Usapang ONE PIECE POH dito

[broski045]

W-why did you have to remind me of Bon Clay...

That okama is a man among men (even Elfman of Fairy Tail does not hold a candle against him). Oh man, it would really be an honor if it turned out to be Bon Clay.

 
 

As a summarization to what we have discussed,

Wrestling panda, Strawhat Crew.

Do you hear us Oda-sensei?

 

Yeah, mad respect for the Okama queen!

Actually, he IS pretty much confirmed to be alive, and is actually the Okama queen of Level 5.5. AKA Newkama Land.  If it turns out to be him, the big surprise (for the WG and the marines I'm sure) will be that he managed to escape Impel Down, a feat done by only a select few.

[xxxchoholic Rai ♥]

yeah bon clay is alive and gathering more people

in the impel down 5.5 hihihi the substitute okama queen for ivankov..

singing "oh come my way"

sent from deepwell frog using insecured witch 3000

[AgileZero]

Yes, yes, I remembered about that scene. Funny, I fondly remember the song as "Okama Way".

 

Meh...

 

[Zurca]

saw this on mangastream website

The Next Nakama

First things first - this rant is in no way intended to criticize Oda's genius. I'm sure he had his reasons for Luffy to announce that he wants to find 10 nakama in the very first chapter of the series. Most probably it was intended to make us speculate about who's likely to join throughout the series - that is until all 10 are gathered, though even then, 10 was somewhat ambiguous - does it include himself? do previous 'nakama' count? can it be more than 10? We don't quite know how exact and precise the statement was, and that's not what this post is about anyway.

One thing, however, is seemingly clear to all of us - there will be at least one more new nakama to join the Straw Hats, and the speculation regarding who it will be is driving me nuts sometimes and is often quite frustrating, to say the least.

Every time a new, interesting (or even minor) character is introduced, there will be at least one person pointing out that this character will DEFINITELY be the next Straw Hat member. Every time an old character is reintroduced or shown after the time skip, it's the same story. Even characters that obviously won't join the crew, like Princess Shirahoshi, seem to gather a whole following of fanboys (and girls) who argue that they will definitely join the crew until the very end - that is, until the Straw Hats say bye to them an leave the island. (Why it was obvious? She's a giant falling mermaid (who can't even board their ship), plus a princess, plus lacks (at least) one important criterion that all Straw Hats have in common).

I want to take a moment to briefly look at each of the Straw Hat members and point out what makes them special.

Luffy - He's the undisputed protagonist, the captain, and he'll definitely become the Pirate King - 'nuff said.

Zoro - He wants to become the best swordsman in the world - the reason is the promise with Kuina and his own ambitions. Luffy helped him get out of a troublesome situation and they've been nakama since.

Nami - Her dream is to draw a map of the world. She has a sad past (Arlong Pirates, Belle-Mère, village held hostage). Luffy fights to liberate Nami.

Usopp - His dream is to become a brave warrior of the sea, like his dad. He has a sad past (Mom dead, Dad left him). Luffy helps him defend his treasure (the village) against the Black Cat Pirates.

Sanji - His dream is to find the All Blue. He has a tragic incident in his past (almost starved to death) and Luffy helps him defend the Baratie against Don Krieg.

Chopper - He sets out to sea to become a pirate because Dr. Hiluluk (his adoptive father) explained to him how great pirates are, and to be with and experience adventures with his nakama - having found nakama for the first time in his life. Luffy helps him beat up the man who made fun of and killed Dr. Hiluluk.

Robin - Her dream is to find the Rio Poneglyph and unveil the forgotten history. She has a sad past (Ohara, Buster Call, always on the run) and Luffy and the others fight to get her back from the government, returning her will to live.

Franky - His dream is to sail throughout the Grand Line on his dream ship as its shipwright. He has a sad past (Tom's death, feeling guilty). Luffy helps him escape from Enies Lobby along with Robin.

Brook - His dream is to meet with Laboon one more time. He has a sad past (Crew dead, alone for decades). Luffy fights to return his shadow, allowing him to join the SH's and overcome his loneliness.


Now, what do they ALL have in common? A goal, a sad past and they join after the SH's helped them win their battles. Those are also the three criteria that all possible future members have to meet for them to be real Straw Hat nakama material.

This also explains why Vivi was never going to stay with them long-term. She had the sad past, in the sense that Alabasta was in trouble and she also had a fight they could help her with; but she has no dream beyond being with her newly-made nakama. She's not like Robin or Chopper either, for whom having real nakama is something new and part of their dream - she had friends before, still has them, and she had a fine childhood, too. Her 'dream' was always fixing up Alabasta and after that was done, it became maintaining the peace there and taking care of it. She had no reason to go with Luffy, other than enjoying being with the SH's.

Now, while these are criteria that make characters likely, there are also those that make characters unlikely. One of them is - does it make sense? No, seriously. People keep bringing Law up, but the guy has his own pirate crew, with his own unique nakama there, and never in a million years will he join the Straw Hats. Why should he? What would happen to his crew? There's simply no need to. Is he cool and awesome? Of course. But he can be that without being part of this crew - he's still part of the manga, but for some people that doesn't seem to be enough. As for me - I much prefer him in the role of an ally who is a Shichibukai and has a powerful crew of his own, than him becoming a permanent member.

Besides - abilities are also important, and with Chopper, we already have a doctor. Sure, he has more skills than that, and is also smart and all that, but that doesn't make him fit in any more. It's like when people asked for Ace to join way back in the day. That was also completely unlikely, given his admiration for Whitebeard, being his own independent character, and there being no way in the world that he would accept Luffy as his 'captain'.

And now this week I read lots of comments calling for Sabo to join. And Koala, too. Seriously? Those guys are with the Revolutionary army, they have their own agendas, they have their own nakama; why would they? Do they even fulfill the criteria? Sure, Koala used to, for example - but now she obviously doesn't anymore. Other people helped her overcome her trauma, others helped her fight her battles and her dreams we know nothing of, but it's clear they are going to have to do with the Revolutionary Army, since she's in that club already - why would she join the SH's? I won't even begin with Sabo...

Anyway, this became a pretty long rant and all, but the main point was - please use your brains before shouting 's/he is gonna be the next nakama for sure' every time a character is introduced, it's giving me a headache reading that stuff every time. Of coure it's fun to speculate and with Oda, anything can happen. He could even deviate from his patterns - though it's unlikely to say the least; but for most characters that are called 'next nakama' by many, it just makes so much more sense to not join. They are great characters without joining the Straw Hats, and that is something I wish more people would realize.

Now, feel free to rip holes into my 'analysis' (aka rant), and I'd be really happy to see more popular 'next nakama' theories torn apart (Kinemon anyone?)

[AgileZero]

Wow, nice rant. The only thing he forgot to specify is that the function of a Strawhat in a ship is also a requirement in recruiting a Strawhat.

Luffy - Captain
Zoro - First-mate
Sanji - Cook (and an excellent one at that)
Usopp - Cannoneer/Gadgeteer/Chemist (arguably)/Botanist
Chopper - Doctor
Nami - Navigator (being a frikkin' Weather Witch also helps)
        - Accountant (God, help you if you have debts from this woman)
Robin - Archaeologist/Spy
Franky - Shipwright
Brook - Musician

So we are also looking for someone who would function as "part of the ship, part of the crew". Kinnemon would be unlikely in this regard. Jinbe would also be unlikely since Vivi and him have the same excuse to stay at their kingdom (they have responsibilities to do for their kingdom).  Heck, both even asked Luffy to let them join the crew once they meet again in the future.

This maybe considered wishful thinking but just for the sake of companionship and not for the sake of those silly requirements, Jinbe and Vivi should join the crew in the future. We humans, we who can empathize, could feel that they really, really want to join the crew. The spirit of camaraderie lives on in their hearts and I could imagine those two are longing for that.

 

 

[Zurca]

yep, after reading that, mapapaisip ka kung meron bang current characters na nanjan sa mga requirements na yan lol and so far, from what i'm reading/seeing wala pa lol

[AgileZero]

I forgot to mention na killjoy yung nag-rant.

Let people enjoy their fantasies. I mean give them the chance to believe what they want to believe until the Oda reveals it. I respect his knowledge of One Piece, it's just that it was rude of him destroy people's dreams of the next Strawhat.

I mean, aren't the themes of One Piece, dreams and beliefs?

 

[Zurca]

haha oo nga, si law gusto ko sana sumali sa strawhats eh lol and oda is unpredictable baka this arc eh wala na dun sa requirements na yun ang sasali sa strawhats

[broski045]

*ignores post*
Bartolomeeeeeeooooo!

Seriously, though, I think it's quite early pa para magkaroon ulet ng nakama si Luffy. Nakakatatlong arc pa lang naman sa New World, malamang marami pang time to develop yung mga ibang side characters. Who knows, baka in the future madevelop story ni Monet or ni Violet and then sila na pala yung next nakama.

[xxxchoholic Rai ♥]

well still nasa simula pa lang sila ng new world

kaya sa tingin ko kahit madaming candidates sa ngayon

for another crew.. i think lang ha wala pa sigurong madadagdag sa ngayon..

sent from deepwell frog using insecured witch 3000

[Zurca]

oo nga wala pa siguro, just like sir broski na baka may madevelop na story sa ibang characters na pwede na sila maging candidate for new nakama. do you think lalabas si jinbei this arc? sabe kasi niya may unfinished business siya kay big mom and affiliated siya dito.

[xxxchoholic Rai ♥]

it is possible but i think not that soon..

kasi di naman si big mom ang target nila dito kundi si doffy right?

sent from deepwell frog using insecured witch 3000

[Zurca]

siguro, pero si caesare din ata.

[xxxchoholic Rai ♥]

pero sure na yata na susunod na si bigmom

sa mga makakalaban nila dito sa series.. ano sa tingin niyo?

sent from deepwell frog using insecured witch 3000

[AgileZero]

Of course we could say that after seeing Big Mom's ship. Uhmm, I want to get out a theory here. Do anyone here remember Lola of the rolling pirates? Remember the vivre card Lola gave to Nami which finds the direction where Lola's mom is? Remember how she told them to find her mom if they need help in the New World?

I have the strangest feeling that that mom is Big Mom. And after some research in google, some actually agree.

Though I don't have any proof. What are your thoughts?