What time does it typically come out on Friday? If it's too late I'll just go asleep for the night.
Probably 3-4 AM. I would say get a good night sleep. No point staying late and feeling sleepy when you reading.
What time does it typically come out on Friday? If it's too late I'll just go asleep for the night.
Probably 3-4 AM. I would say get a good night sleep. No point staying late and feeling sleepy when you reading.
About an hour from now
I actually visited your podcast after someone asked about that Mihawk theory of yours.
It makes sense, especially because it would be such a "woah, what..?" moment. But what do you have in store to deal with the fact that he's still holding the strongest swordsman title? You can't have him rot in Impel Down with it. He either has to lose it in combat against another swordsman or die first. What's your idea once he's caught?
Right, so first regarding strongest swordsman. As the strongest swordsman, it means he shouldn't lose a proper duel, not that he can't be trounced in any other combat. Him losing wouldn't touch that title but I thinj most ppl realize that. However, where it gets interesting is what's publicly known and what's reality.
Remember, it was public knowledge among characters that Sabo was dead. Majority of people didn't know Roger was a father. The crew didn't know Luffy had a famous dad and grandpa. There are events that may have already unfolded that nobody knows about which will be detailed later that we may learn down the line.
Example.
Mihawk is an absolute badass. He's publicly known as the strongest swodsman in the world. But what if something transpired that we and the world of OP don't know about? Or, what if something does transpire?
Still think buggy and mihawk will move on shanks island after marines wreck their islands and force them to run.
There's also 13 years of Dofla mastering the devil fruit between those 2 cages.
Theres not really any indication that theres a difference between the spur-of-the-moment flashback birdcage, and the birdcage made from a spur-of-the-moment string clone.
I personally have bigger DF hangups than the birdcage, but much like the most obvious offenders - Sugar, Law – its just so blatant in its narrative convenience, and its disregard for the DFs usual properties.
Like, in a nutshell, Doflamingos powers allow him to create highly durable wires from his hands which he can then use to puppeteer people, cut people, propel himself forward etc. And if the birdcage had just been “a bunch of really, REALLY tough wires” I could’ve easily rolled with it. But lets break down what the birdcage does, and why:
It’s a swiss-army knife of plot convenience. Out of all the ticking clocks Oda has introduced the birdcage is by far the lamest.
Oh my response was more about Robby saying cage was tough as it was because Dofla had years to prepare it at his base.
It's just a mess.
Right, so first regarding strongest swordsman. As the strongest swordsman, it means he shouldn't lose a proper duel, not that he can't be trounced in any other combat. Him losing wouldn't touch that title but I thinj most ppl realize that. However, where it gets interesting is what's publicly known and what's reality.
Remember, it was public knowledge among characters that Sabo was dead. Majority of people didn't know Roger was a father. The crew didn't know Luffy had a famous dad and grandpa. There are events that may have already unfolded that nobody knows about which will be detailed later that we may learn down the line.
Example.
Mihawk is an absolute badass. He's publicly known as the strongest swodsman in the world. But what if something transpired that we and the world of OP don't know about? Or, what if something does transpire?
So are you implying that Mihawk might not even be the strongest swordsman? That there is someone even better than this guy that we (the world, the protagonists, the readers) don't know about yet?
I didn't even consider that, tbh. It's so ingrained in peoples brains that Mihawk is the top guy that needs to be beaten after all. Either him or his successor (Shiryu or whoever).
But you know what, I would buy it. Especially after… recent events.
Do not mention birdcage, I'm trying to forgot it was a thing:ninja:
Mihawk is an absolute badass. He's publicly known as the strongest swodsman in the world. But what if something transpired that we and the world of OP don't know about? Or, what if something does transpire?
I'm not a fan of Mihawk being a fraud knowingly or not.
–- Update From New Post Merge ---
Considering Doffly makes strings and control them I have no problem witha giange string construction that can shrink. I always found it annoying that only Luffy seems to be truly inventive with his fruit.
.
You should delete your post before a mod spots it. You are not allowed to talk bout new chapters outside the spoiler thread until the chapter is officially released (on Sundays).
@Daz:
Theres not really any indication that theres a difference between the spur-of-the-moment flashback birdcage, and the birdcage made from a spur-of-the-moment string clone.
I personally have bigger DF hangups than the birdcage, but much like the most obvious offenders - Sugar, Law – its just so blatant in its narrative convenience, and its disregard for the DFs usual properties.
Like, in a nutshell, Doflamingos powers allow him to create highly durable wires from his hands which he can then use to puppeteer people, cut people, propel himself forward etc. And if the birdcage had just been “a bunch of really, REALLY tough wires” I could’ve easily rolled with it. But lets break down what the birdcage does, and why:
- After Doflamingo is exposed there needs to be a way to restrict everyone on the island, so he can feasibly save face –> Birdcage is not just strong wires, its an IMPENETRABLE and NATIONWIDE network of wires, created from a nonetheless very cuttable and Doflamingo-sized puppet.
- Characters must not be allowed to contact the outside world by any means**–>** The birdcage can also block all transmissions! Somehow!
- The dramatic stakes need to be upped, and the secondary characters given something to do –> the birdcage also initiates mass-puppeteering, forcing multiple characters against their allies!
- Weirdly, no important characters got puppeteered, so the dramatic stakes still need to be upped, and the secondary characters still given something to do**–>**The birdcage now shrinks automatically!
- In the midst of all this, Doflamingo still needs to be intimidating and available for his final battles**–>** The birdcage operates completely independently, including the mass-puppeteering and shrinking, as if controlled by a string-based AI. It is suspended by literally nothing, and creating it does not tax Doflamingo whatsoever.
It’s a swiss-army knife of plot convenience. Out of all the ticking clocks Oda has introduced the birdcage is by far the lamest.
One of the weirder aspects is that the birdcage was even stronger than Doflamingo himself in the context of Dressrosa. It was physically painful to me to see all those characters joining forces just to stop for one second the shrinking of the cage, and thar team included even an admiral. Makes you wonder why Doflamingo doesn't make an armor with his invincible strings to become the strongest character in the setting, lol.
I understand the metaphorical idea of "you must defeat the man to end his control over the country", but Oda put the birdcage too much into the spotlight for those final chapters, so the whole thing became even more over the top than it was, and more stupid too.
Mihawk not being the strongest swordsman sounds to me like Roger not being a D. honestly.
So are you implying that Mihawk might not even be the strongest swordsman? That there is someone even better than this guy that we (the world, the protagonists, the readers) don't know about yet?
I didn't even consider that, tbh. It's so ingrained in peoples brains that Mihawk is the top guy that needs to be beaten after all. Either him or his successor (Shiryu or whoever).
But you know what, I would buy it. Especially after… recent events.
Yep, which is precisely why I suggested it as a possibility way back. Week to week Oda looks for spur of the moment revelations that people just wouldn't consider because of the available information and preconceptions.
Yes, I do believe Shiryu is a perfect candidate for that.
However, this depends on one exceptionally important factor!
Aside from Luffy, does Oda intend to have the crew realize all of their dreams before the end of the series or as a part of the end of the series?
The biggest arguments against this were Nami and Franky.
Nami mapping the world before the end seemed absolutely impossible before she was on a sky island for 2 years which seemed to point at members realizing their dreams as a part of the ending. That's obviously up in the air now.
Franky sailing Sunny into the sunset is almost by definition part of the ending/epilogue.
So where does this leave Zoro?
Beating Mihawk before the end of the series, or fighting him as a part of his ending?
Thematically, and character-wise it seems to make much more sense to have Zoro settle his bout with Mihawk before the end. It would be a horrific stunt to leave that result up to reader interpretation. But we also know that Shiryu is more or less being set up as Zoro's last boss. Don't get me wrong, Oda could totally pair him against someone else but he'd have to have one helluva good reason to do so.
So how does one balance Zoro's dream with Zoro's last boss?
The most elegant way would be if they're one in the same, which is to say Shiryu having bested Mihawk at some point. My suggestion was during the war between WB's former crew and BB. With both of them (BB and Mihawk) on the move now it's certainly something that could occur from this point on as well.
However! If a Mihawk loss to Shiryu was to occur from this point on, I personally don't think it would be as satisfying. This would detract from giving Zoro an opportunity to face Mihawk while he holds the title.
The scenario that would make the most sense from Zoro's perspective in terms of Zoro's growth/personal perspective, would be if Mihawk was (unbeknownst to the world) to lose to (what's ultimately revealed to be) an unfair duel with Shiryu during the Marco vs BB war.
1. That is to say Mihawk knows he lost but doesn't care that it was unfair and still calls it a loss. The world doesn't know the battle occurred.
2. Mihawk is bested by Zoro during the timeskip. We see this in flashback. Unbeknownst to Zoro, Mihawk pulled a punch, so to speak, for #reasons.
3. Zoro seeks Shiryu as his new goal.
4. Zoro beats Shiryu and in doing so, realizes that not only was Shiryu's win against Mihawk unfair, but also that his business with Mihawk is unfinished.
5. Zoro seeks Mihawk to settle business and the last scene we see with Zoro is either the start (not entirely satisfying) or end of their duel.
I'm not a fan of Mihawk being a fraud knowingly or not.
What's nice about Mihawk (from what little we know about him) is that he isn't going around with a badge that reads 'Strongest Swordsman'. It's what the world says about him. He doesn't seem concerned with such things. If he's a so-called fraud by that definition, then so are the Strawhats considering what the world 'knows' about them based on rumors and the what the Marines have to say. This was even clear two years ago when rumors about Luffy were spreading through Water 7.
Aside from Luffy, does Oda intend to have the crew realize all of their dreams before the end of the series or as a part of the end of the series?
The biggest arguments against this were Nami and Franky.
Nami mapping the world before the end seemed absolutely impossible before she was on a sky island for 2 years which seemed to point at members realizing their dreams as a part of the ending. That's obviously up in the air now.
Eh… As a child Nami studied maritime navigation to be able to sail all around the seas of the whole world using her navigation skills and draw that world map. One of the first thing she said during her introduction is that she loves the sea. Learning that she mapped most of the world on that sky island (I know it can move) that isn't even part of the white sea woud feel like a betrayal to me and to the flashback I love. Hope ur wrong :ninja:
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying your suggestion is unlikely (Her dream that is drawing a map of the world is realized, it works perfectly for Oda) but it wouldn't feel right to me as a reader, like it was "rushed". Not satisfying. :/
Eh… As a child Nami studied maritime navigation to be able to sail all around the seas of the whole world using her navigation skills and draw that world map. One of the first thing she said during her introduction is that she loves the sea. Learning that she mapped most of the world on that sky island (I know it can move) that isn't even part of the white sea woud feel like a betrayal to me and to the flashback I love. Hope ur wrong
Like I said, it's up in the air (haha). Whether she's been able to access certain regions or has had access to certain maps is all up to Oda. While it seemed a sure thing that crew dreams would be accomplished in an epilogue-style closure, this offers the potential of characters finishing their dreams by the end of the main story.
Personally? I like the epilogue approach myself. Esp. for Franky. But, you just never know.
Boa Hancock will be the most determined in the battle against Marine. She promised to herself she would never,ever be enslaved again. So she will be the most determined to fight the government,even more than Mihawk.
The thing with Mihawk and Shanks is weird anyway and leaves a lot of things to imagination.
Mihawk was already WSS, Shanks was no Yonkou yet, none of them won, Mihawk still kept the title.
–- Update From New Post Merge ---
What's nice about Mihawk (from what little we know about him) is that he isn't going around with a badge that reads 'Strongest Swordsman'. It's what the world says about him. He doesn't seem concerned with such things. If he's a so-called fraud by that definition, then so are the Strawhats considering what the world 'knows' about them based on rumors and the what the Marines have to say. This was even clear two years ago when rumors about Luffy were spreading through Water 7.
I disagree, he might not care about being called the strongest, but he sure as hell cares about being the strongest, and if he gets called that while he knows he is not, does not really fit their swordsman personality of honor above rest.