[HIDE] Robin and Zoro: Why I like them
I’m going to keep this short as my dissection of the manga will focus on this more in-dept, but basically I think the two of them get along best and have the best chemistry. They also look good together. ;) Oh and are my two favourite characters. xD
Analysis: Robin and Zoro in the Manga:
“I don’t trust you” ~ End of Alabasta Arc ~ Rough Beginnings, Subtle Inconsistencies
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The first time they speak to each other, Zoro tells Robin he doesn’t trust her and that he’ll be watching if she tries anything. Robin just smiles. It’s not unusual that Zoro doesn’t trust Robin given that she was the right hand assassin of Corocodile, the man who tried to ruin Vivi’s country and kill the Straw Hats. What is unusual is that when the two are looking for a South Bird, not long after they reach the next island, Robin tells Zoro not to kill the insects and he listens to her. What’s odd about this is that Zoro rarely takes orders from anyone as it isn’t his style. He only listens to Luffy as he is the captain (and Nami when they are navigating).
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Another interesting point here is that Zoro still tells her he doesn’t trust her and not to give him any suggestions, yet he does as she asks. Clearly, her opinion matters to him, whether or not he wants to admit it. ;) Also, before this scene the two have not really interacted much as Robin kept herself quite distant on Jaya (see below – she’s sitting “away” from the rest of the crew), so it’s definitely not a case of them becoming closer and like I said, Zoro still says he doesn’t trust her. So really, their relationship dynamic hasn’t changed, Robin is still the “outsider” and these early panels (above) show that perhaps the tough swordsman isn’t so oblivious to our cute Robin-chan as he would like her to think. ;)http://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/robin-distant-in-jaya.jpg?w=207&h=300
“She’s a women” ~ Skypiea Arc ~ Strange Parallels
Skypiea Arc is probably the most shippy arc for them as their dynamic changes and there is an odd parallel that takes place between Zoro and Wiper (but more on that later).
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The first thing to notice here is that Zoro actually listens to what Robin is saying and he actively engages in conversation with her. Prior to this, he was typically not interested and often was off snoozing somewhere (see below). These moments also give us a peek into their slowly changing dynamic. Not just Zoro, but the whole crew is slowly beginning to accept Robin as one of their own.
http://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/zoro-sleeps.jpg?w=197&h=300An early Zoro (before Ussop and Sanji joined the crew) snoozing.http://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/zoro-sleeping.jpg?w=176&h=278http://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/zoro-sleeping-2.jpg?w=190&h=300Zoro sleeping not long after the crew enters Grand Linehttp://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/zoro-falls-asleep-anywhere.jpg?w=197&h=300Zoro falling asleep after Crocodile imprisons them
As you can see, it’s pretty easy for Zoro to just fall asleep and zone out of the affairs of the crew, yet once Robin is introduced, we never see him sleeping when she’s around. It can be said that he finds her stimulating. ;) Also worth noting is that Zoro has shown on at least one occasion to not really take what Nami says seriously (see below), yet he’s never done this to Robin. Clearly, out of his two female crew mates, he respects Robin a lot more.http://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/zoro-lack-of-respect-when-nami-talks.jpg?w=190&h=300This dynamic is also reflected in how much faith he has in each lady’s combat skills. In the case of Nami, Zoro does not believe she can protect herself and the moment he gets separated from her during a dual battle, he begins to worry about her safety:http://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/zoro-doesnt-think-nami-can-take-care-of-herself.jpg?w=207&h=300In the case of Robin though, when he gets separated from her and Luffy, the thought that Robin would be defenceless alone does not cross his mind. He just thinks about getting to the meeting spot:http://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/robin-and-group-will-be-fine-zoro.jpg?w=197&h=300Now this may seem like it makes Nami more important to Zoro as he’s actively worrying about her, but the funny thing is, Zoro’s relationship to Nami and Robin strangely parallels Wiapa’s relationship to Aisha and Lucky. This strange parallel is quite telling given that Wiapa’s relationship to Aisha and Lucky is pretty clear cut. One is a little kid that he wants to protect and the other is someone he sees as a woman.http://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/waiper-zoro-parallel-1-aisa-nami.jpg?w=300&h=216First parallel happens when Nami and Aisha accidentally ride into the battle field. Zoro and Wiapa quickly jump to their defence and ask them what the heck they are doing on the battlefield, as in both of their minds, these two are protection items that aren’t meant to be here. This parallel suggests that Nami is like a little sister to Zoro, one he feels obligated to protect. This isn’t strange if you consider that Zoro and Nami were Luffy’s first two crew mates and have been journeying together for quite some time now. In the case of Aisha, she’s a fellow Cyandian.
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When Enel appears next to Lucky, Waipa desperately asks him not to do anything to her, so much so that he clutches the barbed wire and bleeds. Enel replies that to him that sex is not a factor when punishing those who oppose him. I’m not sure if there was something lost in translation or if Enel deduced that Waipa wanted Lucky spared because he saw her as a women, but either way, it’s pretty apparent that Lucky isn’t just a regular warrior to Waipa. This is the first we see him so desperate to save someone and I think it is a pretty clear connection to make that he is this desperate because Lucky is special to him. Hell, even Enel picks up on it.
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Now the curious thing is, a few chapters later, Enel does the exact same thing to Robin and Zoro replies with the exact same sentiments as Wiapa. What’s more, he rushes to catch her as she is falling and places her gently on the ground before he proceeds to attack Enel. Now this is just one moment in a very long running manga, but it was this moment that sold me on the shipping actually having a chance (not that it means it will happen for sure). These three panels are quite telling for a number of reasons. First, Zoro and Robin aren’t yet that close. Last we heard on Jaya, he still didn’t trust her. Yet this scene tells a whole different story. He cares, because he catches her and proceeds to rush Enel. What’s unusual here though is that their relationship has transformed so quickly. Zoro didn’t really trust Nami until he learned her past, whereas it’s entirely reversed here. Zoro clearly already cares deeply for Robin. Deeply enough that he gets pissed off when Enel attacks her. The next unusual thing is that Zoro actively calls out against Enel for not discriminating based on sex. What’s weird about this is that Zoro has never really cared about sex in the past. When Kuina cries that she’s going to become weak when she grows up because she’s a girl, Zoro angrily replies that she is his rival and he won’t accept that (see below). Furthermore, when Tashigi accuses him of not taking her seriously because she is a woman, Zoro replies that her sex has nothing to do with it, it’s her resemblance to his dead friend (Kuina). This is further showcased when he engages both male and female bounty hunters on Whisky Peak without much discrimination. Clearly, sex isn’t really a factor for Zoro, yet here he objects to Enel’s attack on the basis of sex (“She’s a woman”). This suggests that while he normally doesn’t see females as women, she sees Robin as a woman. This interpretation is further supported by the parallel to Wiapa, who likewise sees Lucky as a women and pleads on the basis of her sex that Enel spare her. Furthermore, both men aren’t very expressive of these emotions. Lucky is terrified of Wiapa and probably doesn’t have a clue that he feels anything for her. In fact, outside of that moment, there was never anything that really suggested Wiapa loved her, which is very much like Zoro. These two clearly only let their true feelings show when their loved one is hurt. ;)
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Robin’s Betrayal ~ Water 7/CP9 Arc ~ An Evil Face, the Demon Asura
After Skypiea, we clearly see that Zoro and Robin are no longer strangers. So when a certain stranger appears and starts talking about Robin betraying them, the Strawhat pirates are not pleased. While most of the crew actively show anger and frustration, Zoro remains quiet. Nonetheless, when it matters most, he shows what he really thinks.
http://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/zoro-steps-up-first-against-aoji.png?w=202&h=300That is, when Aoikiji begins his attack on Robin, Zoro is the first to move in and defend her. No hesitation. Clearly, in his mind, Robin isn’t a traitor and Aoikiji’s words have little effect on him. What’s more interesting is that when Aoikiji first begins talking to the Strawhats, Zoro is located the furthest away (see below), so he must have reacted right away when he saw Aoikiji make the ice sabre. Another interesting thing about this is that usually it is Sanji, the ladies man, that jumps, with no hesitation, at every opportunity to protect a lady. Yet here Zoro was the first to react.
http://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/zoro-standing-at-the-end-when-aoikiji-comes.jpg?w=203&h=300When Robin does betray the group, just as Aoikiji warned, Zoro remains oddly claim about the situation, something that is quite unusual for the hot headed swordsman.
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He mentions that he has no opinion on whether Robin really betrayed them or not in order to refrain from being taken by surprise if his beliefs turn out to be wrong, but I suspect that this is his way of cooping with the shock of her betrayal. In fact, later on, the manga strongly suggests that Zoro was very much affected by Robin’s betrayal. After her declaration and once he learns of her past, he meets up with Kaku again to fight for his key. The latter states that he was disappointed that he was unable to witness Zoro’s true strength in the Gally-La mansion and Zoro affirms this by saying he is a lot stronger than he was then (see below). Now given that Zoro has not been training since that incident as the crew went directly to Enies Lobby to rescue Robin, I think it’s pretty easily to deduce that Zoro is stronger now because all his inner turmoil about Robin betraying the group has disappeared. He and Robin are quite similar in the sense that they rarely let others see their true emotions, albeit Zoro is much more of a hot head and does let his anger show from time to time. Their similar disposition is one of the reasons I really like them together. One last thing to note about the scene below is that Kaku notes that Zoro’s spirit is giving off ominous beast like vibes. I wonder why? Could it be that he is really pissed off at CP9 and how they used Robin’s trauma against her? Or maybe after hearing how they abused his dear Robin, he’s eager for some vengeful blood? My, my the possibilities~
http://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/zoro-fights-kaku.jpg?w=204&h=300Which reminds me, after he hears Robin’s story, his face looks, according to Nami, “evil” (see below). My, my, now why would Zoro’s face be so disfigured by Robin’s past? Perhaps he’s really ticked off that these CP9 losers had the gall to mess with his Robin. ;)
http://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/zoros-evil-face-after-robins-confession.png?w=203&h=300And the thing is, this is the first time we see Zoro look so pissed off by the big bad playing with the feelings of a female crew mate. When Crocodile tormented Vivi by describing what he shall do to her country, Zoro looked angry (just like the other Strawhats), but nowhere near his expression above. Even Nami isn’t aware why he has such an evil face, because Zoro isn’t one to go around and proclaim his feelings, but they show when it matters and others take notice. ;)
http://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/zoro-after-hearing-what-crocodile-wants-to-do-to-alabasta.jpg?w=196&h=300The other interesting thing about Robin’s betrayal is how differently Zoro reacted to it when compared to Nami’s. Like I showed before, Zoro was oddly calm and rational when approaching the possibility that Robin betrayed them. When it came to Nami, however, he had no problem thinking of her as an enemy the moment she betrayed them:
http://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/nami-betrayal.jpg?w=216&h=361Why is that? Well I think it’s because Zoro didn’t feel anything for Nami. Her betrayal didn’t hurt him in the way that Robin’s did and as such he had no qualms about potentially having to slit her throat. Robin, on the other hand, he was very much attracted to, so when the very real possibility arises that she betrayed them (especially troubling since Aoikiji warned them about it), Zoro puts up a calm facade and tries to think rationally as that is the only thing he feels he can do in the case where someone he truly cares for has betrayed him. Again, this is especially telling where Zoro, once he learns the truth, is able to wipe the floor with Kaku, whereas before he had trouble taking on Kaku (who was actually weaker then because he did not have his devil fruit powers). Even Kaku states as much!
http://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/zoros-asura.jpg?w=257&h=374What’s even more interesting is the new attack Zoro shows in his fight with Kaku, Asura. When Zoro does his Asura move, he appears to have 3 heads, and 6 arms. Why does this sound familiar? Oh wait, doesn’t Robin fight by reproducing her limbs? Quite a coincidence that Zoro’s new move seems to be inspired by Robin, isn’t it? Especially since he’s trying to rescue her and desperately at that if his face and spirit is anything to go by. ;)
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And look which key just happens to unlock Robin’s handcuffs. Yes that’s right, Zoro’s! Quite a subtle nod there Oda, quite a subtle nod! I like it! This alone may look meaningless, but when considered with everything that has already transpired between them, it really feels like another subtle nod that these two go together.
Comrades in Arms ~ Thriller Bark & Sabody Arcs ~ More Robin and Zoro moments
Now after Skypiea and Water 7, the Zoro and Robin moments die down, but there is still a few to be had. Perhaps Oda didn’t want to introduce romance into his story, especially given that when asked who the Straw Hats loved, he answered adventure. If he had kept ZoRobin going so strong in the next few arcs, I think it would have moved from ambiguous and more and more into canon. So he definitely toned it down, but it’s still there from time to time.
http://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/zoro-makes-sure-robin-is-ok-on-thriller-bark.jpg?w=297&h=439When the crew first lands on Thriller Bark, after Usopp, Chopper, and Nami go missing in the scouting ship, something attacks robin. The page following that attack (above), we see both Sanji and Zoro next to her. Sanji being next to her is pretty normal given he never misses an opportunity to protect a lady, but Zoro? That’s is rather unusual for him, unless we look at this from the angle of her being special to him. ;)http://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/a-mans-pride.jpg?w=306&h=459
One of the most interesting scenes between them is after Luffy tames Kerberos, a zombie with two dogs heads and a fox head, Robin teases the beast by saying it doesn’t look so good. Zoro replies with, “don’t pity him, you’re hurting his pride.” (the “Weeell” isn’t very Zoro-like and based on what Zoro says in the anime, I am guessing whoever translated this was a bit too liberal here). It is interesting that Zoro felt the need to go out of his way to tell Robin not pity a man because it will hurt his pride. Is he really talking about Kerberos here? That would be the surface/basic reading, but why would Zoro care about the pride of some random zombie dog? I don’t think he does. I believe when he says those lines, he is referring to himself. He would never want Robin to pity him and we all know Zoro’s pride is pretty damn important to him. Why did he feel the need to make this communication? because obviously he doesn’t want the woman he cares about to take pity on him. To someone like Zoro, it would be a pain worse than death. In Zoro’s mind, he wants Robin to see him at his very best. Furthermore, by even making this communication, he is stating that he feels Robin can understand him. That if he says “don’t pity him because you’re hurting his pride”, Robin will understand him enough to realize that it is something important to Zoro and will respect it. There is a sense of mutual understanding in this exchange. There is also a sense of esteem of Robin. In the case of Nami, there is a sense that she just doesn’t get “a man’s romance”. As she is always getting angry at the male crew mates for fooling around. Robin doesn’t do this and as such, Zoro feels she will be able to understand where he is coming from. This is reinforced in the later fight against Oars:
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During the fight, Franky begins something he calls “Pirate Docking” where each member of the Straw Hats “docks” on Franky to form the Robot Warrior, Big Emperor. Robin refuses to join in saying it is an embarrassment as a human being to do that. Interestingly enough, Zoro promptly laments the fact that he even did it in the first place. In contrast, Sanji shows no such remorse. What’s going on here? Well, Zoro is mortified that he did something uncool in front of Robin. Like I said above, Zoro wants Robin to see him at his best. Unlike Sanji, whose affection is rather shallow, Zoro really cares deeply for Robin and the idea that he did something she called “an embarrassment as a human being” is mortifying to him.There is also another subtle nod to the pairing, but not important enough to warrant showing another page, that happens before the fight with Oars. When Chopper and Robin get cornered by Zoro and Sanji’s zombies, Zoro’s zombie takes on Robin.
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After the “pirate docking”, Zoro decides to start an offensive against Oars and who does he ask to help him? Robin, of course~ This is one of my favourite ZoRobin moments because it shows that Zoro respects her as his equal in a fight. He believes her able to handle herself in a fight, so he asks her to team up with him. It’s one of the many reasons I like them together. :)
http://soaringwingsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/robin-saves-zoro.jpg?w=306&h=445
Robin also saves Zoro when he falls, which is another nice nod to the pairing, especially since (if I recall correctly) she only saves Zoro and Nami this way during the whole fight. Since Zoro is the only dude saved by Robin that Oda felt like drawing, I can’t but help but feel like this is another subtle nod to the pairing. And this isn’t the only time either:
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During the Sabody arc, right when Zoro was about to be killed by Kizaru, all the Straw Hats stand transfixed as Zoro is about to meet his doom. All except Robin, who tries to desperately rescue Zoro using her devil fruit powers. Alas, she fails and Kizaru just steps on Zoro to prevent her from dragging him off, but it is a nice way to show just how much Robin cares by having her be the one desperately trying to save Zoro from imminent death. Thankfully for the Straw Hats, Rayleigh shows up and occupies Kizaru. Another interesting parallel is that when Kuma is sending the Straw Hats off, Zoro is the first to go and Robin is the last (well if one doesn’t count Luffy and in this case I don’t because the idea was that Luffy was slowly losing his comrades, starting with Zoro and ending with Robin).
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Finally, at the end of the Thriller Bark arc, Zoro decides he will sacrifice himself to save Luffy. He luckily survives, but refuses to tell the others what happened to him. It is mainly because he does not want Luffy (and the others) to feel guilty. The interesting thing is, 3 of the Straw Hats do learn about what he did: Brook, Sanji, and Robin. Brook sees it with his own eyes (or whatever he uses to see), Sanji hears about it from those two pirates above, and Robin eavesdrops on their conversation (quite literally at that. lol.) The interesting bit is that each of these serves a different purpose. Sanji has to know because he was there when it was happening, but Zoro knocked him out in order to sacrifice only himself to Kuma. For Brook, it serves as another incentive to join the crew (since he sees just how much the crew members care for one another) and to share a bond with one of the Straw Hats. But Robin, why did Oda want her to know? Oh I don’t know, maybe because it is important for Robin, as Zoro’s potential love interest, to know about the sort of sacrifice he made. Furthermore, the fact that Robin wanted to know enough to eavesdrop suggests she is highly interested in everything that has to do with Zoro, if you know what I mean. ;) She obviously couldn’t ask Zoro himself since he was so adamant about no one knowing (he wouldn’t even tell Sanji, who is his best friend and rival), so she did the next best thing. Clearly she cares a lot about Zoro if she is interested enough in what happened to him to eavesdrop
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