situation, (b) their motivations are too specific to a particular narrative, 
they don't have any motivations at all, (d) they fulfill other roles like rival, villain, mentor etc, (e) it would be nonsensical or (f) the author gives no love to them.
Carrot is free from any of these constraints, since her character was written to work in very broad conditions and she is intuitively invested in the same kind of stuff that Luffy likes. Even her motivations coverge with those of the Strawhats. What about "her current state of development"? A character detached from her homeland, dreaming to have adventures in the sea, being suggested to concepts like "the Strawhats are going to bring the dawn of the world" and building an emotional attachment to the crew... well...
Vivi is still a physical fighter, if you can call ther that, using a weapon doe snot negate you using your physical prowess
Which is completely besides the point, Usopp and Nami are never gonan fight without their weapons.
All I'm trying to say is that we haven't seen her in action for a very long time and have no real way to determine what her current abilities are. What little we've seen suggests she's more physically able than before, but she's never been and is never going to be a "combat monster" in the vein of the Monster Trio/Quartet/Whatever.
The true measure of her fighting prowess and potential depends entirely on her weapons and her skill with them, which hasn't been on display since Alabasta and predate most of Usopp's more fanciful inventions and tech.
I just think it's too early to count her out of the running quite yet.
No, i mean in Wa No. He will not suddenly turn into a mosnter fighter, but he will ahve his own progression in his own right.
Momo will become a Shogun, no doubt, and it´s gonna happen at the end of Wa No.
I don't disagree, I just think it'll be a longer "journey" for him than simply the length of the Wano arc. Even if the Strawhats et al. put him on the proverbial throne by the end of Wano, he'll still be the classic "boy king". He may be able to rely on his vassals and allied lords or he may need a loyal regent to rule in his stead for a while, but I think it'll take time for him to fully grow into the position.
I hate to keep going back to Alabasta, but I think it's an apt comparison: If Cobra had been killed during the arc, I could see Vivi moving into the role of Queen fairly seamlessly (though obviously with a sufficient amount of grief). I don't see Momo doing the same just yet.
Without love, it cannot be seen.
One of the arguments in this thread is that Carrot is not unique for the Strawhats. That she has electrical powers just like Nami, that she transforms just like Chopper, that she is boyish just like the boys, that she is cute/"mascotish" just like Chopper, and we can continue to make any vague comparisons with the other Strawhats. I'm only pointing out my opinion that none of these features are really similar in practice. Carrot's visual appeal is not the same as Chopper's, Carrot's fighting style is completely distinct from Nami's, the Sulong transformation gives a completely different vibe (more mystic) from Chopper's many utility forms, and I can keep going. She has her own charisma and archetype.
That's important because the likelihood of her addition also depends on the portrayal of her character, even if this is a complicated discussion, after all we're reading an adventure manga that works based on the interactions of the main cast with the world and between themselves. So people are right to give some thought to this subject, even if I disagree with their conclusions. But just to be clear, I'm not talking about liking Carrot or not, but if you can see her flowing naturally in their adventures or not. In One Piece, a lot of characters are likeable and interesting, but they (a) only work inside a plot because they don't have an easy personality to write in any kind of random situation, (b) their motivations are too specific to a particular narrative,
Carrot is free from any of these constraints, since her character was written to work in very broad conditions and she is intuitively invested in the same kind of stuff that Luffy likes. Even her motivations coverge with those of the Strawhats. What about "her current state of development"? A character detached from her homeland, dreaming to have adventures in the sea, being suggested to concepts like "the Strawhats are going to bring the dawn of the world" and building an emotional attachment to the crew... well...
That´s only part of what people claim.
The biggest argument regarding her fighting style compared to the other Strawhats is, she is not unique in the world:
Luffy is a rubber man with incredibly comical attacks
Zoro is a three sword user, the only one seen so far with a sword in his mouth
Nami uses a staff that can control the weather
Usopp uses a slingshot and is a sniper
Sanji uses a mix of capoeira and taekwando that nobody in One Piece uses
Chopper has six transformations, the only Zoan so far
Robin can sprout limbs or even herself from whenever she wants to
Franky is a cyborg that can fart, create huge air blasts, has rockets in several parts, can create a laser
Brook is a skeleton that can separate his soul, has a connection to the underworld, can hypnotize people with his music
Jinbe is the best fishman karate user that has access to abilities nobody else has, can talk to fish and whales as the only fishmen in the world
Carrot uses a fighting technique everybody on her island can use.
I do not think i have to further explain the huge difference in uniqueness.
Also a character that was not remotely focused on for 90 chapters beyond a Shoujo drawing and a preview to the true form of minks that is gonna be very relevant in Wa No, a character who has no significant interaction with the main character, which has always been the most crucial aspect, has nothing unique about her, her so called development hinges on the death of a character we know is alive and even then their connection was shoehorned right after his supposed death, even Pound was better developed than that.
Let´s not pretend anybody looks at anything substantial here.
–- Update From New Post Merge ---
All I'm trying to say is that we haven't seen her in action for a very long time and have no real way to determine what her current abilities are. What little we've seen suggests she's more physically able than before, but she's never been and is never going to be a "combat monster" in the vein of the Monster Trio/Quartet/Whatever.
The true measure of her fighting prowess and potential depends entirely on her weapons and her skill with them, which hasn't been on display since Alabasta and predate most of Usopp's more fanciful inventions and tech.
I just think it's too early to count her out of the running quite yet.
I don't disagree, I just think it'll be a longer "journey" for him than simply the length of the Wano arc. Even if the Strawhats et al. put him on the proverbial throne by the end of Wano, he'll still be the classic "boy king". He may be able to rely on his vassals and allied lords or he may need a loyal regent to rule in his stead, but I think it'll take time for him to fully grow into the position.
She was already way behind any of the Strawhats pre-TS. And when they trained their specific skills for 2 years and got ready for the New World, Vivi was dealing with marriage proposals and her ailing father.
If she had even remotely time to train, it will be for naught since the gap only increased further.
She was already way behind any of the Strawhats pre-TS. And when they trained their specific skills for 2 years and got ready for the New World, Vivi was dealing with marriage proposals and her ailing father.
If she had even remotely time to train, it will be for naught since the gap only increased further.
I'd say she was more or less on par with Usopp and pre-Climatact Nami during Alabasta, both of whom were either going through their own "Can't Catch Up" stage regarding their abilities compared to the Monster Trio at the time or would be doing so in short order.
Regarding the timeskip: Looking after Cobra is significantly eased by the fact that they're royalty with a dedicated staff to care for them - not saying she'd pass on the responsibility, but it's not like they were alone in a hut in the middle of nowhere with no one else to rely on. And she seems to have rejecting proposals down to an art - again, she's a Princess, managing matters of courtship comes with the territory. I'd say her work as a statesman would eat up far more of her time that either of the others.
As to where she would find training, Pell and Chaka are a good starting place. They may not be Rayleigh/Mihawk level mentors, but they'd serve as a good foundation to build on. And beyond that, once more, she's a Princess with ties to the World Government. They could probably bring in just about any non-Pirate/Revolutionary in the world to serve as a tutor on the merit of the family name, connections, and personal wealth alone.
One of the arguments in this thread is that Carrot is not unique for the Strawhats.
She most certainly is not.
That she has electrical powers just like Nami,
Yep.
that she transforms just like Chopper,
Totally.
that she is boyish just like the boys,
At best, her personality makes the most difference in being more action prone and goofy than the girls, but she has little else to add aside from joining in on group gags with Luffy and Chopper and that one shoujo drawing gag. Which is a shame because I have wanted a female character who steps away from the feminine stereotypes Nami and Robin embody physically and psychologically.
that she is cute/"mascotish" just like Chopper,
I would not say either of those qualities are demerits that anybody has brought up. Especially the mascot-ish part. She would have to be more small with emphasized plushie doll physique adorableness for that.
and we can continue to make any vague comparisons with the other Strawhats.
As vague as whatever Pedro's dream seems to be?
I'm only pointing out my opinion that none of these features are really similar in practice.
We'll see about that.
Carrot's visual appeal is not the same as Chopper's,
I can break down all of Carrot's traits into three words. Energetic rabbit girl. Everything about her design, from being a furry animal to having the same type of mouth/nose, is either similar to Chopper or basic rabbit traits you would find in any anthropomorphic rabbit design you search up on Google Images. Look at her in any Zou panels with other Minks or the Volume 81 cover and she does not stand out from her race at all aside from being the only rabbit person (in the same way everybody else is a different species). Oda puts a lot more thought than that for his main character designs. He is complacently flawed when it comes to the girls, but he still would not make a new female member look this derivative and barebones in physical features since Nami and Robin at least stood out in certain nuances when they were introduced. And she has blonde hair like Sanji.
Carrot's fighting style is completely distinct from Nami's,
She uses close-range electricity strikes, jumps high, and sometimes bites people for comedic one-hit KOs. Wow, she really brings in so much variety. To be fair, Brook also had a lackluster showing in Thriller Bark as an obviously inferior swordsman to Zoro. But at least he compensated in super speed, personality, design, and Devil Fruit potential.
the Sulong transformation gives a completely different vibe (more mystic) from Chopper's many utility forms,
You are calling our comparisons vague yet try to cite Sulong as having a "mystical" aesthetic? What does that mean? I think you mean "supernatural" since it seems awfully werewolf-esque, but Chopper's transformations are literally based on the abominable snowman, especially with his monster form. And let us not forget that this transformation is limited to only full moons and was most likely being used to hype up her chieftans for Wano Country, hence why Chopper asks if they can transform too and Pekoms claims that he goes out of control.
and I can keep going. She has her own charisma and archetype.
Hardly. The only archetypes she embodies are "furry animal person" and "tomboy". The former belongs to Chopper already and the latter has not been fleshed out to have unique standout traits at all.
That's important because the likelihood of her addition also depends on the portrayal of her character,
Which is telling since her portrayal has mainly been nonexistent aside from minr Mirrir World shenanigans against fodder, one or two chapters where she wrecked a bunch of ships and fodder, and looking through binoculars. And that is all on 100 chapters.
even if this is a complicated discussion, after all we're reading an adventure manga that works based on the interactions of the main cast with the world and between themselves. So people are right to give some thought to this subject, even if I disagree with their conclusions. But just to be clear, I'm not talking about liking Carrot or not, but if you can see her flowing naturally in their adventures or not. In One Piece, a lot of characters are likeable and interesting, but they (a) only work inside a plot because they don't have an easy personality to write in any kind of random situation, (b) their motivations are too specific to a particular narrative,
This makes sense. And come to think of it, she would fit in as much as Robin and Chopper do nowadays. As afterthoughts only good for occasional exposition or gags.
Carrot is free from any of these constraints, since her character was written to work in very broad conditions and she is intuitively invested in the same kind of stuff that Luffy likes. Even her motivations coverge with those of the Strawhats. What about "her current state of development"? A character detached from her homeland, dreaming to have adventures in the sea, being suggested to concepts like "the Strawhats are going to bring the dawn of the world" and building an emotional attachment to the crew… well...
Maybe she seems like she can work in broad conditions because of how nonexistent her role has been in Zou and Totland's stories and how generically redundant her motivations to see the world are compared to crew members who have that and much more like Usopp and Chopper. All you mention are what ifs. The only things she does have are carrot loving gags before the arc started, one girly drawing joke out of nowhere, a bland design without any special quirks standing out, a moonlight transformation her leaders can probably do better, and last minute rushed developments. All of it this is very underwhelming for Oda's usual creativity. She technically checks off a bunch of new crewmate boxes, but to the most mediocre bare minimum effort possible.
Before trying the stop the Caesar train again, I would accept him if he was the prissioner of the sunny, and never a true strawhat.
Buuuut, his true strawhatdom was completelly ignored, if he was going to be with them, at the very least he should have shown empathy with the victims of his weapons, the minks, whatever happened in Punk Hazard was him in power, control and distance over his guinea pigs, in zou he was at face level with them, curing them of his weapons and his only thought was "ugh, after all the work I went to make that poison, now I have to cure it! the nerve!"
@Count:
I think the issue with Carrot is that she has the creativity and irrelevance of the average temporary supporting ally, as well as lacking a compelling backstory (whether it's already happened or is happening now does not matter when it's still mediocre). These are things that even newbies like Chopper and Usopp had.
I can't believe I never even brought up the not having a compelling backstory thing, but good catch. I've just been challenging people to come up with something she can do that no one else on the crew can.
