One Piece 343

[Kraco]

Episode 343 - INP






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Well, well. This was something. For some reason I had kept thinking this would be some sort of a light arc between Enies Lobby and the Mermen island (haven't they talked about such a thing for a while, so I assumed that's where they are going?). But it turns out this is a fight against a goddam bloody Shichibukai member! I honestly never saw this one coming. The shadow stealing Moria might turn out to be quite a dude indeed. I still don't have much faith in his underlings, though, but who knows... Now that it's clear we have a Shichibukai here, I suppose all the members of the party must have someone decent to fight against. It's kind of troublesome, in that respect, that Zoro is lacking a sword.

[poopdeville]

Yes, the build up in this episode was awesome. I'm pumped to see the rest of this arc.

I noticed they used a lot more (and some "new") classical music than usual in this episode, and I hope that continues. I wish they'd play more variety though.

[RyougaZell]

Great episode indeed.
Lots of mysteries already around as well.

Ero Absalom was a great scene as well.

[DarthEnderX]

Hell YES! Finally, another Shichubuki is the main enemy! And our main enemies are zombie Brook, vampire doctor, ghost chick, and of course, invisible were-cat zombie! This is gonna be sweeeeet.

I noticed they used a lot more (and some "new") classical music than usual in this episode, and I hope that continues. I wish they'd play more variety though.

You know, its funny, I'd completely forgotten that One Piece even used classical music until recently. Thanks to the 360 playing avi's now I'd been rewatching the series and remembered how epic their use of classical music was during Dr. Hililuk's death and Crocodile's defeat. I'd been thinking, man, its too bad they don't do that anymore, and then along comes this episode with the Die Hard song in it! Although compared to those other two instances, I don't think this scene really warrented classical music.

[Raven]

I've finally caught up to date! Thanks K-F, it's been real, but there's so much more out there. Funnily enough, I've watched 100+ episodes in the time it's taken them to release 2!

The CP9 arc was just brilliant. So many emotional scenes, outstanding character development, and awesome fights. Robin's back-story was masterful. And new moves! Hooray for Gear Second and Third. Franky is a fantastic character and I'm so very glad he's joined the crew, personally I would have missed him a lot if he left at the end of the arc. But it was pretty obvious the whole time that he would join. He seems to add a bit of spice and flair, not that the series was in any great need of it. A bit of extra icing on the cake.

The early fight and bust-up between Usopp and Luffy was one of the most emotional scenes I've watched in this anime (and that's saying a hell of a lot), as was the departure of the Going Merry. Thousand Sunny is pretty damned impressive though, it's about time they got a state of the art ship to cruise around in. So many gadgets and features! Love it.

I was surprised to find out that Shanks and Buggy were childhood friends and rivals, not to mention part of Rodger's crew. Look at the difference between the two now, Shanks is a Pirate Lord and Buggy got beaten in episode... 3, was it? He's always been more of a joke character, I guess.

Now, onto this new arc. Man, how does this series continue to improve time and time again? It always manages to top itself somehow. This is shaping up to be another fantastic story. A Shichibukai battle? Hell yes! I absolutely love the way Nami's group are getting terrified of everything and there's a real "horror movie" feel to it, where as Luffy's group seems to accept everything, somehow make a joke out of it and the monsters get scared of them. It's so hilarious because it totally undoes the horror scenes from before but in a tongue and cheek kind of way.

This episode seems to be the end of the introduction, considering (most of) the enemies have been laid out before us and the Straw Hats are finally entering the mansion. Bring it on!

God I love this series. So very glad I decided to catch up. Hooray for having two weeks of holidays to watch everything!

[RyougaZell]

I watched 339 episodes in 2 months...

What surprises me of this series is that 90% of the fillers are good... and some of them I didn't notice them to be filler until I readed they were (the Marine base after Skypiea for example)

So far we know of the seven Shichibukai
- Crocodile (exiled)
- Kuma something (the dude with Doquixote at the reunion)
- Doquixote Doflamingo (I think that was the spelling)
- Mihawk
- Gecko Moria

So... we are missing 2... and maybe a 3rd since Crocodile was removed.

And then we have the 4 lords in the New World...
And the Revolutionaries lead by Monkey D. Dragon
And One Piece...

Heck... I think this series will span another 10 years at this rate. If they keep the same quality I don't care if I turn 40... I'll keep seeing this series (<-- currently 26)

[Assertn]

Yeah, every arc tends to be unique and exciting in its own way. Oda had mentioned in an interview that he had figured out how the series will end like...around the time he started working on it. Since he's been having so much fun though, he decided to keep adding to the story in between.

The only thing that I could see getting harder to do as the series progresses though, is coming up with new nakama for Luffy. He pretty much has the entire roster that he's needed. The only unexpected one is Robin's role as an archaeologist...and he still doesn't have his musician yet. Increasing the crew and upgrading the ship helps a lot in keeping the story fresh, though, so I hope he keeps it up.

@Raven: Buggy's relationship with Shanks was revealed within the first 10 episodes of the series, I believe, when Luffy mentioned Shanks's name. It was there that they also explained how Buggy did not intend to obtain devil's fruit that he now possesses, and he blames Shanks for it.

@Ryougazell: Bartholomew Kuma. I seem to recall that another shichibukai was supposed to be a merman, too....

[DarthEnderX]

I watched 339 episodes in 2 months...

What surprises me of this series is that 90% of the fillers are good... and some of them I didn't notice them to be filler until I readed they were (the Marine base after Skypiea for example)

So far we know of the seven Shichibukai
- Crocodile (exiled)
- Kuma something (the dude with Doquixote at the reunion)
- Doquixote Doflamingo (I think that was the spelling)
- Mihawk
- Gecko Moria

So... we are missing 2... and maybe a 3rd since Crocodile was removed.

And then we have the 4 lords in the New World...
And the Revolutionaries lead by Monkey D. Dragon
And One Piece...

Don't forget the 3 Marine Admirals, and of course the World Government's leaders.

So much awesome shit going on...but so much of it just feels....off in the future.

[Raven]

All that means is that the series will go on for a hell of a lot longer, and there's a lot to look forward to. Bring it on.

[Dark Dragon]

Don't forget the Skypeia island and how it will play into the main story. The introduction of Dragon and the 2 giants on little garden so early in the story but then tying them into the story during the Enes Lobby arc taught me that almost every part that can be seen as "manga filler" have potential to be tie into the main story.

[poopdeville]

Don't forget the Skypeia island and how it will play into the main story. The introduction of Dragon and the 2 giants on little garden so early in the story but then tying them into the story during the Enes Lobby arc taught me that almost every part that can be seen as "manga filler" have potential to be tie into the main story.

Skypeia is a big deal to the story already. Robin figured out how the Rio Poneglyph works because of Roger's message on Shandra's Fire. The Enies Lobby episode was caused by the government trying to stop her from finding it. (Since they knew Clover was looking for it)

Yes, CP9 wanted the plans for Pluton. But that's not why the World Government sent Aokiji after Robin. And that's not why he called CP9 to capture her.

What I want to know is how in the world Tom got a copy of plans for Pluton. Did Roger realize he could be trusted with them and give him a copy to protect? Did he want Tom to build Pluton for him?

I feel like such a nerd.

[DarthEnderX]

Don't forget the Skypeia island and how it will play into the main story. The introduction of Dragon and the 2 giants on little garden so early in the story but then tying them into the story during the Enes Lobby arc taught me that almost every part that can be seen as "manga filler" have potential to be tie into the main story.

Hell, I remember how the Jaya arc played into the Skypeia arc. I'd been watching Skypiea so long that when the connection to Jaya was finally revealed I had honestly already forgotten about those dangling plot threads.

It was awsome.

[RyougaZell]

Or Koby and Helmeppo's training with Captain Garp...
At first I thought it was worthless.

Not look after Water7... I seriously laughed very hard in that episode.

And about the episode 343...
I seriously expect great battles, with a Shichibukai present... but I wonder how will Zoro fight this time, with only two swords.

[Kraco]

It would be good if that island ship contained a special new sword for Zoro he would find just suitably to finish a fight with a three-sword technique. Seriously, it's kind of uncomfortable to think he's walking around with only two swords all the time now.

[DarthEnderX]

Well, he never shield away from just grabbing swords off the people he was fighting before. I'm sure if he gets in a fight, he'll just grab one from a zombie.

But yeah, I still couldn't believe he lost one of his "named" blades like that.

[Onineku]

indeed, and it was a really lame way to lose one... bloody rust fruit...

[Kraco]

Still it might have been a good thing he lost it. That allows him to get a new, possibly more interesting one. After all, the number of swords is limited to three. And the particular sword he lost wasn't as special as the other two: The original reminding him of the dojo master's daughter, who was his first rival, or the cursed sword that chose him. No doubt he will get a third sword at some point, and I'm hoping it's also somewhat special.