One Piece: Gear Second

[Lokus]

ngl, I want the Red Scabbards to handle Kaido on their own with minimal help from Luffy. But man there is still so much else going on this arc.

[BWYuko]

Have a feeling it's not gonna go well for the Scabbards here. In traditional kabuki theater, Act III typically ends with a woman singing while pace increases to culminate in a huge tragedy or dramatic moment; then Act IV has the big battle and climax, followed by a brief, conclusive Act V.

With Black Maria singing, the end of Wano Act III is nigh, which means something devastating is probably about to happen. I bet a number of the Scabbards fall here, or maybe something like Prospero kills Carrot.
Kanjuro and Orochi fell too easily; they'll probably spring up in Act IV during a decisive and unexpected moment, well after Usopp & Nami beat Ulti & Page One, maybe when either King or Queen has been felled.

[Lokus]

That makes a lot of sense and I forgot that this whole arc is set up similar to that. Iirc, that's how Oda started the Wano arc by labeling it into Acts. Gonna have to reread to confirm.

[detlef]

Even so, what a cool chapter.

[Vaspinne]

Chapter was fantastic. The jumps between flashbacks and what's currently happening are great, and seeing the 4 retainers at the end pull out the "Oden Style" to attack his killer is just wonderful.

Have a feeling it's not gonna go well for the Scabbards here. In traditional kabuki theater, Act III typically ends with a woman singing while pace increases to culminate in a huge tragedy or dramatic moment; then Act IV has the big battle and climax, followed by a brief, conclusive Act V.

This is all super interesting and fits with the flow of what's happening so well. The fight is definitely going too well and Luffy hasn't even shown up yet. So it makes sense that shit is about to hit the fan.

God I wish the anime didn't suck as much as it currently does. They should really just stop the anime and go into cour format like so many other jump shows. Build up the material, take pressure off of Oda to keep pumping shit out, and spend some decent bank on animating this phenomenal arc in a way that does it justice. Can only hope this gets the Dragonball Kai treatment in like 20 years lol

[detlef]

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Hoo boy it's gonna get really ugly for the good guys.

[Lokus]

No break next week, excuse me while I drop my pants.

[Lucavi]

Wait wait wait, its been like 3 weeks. Surely there's a Golden Week coming up?

Great chapter, but man, I fear the retribution that is coming for these guys.

[BWYuko]

Their deaths will fuel Luffy's vengeance. Imagine what it'll be like if he catches the tail end of it and has to cope in real time with the idea that he may have saved them if he'd arrived moments sooner. He's gonna be miffed, I tell ya.

[Vaspinne]

Everything was awesome last week and this week the hammer is starting to come down just like you said BWYuko! The end of this act is gonna be devastating

[BWYuko]

Ch 994

Lol the noise Hamlet makes when he's struck "GIR-AFFE!!"

[Lokus]

These Smiles are getting more and more ridiculous lmao.

[BWYuko]

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Christ. No break next week!

[Vaspinne]

...

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If anything happens to Tama, I swear I'll go to Japan myself and punch Oda in the face!!!!

[BWYuko]

I mean...

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... her dango are only supposed to work on retard SMILE users, but I can't help but feel she'll somehow charm Page One to square off with Ulti. She's posited as the cavalry here.

[Kanriel]

I mean...

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... her dango are only supposed to work on retard SMILE users, but I can't help but feel she'll somehow charm Page One to square off with Ulti. She's posited as the cavalry here.

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She is, but I can sorta see it working as a short 'break' from the battle, let Usopp/Nami regroup, and focus on winning the fight with someone to protect on the line. But I can totally see this just being a gimmick fight, too.

[BWYuko]

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So many things!

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Yamato doin work!

Law plot!
If Apoo doesn't really have the antidote, will Law be able to find the red ponyglyph and save Chopper in time? Marco is a doctor too...

Kaido stomping the scabbards, and pretty much 100% healed already. Big Mom can just fly now i guess.

Kid preparing to join Luffy on the roof.

Will Sanji be able to fight Black Maria, or will he succumb to blood loss?

No break!

[Vaspinne]

I dunno if we're gonna get to chapter 1000 before new years but we're gonna get really damn close at this rate

[BWYuko]

I definitely thought it was Black Maria, but...

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Man oh man would that be awesome.

But then I'm seeing folks comment that this was just coincidence - artistic license of this particular site's fan translator, and that the laugh and mannerisms aren't actually Iva's.

Ivankov: んふふふ
This one: ぬふふふ

is not the same.

"Just kidding!" is uncanny though. Probably Black Maria still.

[Vaspinne]

Spoiler: show

It would be really interesting if Ivankov and the revolutionary army got involved but I think it's too early. Black Beard is definitely one of the final baddies and he and they are all tied up, I dunno if they get involved yet but this being Oda, who the fuck knows lol