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One Piece Chapters 1136 & 1137 Review/Recap

I apologize for not getting this out sooner, but my schedule has kept me busy since the new year. Thus, I decided to review the two latest chapters of One Piece as one, big review. Fortunately, fans have had plenty of time to stew on the revelation behind two major pieces of information that Oda dropped in each chapter. Firstly, Luffy and the Straw Hats learn from the Giants that there’s a deeper reason behind the many names of Joy Boy. Secondly…all those theories about Shanks having an evil twin brother have turned out to be true. And his name…is Shamrock.

Recap-Chapter 1136

The big welcome party for the Straw Hats is in full swing as the Giants are quick to befriend the crew members…and Road basically becomes Nani’s newest manservant. In the midst of their celebration, though, the topic of the Sun God comes up once again. Except this time, the Giants start arguing over whether the Sun God Nika was a savior or destroyer. The reason behind that is that their ancient texts claim that the world was already destroyed twice, with each time involving Nika in some form. Many Giants aspire to become the next Sun God Nika, including Loki.

When Luffy asks if Loki is really a good person, though, everyone says he isn’t and proceeds to list all the horrible things he did until Shanks captured him. Zoro’s perceptive enough to figure out what Luffy is up to, so he pulls Luffy aside and lets him know letting Loki go is a bad idea. However, since he can’t talk Luffy out of it, he decides to go with him. And Nami tags along to make sure they don’t get lost or cause two much trouble. With Road serving as their guide, they head to the abandoned castle of King Harald to find the keys to Loki’s chains.

Down in the Underworld, though, Loki already has company in the form of the two God’s Knights. They keep trying to force him to join their ranks, but all he does is spit in their faces. Even when they threaten to kill his wolf companion, he refuses to yield. In fact, he says that he will swallow that rage and use it feed his fire when he escapes and burns the world down.

Chapter 1137

In the next chapter, the Romance Dawn trio (Luffy, Zoro, and Nami) and Road break into the abandoned castle. There, they see the ruins of the battle where Loki supposedly slew his father, even coming across skeletal remains of Giants. Road explains how this deeply affected Elbaph, especially Hadrujin, Loki’s half-brother. Furthermore, it’s revealed that Hadrujin’s mother was a Giant from another land, leaving her unable to become Queen. Yet Road follows him for the same reasons the Straw Hats follow Luffy: they support his dreams.

In the Underworld, Gunko, the bandaged knight, keeps trying to beat Loki into submission with her Devil Fruit powers. Loki’s Observation Haki lets him see every attack coming, but his restraints mean he can’t defend himself. However, Loki still refuses to bow to their demands. Seeing that this is getting nowhere, her companion, captain of the God’s Knights Figarland Shamrock, decides to change tactics. Ordering Gunko to contact Mariejois, Shamrock proclaims that the World Government will bring Elbaph to heel, no matter what it takes.

Review

To all those who guessed that the mystery knight is Shanks’ evil twin, pat yourselves on the back. Chapter 1137 all but confirms that Shamrock is, in fact, Shanks twin brother. Which also means that Shanks is a Celestial Dragon by birth. Given how Roger was said to have found him in a chest after the God Valley incident, it’s likely Shanks was abandoned by Garling. Thank goodness for that, because it means that Shanks grew up away from the rot of the World Government. In contrast, Shamrock grew up amidst all the filth and corruption and buys into their delusions of godhood.

These two chapters confirm the worst fears that many fans have been having. In an attempt to prevent the Giants from getting involved in the coming war, the World Government is trying to conquer Elbaph. It’s likely they hoped to recruit Loki and use him as a means of bringing the Giants to heel, but they underestimated how much he would hate the Celestial Dragons. Which is natural, considering how the Sun God is the enemy of the so-called rulers of the world.

Luffy might just the latest incarnation of Nika

Chapter 1136 was a very important chapter in regards to the mystery of the original Joy Boy. If what the Giants say about their records are accurate, then the original Joy Boy may not have been the first person to wield the power of Nika. Someone else might have done so even further in the past, making Luffy simply the newest in a line of people who gained Nika’s powers. The fact that the Giants can’t agree on whether Nika is a hero and warrior of liberation, or bringer of destruction supports this idea. Luffy’s predecessors have likely been both saviors and destroyers of the world, just as he could end up becoming one. Then again, one’s destroyer could easily be another’s liberator. The World Government might see Luffy as the harbinger of the apocalypse, but that’s because he could tear down the corrupt regime they’ve used to enslave the world. To everyone else, that’s called being a hero.

In the end, what Luffy decides to do will likely be what decides how the world will look once the dust has settled. Given his track record of making places better everywhere he goes, though, his ultimate decision will likely be for the best. However, none of that will mean anything if the World Government gets control of Elbaph.

Shamrock Needs to be Stopped

It’s obvious to everyone reading why the World Government wants to take control of Elbaph. The Giants are among the strongest fighters in the world. If they went out in full force, they could give the Celestial Dragons some serious trouble. Shamrock and Gunko are likely only the first wave to a full-scale invasion, and the timing couldn’t be worse. With so many of the Giants becoming pacifists, Warland could fall. They’ll enslave the Giants, the ones who, in my opinion, have a major role to play in the coming war. Worse, they will seize the books from Ohara and destroy them for good, making the sacrifice of Robin’s mother and mentor be for nothing. In other words, Luffy is going to have to fight the God’s Knights. And if Shamrock is as strong as Shanks is, then Luffy will be in for his toughest battle yet.

Bring it on. Any chance to humiliate the Celestial Dragons is a chance worth taking. Shamrock is going to regret leaving Mariejois. As for Loki, if he isn’t as bad a person as everyone says he is, his chance to prove it may be coming soon.

I Give “The Country that Awaits the Sun” and “Shamrock takes the Stage” a 4.5/5 each

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