536: ''Decisive Battle at Ryuuguu Palace! Zoro vs. Hody''

[ponx]

I think Hody's flashback was unnecessary, uncalled for, ridiculously and utterly stupid. It was really a bad move to do. The idea of Hody was that he is a monster bred from society's prejudice, and the fact that no human had ever harm (or tried to harm) him, emphasizes what he was. But now with this insertion, we know a human had tried to kidnap him before and Hody's rage is a bit more justifiable. I felt sympathy when that pirate tried to kidnap them, and soon realized that you weren't supposed to sympathize with Hody.

If the animators wanted to show why he revered Arlong so much, they can just portray Arlong coming back from wherever he's been and telling them all this stories about human scums. Though I know it probably (hopefully) won't affect much of the story or the characterization, I still can't get that bitter taste in my tongue after seeing this episode

[The Daz]

This is how you DON'T do filler. Amazingly stupid flashback, loads of padding, and how the hell do you shoot water droplet-bullets underwater. I mean really, how.

[Baou Zakurga]

When did Luffy use Gear 2nd?

In the preview for next episode,when Luffy attacks Decken and the puffer-fish guy.

and toei keeps making the mistake of gear 2nd luffy.
its parts of the body now not the entire body.

Toei is going to do that forever,I think.Oda has no problem with it,though....

[Kizaru sama]

So the Hody flashback wasn't in the manga ?
I din't know that anymore but even so i din't thought i was bad or anything don't know what the exact problem is with it, it was sort of fitting i thought.

[Shezar]

Liked the episode,the flashback kinda mess with something later on but nice Arlong again even if i hate his guts ,Brook he doenst know but he kinda deserve that kick(i chuckle at the joke to be honest) ,im liking the Luffy and Shirahoshi moments so far( estabilishing friendship) and the Zoro and Hody fight was enjoyable .
Next week we are going to have some funny momments with VDD and Sanji and some fights ,looking foward to it.

I find odd some you guys expect more "speed" when Toei shows no inclination of doing so.

So the Hody flashback wasn't in the manga ?

I din't know that anymore but even so i din't thought i was bad or anything don't know what the exact problem is with it, it was sort of fitting i thought.

It contradicts with something that happens at end of this arc,as somebdoy mention it would have been better just showing Arlong telling his story's of superiority or something among those line,right know this contradicts with Hodi character later on.

[Mr. Luffy]

This is how you DON'T do filler. Amazingly stupid flashback, loads of padding, and how the hell do you shoot water droplet-bullets underwater. I mean really, how.

Agreed, this was a mishandled episode--especially the flashback. Having the future New Fishman Pirates watch Arlong kick human ass would been okay, but everything before heavily contradicts what is revealed later about about Hody's hatred of humans. The extended fight with Hody and Zoro wouldn't have been so bad either if, as you said, the underwater water bullet business wasn't so inane.

However, I did find the near-minute of Megalo gagging pretty amusing.

[Miss Saturday]

If the animators wanted to show why he revered Arlong so much, they can just portray Arlong coming back from wherever he's been and telling them all this stories about human scums.

This exact same thing happens later on in the manga; they could have easily waited for it and done it the way it's supposed to be. They've been taking a lot of "artistic liberties" with this arc - we now saw the bad side to that. Toei can't do anything in moderation, it seems. This filler was just done for filler's sake. It brought more negatives than positives to the table.. which is none.

[Crossword]

The underwater bullets are no more inane than the Mizugokoro and Ultramarine techniques.

[Speed Jiru]

Few people understand that Oda has never drawn Luffy with pink skin during gear second. It is an animation only effect. Volume's 40 and 44 have covers drawn and colored by Oda that showcase Luffy in G2 with only smoke. I concede that Oda never drew the trademark pumping of blood during the PX-5 encounter or vs Hammond and Hyozou.

I understand why some might praise the Arlong flashback while others condemn it. I saw it as

Spoiler:

good warm up for Arlong's Seiyu, since he plays a highly important role in the flashback.

I also loved Arolng's treatment of the humans, those were pirates who had survived the 1st half of the GL, and he used his nose to beat them. I enjoyed rooting for Arlong, because One Piece without brutality might as well be 4kids.

Really offended by the Zoro Hody fight scene,

Spoiler:

I guess they choose to show Zoro using CoO as a replacement for beating Hody underwater in a single strike. Not to mention that Zoro's tornado should of continued rampaging around the palace

I did however love the animation during the underwater scene

[joesephes]

Kind of a so-so episode. Don't really care about Hody's past since I hate the guy.

[Deviant_Mugen]

Man, between the plot hole and the stretched out fight, this episode was really lackluster. Next episode looks like it'll be good, though...

[Jabra]

The anime just killed the only interesting aspect about Hody's motives. Good job.

Nice animation tho!

[Fleet_Admiral_Akainu]

Yep...they really shitted on the plot with that flashback. Hody's 'nothing' makes no sense anymore.

[Md-Martin]

The underwater bullets make as much sense as Zoro cutting the air to create air slashes...with air around them at all times.

And as some others have pointed out doesn't the filler of the NFP contradict the surprise later on in the arc?

[The Daz]

The underwater bullets are no more inane than the Mizugokoro and Ultramarine techniques.

While they're fantastically unfeasible, ultramarine is just creating a strong current of water, and at least Mizugokoro is shaping water into stuff in the air, not water. They don't fudge up the laws of physics quite so much as having water droplets staying droplets in a pool. You might as well show someone drinking a glass of water.

[Calchexas]

I don't watch the anime in order to make sure that continuity is 100% established; I watch it to see pretty colors and hear pretty Fishman Island arc colors.

Needless to say, I was not disappointed! 8)

[CCC]

...what everyone else has said already, basically. Flashback ruins entire point of arc/Hody; drawn-out Zoro fight ruins entire point of original single-panel KO. Obviously we manga readers aren't losing anything, but what about the tens of thousands of Japanese children who will now have no idea what this arc is really about?! Think of the children!! ...I'm serious.

[The Daz]

B-b-b-but villains HAVE to have tragic backstories! Naruto told me so! Thats what makes a series deep, right?!

[demonkicksanji]

Yep, this episode was just "meh" to me. And that flashback! Yeah, Toei is shooting themselves in the foot there unless they try to explain that it was all some "what if" that Hody simply fabricated, or that it was a "what if" that Arlong MAY have told him. Or Toei can just go around and make the future reponse..."not much." Anyways, I'm hoping Toei doesn't take anymore liberties with filler that could contradict the story...though the "vomiting Shirahoshi" filler was "ugh," I'd rather sit through an episode of zombies getting food for Oars or Usopp running away from zombies. XP

[MasterKingJC]

...what everyone else has said already, basically. Flashback ruins entire point of arc/Hody; drawn-out Zoro fight ruins entire point of original single-panel KO. Obviously we manga readers aren't losing anything, but what about the tens of thousands of Japanese children who will now have no idea what this arc is really about?! Think of the children!! ...I'm serious.