As we approach the end of this arc, I've been thinking alot about it and what it has actually accomplished in terms of story and progressing characters.
Wano was the perfect arc to display, spotlight and utilize each and every one of the Straw Hat's individual talents, and yet, they have done absolutely nothing significant.
Lets look at the various ways they have been failed:
1. Sanji
Sanji is a cook, he strongly believes that food should be valued and deeply empathizes with people who are starving. Wano is an arc where a significant portion of it was spent showing us how people were starving while food was being wasted. But Sanji never deals with this part of the arc. Instead he was relegated into that weird soba mask thing that absolutely added nothing to the story.
Why couldn't we have had a small story where Sanji visits a starving village, he cooks amazing newkama kempo recipes for them, and still have the stupid confrontation with Page One as he comes to investigate?
2. Robin
Robin is a historian. She is deeply curious about history, and especially the void century. She is aware that Wano is a significant factor in uncovering that history. And yet, she has never been shown interacting with the history of Wano. Instead she spent her time learning how to be a Geisha??.. Like what?
This would have been the perfect time to show Robin uncovering the connection between Wano and the Void Century. Instead of Oden's vague prophetic words, it could have been Robin slowly uncovering this connection.
But nope, Robin gets to be a geisha..yay.
3. Franky.
Franky's main goal on the crew is to ensure his ship gets Luffy to the end. He is in a country that is known as the best producer of seastone. Seastone that would allow his ship to chart the Calm belt, further making it the Ship of Dreams. There are also multiple Weapon's factories across Wano. I thought he could do something about that.
But I guess being a carpenter was a better use for his character and his bs excuse of looking for Blue prints didn't even end up helping.
At least he built ships for the rebellion. Oda remembered he can actually do that.
4. Ussop
He wants to be a brave warrior of the sea. He is in a country full of powerful warriors who have lost their will to fight. This would have been the perfect moment for him to awaken to his goals, motivate himself and the samurai to rise up again in defiance.
It would have been a great way to add to his mythic army of followers. Further increasing his parallel to Buggy.
5. Brook
Brook, he doesn't want much, he just wants to get back to his friend.
But Wano would have been the perfect moment to show the power of Brook's music.
He could have been shown going to various villages/towns, playing music so as to alleviate the suffering of the Wano people. Further recruiting more people to the cause.
6.Nami
A cartographer who wants to chart the whole world. Never once expresses interest in the rare known countries that are uncharted.
Furthermore, he skills as a navigator are never used in Wano. She could have been utilized during the trip to Onigashima due to the harsh weather there.
7.Zoro
Wants to be the greatest swordsman.
Has only fought one swordsman/magic fox in Wano, in a country full of swordsmen.
The only one who has been consistently acting according to their character is Chopper. He came in clutch during Udon and he came in clutch again in Onigashima. Why couldn't the other SH have had similar small moments??