One Piece “Four Emperors Saga Part 1 Thought Piece” — The Reading Journey So Far (Week #7)
Major Spoilers are included in this thought piece. Please read with caution.
December 9, 2020 to December 15, 2020
¼ Saga
1 and ½ Manga Arc
7 DAYS
57 CHAPTERS
(Chapter 802 to Chapter 858)
Hi everyone,
I survived Week #7 with Big Dad D. One Piece, but I didn’t finish a Saga this time. In fact, it would’ve been impossible for me to finish this Saga because the Saga isn’t done. I’m currently reading a Saga that is ongoing! I’m excited to catch up with the series and to read the currently ongoing “Wano Country Arc” because it’s being praised as the best story arc of One Piece yet—at least the best one in a while. Personally, I think the Alabasta Saga is the best Saga / arc out of One Piece right now, but I’m open to changing my mind for the “Wano Country Arc” based on how everything’s going right now.
The Big Dad D. One Piece reading experience blew my mind because it took only seven weeks to get this far, and there was still plenty of time in December 2020—16 days—to catch up with the last 140ish chapters. As a result of me not finishing the “Whole Cake Island Arc” by the end of Week #7, this thought piece will mainly focus on the “Zou Arc”—the first story arc of the Four Emperors Saga—and Sanji’s character development during the “Whole Cake Island Arc”.
I’ll also discuss Trafalgar D. Law’s character too before diving into the Week #7 material because I forgot to talk about him in the Dressrosa Saga Thought Piece. That was a clear mistake because of his significant role in that Saga. As one can read based on what I just said, there is plenty of One Piece story material to go over. Are y’all ready to fan-geek out with me? Let’s do it.
One sentence summary: Written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda, the series follows Monkey D. Luffy traveling to the Grand Line—with his pirate crew—in search of the world’s ultimate treasure called “One Piece” in order to become the King of Pirates.
Let’s start with Trafalgar D. Law’s character first, despite him not appearing in this Saga yet. I should’ve mentioned his character in the previous thought piece, but he somehow slipped my mind. I’m blaming Sabo’s epic return for why I neglected to discuss Law and his significant role in the Dressrosa Saga. Not mentioning Law made it seem like he wasn’t important, but you’d be wrong to make that assumption, and it’d be my fault for that assumption being made.
Law was first introduced during the Summit War Saga, and he helped Luffy escape from the war after Ace and Whitebeard’s deaths. He returned in the “Punk Hazard Arc” with a plan to defeat Kaido, and he wanted to make an alliance with Luffy to achieve this goal. I loved the rapport established between Luffy and Law, as their personalities clashed on a regular basis throughout the Dressrosa Saga. I did enjoy his background that was explored during the “Dressrosa Arc”, his familial connection to Doflamingo and Doflamingo’s brother, and the significance of his “D” name.
Law’s devil fruit power to take hearts from people’s chest and control them is very overpowering in my opinion and very Once Upon A Time as well, but I did like how eating the fruit saved his life at the cost of his father-figure. Those are my simplified thoughts on Trafalgar D. Law, but I’m sure his role will expand in future arcs. Right now—where I’m currently at in One Piece—Law is not in either “Zou Arc” or “Whole Cake Island Arc”.
There were other aspects from the “Punk Hazard Arc”—the first story arc of the Dressrosa Saga—that came back into play during the “Zou Arc” and the “Whole Cake Island Arc” as well, since Caesar Clown made his overdue comeback alongside Nami, Chopper, Brook, and Sanji. I understand taking turns with the characters since they’re separated, but I wish Oda didn’t separate them at all. This is my biggest issue with One Piece—splitting the party—and it’s something Oda won’t budge on, so it’s something I will have to keep dealing with for the next hundred-ish chapters.
The “Zou Arc” was a messy flashback / catch-up arc with Nami, Chopper, Brook, and Sanji. I didn’t particular enjoy it aside from the world-building with new characters like Pedro and Carrot, but the arc’s ending was amazing with Princess Vivi making a comeback for the story. Princess Vivi and the other royalty characters like Rebecca are returning for a special event, so that’s likely set-up for a long-game arc because I haven’t gotten anything from that since, but I’m still excited to see Vivi reunite with the Straw Hats! Also, we learned what happened to Sanji during the “Zou Arc”.
Sanji’s background was explored further in the “Whole Cake Island Arc”. I won’t go into the full details of this arc because I hadn’t finished it yet at time of writing, but I will discuss Sanji’s character development. Learning about his history in North Blue as a Vinsmoke—his privileged last name—made me feel sympathetic for his character, and what it truly meant for him to have a great father-figure like Zeff from the Baratie Restaurant.
While Sanji’s character story had familiar story beats with the other Straw Hat Pirates’ character stories like Nami and Nico Robin—the “please don’t help me” martyr talk—I will always enjoy Luffy ignoring that nonsense in the name of Nakama! Luffy had refused to eat anything until Sanji came back and fed him was both reckless and loyal because Luffy loves to eat, but he was willing to starve for the sake of a friend.
Honestly, that’s beautiful and a main reason for why I keep it reading with Big Dad D. One Piece. The awesome character development doesn’t excuse the transphobia Sanji displayed in earlier arcs, but it’s a start at least as long as Oda doesn’t bring it up again.
Trans women are real women, Sanji and Oda.
Since I haven’t finished the “Whole Cake Island Arc” yet, I’ll leave y’all with these closing thoughts. I am looking forward to seeing how everything will play out with Sanji’s wedding, his family, and everything else going on with Big Mom, one of the Four Emperors and the main antagonist of the “Whole Cake Island Arc”.
I’ll give y’all more specifics once I actually have them in next week’s thought piece! The links to my other Big Dad D. One Piece thought pieces—Weeks #1 through Week #6—are listed below if y’all want to check them out and my overall Reading Journey with the Straw Hats so far:
2. Alabasta Saga + Sky Island Saga
3. Water 7 Saga + Thriller Bark Saga
Thanks so much for taking the time to read my thoughts, everyone! I truly do appreciate it! I’ll see y’all next week—Week #8—once I’m done with “Whole Cake Island Arc” and whatever is coming next!
P.S. Chapter 999 is looking to be FIRE! I read spoilers because why not? Chapter 1,000 is on the horizon in 2021!