English Professor’s Thoughts on the Arabasta Saga of One Piece (spoilers for Arabasta Saga)

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you once again for the heartwarming reception on my first video! These One Piece videos are just my immediate reactions to the story, its characters, its settings, its allusions, its themes, etc., and they are in no way comprehensive analyses. There are plenty of things I don't mention (for example, I forgot to shout out Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!), and I might be way off in my conjectures since I am avoiding looking up anything to stay away from spoilers. Anyway, I appreciate your comments, your insights, and your encouragement more than I can say!

[@Dylan_4133]

Hearing a professor talk about the series I love and diving into the themes and messages is amazing. Enjoy the journey it is a masterpiece

[@potterinhe11]

I think there would be no harm in searching for the proper annunciation of the names you aren't familiar with. They are taken from many different places.

[@KyosukeShido]

@@potterinhe11 BUT in a context ... Alabasta should be ARABasta because the whole Arc were based on Arabia , the arc were inspired from the middle east

[@kodytiffany5686]

In the Subtitled anime it sounds like Alabasta vs Arabasta. I prefer having the anime clarify that sort of thing for me... For instance Log Town not Rogue town for where Roger was executed. The sub titled anime being voiced by Japanese leaves me feeling they have the most trustworthy interpretation of things. To clarify that is most trusted for when the episode is in the story. Oda might retcon things and so for instance he might decide a character is a different height then they had been as his POV of the size scale changes over time. Saying its Godzilla sized still does not clarify which Godzilla after all. So I think he thinks of a giant as Building or sky scrapper size and not in terms of meters or feet. The number changes as he better understands the height he was meaning in numericals. The name thing and word thing he uses to hide details until he wants them known.

[@kodytiffany5686]

LA One Piece spoils things revealed roughly 2-5 arcs ahead of where you are at; I just want to warn you as the spoiler is early in the LA. That being said, I will give you a hint of that spoiler so you can decide if its worth it. It spoils a family connection of Luffy stating that a certain character was a blood relative of Luffy the whole time. You have been warned.

[@cdot32]

Everyone complains about Pel not dying lol. You are not alone in that.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Good to know! I do think it was a more compelling sacrifice when I thought he died.

[@Ytinasniiable]

​@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy not to spoil much, but this is a fairly common trope in manga and comics of the shonen genre, folks tend not to stay dead unless it's really important to the entire narrative and not just the arc, it's probably something you'll get used to to some degree as you explore the genre

[@Syco07-pm3iz]

I think it is not true for newer series though, take Chainsaw Man, JJK, Hell's Paradise etc​@@Ytinasniiable

[@Ytinasniiable]

​@@Syco07-pm3iz the genre as a whole though is much older than the small handful of newer series, so if he goes into things like Dragonball and other older shonen, he'll see it a lot; though it's definitely basically non-existent in the more mature seinin genre where series like AoT lie and don't hesitate to kill characters

[@adrianrui]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I would agree but I'm not too mad about it in that One Piece saves its first deaths in the present for when it really, REALLY hurts; I truly think the only reason early sacrifices aren't made good on are to hammer home how hard the first one hits

[@lolthejoker]

"When do you think people die? When they are shot through the heart by the bullet of a pistol? - No... It's when… they are forgotten!" - Dr. Hiriluk

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Beautiful and poignant!

[@Nastyn1nja808]

when they die of a disease? when when they eat a bowl.of poison?

[@brandontheurer1372]

This is one of the best scenes in the anime and is arguably done even better with the voice acting and playing Ave Maria in the background.

[@link-kun5974]

So someone remembered Pell and he came back to life LMAO

[@jnoded]

when a bomb explodes near them, I'd say. But Oda thinks otherwise

[@KhaosN7]

Wanna hear a crazy piece of trivia? When Miss Wednesday was first introduced to us, she was just supposed to be a one-off Baroque Works goon that had little-to-no impact on the story. However, after Oda drew her with her hair down on a whim, he thought "Huh, she looks like a princess" and that was what sparked the decision to make her Princess Vivi Nefeltari. And she would go on to become a character that is STILL beloved by fans to this day.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I love it! Thank you for sharing that about Vivi!

[@AnyMEmdq]

Yeah, I love that! The character of Vivi already existed, of course, at least on a storyboard level, but she didn't have a design yet. The chapter where she is revealed to be Vivi is the exact moment when Oda made the change. He had to re-write that chapter to add it, and it was already over the deadline. That, of course, also changed everything in between Whiskey Peak and Alabasta. Vivi stopping Luffy when they got to Drum, if Vivi wasn't on the ship with them, could not have happened, for example

[@matheussanthiago9685]

Oda's ability to seamlessly retcon characters and story beats is only comparable to his ability to actually plan ahead and pay off the set ups

[@vailingbow1068]

@@AnyMEmdq That's what I like to believe when Oda makes like these changes. Like take for example the characters in Sabaody. Those characters were added for the arc yet have become so important to the story in the following arcs, so the obvious presumption is that Oda put in the idea of these characters into these popular supposedly one off characters.

[@AnyMEmdq]

@@vailingbow1068 I don't think he ever intended for them to be one-offs, though. Of course, he had not a path for them, even if they were added in with more time than the change in Vivi that was literally overnight. With Sabaody, when he pitch the arc, so before he even started the storyboarding, talking with his editor they agreed it looked a bit empty, so he decided to add 9 characters (number he soon regretted xD and admitted he ran dry of naming ideas, that's why one of them has a generic name). Something I noticed in his writing, based on the amount of notes he has on each character, is that he lets the character choose their future, so to speak. For example, that hardboiled flashback that made us all cry in Russian. Oda had one of those for every character in that faction, not just the 2 we were shown. When he creates a character he gives them a rich backstory and a personality, and then decides how they will behave based on that. He can insert them at the beginning of an arc, but what they do from that point on is based on that personality, decided by them.

[@aeriselove]

This thumbnail is GLORIOUS.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thanks so much! You are very kind!

[@ManOfSteelePV]

I love that every time I watch someone's thoughts going through one piece for the first time they find some little thing that I completely missed up until this point

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I love learning from other people’s experiences of a story too!

[@prodbyjay8157]

and it shows u how amazing this show is in its conplexity. if i was forced to watch one piece over and over and over and over again. i would take that life in a heart beat

[@lonewolf9325]

Hey, I can't unsee you without a Cigar now.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Ha ha! I actually hate cigars, but the look works for the thumbnail, I think!

[@cannedyumyum]

​@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy love em or hate em, they just look cool on crocodile!

[@jbkesselman]

If you're going to watch the live action series, wait until you've finished reading the Enies Lobby saga, as the live action adaptation does spoil an important plot point.

[@BladeEdge86]

One Piece explores increasingly darker themes as the plot advances, but never loses the optimistic outlook even despite all of that. One thing I will say about Oda though that you will definitely see later is that he is a master at pulling the audiences heart strings. There are a lot of One Piece characters with tragic backstories, some from characters you may not even expect.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I'm glad to hear One Piece maintains that optimistic tone -- it's something that's much needed in the world!

[@AnyMEmdq]

* cries in Russian *

[@gunduprashanth2554]

I understood that reference ​@@AnyMEmdq

[@VioletOrbWeaver]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasyIt goes for the whole manga, but especially some of the most recent parts of One Piece lean extremely heavily into emphasizing that Luffy’s greatest strength as a hero is not his fists, but his ability to make people smile. It really seems like Oda believes that compassion and the ability to spread happiness are the two greatest superpowers a person can have, and it’s one of my favorite aspects of the story. No matter how dark it gets, Oda tries to always emphasize that joy is something truly liberating. I’m sure fans who are caught up can attest to how secretly spoiler-ridden this comment is.

[@AnyMEmdq]

@@gunduprashanth2554 😁

[@justinn8541akaDrPokemon]

Crocodile is the best villain in the first half of the Grand Line. I love how he's basically a Bond Villian with his secret organization in incredible style.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I love the Bond villain comparison!

[@kaizokud42]

It is Sir Crocodile 😉

[@sheepanimations6507]

​@@kaizokud42 Croco D Ile. 😂

[@cypressxsg4815]

There is a hunger in the fans for people who can dissect and analyze One Piece. At first, as a long time fan, all I know is I love the story and it touch my life deeply but I don't know how to articulate or explain why. Listening to this kind of content helps me and also help extend my enjoyment with this story. PS: I love that you were able to see the nuances of Bon Clay. This characterization was incredibly advance in the early 2000's.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Yes! I would say Oda was ahead of the curve in his portrayal of Bon Clay. Cheers!

[@holysecret2]

Bon Clay is a great example that people don't care about ideology, but about the writing quality and authenticity.

[@Tkproductions-rf6pt]

Damn I just wrote a comment basically saying your first sentence so I'm glad I'm not alone in that

[@cypressxsg4815]

​@@Tkproductions-rf6pt😊 This is the era where more literary, phylosophy etc., experts are diving into this wacky world to pick the nuances in the story, who we sorely needed.

[@gregperianayagam4522]

If I remember, Oda did have a good relationship people in the Okama culture in Japan, (Which is the culture that Bon Clay's attitude is based on I believe)

[@helium3137]

During this One Piece break month your video is like rain in Arabasta, thank you Philip.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@peacecraftadams623]

This comment right here underrated af @helium3137

[@taybomber3]

Honestly I love seeing people get to experience one piece for the first time. Please keep uploading reviews!

[@GODHAND42]

A lot of people will criticize that Luffy is a flat protagonist, but it’s just that his arc has a long drawn out trajectory. Glad to see you’re picking up on it already, looking at the series retroactively you can really see how his current character is the product of all the friends and enemies that have challenged his values and behaviors.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I look forward to his journey!

[@rajashiyam1386]

Not many people, and some people, think changing a completely different personality is good character development. They don't understand that each character has a unique purpose.

[@terrificTBO]

Flat character arcs are good and its okay to have them

[@bigkirbyhj666]

And that trajectory is flat, and thats a good thing mainly for it's that character arc is what changes that world for the better. Although he definitely does learn throughout the story. Like current Luffy wouldn't care about an unfair fight, unlike beginning of story. Because all fights in this world are unfair in some form or another (marines are the worst about this truthfully)

[@dixintrooperz6819]

@@rajashiyam1386 That's what I was afraid of when Luffy entered a new world, because after a specific moment (you know what I mean, right? I don't want spoilers). I was worried that Luffy won't be as optimistic as before or be a serious character. and luckily no, he's still Luffy the bakasenchou😂😂

[@KalleVilenius]

Since you mention the Norse sagas, I'll point out a detail from Little Garden: when the giants use the "Spear of Elbaf" attack against the giant goldfish (told you to remember Usopp's lies!), they say "only the great serpent soaked in blood" can withstand it. This references the Red Line, which is a red-hued continent encircling the world much in the manner of Jörmungandr. There's a small lesson to be learned here: different cultures in the One Piece world referring to the same thing by a different name.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I'm loving the melange of real world cultural influences in One Piece! Cheers, Kalle!

[@illuminoeye_gaming]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy all the cultures are a huge part of what makes one piece so great because it really does feel like a whole world

[@TheKushOfAfghan]

You are giving too much detail let him experience and figure this stuff out on his own.

[@Biancaxlai]

​@@TheKushOfAfghan I think it's fine to mention this much, since he already made the connection of the giants to Norse mythology. The "Red Line = Jörmungandr" is something that the One Piece community/theorists have brought up and the manga itself hasn't really touch on this again, if I remember correctly. So if anything, this is more a look inside popular headcanons and theories of the community rather than a confirmed fact within the series. Since he can't really look up One Piece related content online in order to avoid spoilers, I think it's fine to bring up community discussions that were present at the time of the arc's release.

[@aigleincomments9532]

Speaking about norse mythology, when These Giants spoke about their god of war IT felt too real Like an actual living deity. So i looked Up the norse god of war, which IS Tyr. And he hast some rly interessting lore, Like sacrifiing a Hand to the mystical creature fenir in Order to calm IT down. Reminded me of shanks and the King of the shore. However, as Oda told us in an SBS (books with Side notes consept Art etc) shanks losing His arm wasnt odas Idea but one of His Editors. So that Connection might Not exist at all. / Similar Thing with devil fruits, Luffy was supposed to be the only devil fruits User. Again Editors Said you cant do that. And now you can Wonder, IS this non devil User part of the original Script? More important than he seems to be? Or did the important Guys Just get a devil fruits one top.

[@mojojoj]

It's so interesting hearing a professor talk about One piece. I really hope you continue reading the story as it only gets better and more complex.

[@tylerdurham6091]

If you like this, I recommend checking out Mom Piece on the drawk show. His mom is a teacher, and she's had some fantastic insights into One Piece

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you! I'm looking forward to continuing!

[@jphilipphoto]

I second this. They're currently my favorite one piece analysis stream!!! I've been following one piece for over 15 years and their streak has completely changed the way I look at this story.

[@natekim6495]

OOOH You should totally check out Merphy Napier as well as Mom Piece. Both are fantastic deep dive analyses of one piece

[@bcool9272]

People normally highlight Ussop's admiration, but forget how adamant is Luffy to the fairness and honour of the fight.

[@xina9032]

0:18 Both Arabasta and Alabasta are generally accepted in the fandom, but most people online use Alabasta 1:18 I recommend to watch the Netflix Live Action show only after the fourth big saga (you've just finished the second big saga). But technically you can watch the show anytime 10:10 funfact: Thanks to the giants Usopp, the storyteller (and liar), wants to visit "Elbaf", which is written backwards for "Fable"! Thanks for uploading and reviewing!

[@TRMshadow916]

On the first point, both are accepted, but I prefer Alabasta. Oda is having fun with words, and the location is a play on the words "Alabaster" (a mineral used in many ancient statues, pottery, and other ancient artifacts... lending to Alabasta's storied history), and Arabia (the real life location). I just go with A-LA-basta because it the other one feels like it sounds too similar to a derogatory term.

[@StrawHatNick56]

@@TRMshadow916 Arab is not a derogatory term. It's just an ethnic group. That's like saying Jew is a derogatory term; It's not.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Oh, that's cool about Elbaf! Thank you for the heads up!

[@RedOphiuchus]

​@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I'm not sure if anyone's told you yet but Usopp's name is a pun. Uso is the Japanese weird for lie and Usopp's name is a portmanteau of Uso and Aesop. So his obsession with a place named Fable was practically necessary.

[@NoGoatsNoGlory.]

​@@StrawHatNick56I think they were talking about the basta part and how it sounds like "are a basta-"

[@DumDum078]

Its crazy how One Piece manages to give background information to many obscure characters it makes the death of side characters feel a lot more impactful

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

A sign of great storytelling!

[@aruretheincomprehensible20]

One of the coolest aspects of Nico Robin in this arc is how it doesn't foreshadow joining the Straw Hats, but does foreshadow her betrayal of Crocodile. She has information on the Straw Hats that no one in Baroque Works has that she doesn't relay to Crocodile, she's the only member of Baroque Works that appears to the Straw Hats at least once but doesn't fight them in any capacity, and she saves Luffy even though they're technically enemies at that point. I love how the Straw Hats interpret her as just an assassin, but then formally introduces herself as an archaeologist first and an assassin second, like being an assassin was something she did to sustain herself financially while exploring her passion as an archaeologist. I also like how Robin convinces the rest of the crew to allow her to join, where she uses their vices and personality quirks to convince them to let her join. However, I also like that it says a lot about Zoro in that Robin doesn't even try to get Zoro to trust her because she understand that Zoro doesn't have personal vices she can use to bribe him and he doesn't have personality quirks she could exploit. It says a lot about both Robin and Zoro between Robin's understanding of how to do research and Zoro's general maturity compared to the rest of the crew.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’m well into Skypiea now, so I’ve seen the dynamic you’re talking about between Zoro and Robin, and I’m enjoying that. Cheers!

[@prodbyjay8157]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasycan’t wait for you to get to the next 2 arcs oh boy ur gonna fall in love

[@Sinlinara]

Something that is commonly pointed to in the community, though popularized by KZbinr Mr Morj, is how Oda uses Mr. 2 Bon Kurei and Vivi to set up the idea that even though you might not always be present you'll always be friends. When Mr. 2 meets the crew and they become friends, he means it - he's on opposite sides from them in the fight, but still looks out for them as they're escaping the Marines because they're friends and always will be. Which then makes the statement about how Vivi and the others will still be friends even more powerful, because it doesn't matter how far away you end up or how much time has passed, Vivi will always be their friend. And maybe one day, just like how Mr. 2 came back to help them out, somewhere down the line Vivi might do the same or vice versa. I also think it's really easy to miss, but the line from Hiriluk about how a person only truly dies when they're forgotten is low-key one of the most important statements in the entire series. When you think about it, the entire Great Pirate Era was started by a man who even though he was executed still has not truly died. As long as there is someone there to inherit their will and pursue their dream, then they're never truly dead. You can see shades of this with Sanji and Zeff (Zeff can no longer pursue his dream, but Sanji can), Zoro and Kuina (Zoro doing everything he can to be the World's Greatest Swordsman for the friend who can't do it herself), and so so many other characters that I'd probably hit the message limit if I tried to list them all. But what's really beautiful about it is how Hiriluk's dream was in some way partially realized through the Cherry Blossoms, and just like with Vivi and Mr. 2 we can believe that one day this will come full circle and all of the other dreams will be fulfilled too. One last thing to keep an eye out for when looking for symbols and themes is that Oda likes to have the locations of the fights with his big villains be in some way thematically significant. It is not a coincidence that the final fight with Crocodile takes place in a secret underground location that no one knows about, and that his defeat by Luffy involves bringing him to the surface and into the light. The simplicity of that idea and the casualness with how it is executed is one of those things that makes me so mad - I don't know what devil's bargain Oda made to write like that but my envy is immense.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Beautiful insights! Thank you so much for taking the time to write them here -- I enjoyed each of your points, especially as they add depth to my appreciation of those moments.

[@Sinlinara]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Thank *you* for helping sate the One Piece brain-worms in this difficult time of the Manga being on a month-long break ;w;

[@austinyun]

The panel of the crew sailing away from Arabasta unable to turn around and acknowledge her as a friend in front of the Marines, but they all expose the X mark they made as identification against Bon Clay's mimic ability is one of the top 5 most iconic panels in One Piece for me.

[@pretty_Fist]

During my reading, it really added a lot to check the anime for two things: - Significant emotional moments. The voice acting, music, and production really drive those scenes in a way the page cant. - Character laughs. MAN there are some weird laughs later and I NEEDED to hear them with my ears!

[@EresirThe1st]

Aside from the pacing issues after about ep 300 the One Piece anime is really, really good. The voice actors are top notch, the score is great, the animation in the big fights tends to really make it come to life, and perhaps uniquely it also lets some scenes breathe by spending a moment on them while the manga only has a single panel. In particular I'm thinking of the moment between Sanji and Zoro on Onigashima (no spoilers)

[@AnyMEmdq]

Oh, yeah, Viz translation erases the unique laughs, right? I honour Luffy and only read English versions taken from the high seas, for official ones I read them in Spanish.

[@guusthomassen9945]

​@@EresirThe1st I didn't have that bad of an issue with the pacing outside of Dressrosa

[@jostbrazil]

The surviving of Pell is almost unanimously viewed as a mistake by Oda, because it felt like a perfect moment to take out that character in this story. It is sad that he dind't follow through.

[@blacklimelightscene]

This was released shortly after 9/11. Pell was supposed to die, but it was deemed as bad taste

[@jostbrazil]

@@blacklimelightscene I think that's an old rumor, that old forums and youtube spread without a real source. Could be wrong tho

[@nathandanczak7822]

@Jostbrazil. It IS a wrong rumor, though.

[@jostbrazil]

@@nathandanczak7822 that is what I think too. Especially because Oda has done so again and again, hence the infamous "Will of P" memes.

[@nathandanczak7822]

@@jostbrazil I didn't know fans spread that obviously fake nonense until it started getting used more in 2020.

[@doronrosstuvia3489]

One of my favorite themes in the story (maybe my favorite) is the idea that people aren’t always as they seem. A lot of stigmas and profiling comes from the idea that “all these people are the same.” When we’re doing political polls or marketing strategies, it involves treating people like numbers and not individuals. But every person is distinct and special. Having our own unique qualities and experiences allows us learn about each other, understand each other, and progress the human experience. It’s very easy in our world to judge people based on a number of things and it’s part of human nature to categorize. We’re all living life through different lives, different struggles, different cultures, and different understandings. Survival instincts tell us be safe by having a sense of control, even if that control limits us from the possibilities of an ever-evolving existence. Oda gives every single character a distinct way of life. Even characters in the background could easily have their own story - and Oda will occasionally bring up those stories in SBSs. What makes Luffy such a powerful force in this world is that he sees people for who they are individually and respects them for their point of views or differences. As much as Luffy is about freedom physically or geographically, he is also about freedom ideologically. He isn’t tied down by fear or stigmas and is free to think about whatever he wants (which is usually meat). Something I think a lot of people reading this admire is that freedom of thought. The ability to be 100% vulnerable all of the time without having to worry about expectations or consequences. Luffy is that person we are alone in our houses, jumping from sofa to sofa, sliding on or wood floors with socks on, or dancing like no one is watching. I forgot where I was going with this. But there lol.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Beautifully said! I think we need more of this theme in the world today. I deeply appreciate your comment here -- thank you!

[@jaredbanares9514]

I'm not sure if you caught this, but one cool detail in the Croc vs Luffy fight is Luffy literally punched Crocodile from underground to the sky and exposed the fake hero that he claims to be. Symbolism and all that. Then it rained which was just the perfect punctuation to all of it. One Piece is amazing. Glad you are enjoying it! It's only gonna get better from here!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Beautifully said, and thank you!

[@paulblartgames]

I love the narrative uses of water in the Alabasta story. From the old man in Yuba providing the water that leads to Crocodile’s defeat, to the rain that signifies the end of the rebellion, even having Crocodile’s devil fruit power be used to take away the rain. Water is obviously a very important resource in a desert setting, and Oda used it in so many clever ways throughout the arc. Man you just gotta love one piece. Great video!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Excellent point about the importance of water and what it signifies in the story! Many thanks for watching and for the great comment!

[@deliii395]

My favourite complimentary scenes in this saga is when Vivi teaches Luffy about being a leader, how it's not always about fighting and rather about not risking the life of nami any further in that moment. Luffy listens to her realizing his fault and asks for forgiveness from the people of drum island. And then in alabasta Vivi is hesitant of fighting Crocodile in fear of loss of a lot of people, she doesn't want to risk any lives including the straw hat crew's and decides to go to crocodile by herself and Luffy makes Vivi realise how there will always be risk of life in a revolution and that Vivi need not always risk her life alone and instead fight together with all of them. Vivi teaches Luffy about leadership and Luffy teaches Vivi about the importance of fighting with everyone. P.s. I'd suggest not watching the live action before completing the Water 7 saga since there's some critical reveals that was pushed forward to s1.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Beautiful description of the dynamic between Luffy and Vivi! Cheers!

[@simianurchin7630]

Honestly I love your take on the luffy and zoro scuffle on whiskey peak being more of a display of brotherly bond not hesitating to take action against who he thinks is in the wrong. I’ve heard a loooooot of one piece readers say they always thought that scene was out of character but you did shed a new light on it for me

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I didn’t realize the scene bothered people, but I’ve definitely seen brothers fight like wild bears and then laugh about it afterwards. All the best!

[@plagalcadence1138]

I didn’t realize that you were reading One Piece and was pleasantly surprised to see this video pop up. I hope you have fun with it! The thumbnail has me cracking up, well done. 😂

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I'm glad you like the thumbnail! Cheers!

[@Grassoda]

Oda is a huge history nerd, there are tons of references to different pieces of literature all throughout One Piece. I can't wait to see your thoughts on the next saga!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Many thanks! 🙏

[@mreveryday]

Chopper's entire story still breaks me whenever I remember parts of it. The way that Luffy refuses to let Chopper avoid joining the crew is just so sweet, because he just KNOWS that Chopper wants to join him.

[@Serutans]

Some cool insights! One Piece fandom has a lot of veteran fans who talk about the series from a very internal perspective - be there is a lack of people who can look at the story and themes from a literary viewpoint, and have the knowledge to back it up. Both the first video and this one were over before I even noticed, and would easily keep sitting here, listening to your thoughts way longer and in more detail.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thanks so much! I deeply appreciate the kind words and the support! I'm really having a lot of fun with One Piece, and a big part of that is engaging with the community here.

[@sodedra5855]

I appreciate the effort to make each thumbnail equally ‘interesting’

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you! I like to think the appeal of my thumbnail lies somewhere in how amateur (and cheesy) they are, but I have fun making them!

[@ForestskiesOfficial]

As someone who watched the anime as a kid, and fell off as I started getting a little older. Only just recently returning and catching back up, I feel like I was in a similar position to you not very long ago. Just with much less literary knowledge than you. Hearing the connections you draw to different literary works and the subtle changes in characterization that you pick up on is a reminder of how different things are now than they were then. Despite the continued brevity and humorous tone still present in the story. As for the emotional moments, be prepared to ride the roller coaster. Keep your hands and feet firmly on the ride, and don't forget to have fun.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thanks for the heads up and the encouragement!

[@killerdust1635]

Im sure you’ve already picked up on this, but one of my favorite themes explored in one piece is justice and how power can control who is seen as just. We follow a pirate crew who is enemy’s with the navy, but from the perspective of a civilian the villains are the pirates. And throughout the story we meet every side of the spectrum, with good/bad pirates and marines. We learn that justice is in the eye of the beholder and even the most just can be warped into villainy through the power of public perception

[@TTqtfreze]

You don’t understand how happy I am that your making this a series 🙏❤

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’m so glad you’re enjoying the videos! Thank you for watching!

[@holyhayn]

Regarding Pel and why he lived, Take this story with a grain of sand, but I heard the reason for Pel living was that that chapter was written around the time of the 9-11 attack, and Oda didn't want to contribute anymore sadness to the world. Total rumor that's easily disprovable, but I like the story so I never felt the need.

[@nathandanczak7822]

It is a rumor. I've never read that oda didn't want Pell to die cause sensitivity from 9/11 ANYWHERE. That's just from salty online fans.

[@angelofdespair654321]

As a long time One Piece fan I am always excited to see people coming into the fandom and getting a chance to relive the series vicariously through another. Its a real treat to have someone as articulate as you delve into it, helps to put somethings into words that I might not have been able to before. Keep up the great work!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you so much - I’m truly grateful for your encouragement and kindness!

[@narddog2151]

The funniest thing about Dorry and Brogy is they canonically go right back to fighting after the straw hats leave. They learned nothing 🤣

[@excelsior2027]

Yo dont be hesitant to criticize one piece. The pell being alive moment is universally accepted within the fandom as a fumble by oda. And yes your gonna love ussop and nico robins character arc. Its the peak of one piece. Also id say avoid the live action for now as it took some creative liberties to introduce some characters which get introduced way later in the manga. And if you'd like it there is a digitally colored manga (official one by shueisha) that exists too, so do check it out id say its the best way to experience one piece

[@plagalcadence1138]

I understand what you’re getting at with this comment, but “universally accepted as a fumble”…? I’ll have to respectfully disagree. I think it’s important to remember that the target audience that Oda-san is writing for is Japanese children…and I haven’t met a single one of them who was upset by Pell being alive. One little girl I know was so happy when she read that part she cried! I think it’s important to keep that in mind while reading the series.

[@New_Earthworm]

i think black and white is better

[@nickman287]

Little caveat with the colored version: the translation is slightly weird at times

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thanks! I appreciate the heads up and the information! All the best!

[@probsmitch]

​@@nickman287 There is a colour version that uses the official Viz translation. I can link to it or KZbin will delete my comment but if anyone's interested fire a DM and I'll send you the link. Highly recommend it!

[@unutilisateurlambda9152]

I love seeing people well versed in classical literature with the ability to notice all the undertones of Oda’s story, being willing to actually give a fair chance to something as goofy as One piece and respect and even appreciate the story. I hope you don’t mind me saying I consider you as pioneers of a more widespread appreciation for this very special thing that one piece is. Please keep going with this series of videos I’m loving each them and I can’t wait to see your reactions to some of the arcs coming next.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for your kind words! I consider myself fortunate to be reading One Piece!

[@AkumaGoji]

It is Alabasta and Zoro. The official english manga calls him Zolo, because of an English dub that changed his named to Zolo from Zoro that was afraid they'd get sued by Disney for the name. In the 2nd, more complete dub they changed it back to Zoro but the official manga just kept Zolo

[@whatever0517]

Alabasta is more commonly used by fans but I think it's pretty obvious he was referencing Arabia

[@ZugZug-xo2bc]

Hiruluk and Chopper make me cry every time

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

It's a wonderful friendship!

[@TEG13]

​@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasyit's beyond friendship. Hiruluk literally called him his son.

[@riatsila144]

And finally...I don't think there's anything more exciting to a One Piece fan than finding someone else just getting into the series for the first time, especially these early arcs and sagas. I still think besting Crocodile is one of my favorite punches in the series...I was an anime watcher first, and I suggest watching that last bit, especially as it's paired with some unexpected music, and it's such a highlight of one of my favorite parts in the whole series. You going through the story of Drum, thinking about Dalton, and Hiriluk, and then Vivi and her pain at saying goodbye, only to be lifted up by the sign of friendship...even just hearing you talk about it brings tears, because it's such a beautiful story, and as someone who really is mostly into fun cartoons, I love hearing more academic folks getting into it, and also appreciating the themes and excellent storytelling in this goofy comic about a boy made of rubber and his crazy adventures with his friends. Thanks for documenting your journey! Love to see it!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

It really is such a beautiful story so far, and I think I’m beginning to understand the passion for it! Cheers!

[@KBZWasTaken]

A lot of things in one piece come back in crazy ways, when you get the later arc the foreshadowing is actually insane

[@drakel5943]

Fyi the One Piece manga is in the middle of a month long break right now. Keep pumping out these videos, we need all the OP content we can get right now!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I'll do my best! I think the next will be in about two weeks!

[@darKuchiki]

You are the first person I've heard mention the bird's nest in the cannon being key in defeating Wapol which i think is really cool that you mention those smaller moments that stuck with you. Once again fantastic video, impressive how much meaningful discussion/analysis you've packed into this video and i'm really excited to hear what you'll think of the rest of the story. Also 16:21 "quarrel over who's meat is bigger?" you say huh interresting...

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Ha ha! I realized afterwards how that must sound, but it's kind of appropriate in this case . . . Thanks so much for watching and commenting again -- much appreciated!

[@NowImGonnaStarve]

I think you would really enjoy Frieren. I hope you give the manga a shot one of these days!

[@sergejg9627]

plus one ❤

[@BladeEdge86]

I have been thinking of reading that one myself, maybe I should give it a shot.

[@the03k]

@@BladeEdge86 Definitely recommend the anime instead of the manga. The manga is good and enjoyable on it's own, but the anime really elevates it.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I hear great things!

[@RandoHooman]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I would suggest the Frieren anime rather than the manga, since the anime has great animation quality and voice actors that really add a lot more to the story.

[@420KUSHWIN]

Bon Clay is a fan favorite, definitely a legend.. Okama way!!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I very much enjoyed his character!

[@420KUSHWIN]

@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy he's really cool now.. but.. well, you'll see

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@420KUSHWIN I look forward to it!

[@AlleyDreamer]

Thats the thing about one piece every arc you read you go "no this is my favorite arc now" 😂

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Well said!

[@Dom-Dut-Da-Da]

You're most certainly a part of the crew! Seeing your enthusiasm is contagious and I can tell you'll be into One Piece for the long-run. The Sky Island arc is one of my personal favorites and I can't wait to see you discuss it. Have a nice read and journey through this, friend :)

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@TannerOfTheNorth]

Bon Clay is a very difficult character to translate for western audiences because he is the first of many *Okama* characters that are in One Piece. Okama is a gender ideology that is very Japan exclusive, and while featured in a number of anime and manga, is fairly lost on the west. It is somewhere between non-binary and gender-non-conforming, but overall is just built on ideas of flamboyance and loudness. Okama culture is most seen in the "bar mama's" of Tokyo. One issue with Okamas is that some aspects of their flamboyance can come across as stereotypical or even homophobic in portrayal. Despite this, Oda has friends in the Okama community and even asked for an Okama to voice Bon Clay for the anime. The actor they got for him ended up being so good that a future character in the manga was designed for him. Something to look into, it's real interesting stuff imho. Love these videos, excited for more!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you so much! I deeply appreciate that context, especially since I really enjoyed Bon Clay’s character. All the best!

[@jellal9550]

Kazuki Yao is not an okama lol

[@TannerOfTheNorth]

@@jellal9550 there's interviews that talk about him taking Oda around to Okama Bars and implies he's done drag for it before. Not a full time Okama, but someone steeped in the culture.

[@charlesacker9174]

It's Alabasta in most English speaking pronunciations, also its Zoro not Zolo, that travesty belongs to an early translation that we can't escape from. The live action made for English language originally calls him Zoro, like the famous pulp novel Swordsman. Every translation is different and one piece is Worldwide in dozens of different languages so in like German (only other language I've read one piece in) Luffy is Ruffy, it just works better with the German language to pronounce it that way. But the name Luffy does derive from the Luff of a sail (Luff and leech are like opposite sides of the sail, the Luff accepts the wind the Leech slows you down) and that's an English navy term that's been adopted into almost every language about sails.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Cool! I've heard about "luffing" as a sailing term, but that's good to know there's an intentional connection there! Cheers!

[@Bloodcrave87]

during my grade school days i cried every single time i re-read chopper's arc must've read it like 4-5 times

[@សេរ៉ាហ្វ]

I'm glad the one piece community welcomed you so openly, but please don't let that keep you from also pointing things out you don't like! I find this critical view you can provide, reading a lot into cultural references of One Piece, very valuable. The less filtered, the better :)

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I appreciate the encouragement!

[@toplubdifo]

So happy you're continuing with this series! I'm very excited to hear your thoughts on the Water 7 Saga!!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Cheers!

[@PokeJoshNY]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥Another peak series with a character named Crokus

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I'm finding a lot of crossover between Malazan and One Piece fans, and I love it!

[@danielbrennan2672]

Brother, amazing review. Keep reading one piece. It just gets better and better.

[@ohohmyfreakkk]

I know it's been months now since this upload but I've also recently realised that "X" marks the spot on treasure maps for pirates, further hammering in the significance of the friendship that's formed between vivi and the crew. It's wonderful.

[@chrislaalo3965]

I hope you take the time to do some deeper analyses of characters and themes in the future. Your background makes me excited to learn more about how you will see the story, events, allusions, and other aspects as the narrative continues. Great video, I love your genuine enthusiasm. Looking forward to more. The next best thing about reading One Piece is sharing in the experience of others reading/watching One Piece. I hope you have a collaboration video with Merphy at some point to share your thoughts!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I think discussion videos in the future are highly likely, especially since discussions are what I enjoy most. Cheers!

[@mathieuleader8601]

I think Laboon is a reference of A True Story by Lucien of Samasota which had people living inside a whale which is one of the oldest sci-fi stories around according to scholars.

[@drumandbassonvinyl]

As a long-time reader and watcher, it still surprises me that even an explanation of the events that happen during One Piece still makes me emotional. It does help that your portrayal is so vivld in its delivery! Thank you!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’m so glad you enjoyed the video! Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@comfymoder72]

I mean characters have died in one piece prior to this, the flashbacks and backstories of characters often have them, Namis mother was killed by arlong, sacrificing herself to save nami and nojiko. Really though, these videos are wonderful, and its interesting to see how it parallels a lot of classic literature that I personally wouldn't have been familiar with.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Good point about the flashbacks! There’s Dr. Hiriluk too, to name another. Cheers!

[@misterfuzzyflippers]

I appreciate your dedication to exploring the themes of the series. Beneath the cool fights and fun storytelling, there are myriad small details that carry deeper meanings.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I completely agree! Cheers!

[@mattf315]

Bon-chan! Never forget his sacrifice!! The Gold Roger -> Gol D. Roger reveal was such a weird reveal for me personally. I almost didn’t notice it, like I just kind of passed over it at first. Also I love Smoker, I’m glad you made a point to mention how he’s not just a villain and he really has a good heart in the right place

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I look forward to seeing more of Smoker’s arc in the future!

[@mtandazomoyo7840]

Great Review. I love how you picked up on Oda's subtle commentary on real world issues in his story.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

It's fantastic! Oda's commentary on real world issues is, I think, a big part of the genius behind the series. All the best!

[@Kaz0901]

I love that everyone’s being respectful in the comments and not spoiling anything ♥️

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Same here!

[@rude_prunes]

I love this review! You point out some great themes and really hone in on the details that make the characters and the overall show so great. I am surprised you didn't mention the moment where Luffy punches Vivian in an intense and heated altercation. I think it highlights a huge part about Luffy's character and contrasts the moment where he apologizes to Vivian. Yes, Luffy often appears to run into combat blindly, but I don't think he is stupid, or that he doesn't always consider the consequences. Vivian was trying to fight a war by herself and expected no casualties while actively putting her life on the line. Luffy felt angry at her because he was ready to help Vivian and she was rejecting help. Instead of being optimistic, like Luffy often is, she was being naive. Luffy is a strong character, but even he has a crew behind him because he knows the power of helping each other. It may not be a terribly complex theme, but it is for sure present in One Piece and we see that reflected in a lot of characters who think they can accomplish something grand on their own until they need help from others. Also, on one last note, I think Luffy punched Vivian because he does not see her as weak. Despite being a princess and despite not being as physically strong as her opponent, Luffy sees her as an equal, again an important part about his character and a great feminist theme as well (he doesn't "go easy" on her just because she is a girl).

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Great analysis of Luffy here! Thank you!

[@Nysonin609]

As a long time fan these videos are a treat! Keep em coming. Also the Live Action is great but DO NOT watch it until you finish an arc called Ennies Lobby (it'll be a bit but at your pace it won't be too long). There are major spoilers that are better experienced in the manga.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Cheers! I'll hold off on the live action!

[@soundcrewreborn]

In regards to the "Arabasta" or "Alabasta" question, the Japanese language doesn't have a phoneme for "R" or "L" and instead the sound they use is something like a combination of the two. So when translating names into English, the letters and sounds are often used interchangeably. It's the same with "B" and "V". That said, "Loguetown" is meant to sound like "prologue" and "epilogue" and "Alabasta" is meant to sound like "alabaster," which was commonly used in Egypt.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Cool! Thank you!

[@shyguypro9876]

There's nothing One Piece fans love more than getting new people into One Piece. We've all fallen so deeply in love with this story and these characters and spreading that love is just such an amazing way to experience One Piece anew.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

That’s a beautiful thing to see from fans! Many thanks!

[@caroodraws]

Beautiful analysis! The alabasta arc has so many complex themes and individual character stories that somehow manage to stay crystal clear as they weave together and more importantly, are OH SO compelling in the process. A pretty amazing feat for a piece of writing! I never even realized how important the mini arcs of whiskey peak, little garden, and drum island are to setting up all these contrasting concepts and ideas before getting into the meat of the arc… I think it makes the end result all the more hard hitting because oda takes the time to SET UP and EXPLORE stuff before ramping up to this intense plot. I’m so excited for you to get to later arcs, you’re in for a treat.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

It truly is masterful and vibrant storytelling, and I'm excited to read more of it! All the best!

[@nathandanczak7822]

The masterful part is overexaggerating by alot, or course they'll be connected since it's all designed to Link to the alabasta land.

[@happyslapsgiving5421]

I'm sure you're familiar with the *Spoon River Anthology,* written by Edgar Lee Masters (1915). One of the tales in the Anthology, which, like all others, is about a person who is dead at the time of the narration, tells the story of *Dr Siegfried Iseman.* A man that is opposed by other doctors and forced into poverty, who turns into a swindler and dies in disgrace. I only arrived to the anthology through a derivative work of it. There is a whole 1971 LP of Italian musician Fabrizio De André ("Non al denaro né all'amore né al cielo") that is an adaptation in music of the very poems from the anthology. Now, the song "Un Medico" ("A Physician"), replicates the short story of Dr Iseman pretty faithfully, but it also adds a spin about the doctor having the childhood dream of "healing" the red (with fruits), and therefore "wounded", cherry trees and seeing the cherry blossoms again. You can imagine my surprise when the story of Dr Hiriluk turned out not only to be very similar to the story from the anthology, but it also presented elements of the De André song (although I haven't managed to ascertain whether it was accidental or on purpose, yet).

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Sounds like a likely inspiration for Dr. Hiriluk! Thanks so much for sharing this!

[@rancor2004]

Dreams id say are the most important aspect of the entire series. You'll especially see this in the next saga which has one of the best moments in the series for me which relates to people's dreams.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I look forward to it!

[@T.K.Fischer]

I love seeing people discovering One Piece. Especially when they get to Arabasta. Crocodile is my favorite villain and Vivi is my favorite member of the crew, even if she is on a very extended leave of absence.

[@popogeejo]

"Arguing over who's meat is bigger" Sigmund Freud has entered the conversation.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Ha ha! Freud always makes an appearance somehow.

[@lassoedthesos5529]

With Pell I had that same concern, though then I remember, Dr. Hiriluke very much died

[@Mavuika_Gyaru]

The difference is that Hiriluke died in a flash back. In flash backs everyone is fair game

[@faewerekaradal7231]

I'm very intrigued by your observations on the theme of uncertainty. I haven't read the arc in this respect so far. Also your explanations of the old english poem was great. I think you will contribute so much to the one piece Community and i'm glad you are welcomed in our community so kindly. Please keep on with this series.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you! I deeply appreciate the encouragement!

[@eddiecomeon]

If I remember correctly the writer Oda is a huge history buff and loves incorporating it into the manga. There are so much more historical ties as the series progress and I can't wait to hear your thoughts on them! Also loved this video!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thanks so much! I love that sort of storytelling, so yet another reason why I’m loving this series!

[@waterloutwo]

Awesome analysis on the story up to this point! I think you’ll find the next couple of sagas extremely compelling. Keep a close eye on Sanji as well, Oda has a soft spot for him and takes extra care with writing his character. He even uses his eyebrow in his signature!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for the heads up and the cool factoid about Sanji -- I love that Oda uses the eyebrow in his signature!

[@dillchillin]

I LOVE chopper! I can relate to his conflicts where his scars from not belonging as a reindeer or a human reminds me of how I grew up as an Asian American. Where I didn't feel like I was a "true" American or Thai. I speak English and was born here, I don't even speak Thai fluently, but when I meet people the topic of where I'm from always come up as if I'm not from here, my home.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

It’s beautiful that a character like Chopper is relatable for you on that level. Thank you for your comment, which increases my appreciation for Chopper’s story!

[@samirxhadi]

I really loved this video phillip! I was one of the people that did not enjoy the group discussions that much, but your solo videos are more than I could have hoped for! Excited to see you enjoying this beloved series as much as we do.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you! I'm so glad you're enjoying the videos so far, and I appreciate the support!

[@nickkings7881]

THE ANIME ADDS A LOT OF BULL AND MAKES THINGS TAKE AWHILE HIT ALSO ADDS SOME CRAZY AWESOME MOMENTS!!! THEY MAKE SO MANY SCENES SO MUCH BETTER WITH BETTER CONTEXT OR ADDED DETAILS

[@khaelstorm2552]

Should Pell have died? Perhaps… That being said, his fruit is the Bird Bird Fruit: Model Peregrine Falcon, which is one of the fastest birds in the world with a high speed dive of 200mph, it’s entirely plausible that he could outrun the explosion with minimal damage, if anything, the fall itself would hurt more than anything else. But one other interesting factoid is that being a Zoan fruit, it also makes him more durable and stronger than even fruit users that aren’t Zoan. There’s more to that but you don’t need to think about that for now. Also something to keep in mind, is that One Piece is notorious for bringing characters and plot lines from 200 chapters ago and making them extremely relevant again, raising tons of questions every time, Pell may yet have a part to play (not a spoiler, I’m talking broad strokes), so all we can do is trust Oda. Thanks for your content mate, really appreciate someone coming in with your particular perspective.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Many thanks! I appreciate your take on Pell as well as the encouragement!

[@latenightconvenience]

21:17 It can also be implied that cherry blossoms imply “change”, many japanese literary works(in this case, a manga) uses them as a way to show change in a character or thing! This is probably due to the fact that the japanese school year ends and starts in March~April, coincidentally the same time as cherry blossom season. I’m not sure if this is used the same in One Piece, but I thought it was cool!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

That is indeed cool! I have cherry trees outside my home, and their blossoms are gorgeous right now. Thank you for sharing that!

[@OVERFIEND]

I love how you teach us about the literary roots for so many of Oda's themes!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you! Great stories all over the world often share the same themes, and it's fun to see who different creators explore them.

[@Nejineto]

Philip I am truly honored to have you as a member of the fandom! One Piece is a wonderful story. I look forward to watching your journey. I would really enjoy watching your arc to arc reactions instead of Saga to Saga. If you are opening to a bit more content creation that would be most welcome! Enjoy the Journey!!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thanks so very much!

[@proto_carl8404]

We saw a ship from arabasta at some point and sometimes the names are written in English even in the original. There it was with an r. I was used to alabaster but now say arabaster… it doesn’t really matter that much to be honest. Love the series, keep up the good work !

[@eliashigham8901]

Oda has spelled the name as both “Alabasta” and “Arabasta” - most people go with Alabasta and personally I agree because it’s definitely more Egypt (a land known for its alabaster architecture) rather than Arabia

[@wavemoon]

Yeah but we also see the Eternal Pose and there it is spelled with an L. It's very inconsistent

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you so much for the encouragement -- it means a lot!

[@elsajeanantony]

I love when I see people get genuinely excited about one piece as they get into it because the more you read, the more that Oda’s impactful and emotional writing just makes you feel like you’re witnessing some great moment in history. One piece is also now being called the “modern day odyssey” which is extremely crazy to think about but honestly this is one of the best works of our generation, thank you for staying invested in this series!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thanks so much! I’m excited to be embarking on this odyssey!

[@Ghostreader198]

One of my favorite things One Piece does is pull from the imagery of other stories without necessarily copying the themes or ideas I’d said story. You mentioned Moby Dick, and the whale there was incredibly scarred just like Laboon but the themes are different. Alabasta also pulls a lot of classic imagery from Peter Pan (a hook handed villain, crocodiles, the ticking of a clock being significant and the clocktower itself looking like Big Ben from the Disney movie) but you wouldn’t say that the story itself has anything to do with the Peter Pan narrative. Other references like Chopper to Rudolph are more obvious, but I think it’s more interesting when Oda just takes the images themselves (and keep an eye out for Gullivers Travels, there will be more overt references later down the road)

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Beautiful observations! I love this sort of creative use of influences in storytelling!

[@ryanwright905]

It's so gratifying to see a non typical reader coming into the show, it's a wild ride and I can't wait to see you're perspective on my favourite moments. Welcome to the hype train man

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you! It’s great to be here!

[@haveagooddaytoo]

I have been waiting for this after watching your first video on east blue😊 watching your journey through one piece is amazing to witness and I'm sure it's not just me who feels this way

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I appreciate your kind words very much! Thank you! 🙏

[@ploopyfudgewink9207]

I highly recommend finding a clip for Crocus’ introduction. The mangas funny on its own and it’s a pretty simple gag in both versions but with the added effects of music and timing, the entire scene is that much funnier. I’ll come back to it every year or so and it’s still funny 😂

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for the recommendation! Sounds like a delightful scene!

[@Ianriley27828]

I’ve been waiting for this review

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@jphilipphoto]

You're the first person I've seen give grace to the whole luffy vs Zoro misunderstanding. I personally hate it but it's refreshing to see someone have a more positive experience with it. Safe to say I'm locked in because different perspectives are really what i look forward to when looking at one piece reviews

[@EresirThe1st]

Super cool to hear your thoughts. You’re picking up on lots of threads of foreshadowing, and the next saga is even bigger on that. One thing you didn’t mention is the cover stories, they’re ways that Oda shows us what is going on with characters outside of the straw hat crew, and they become relevant again later.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Those cover stories are fun (I like the dancing with Fullbody and Django), and I anticipate they'll have relevance, just like the earlier ones with Buggy. Thanks so much for watching and commenting -- much appreciated!

[@nathandanczak7822]

You're misusing foreshadowing. Oda never planned for this series to last 24 years, only 5. Plus the dreams linkage is a stretch for arcs like Thriller bark and Marineford.

[@z.kramer6027]

this was a lovely watch. it's like experiencing my childhood hours watching one piece for the first time. i switched to the manga when i was about 19 and still read every new chapter.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for watching! Though I’m discovering One Piece much later in life, I’m having a blast with it.

[@KyosukeShido]

One Piece is one of the best Piece of Media that showcasing the meaning of Friendship , also .. speaking of the relevance of the story into the real world , One Piece also do that very well .. the whole anime/manga of One Piece is very relatable to the real world .. it has so much in it .. you will definitely enjoy One Piece

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Well said! I do think One Piece speaks so much to the human experience, and I'm excited to read on!

[@deadinside6386]

I feel like Chopper accidentally poisoning Hiruluk and Luffy instantly destroying the Eternal Pose for Arabasta (even though it could’ve actually helped them) also ties really well into the theme of having to think before you act.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I agree! I just read another scene early in Water 7 that reminds me of the same theme.

[@brianyaniro5086]

Dr Kureha's face is based on Geddy Lee from the band Rush and I think that's a fun fact. And Mr 2 Bon Clay's face is based on the Jim Carrey character Lloyd Christmas from Dumb and Dumber.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Those are both very cool and fun facts!

[@ripleyjlawman.3162]

From what I understand Zolo in the English manga is meant to be Zoro, but there were some complications with existing character Zorro, and thus his name was rendered as Zolo in the 4Kids dub of the anime, which stuck around for the English manga release, at the same time Arabasta was originally romanized as Alabasta but more recently it’s been written within the manga, spelled out in English as Arabasta, (though in the English-language release those instances are changed to maintain continuity.)