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One Piece Chapter 973 Review/Recap

Due to an illness, Oda was unable to release a new chapter of One Piece last week. Considering how Japan’s fighting the Coronavirus, though, I’m only concerned that he stays healthy and safe. That said, this chapter was worth the wait. It provides us with the final pieces to Oden’s story: why some of the Scabbards got left behind, Inu and Neko’s feud, and the whereabouts of the final Scabbard, hidden by the demon called anger.

Recap

With Oden dead, the Scabbards flee to Kuri, even as the Beast Pirates set it ablaze. Ashura and Denjiro stay behind to buy time for the others, while Inu and Neko blame each other for Oden’s death and get captured. The remaining warriors make it to Kuri, and while Kawamatsu takes Hiyori to safety, Toki uses her powers to send Momonosuke and the others to the future. Afterwards, Toki flees to Kuri where she gives her prophecy of Orochi’s demise in twenty years time, before dying from her injuries.

Everyone left reacts to the incident differently. Orochi is left terrified and wants proof of the Scabbard’s deaths, while the remaining members go their separate ways. Meanwhile, Denjiro, overcome by the demon called anger, remakes himself into Kyoshiro and returns to the Capital. There, he founds the Kyoshiro Family, gaining power and influence until he becomes Orochi’s bodyguard. By night though works as the Witching Hour Boy, bringing hope to Wano.

Then one day, his geisha’s find Hiyori in the Capital. This, Denjiro takes her in, tells her everything, and gives her the also of Komurasaki. However, he tells her not to reveal anything, even to their allies, until the day of the final battle.

Review

So, it appears that the fan theories about Denjiro being Kyoshiro and the Witching Hour Boy turned out to be true. That explains why Hiyori didn’t die. Denjiro faked her death so she could go into hiding. In addition, this explains why half of the Scabbards stayed behind, and why Neko and Inu hate each other.

I’ll be honest, when I first read the ending to this chapter, I almost laughed over it. Orocho may have cut the Alliance off from each other on the day of destiny, but he made a huge mistake. Firstly, the best way to hide is in plain sight. Thanks to that demon called anger, Denjiro’s been right under his ugly mug for years. Secondly, he just left Denjiro in charge of the Capital, filled with his loyal Yakuza and Alliance prisoners. To be able to hide the truth even from your friends and allies is something few could do. My hat’s off to you, Denjiro.

If I’m correct, then odds are that the Alliance isn’t in as bad shape as it was made out to be. Better still, Denjiro can free all the prisoners and sic them and the Kyoshiro family on Orochi. Those reinforcements will even the odds a bit. Orochi, Kaido, and Big Mom’s days are numbered.

Overall, if this is the last chapter of the flashback, then I think it ended on a high note. Now it’s time to get back to the present and begin the fight for Wano’s future. Let the war begin!

I give ”The Kozuki Family” a 4.5/5

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Steven Universe Future Episodes 11-12 Review

After a three month break, Steven Universe is back for it’s final round of episodes. And as the first half of this epilogue established, there’s a lot of unfinished business, especially with regards to Steven himself. He needs help, but has no idea how to communicate that. This week, though, he seemed to take a few steps closer to that goal while also wrapping up the secondary characters plots.

In Dreams

Having been out of focus for the first half of Future, I’m thrilled to see Peridot take center stage again. She’s one of the best characters in the show, and her arc has been a fan favorite. If this episode winds up being her final hurrah in the show, then it’s fitting that her story gets wrapped up with her favorite show, Camp Pining Hearts.

Steven and Peridot are thrilled that Camp Pining Hearts is getting revived, but that turns to disgust when they hate the revival. So they use Steven’s ability to project his dreams into the TV to remake it their way. Things take a turn for the weird, though, when Steven’s desire to be needed interferes with his dreams.

Steven Universe Future has shown us that Steven has no idea how to tell everyone he needs help. As a result of this inability to communicate, Steven’s problems manifest in his unsettling dreams. At one point, he wakes up from one Dream only to find himself in another, With Peridot about to leave him behind. The message is clear: Steven’s doing this because he thinks without Camp Pining Hearts, he’ll lose his friendship with Peridot.

Thankfully, Peridot gets the message, whic leads to a tearful moment where both acknowledge they don’t need the show to be friends. Considering how Peridot started as cold and insensitive, this moment shows how far she’s come as a person. And the fans couldn’t be prouder.

Bismuth Casual

In the second half, Steven comes face to face with an unsettling prospect: he doesn’t know how to be normal anymore. That fact becomes evident when he goes with Connie, Bismuth, and Pearl for a night of roller-skating. While everyone else has no trouble hitting it off with others, Steven struggles, as evidenced by his inability to roller skate or talk to Connie’s cram school friends.

Considering how friendly and open Steven can be, it hurts to see Steven struggling with making new friends. In fact, this episode drives home how unconventional Steven’s life has been. He never went to school, and most of his family consists of alien gem-people. With a life like that, a “normal” life is hard to come by. As a result of this revelation, Steven gets bummed out and think he’s holding Connie and the others back.

However, I don’t see it like that, and neither should he. Connie probably knows Steven better than anyone else, and she doesn’t see him as holding her back. While I hope the show clarifies if they’re a couple or not, they’ll always be best friends. After all, they manage to fuse into Stevonnie again and tear up the skating rink!

Two Steps Forward

So, the first of Future ended on the bleak notion that Steven was going to go through some tough times. Thus, I think it was a good call that the staff uses the return to remind us how Steven has his friends to support him. He just needs to learn how to ask for help.

It’s sad that one of the best cartoons of all time is coming to an end later this month, but it’s leaving behind a powerful legacy. People will be talking about Steven Universe for generations to come, and Steven Universe Future is a great epilogue to a great show.

I Give “In Dreams” a 4/5 and “Bismuth Casual” A 4.5/5

Stray Observations

• I now ship Pearl and Bismuth!
• If this was Stevonnie’s last hurrah, then I LOVED IT!
• I don’t get why the Diamonds were in Steven’s dream. What was the point of it?

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