RJ Writing Ink

One Piece Chapter 1161 Review/Recap

The God Valley Incident, AKA the Trojan War of the One Piece world. We now know that this war between the Rocks and the Roger Pirates, the Marines, and the God’s Knights was part of an elaborate trap for Rocks. The Celestial Dragons wanted to wipe out his family and kill him in the process. Officially, though, this started because all the pirates wanted to rescue their beloved Shakky. And none was more determined than Rayleigh, who realized that not going after her was a huge mistake. Which is why the God Valley Incident is more than just a major historical event; it’s also a love story.

Also, Garp stans are going to get ton of mileage out of what happens!

Recap

The island of God Valley has become an island of nightmares. The Celestial Dragons are trying to flee to safety. The God’s Knights are killing anyone who isn’t doing what they say. The Marines are trying to get ahold of the situation, Kuma and Ivankov are making their move, and the pirates are fighting everyone, including each other! It’s chaos!

And amidst all this, Dragon is spotted by one of the Knights and is almost killed. It’s only thanks to Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Kaido (and Shiki) showing up that he’s able to survive. And then he sees his dad show up and start fighting all of them. Sadly, he’s unable to retrieve Shamrock, but he is able to save Shanks, who hit his head on the ground. The pirates run from Garp, who just shrugs off all their attacks like the beast he is!

The fighting eventually makes it to the center of the island, with the Rocks and Roger Pirates coming in from both sides to rescue Shakky. She had already taken out her guards and was about to make her escape when Sommers arrived. However, instead of moving her, he decides, “screw it. I’m just gonna kill her so no one wins.” Right before he can lay a finger on her, Rayleigh swoops in and yeets him away like he’s nothing! Now safe thanks to the man she loves, Shakky breaks down and starts crying, prompting Roger and Scopper to do the same before declaring their intention to get away.

Recap

Wow, what a chapter. I’m starting to understand why the World Government wanted to cover up the God Valley Incident afterwards. And to think that Dragon, Ginny, Kuma, and Ivankov were caught up in the middle of all this and survived.

We all knew that something would happen that would keep Dragon from saving both Shanks and his brother. What was surprising, though, was that the only reason Dragon survived was due to fate being at work or pure dumb luck. As sad as it is knowing he could only save Shanks, I still think he should be proud of this fact. Thanks to him, Shanks would basically be adopted by Roger and his crew. Roger is a far better father figure than Garlin could ever be. And thanks to that, Shanks was able to return the favor by saving Dragon’s own son years later, setting the entire story in motion. Talk about karma!

The most surprising thing, though, has to be seeing Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom all running away from Garp. I’ve seen people joke about how weak it makes the future Yonko look, but think of it this way: they had yet to reach their peaks and weren’t as strong as we would see in the future. What was even more exciting is the fact that Garp, in or near his prime, was able to tank Big Mom’s attacks. It just goes to show you how great the gap that Luffy’s generation has to overcome is. They’re close, but not quite there. At least we see proof that the God’s Knights can be beaten.

God’s Knights Still Suck

Speaking of the God’s Knights, this and the previous chapter do a good job of reminding us of how they’re the worst. It was bad enough seeing that coldly killing all those innocent people. But they reach another low when we saw Sommers beat up Shakky while spouting that sexist garbage. If they think a woman who can stand up for herself isn’t beautiful, they don’t know what beauty is. I’m so glad that Rayleigh put him in his place.

Speaking of which, Rayleigh and Shakky’s reunion might be one of the few net positives of the God Valley Incident. I know it’s cliché to see a woman get rescued by the man she loves, and that someone might consider it out of date, but it works. And seeing Roger and Gaban crying tears of joy for their friend is honestly pretty wholesome. Knowing Roger, as soon as they escape, he’ll want them to get married on the Jackson so they can celebrate. And so he can officiate it.

It’s pretty obvious by now that Oda intends to tell us everything that happens at God Valley, and I cannot wait to see what happens.

I Give “A Song of Love Bound Under a Hail of Arrows” a 3.5/5

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One Piece Chapter 1160 Review/Recap

I used to think that the execution of Gol D. Roger was the most important event in the history of One Piece, but I think we may have to rethink that. Instead, I think the most important event that sets up the story as we know it was the God Valley Incident. At first, we thought God Valley was just the latest victim of the World Nobles’ sick, genocidal tournament. However, the reveal of Rocks’ and the future Blackbeard’s lineage has turned the God Valley Incident into something else: an execution for their family. What’s even crazier, though, is that this was probably the event that set Monkey D. Dragon down the path to becoming the Revolutionary we know.

Honestly, I don’t think any of us can blame him.

Recap

The sight of the Davy Clan is enough to drive the Celestial Dragons into a frenzy, calling for their blood. Yet their deaths will not come so soon. The victims of the hunting tournament are set loose to run from their doom. One hour later, the hunt begins.

What follows is nothing short of horrific. Innocent people are slaughtered by the Celestial Dragons without mercy. Families watch each other die. And amidst it all is Dragon, trying to fulfill the dying wish of Shanks and Shamrock’s mother to save them. Amidst all this, Dragon sees a Celestial Dragon about to kill Kuma and Ivankov’s group, prompting him to shoot him with tranq darts. Luckily for him, his luck is about to change.

To the east of God Valley, the Rocks Pirates and an army of pirates come charging in, to take the treasure, save Shakky, and for Rocks, to save his family. On the opposite side of the island, the Roger Pirates make landfall with the same goal in mind. With the God’s Knights distracted, Dragon takes the chance to grab Shanks and Shamrock and make a run for it. Right as the Marines are outnumbered, the cavalry arrives in the form of Vice-Admiral Garp! The God Valley Incident has begun!

Review

Holy moly, this is epic. The War at Marineford-levels of epic. In fact, with hindsight, the God Valley Incident might be to Roger and Rocks’ generation what Marineford was to Luffy. As if to emphasize that point, it has Dragon, someone young and out of his depth, running through the chaos, trying to do something that we know is destined to fail. At least, partially destined to fail.

I don’t think it needs to be said at this point, but I’m saying it anyway: the Celestial Dragons are the worst. We got glimpses of the tournament from Kuma’s flashbacks, but this just drives home how despicable it is. They’re hunting down sentient beings for sport, and they’re laughing about it. Sommers makes a father watch as his son is killed right in front of him! I don’t know how Oda comes up with people so vile, but he’s great at it. If this isn’t what causes Dragon to desert the Marines, then I will be disappointed in him!

As horrifying as this chapter was, though, the real highlight was the ending as the main players arrived. Rocks, Kaido, Big Mom, Gloriosa, Whitebeard, Shiki, Roger, Rayleigh, Gaban, Dragon, Garp, Garling, Gunko, Sommers! There are so many legendary influential people taking part in the God Valley Incident that it’s mind-boggling! This is pretty much a canon event! And it looks like Oda intends to show us everything! While part of me wishes that this could the subject of its own miniseries or film, I can understand why Oda’s doing this. He’s using the Elbaph Arc to tie up as many loose ends left as possible. That way, he can focus on the grand finale. These next few chapters are going to be some of the most important in One Piece history, and I cannot wait!

I Give “The God Valley Incident” a 4/5

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Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi Review

When I heard that Disney was making a Star Wars anthology series called ‘Tales of the Jedi’ I was stoked. I thought they’d be adapting the 90s comics of the same name. Instead of taking us back 4,000 years, though, Disney copped out by treading familiar ground with characters we already know, like Ashoka and Dooku. After watching it, though, I thought this anthology series turned about two Jedi and the paths their lives took wound up being better than I thought. It encapsulated two different views on the world and how each Jedi viewed it. One of them saw the world for what it was, while the other saw it for what it could be.

That, and we got to see Ashoka as a baby.

Despite seemingly having nothing in common, there are a lot of parallels between the stories of Ashoka and Dooku. Both were raised by the Jedi and held them up on this pedestal. They saw them as the good guys who always did what was right. However, as they got older, they realized things weren’t so black and white. That the Jedi had lost their way, serving a Republic rotting from the inside out. That ultimately made both disillusioned with the Jedi and leave the order.

Nor can we blame them. As we see in both Dooku and Ashoka’s stories, the Jedi had many problems. Despite claiming not to, they served a corrupt Senate and its self-serving whims. Dooku especially grows frustrated as he keeps seeing how selfish those in power can be. Eventually, they both lose faith in the Jedi and decide to leave them behind. 

A Story of Cynicism vs. Idealism

Tales of the Jedi makes no secret how flawed the Jedi had become. However, it also contrasts Dooku and Ashoka’s stories through one key fact: how they dealt with these realizations. Dooku let this anger and resentment build up until he finally snapped and became Sidious’ unwitting pawn. The bitter irony is that Sidious was probably responsible for much of the Republic’s corruption. 

On the other hand, Ashoka, despite briefly giving up, ultimately refuses to give up hope. That for all the flaws in the Galaxy, it was still worth fighting for. That the ideas of the Jedi still meant something. That’s why, when the Empire comes looking for her, she chooses to fight back. As a result, she sets out on the path that will ultimately see her help build a rebellion that will bring the Empire down.

Don’t Let Bad Things Break You

Overall, if I had to say what the theme was behind Tales of the Jedi was, it’s the struggle between cynicism vs. idealism. Not blind idealism, though. I mean being idealistic despite knowing how much people can suck. Dooku saw the Galaxy as rotten and let it corrupt him. Ashoka, though, despite all she went through, decided that despite this, it was still worth fighting for. And in the end, Ashoka’s way of thinking gets vindicated when the Empire finally falls. 

Now, if Disney would just let the Jedi come back, I’d have no problems with Star Wars.

I Give ‘Tales of the Jedi’ a 3.5/5

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