@DarkHamster:
Personally I didn't feel that Pell being alive took away from his actions. The significance of his action was the fact that he was willing to sacrifice himself to protect the country and Vivi. I doubt the character knew he was going to live, that in itself makes him noble. I read that Oda said that he didn't want to use death as a dramatic device and I see what he meant.
Does Pell dying or surviving make his action less than what it was?
I say no, but others have every right to disagree.
What I don't like about One Piece:
Brooke's foreshadowing didn't feel too legit, I wished Oda drew an afro'd crewmate in the flashback way back when they first met Laboo (maybe he did and i missed it, so i'm sorry if I did).
Diable Jambe - wish there was an explanation as to when he learned it, not how it works, but why he didn't use it earlier if he knew it.
Gear 2nd and 3nd - too much detrimental effects to be considered a powerup.go one piece:wub:
I agree to the points you made about Pell and Gear 2nd+3rd. However, I must disagree to your points about Sanji and Brook, but I understand your feelings.
Brook's appearance in Laboon's earlier flashback would have been too obvious…how can you miss an 8 foot tall man skinny like bones with an afro? I think the fact that Brook even knew Laboon and later revealed he had a deep relationship with Laboon was a great plot twist to One Piece. Laboon considered him to be one of his own because of his afro, being large and black and all and Brook's initial decision to cheer Laboon up during the first encounter with them was absolutely critical to the dream Brook had to achieve. If Oda revealed him in the first Laboon flashback, even slightly (like his back was shown or whatever), it would have probably have not the same effect as it did when we first meet Brook because his body is so recognizable an avid fan would have pointed it out early and ruined it for everyone.
Sanji's attack style is focused on his legs, as we all know, but he has to limit himself all the time. As said by Zeff when we first meet him, Sanji puts a lot of strain on his legs and his body that when fighting he tends to hurt himself as much as the enemy, even if the enemy does not do as much damage that he can resist. Simply put, his legs are so strong compared to his body, his body has trouble keeping up with the forces he puts out. That being said, he knew the Diable Jambe technique a long time ago, but only saved it for occasions where the enemy was stronger than usual; i.e. versus Jyabura's Tekkai and Oz's attacks. Not only that, it was probably a technique only Sanji could have created, because with Zeff's missing leg there is no way he could have shown it to him, or even told him about. Besides, it goes with Sanji's "spinning" behavior he recently keeps bringing up, and that is further complemented by his signature eyebrow.