RJ Writing Ink

One Piece Chapter 1121 Recap/Review

You know one of the things I love the most about One Piece? That moment at an arc’s climax when Luffy proceeds to beat the ever-loving tar out of the big bad. And out of all the enemies Luffy has faced, I don’t think any have been as deserving of a beatdown as that of Saturn. I was ready to make peace with the fact that Luffy, Bonney, the Straw Hats, and everyone else would have to flee Egghead. The Five Elders undamaged, save for their pride and the knowledge that Vegapunk just exposed them to the world. But wouldn’t you know it? After all the pain and suffering we learned Saturn caused, Oda wouldn’t let him get away with it. LO AND BEHOLD, THE FALSE GOD HAS BEEN JUDGED AND FOUND WANTING! AND THE CALL FOR THE FINAL WAR HAS BEEN SOUNDED!

Recap

The final moments of Dr. Vegapunk’s message to the world continue to play out, even as the Elders desperately try to destroy Emeth and the transponder snail. Vegapunk tells the world that one day, very soon, the secrets of the Void Century will be uncovered for all the world to know. Those that history tried to erase from existence, and their descendants persecuted, will have their voices heard again. There are already people out there who cannot be oppressed no matter what, and those people are closest to finding whatever Roger found. In the recording, Vegapunk muses that maybe that was what Roger intended to happen with his last words. However, he also notes that the person who finds the truth may be someone Joyboy wanted. That doesn’t change this fact, though: whoever finds the One Piece will decide the fate of the world.

At the island’s edge, Saturn furiously tries to kill everyone, but Luffy and the Giants aren’t having any of it. With Luffy protecting her from harm and encouraging her, Bonney gets a second wind and re-enters her Nika Form. Remembering everything that Saturn has done, the pain he’s caused to her, her parents, and so many other people, Bonney calls Saturn for what he really is: trash. For her mother, her father, and herself, Bonney and Luffy hit Saturn with EVERYTHING THEY HAVE!!!! A BEATDOWN LIFETIMES IN THE MAKING!

And, in the end, the so-called god is left crumbling to pieces as Saturn begins to fall into the sea while the Thousand Sunny makes its descent to the ocean below.

Review

This was my honest-to-goodness reaction when I saw what Luffy and Bonney did to Saturn:

I’ve waited for so long, and when Oda finally gave it to us, I felt euphoric! At the moment, Saturn is probably the most vile, disgusting, and hated character in all of One Piece, and that’s saying something. From going out of his way to make Kuma’s life hell, to killing the love of his life, experimenting on Bonney, and be an all-around jerk, Saturn has had this coming. I don’t know how Luffy and Bonney were able to damage him so badly, but I don’t care. Nor do I care if he survives. All I’m hoping for is that he will fall into the ocean and remain there for the rest of eternity. That moment alone makes waiting another two weeks worth it!

Beyond that, though, no matter what happens from here on out, the Five Elders have lost. Vegapunk has told the whole world everything he knows and how it’s all connected. Joyboy, the Void Century, the Ancient Weapons, the lost continents, and at the heart of it all, the One Piece. And now, everyone is going to want to go after it. Even the Marines, the ones supposed to be fighting pirates, will want to find the One Piece. If the Celestial Dragons had a hard time controlling the world before, then it’s about to become impossible!

I Can’t Wait to see the Chaos to Come

We still don’t know if this is the end of the Egghead Island Arc just yet, but I’m willing to guess that we’re going to get a few more chapters to wrap everything up. We need to learn the fates of everyone involved in the arc, especially Vegapunk himself. And we need to see how the world will react thanks to everything they’ve learned. However, I would like to point out that many longtime readers already came to the same conclusion Vegapunk did about Roger. He set everything in motion because he knew that someone would find the One Piece one day and do what he and Joyboy could not: bring down the World Government.

I really liked the chapter, not just for seeing Saturn get what he deserves, but for the allusions that it makes. When Oda speaks about those oppressed by history, we get shots of people like Kuma, Pudding, and King. All of them were persecuted for existing, and I think they still have a role to play in what comes next. Well, that depends on where King is, at least.

Oda, keep cooking for us! And may Saturn rot in hell forever.

I Give “The Ebb and Flow of the Ages” a 5/5

Click here to see more animanga stuff