The hell. This episode was SO GOOD!
So far, every episode has been better than previous, starting weak on the first, meh-ish on the second, some noticeable improvements on third and fourth, finally getting good on the fifth, and now just greatness!
Really loved everything about this episode.
Sanji is so likeable in this version, I might want to check out so it doesn't contaminate my opinion of him on the manga or I might start liking him. Zeff's actor really deserves all the praise he's been getting. And their flashback was done amazingly well, one of the instances I am glad they stayed as faithful as possible to the source.
I know some people are having a problem with LA!Luffy not being manga!Luffy, but I am really enjoying this different take on the character. I noticed before Luffy looking kinda puzzled whenever someone cracked a romantic joke, and after this episode it seems like they want him to be self-aware enough to understand he doesn't work at the same level as the other people and it somehow seem to confuse him. It's definitely not something manga!Luffy would ever do, but it doesn't mean it's bad. As long as the main beats of the character are there, different approaches can work.
On a similar note, I stopped trying to compare this Garp with the original and try to see the character as his own thing. If I was more a fan of the character, I could be bothered by him straying too much from the original though (like I keep getting worried this Buggy is being "too cool" and less pathetic as I wish him to be. Hopefully Oda will not get influenced by it).
Really liked Arlong in this episode, too, and the first beats of the fishmen plot. His and his crew's visuals quickly grew on me as well. The fight sequence was definitely the best so far.
And the LA realized my dream from back in Impel Down/Marineford days of Buggy sailing with the SH, so how can I complain?
Only thing that I would point out as weird is that I don't get the logic behind a big shot like a vice-admiral, specially one was big as Garp, becoming the exclusive hunter of a nobody pirate like Luffy (he doesn't even has a bounty yet so it's not like he is even an acknowledged criminal but somehow he is already getting Roger - or at least Doflamingo - treatment). I mean, sure it makes sense from Garp's POV (it's his grandson), but everyone else seems to find it normal.
Highlight of the episode? "OREGANO'S FOR SAVAGES!"
I had to pause the episode because I was laughing out loud.