RJ Writing Ink

One Piece Chapter 942 Review/Recap

If you’re wondering why I didn’t put up the latest chapter of One Piece last week, it was because I have been too busy to work on all my blogs at once. But I finally have some free time, so here is the latest chapter.

Also, there is no new chapter this week, so I think I have some leeway.

Recap

The chapter starts off with a flashback to more than twenty or so years ago, to Kozuki Oden’s youth. With the passing of his father, Oden would be the new Shogun, though his father had disowned him for his ruffian lifestyle. So he thinks that the Shogunate will pass down to Yasuie so he can fulfill his dream of leaving Wano and traveling the world.

Yasue wouldn’t hear of it, and says that his father only threw him out so he could learn how to be responsible and become the leader everyone sees him to be.

In the present, Yasuie, or Tonoyasu as we know him, tells everyone that he lied about being the Midnight Boy. He said that so that everyone would watch his execution. He then tells the people of Wano of their proud, beautiful country, and how Orochi’s merely a parasite who’s sapped it of its wealth.

To Orochi’s fury, Tonoyasu then says that he made up everything about the Kozuki Clan and the tattoos as a prank to get people’s attention.

Now, Orochi’s men suddenly think that they arrested innocent people and that Orochi’s just paranoid.

As Orochi arrives to personally kill him, Tonoyasu curses Orochi with the most badass, poetic insult I’ve ever read.

He then proceeds to laugh as he thinks about looking forward to seeing the Kozuki Clans’ vengeance from the afterlife as the guards execute him.

As the people of Ebisu Town watch, Toko can only stand there in anguish as she watches her father die. Yet all she and the people of Ebisu do is laugh, to Zoro’s confusion. Hiyori then tearfully reveals that this is all the doing of Kaido and Orochi: the SMILE fruits have robbed them of the ability to show any emotion besides laughter

Review

I will be upfront and honest: when I read this last week, I almost cried. I had a feeling that there was more to Tonoyasu than he let on, and I was right. He may have looked like a fool, but that masked how cunning he was.

By sacrificing himself, Tonoyasu managed to do three very important things. First, by saying he made up everything about the tattoos and the Kozuki Clan, now Orochi and Kaido’s men will let their guards down, thinking there is no threat. Second, that means that most, if not all, of the allies that they arrested will end up being set free, bolstering the Alliance’s forces. Third and most importantly, he made himself a matyr.

Tonoyasu was beloved by everyone in Wano, and I don’t think the people will take his death lying down. If I were them, I’d go home, grab weapon, and riot. Even if Kaido and Orochi surpress the riots to come, they’ll be distracted. All this adds up: the Alliance just had the odds tipped back in its favor.

In fact, if it wasn’t for the SMILE fruits, I would say the Alliance has a good chance of winning. If what Hiyori said is true, then those accursed fruits are even more sinister than I thought.

The second act of the Wano Arc is heating up: riots may start, the Alliance has a chance to regroup, and we all know that Luffy’s going to bust out of Udon Prison with an army of prisoners that have an axe to grind with Orochi. This might be the biggest battle One Piece has seen since the Marineford Arc, and I love it!

I Give “Daimyo of Hakumai, Shimotsuki Yasuie” a 5/5. Rest in Peace, Tonoyasu.

Sword Art Online: Alicization, Episode 14 Review/Recap

First, I would like to offer everyone my deepest apologies for not getting this done sooner. I have been so busy in my life right now, so I am trying to keep up with a lot of things at once.

That said, let us get started with the second part of Sword Art Online: Alicization. For the record, I have not read any of Karandi’s articles on it lately, as I want to experience it for myself and make my own judgement

LINK. START!

Recap

After retrieving their swords from the armory, Kirito and Eugeo now face a brutal, dungeon style gauntlet ahead of them. They need to fight past the Integrity Knights, find Alice, make it to the top floor, and kick Quinella’s butt. It doesn’t take them long to find their first opponent in the form of the Integrity Knight that attacked them earlier, Deuesolbert Synthesis Seven.

The Crimson Knight proves to be a formidable opponent, wielding powerful fire magic and a powerful bow, but he proves to be no match for Kirito and Eugeo’s teamwork. As Kirito holds off his attacks, Eugeo charges in with his Blue Rose Sword and overpowers the knight with powerful ice magic.

As Deusolbert lays defeated, Eugeo recognizes him as the Knight who took Alice away, something he himself can’t recall. It ends up confirming Kirito’s suspicions about Quinella erasing the Integrity Knights memories and then lying to them. The man is shocked by this, but he recalls a faint memory of someone from his life before he was an Integrity Knight, seemingly confirming it for himself.

Eugeo and Kirito choose to spare their enemy’s life and continue to move up the tower. As they stop to rest, though, they are met by two little girls.

Review

From what I heard from Karandi, the rest of the episodes are going to follow the same basic formula, Kirito and Eugeo fight through a different boss fight to reach Alice and beat up the hag who refuses to wear clothes. I don’t care how hot Quinella looks: she’s still a hag!

That said, this should make for some interesting fights, if this is any indication. That duel between Kirito, Eugeo and the Integrity Knight was really awesome the fight between fire and ice.

As far as the plot goes, I don’t think we’ll be expecting that much from it. It’s pretty much gratuitous fighting scenes at point with the plot being put on the back burner.

In action shows like SAO, trying to balance between plot and the action can be a tricky task, and they don’t always do it right. Balancing the two’s going to be what I look for in the show going forward. I know SAO has its detractors, and they do make good points. But I’m not giving up on the show yet.

I Give “The Crimson Knight” A 3/5

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