One Piece Vol 26

[sara_tanaquil]

Journey to the island in the sky results in overuse of "scare quotes."

I think I just figured out why Skypiea is not my favorite arc -- among other things, way too much fantasy worldbuilding. The hints at future plot developments remain fascinating, however.

Comments

[printfogey]

I'm the other way around, at least when it comes to this volume - I really like the fantasy worldbuilding, the sense that the Strawhats really are in a place far removed from everywhere else in the world, with a culture they know nothing about and close to vice versa. (The language question is of course entirely illogical, you're right!) It's around vol. 28 and 29 I often start to feel that Skypiea is dragging a bit

[rallamajoop]

Me too on the fantasy worldbuilding, though I can see why it wouldn't have worked for everyone. I particularly loved the floating rivers of cloud, that people will fall through but boats can sail on, and I occasionally sulk that we haven't seen more of the dials and the waver since. They're so useful.

In the big picture, the main purpose of this arc is unavoidably just to put some space between Alabasta and Water 7, and I don't think we've ever had an arc since with so little long-term plot significance. That said, for what amounts to padding it went above and beyond the call of duty. And you've gotta love the crawling White Berets in their stupid pants. XD

Also Nami got lots of good scenes in this arc and I am slightly biased about such things. *cough* Robin too!

[sara_tanaquil]

so little long-term plot significance

In one sense, definitely yes -- in another sense, it's amazing just how much was being developed during this arc just below the surface.

[Next volume]Even leaving aside the haki and the poneglyphs and all, the gradual revelation of the history of Skypiea and the war with the Shandians is really cleverly done. I think I'm appreciating it much more this time, because the first time I read it, I was just too confused about what was going on to appreciate how well-constructed the narrative was.

[rallamajoop]

Not to mention the introduction of Blackbeard and two more Shichibukai! Everything that happens in Skypeia is so far diverged from the main action that it feels like a very standalone arc, but I'm in full agreement about just how much was developing just below the surface throughout this part of the story.

[Later Skypiea spoilers]The gradual revelation of the history really was well done. When we first met Cricket I had no idea whether the 'city of gold' myth was going to have anything to do with Skypiea, or whether we were going to get an explanation for it at all, so you get the real surprise when we find out. Over the course of the flashback with Norton and Calgara later I went all the way from "yawn, why are we bothering with all this crap?" to so invested that when we got back to Enel trashing the ruins of Shandra, I was loudly declaring that his death had better be slow and painful to ever come close to paying for all he'd done. >( Confusing as it was trying to keep track of all the different factions up on Skypiea, it all comes together so well by

[mangaroo]

I have a hard time following this volume. I think what I like about it even less than the worldbuilding is that the ending leaves me with the crew split up. I do not like these people apart. I like them together. I like getting 7 (?) different reactions to everything they encounter and I like Sanji and Zoro trading insults and Chopper and Luffy playing with Robin's creepy-gro hands.

Also, it leaves me with fights. So I know I'm gonna get more fights in the next volume. I much prefer hanging out on the beach and bouncing on clouds. (My curiosity re: the 3 tunnels we didn't take is balanced out by my fear we're going to get those fights challenges, anyway.)

I do love how much everyone loves King Dalton. Look at the love in that cover arc panel. Love love cherrypetalsnow.

Don't know what I think about Conis's actions. It's nice that the guilt of it weighed on her enough to confess, but can I excuse her doing it in the first place? I guess it's too much to expect her to be their BFF after one afternoon frolic.

[sara_tanaquil]

I won't lie; a lot of Skypiea is just boring (to me, anyway, and to a lot of fans). And it goes on way too long. But hang in there! The Shandia/Shandora subplot is worth paying attention to, the end of the arc is pretty cool, and then soon there is Water 7, which is all kinds of awesome.

I agree that I prefer the crew together, but I do kind of like when they split into sub-groups because you get to see the sub-group dynamics. Like, how Sanji interacts with other crew members when Zoro's not there to fight with. It casts a slightly different light on their individual personalities and crew interactions.

I do feel bad for Conis, because as kind as she and her father are, Luffy et al are basically strangers to them.

You later find out that Enel has been manipulating the Skypieans into being informers against their will on a regular basis, which... well, we'd all like to think we would do the right thing if offered the choice between doing something unjust and dying, but history shows that most people will do what they have to survive