Usopp's tricks will also work a lot better on a single opponent than a whole group. It's hard to have a plan when you're getting jumped by like 40 people in an enclosed area
and on top of everything else, usopp's actually like the kindest fighter usually, he doesn't fight to seriously hurt someone. Except here, because he's THAT enraged.
Bro even before this. Remember drum island? Luffy was about to fck the entire population of drum because they were being hostile (rightfully so) and weren't letting nami see a doctor (she was sick). Then accidentally Vivi gets shot in arm and luffy outrages. Vivi stops him and teaches him that that's not how a captain acts. Care for the people who are following you. Your recklessness is putting them in danger. Be humble when your are asking for a favour because its ultimately benefitting you and your friends. Luffy immediately realises and bows his head in apology and pleads for help. Drum citizens then welcome them because clearly these pirates were different from BB pirates. After this moment, luffy became so humble. In Amazon lily , he was humble to the point he chose to save Margaret and other girl rather than wanting to see his own friends. His honesty and humility made boa fall in love with him completely.
The cutbacks to usopp calling himself captain usopp is not only wholesome/nostalgic but also an indication of why this problem escalated to this extent. (Credits to a youtuber for pointing this out) Usopp sees himself as luffy’s best friend rather than his captain. We got hints of this at long ring long land when he got mad at zoro and sanji for listening to luffy and leaving him alone w aokiji, showing he doesn’t respect the captain’s decisions (but is worried for his friend’s safety). And now he’s reacting in a way that disregards captain’s orders. He sees it as his best friend abandoning him. The strawhats have been like a group of friends and they are now facing serious pirate crew issues (ship, betrayal, hierarchy etc.). Zoro has been commenting on all this throughout, cementing him as the first mate.
To me the reason Usopp put such a good fight compared to all his previous ones is simple. He had time to prepare,even the shuriken feel like he just went to town and bought them, the trick with the breath dial only works with some setup and most of the time he just throws everything he has in hopes it works, but as he says in the beginning of the fight "i won't use a move that won't work on you". But this knowledge also makes this fight so heartbreaking from Usopp's point of view because he knows he won't win, in a normal fight that moment where he ignites the gas he would have been celebrating, praising himself and getting overconfident if for a moment, but because its Luffy he is just waiting for him to come out of the smoke, after all "I know something like that wouldn't kill you". Also I love the way this fight just hits every member of the crew in a different way, it seems like an obvious thing but i feel like a lesser writer would have just made it just about Usopp and Luffy. Lynsay kept bringing up the sunset and it made me notice something, for most of Luffy's fights there is some image of the light, when he came out of Arlong Parks rubble, when he punches Crocodile into the sky, when he destroys Enel's Raigo, but this fight starts as the sunsets and it only gets darker as it goes.The light its gone from the series for a moment. Now for One Piece at a time: At least in the Manga After his fight with Usopp, Luffy went the longest he has ever gone without smiling in the series for a total of 15 Chapters. This might not seem like much time but for it to happen to Luffy who smiles in almost every panel he is in, it's SUPER on purpose.
Sunlight being on Luffy is actually a really strong, and purposeful, theme that continues through the entire series. I'd say the sun is a reflection of how Luffy, himself, is feeling So the sun settting, and dimming, says a lot about Luffy's emotional state this fight.
I think Ussop did not put up a better fight but it felt like it! Because we did not get Ussops inner monologue and his POV. We saw what all his opponents see!
I'm so glad you guys immediately understood Luffy. Since we as viewers also don't want to lose the Merry, it's easy to immediately side with Usopp, but Luffy is slowly growing into his responsibility as a captain, too. I think Iceberg telling him how irresponsible he is if he continues like this also played a big role in it, because we saw Luffy have the exact same reaction as Usopp at first, the "you guys don't understand Merry, I don't care what you say, we'll continue sailing on her!" tantrum. Same with Usopp, yeah he has a stronger bond with the Merry than the others, but as you pointed out, the feeling of inadequacy is the real issue at hand, and wouldn't have been resolved by just *telling* Usopp that it's okay, that he's a treasured member of the crew and isn't holding anyone back. He needs to find that confidence in himself, words are kinda meaningless when you're in that state of mind already where you convinced yourself that you're the weakest link and everyone is just waiting for a chance to get rid of you :x
I agree, It's a testament to Oda's masterful storytelling that he makes us empathize with both sides of the conflict so deeply. We feel the pain of losing the Merry, a beloved crew member in its own right, and we relate to Usopp's insecurities and fear of being left behind. But at the same time, we can't help but admire Luffy's growth as a captain. He's starting to understand that sometimes, tough decisions have to be made for the greater good of the crew. Iceberg's words serve as a wake-up call, highlighting the harsh reality of their situation and forcing Luffy to confront his own immaturity. You're spot on about Usopp's need for self-discovery. His insecurities run deeper than just needing reassurance from his friends. He needs to prove his worth to himself, to overcome his own doubts and find the confidence to stand on his own two feet. This arc is not just about the Merry, but also about Usopp's journey of self-acceptance and growth.
I agree with your take on Luffy hearing from Iceberg. It is also a small reminder of him listening to Vivi when arriving at Drum Island when he similarly needed to make a decision that goes against his punch first strategy.
Something important to note and that I remembered thanks to your words: is that because Luffy had previously thought and spoken like Ussop, about Merry being invincible and etc... at that moment there he was not only fighting with Ussop, but also with that version of him from the past... He was fighting with himself too at that moment and that's why he was being so crude with his words.
There's a difference between fighting against someone that you know in detail and random people that you've never met. Usopp's particular style of battle works better when he has time and knowledge to prepare a plan.
I agree but it would’ve been nice to see ussopp at least try the shurikens and dials against the franky family. That way it seemed like he really gave it his all, obviously it wouldn’t work cuz he got jumped so his shurikens and dials would be pointless, but it would’ve been nice to see him pulling these out for the “first time” against the family and then luffy, ALSO THE FUCKING BOMB OF FIRE!
Luffy vs Usopp quarrel was one of the most masterfully written bits by Oda. It feels like a real quarrel between friends. You can see why both of them speak this way, but can't do anything about it. That is how most quarrels happen for real too, not putting oneself in another's shoes due to emotions. Zoro acts like the vice-captain throughout these episodes. When Usopp walks out and everyone follows, Zoro waits for Luffy's reaction until going out. He also reminds Luffy what it means to be a captain.
You're one of the few reactors that understood exactly what Luffy was doing talking to Usopp. So many think he's being cold. No, he's trying his best to make Usopp feel like it's not his fault. That's why he's acting so nonchalant about getting a new ship, because he knew Usopp felt guilty already about the money. Luffy just didn't realize how insecure Usopp was, because he never saw Usopp as weak as he saw himself. Love these two episodes.. Also to note. Seeing that fight from Luffy's pov instead of Usopp's hits harder because Usopp has more inner monologue than any other character.. And it slows fights down when we hear it and hear his insecurities. This gave us the pov that Usopp's enemies get. That's why Usopp seemed so badass and quick. He really is out here blitzing enemies like that, we just get slowed down in his head. It did help he had extra time to prepare.. But still, this is generally how the enemies view fighting Usopp.
it was spring break 2010, junior in highschool, i was watching at least 20 a day, & had my life changed drastically upon episode 309's climax to end climaxes in general
Remember that usopp at this point was the only crew member that didn’t really accept luffy as a captain. He jokingly makes the bold claim that he’s the captain and in multiple cases he doesn’t accept luffy’s orders. The relationship is that of friends rather than one of a subordinate and captain. This fight was tough to watch but necessary for the straw hats.
I'm honestly very impressed, that was a perfect analysis of everything going on in these episodes. Some people really dislike Usopp because of this, so I'm glad you guys understood everything so accurately.
Yep 1st and 2nd mate. All respect to Nami and Robin who sometimes also step into those roles but Zoro and Sanji both reacted in super important ways here. For as much as the crew seems like it's falling apart here with Robin missing and Ussopp leaving and everyone distraught. It's very clear the more I re watch this how rock solid zoro is with Luffy here. I love Zoro and Luffy's relationship. I love ALL the strawhats.
@@benjaminroe311ify Water 7 is the arc where I went, "oh, Zoro DOES consider himself first mate." Up until then I'd thought of him as a protector, someone who won't let you hurt the weaker memebers of his crew, and who will back Luffy. But not necessarily someone who will wade into crew politics and play the First Mate role. This arc shifted my view on that, and recontextualized scenes like him being weary of Nami/Robin, or not fighting back on Jaya, etc. What I took as quirks, or just faith in Luffy as a Captain became, "it's the First Mate's job, to..."
Good job on making uploads more frequent. I knew u won't be able to stop in this arc. No one can. It just gets crazier and crazier with one of the best endings with rollercoaster of emotions, drama, twists
It was really nice to hear your discussion about this. It too often becomes a matter of who's right or wrong, like a black and white situation, without much thought about everything both Usopp and Luffy are going through and their thoughts and reactions.
Luffy's first tears since he was a child... fs me up. He is always so emotional, yet he barely ever cries, so when he does that's so much more impactful.
One of my favorite fights of the series. The emotion, the intensity. Luffy’s development as a captain. A turning point for the crew as a whole. It hits hard, but done very well.
Usopp is a version of Batman. If you give him enough prep time and information, he'll figure out how to mess you up. Usopp did exactly that. He went into town and he bought supplies for his 1-on-1 fight, as well as made more of his own standard ammunition, to fight someone he'd known for months, at a specific location and time.
i think people dont differentiate between Character Development and Character Progression. One Piece doesnt have a lot of development because the crew already had their development in the past but the progression part is that much stronger in OP because of that. i think Super Eyepatch Wolf went over this in "Why you should watch/read One Piece" and he did a good job.
Merry was a gift from Kaya. That is why Usopp gives so much care for the ship. Plus based on what he has seen Usopp thinks Merry more as a crewmember and something with a soul.
Usopp and the Going Merry began on this journey together - they both joined the crew at the same time, they both set off from Syrup Village at the same time. That along with he fact that he patched Merry up whenever she was damaged... I can see why Usopp would develop a kinship with Merry. And if Merry can be disposed of once she's no longer of use, then what does that say for someone like him, who can't even stand guard over a briefcase?
I would like to elaborate or explain an underlying layer to Luffy's actions which I think most people wouldn't have noticed: 1. Luffy was like this false chipper. Because you have Ussop who's like begging forgiveness. Like I lost I money, it's gonna be hard for us to move forward. Like he is feeling so much guilt And so Luffy is like don't even worry about money, I don't care about the money it's not your fault, it doesn't matter. Don't even talk about the money. We're gonna move forward, we lost the money that could've possibly saved the ship, but I don't care. I've got a catalogue of ships here see, Don't even worry about it, don't blame yourself. Even as he goes like I've decided we're gonna get a new ship it's gonna be fine, like it's this forced happiness for his pal that he is trying to not allow to feel like Ussop has lost something for everyone. It's kind of like Luffy taking ownership of this decision instead of it being a forced decision due to Ussop's mistake. So it comes off as callous and hateful towards Ussop who is already feeling like a failure. Luffy intentions were good, it's just that they missed each other in the discussion. Like it obviously wasn't effective, like this route obviously failed. But his intentions were there, he was not just being a airhead for the people who just think there is nothing more to his character than being dumb. It wa his way of being considerate And then Ussop escalates the situation due to his insecurities. And then Luffy escalates the situation. And then the crew trying to stop them was really heartbreaking. 2. Iceberg called him out on being a bad captain because luffy(just like usopp) was being emotional and wanted to keep sailing the merry. After iceberg told him you are a bad captain for putting your crew in danger like that, that's when he decided to act like a captain and put his foot down. This arc does a lot for luffy as a captain and the strawhats crew in general.
I actually really agree with Luffy's decision to be falsely chipper there because it WAS his fault the money was lost. First Ussop told Luffy to gaurd him because he had the money, but Luffy took his eye off his crewmate and didn't even question him being gone until much later. Second because he IS the Captain, so every fault of his crew - including them lacking strength to do X - is also his fault as a Captain. So it is actually the right call, as a Captain, to not put the blame on Usopp and make a decision based on the facts at hand. That being said, it also makes perfect sense to me why Usopp, with his major insecurities, would take this as pity and further proof that he's not good enough for the crew. There had always been the running joke that Usopp argues he's the Captain of the Merry, this fight was one of the first times we see Usopp acknowledge that Luffy IS the Captain, that the Merry IS his. It needed to happen, because the Pirate King cannot have a crew that doubts his orders or his intent. That Usopp didn't immediately hear Luffy's order and know (or at least accept) that he agonized over it but settled on what was best for the entire crew, was proof positive he shouldn't be sailing with them.
I agree, You've articulated some fantastic insights into Luffy's motivations and actions during this arc. Your analysis of Luffy's "false chipper" demeanor highlights a subtle but crucial aspect of his character. He's not just being a carefree airhead; he's actively trying to shield Usopp from the weight of guilt and responsibility. Luffy's dismissive attitude towards the lost money and his insistence on moving forward are his attempts to protect his friend's emotional well-being. However, as you astutely pointed out, this approach backfires. Luffy's well-intentioned efforts are misconstrued as callousness, further fueling Usopp's insecurities and ultimately leading to their confrontation. This highlights the complex nature of communication and how even good intentions can be misinterpreted, especially in emotionally charged situations. The Iceberg scene is indeed a pivotal moment for Luffy's development as a captain. It forces him to confront the consequences of his emotional attachment to the Merry and how it could endanger his crew. Iceberg's harsh words serve as a wake-up call, prompting Luffy to make a difficult decision that prioritizes the safety and well-being of his crew over his personal feelings. This arc truly showcases the multi-faceted nature of Luffy's character. He's not just a goofy, adventure-loving pirate; he's a leader who cares deeply for his crew and is willing to make tough choices for their sake. It's a testament to Oda's masterful storytelling that he can create such complex and nuanced character dynamics within a seemingly lighthearted and action-packed series.
Damn! Both of You articulated it way better than me lol 😂 But I'm glad that there are people like you guys who are capable of seeing the nuanced way of writing that Oda uses for Luffy 🙌
@@VW20-bq9in It's on both of them. Rewatch the scene right after they retrieve the briefcase and Usopp picks it up - he tells Luffy to gaurd him, what does Luffy immediately not do? But, even if Usopp had said nothing, everything his crew does or doesn't do is 100% on Luffy. That's what it means to be a Captain. You take responsibility for the actions of your crew. That's half of where Usopp's insecurity comes from, his percieved weakness doesn't just reflect on him, it reflects on his crew.
This is why Water 7 is considered the best anime arc of all time; the crew is forced to change how they go forward as the Grand Line becomes more dangerous and stressful. In a lot of other anime the characters either become too repetitive or start to regress.
I really do love how Zoro and Sanji are in this arc. Sanji is the heart and Zoro is the mind, keeping steady and trying to keep the crew together. And Usopp... DX He had to really prepare to go all out like that with Luffy, where he didn't have the time to take on the Franky Family. He rushed ahead without thinking, only hoping to get the money back for Merry...
@@TheRach0812 when ? and loyal crewmate never hurt his captain zoro's loyalty is on another level he knows about luffy trying say that ussop if you don't like my decision then get out of my crew but zoro just watched and sanji kicked him this thing show us how zoro understands luffy with botom of heart in whole cake i am 100 percent sure zoro never forgive sanji
Beautiful reaction. I kind of adored that there wasn't much talk during the intense moments. Your expressions said a lot. These are a couple of my favorite episodes of the anime. Toei messed up a lot in their adaptation, but I think they did this moment so excellently and your discussion was really great to support it. Thank you for the wonderful reaction.
If Ussop saw the franky family coming he would have just run away. They most likely ambushed him and had taken him by surprise. Also he's a sniper not a close combatant so he couldn't use most of his arsenal against them. He can take a beating, as we saw in Alabasta, but he can't always dish it out.
Just like the case of Hawkeye "I am in a team of super humans and a god, that why I can't miss" show that how hard a normal person like Clint has to work to keep up with the Avengers - extraordinary people Sadly, our boy Usopp has a really bad day to understand that
This arc is what solidified Zoro AND Sanji as first and second mates. The way they react here is important to solidarity of the crew. All respect to Nami in some ways shes co 2nd mate with Sanji
this fight is exra painful because usopp isn't jsut a random crew member. He was one ofthe starting members, and what's more, he had esentially become everyone's best friend, especially luffy's. So to see them come to blows after getting such a deep friendship....it hurts. in reagrds to "why didn't usopp do this earlier", many answers have been given so let me compile all the possible answers here 1) usopp had been jumped by the franky family, and then ran off to fight them in desperation, with no plan. He had nothign prepared. PLus he didn't nowthe franky family, so he didn't really have anything to use against them beyond his usual tricks 2) usually usopp's the kindest strawhat. He won't go out of his way to seriously hurt someone, even an enemy, its why most of his weapons are gags. But this time he was so ENRAGED by luffy's 'betrayal' along side his insecurities that he went all out. his usual mercy wasn't holding him back this time. 3)He personally knows luffy, and had been given plenty of set up time, allowing him to actually make a plan and set up traps for luffy. The frany family would NOT have just lt him set up random traps.
All the stuff Usopp prepared where for luffy weapons and tactic for fighting luffy. The franky family would jump him his state of mind and injuries wouldnt help either setting up a kill zone for the family. The only reason it was effective against luffy was cuz he had prep time.
A subtle moment I love that illustrates Usopp's importance to the crew was during the encounter with Aokiji. Usopp saw that encounter as him being weak and unable to do anything against a monster like him. However, Usopp was very important during that moment; he saved Robin from being shattered. If it weren't for him being quick on his feet, Aokiji would've shattered Robin while Luffy was holding her. Sure, he didn't fight Aokiji, but he helped save Robin. He's important to the crew, he just doesn't realize it.
Ussop didn't have the shurikens and the traps in the beginning. He just got it right before the fight with Luffy. And even if he did have those lying around, he was not expecting to be jumped. He was in emotional turmoil so he wasn't thinking straight that's why he went straight to the Franky Family. Ussop really became Batman in this episode. He took the time to prep all the things he believes would be great counters against Luffy.
Usopp wasn’t holding out on the Franky family. He held out on himself. His lack of self confidence is what makes him weak. Nami is a great comparison. Someone who is equally as weak if not weaker but was able to survive by herself trick other pirates, steal from them and live to tell the story. It’s not about strength, it’s all confidence.
If anyone didn't understand, Usopp was never angry on Luffy. He was angry on himself. He was suffering from inferiority complex hard in this. He blamed himself for being weak. He was also scared of them leaving him for being weak so he retaliated instead. He was at his lowest. Not to mention his special bond to Merry being the repairman for long and it being a gift from Kaya. This was a rollercoaster of emotiona for him and he reacted the only way he saw fit. Luffy showed his maturity too. He is the best MC of all anime for certain reasons. His emotional understanding and widest range of character depths make him special always. His and Usopp's shift in characters in this arc is nothing short of writing genius
This marks a real turning point for Luffy’s character. It’s been fun rewatching the early part of the show with y’all because while the differences are subtle, Luffy is a different character going forward from this point. There’s stuff in the earlier episodes where you can tell he views being captain as fun, and after this you can see him shift and view being a captain as his responsibility. Don’t worry, he’s still going to be our laughing, goofy boy, but this is the moment when he stops taking being the captain lightly. I think this is the moment Luffy realizes how much the crew relies on him.
Yeah true... True... If only he also gave himself a climatact ngl he probably would've had more lvl i meant probably not enough prep time unlike batman who's prep time for some reason can fk everyone.
Episodes 235 and 236 live Rent-Free in my mind even over a decade later. I come back to watch these 2 Eps every few years, they are so good! The VA's for each of the Straw Hat's were killing it. You can hear the frustration, the heartache, and the rage in each character. Usopp gave it his all! That is something to respect.
this battle is a masterpiece, usually we see ussop battles from hes point of view, so you can see hes insecurities and hes struggles, but this battle is from the point of view of Luffy so we are seeing how usopp looks from hes opponents prespective, showing that the biggest thing stopping usoop is hes mind, Oda made an incredible job here
When people say one of the best fight in the show was Usopp vs Luffy, Agenda Piece needs to understand that its about morals and stakes, not action. ~Jay is fine..but the agendas oh..
The Franky family was several people, even if he threw one attack that they had to dodge, someone else would have clubbed Usopp from behind. Usopp isn't super well suited to solo a group fight unless he has a lot of prep time. We saw that in the Syrup Village arc actually. He's the sniper, he needs someone to front line for him, or he needs to have advance prep and knowledge. Even if he had the opportunity to use the attacks he used there on the Franky family, he still would have lost easily to them. He needed to hide the gaz to set up the explosion which he'd never had time to do against a whole family.
It's important to remember that Usopp always has the cards stacked against him in all his previous fights. If he had time to prepare and learn about his opponents abilities before fighting them, it would probably would look more like his fight against Luffy. Instead he's always thrown into crazy situations and has to scramble to overcome his limitations to win the fight.
I've been watching another reactor although she is reacting to the manga. However, I love her view on this fight. This is a duel between two captains. Luffy is the captain of the crew, and usopp is the captain of the merry. While usopp is also fighting because he sees himself in the merry, scarred and broken, he is also fighting for his love of her. It's his one treasure, his memory of home. The merry is usopps responsibility, and he, like luffy, won't give up on his crew no matter what. Much like how luffy refused to hear zoro when he said Nami would betray them, usopp refuses to believe the merry could fall. It's so heartbreaking and wonderfully written.
This is how usopp fights all the time, its just now he's on the other side and we don't have access to his thoughts and insecurities. This is the usopp his enemies see. Hail God Usopp 😂❤
Something I always like to point out about Usopp's mindset here: really think about the people that Usopp has cared for in his life. His mother, very sick, he continued to care for her up until she died. Kaya, also very sick, he spent every day trying to keep her in good health and didn't leave her until he knew she was better. And now, notice that when he talks about Going Merry, he says that she's "sick". He patched Merry up every time she got wrecked. Usopp does not like the idea of abandoning a sick person.
The First Time Straw Hat Pirates Fighting and Falling Apart but For me this is a Good Thing for them as a Crew for what they're true feelings to each other..
Water 7 it's my favorite arc of one piece and I think it's the best, especially because it's very different from the rest and don't follow the classic narrative formula of one piece and the fight its awesome because there are a well construction for this moment
Woah you’re literally one of the first reactors who got Usopp’s reasoning. Like so many others quickly dismiss Usopp’s feelings bc they thought the main reason why Usopp was so angry was that Merry is a gift from Kaya. While that may be true as well, the real reason is bc of Usopp’s feelings of inadequacy that he saw himself as Merry! Kudos to u guys
THE BIG ARGUMENT IS REAL!!, Usopp's whirlpool of insecurities were finally drawn out and it had me crying like i'm a whale on Reverse Mountain. This is also Luffy's worst L and his biggest failure as a captain, he took one step forward with Merry and took 2 steps back with Usopp and his own worth as a leader. We already know Luffy as someone who's emotionally intelligent and expresses himself through actions rather than words, he often gets misinterpreted in the moment but his "whims" usually end up with good outcomes, this time tho this method exploded on his face because both his words and actions were completely off the mark with his feelings. Context is a beautiful thing, and in Usopp's case we *can't* ignore this sequence of events: He gets kidnapped, jumped and the money gets stolen -> wakes up, goes to confront F's F, gets jumped again -> wakes up, the money is yet nowhere to be seen and Luffy with a *smile* and not a hint of worry says Merry is no more. In the previous vid i made a point on how Luffy after the shipwrights' pep-talk had TIME to process all the events and come up with his decision, EVERYONE had time except for Usopp and this IS a big deal, it's details like these that i always see people conveniently forget whenever they talk about this part of the story (and Usopp in general) and it's insane because it matters, Luffy had the exact same reaction as Usopp but the shipwrights were levelheaded and explained Merry's situation with care, always letting Luffy lash out even if he was "wrong", Luffy later tries to replicate this but it falls apart immediately: He brings the baddest news first and doesn't even address what happened during all the time Usopp was unconscious, so his first thought obviously is "This is my fault for losing the money", Luffy then loses his temper very quickly, says "you're not this ship's carpenter!", dehumanizes Merry, pins Usopp to the ground and almost tells him to leave before Sanji kicked his face (Reminder that while Usopp grabbed his shirt, Luffy was the first to actually get physical),nothing he said after that would have felt like it came from the heart, it's like a teacher telling you to apologize in front of everyone, at this point both his words AND actions showed a complete lack of care for Merry and Usopp. From *Usopp's perspective* all his insecurities were proven right, and so he challenges Luffy to a fight. Now, we as the audience know neither Luffy nor anyone else in the crew sees Usopp for the way he sees himself and actually think of him as a brave guy, just a few hours ago they beat the shit out of F's F *because* they hold him in high regard. Unfortunately, most people can't read minds and he would only know this if they told him, anything they say after this point won't make him change his mind because of Luffy's blunder as a captain, his words and actions didn't align with his feelings for Merry and it's that non-chalant attitude that worked many times before that became detrimental now. While making logical decisions is what a captain does, caring about his crew's state of mind is also important, and he failed. Anyway, they fight, it's very depressing i was crying my eyes out. Zoro's comment here about a captain's burden is really good, Luffy made a decision to leave Merry and fight Usopp, dumb or not, it's important to not waver, otherwise the entire crew will fall with him, what's the point of a leader who's unsure of his own decisions, after all?. All of this is not to say Usopp doesn't share part of the blame but this section is way more than just about being "right" and my comment is probably too long now lol, hopefully this doesn't make me look like a Luffy hater, i love the little guy and this is a huge moment for him that ends up making him grow for the rest of the series.
Light spoilers for what remains of Water 7: forgot to mention the idea that Usopp wouldn't have changed his mind regardless of what anyone told him is straight up not true lol, if that was the case Franky's words shouldn't have moved him at all. Franky gave him the lecture the shipwrights gave to Luffy and what do you know, he calmed down and decided to speak what was really going on his mind‼
I read the entire thing, agree 💯. Luffy not being able to explain to Usopp properly what happened and needed to happen to Merry was a brave and brilliant plot choice by Oda. It made Luffy's character more fleshed out, though he is a superhuman fictional character, in that scene he became very human and relatable. Same with Usopp. All the things you mentioned about Usopp's perspective rings true about his character. What I love about this entire debacle is that, for a shonen, this type of story telling is on another level. Usopp's insecurities had been there the entire time, and we as a viewer know that, but we don't feel like it should be addressed or that it should affect the story this much when Usopp seemed to be only a side character for occasional comedic relief. But Oda put Usopp's issue at the forefront of the story while the crew was in the midst of a huge crisis and made a huge difference on the plot and the other characters' growth.
@@elly3359 absolutely! i loved the way this distinction in how the crew sees Usopp and how Usopp sees himself ended up creating such a huge problem, ofc it's nice they think highly of Usopp but that ended up being what caused this disconnect and failure to understand what his problem was and it just felt very real to me.
I agree, The sequence of events leading up to the fight is crucial. Usopp's repeated failures and the loss of the repair money exacerbate his deep-seated feelings of inadequacy. Meanwhile, Luffy's well-intentioned but poorly executed attempt to protect Usopp from guilt backfires spectacularly. His dismissive attitude towards the money and the lack of acknowledgement of Usopp's recent traumas only serve to reinforce Usopp's self-doubt. The timing of Luffy's decision is another critical factor. While he had time to process the situation, Usopp was kept in the dark, waking up to the devastating news without any context or emotional preparation. Luffy's attempt to replicate the shipwrights' compassionate approach falls flat due to his blunt delivery and lack of empathy. Your point about Luffy's actions contradicting his feelings is spot-on. While his intentions were good, his words and actions painted a different picture. His anger and frustration overshadowed his love for Merry and concern for Usopp, leading to a breakdown in communication and a deepening of the rift between them. Zoro's comment about the captain's burden highlights the weight of Luffy's responsibility. He must make difficult decisions, even if they are unpopular or painful, and stand by them with unwavering resolve. However, this doesn't absolve him of the consequences of his actions or the emotional toll they take on his crew. This arc is a powerful reminder that even the most well-intentioned leaders can make mistakes. Luffy's failure to understand and address Usopp's emotional state is a significant learning experience for him. It teaches him the importance of communication, empathy, and recognizing the individual needs of his crewmates. In the end, the Water 7 arc is not about who is "right" or "wrong." It's about the complexities of human relationships, the struggles of self-worth, and the challenges of leadership.
@@Suto_Ko very true, ultimately it's not about who's right or wrong. It's about individual experiences and the ever changing connections between the characters. This makes the world of One Piece feel realistic. It's as gray and nuanced and chaotic as the real world.
Usopp is basically Batman. He is a 1v1 fighter that need to know well his opponent and have the time to prepare against him, so the fight is much more balanced. Against the franky family, he is going to have a harder time
People thinking Ussop doesn't fight like this everytime is stupid! He was probably scared like always but we just did not see his pov and his inner monologue, we saw what all his opponents see! The tricks felt clever because we did not know his plan like always!
If ussop have time to prepare for the enemy and know his/her weakness then he can fight well Thts why he asked the duel to be at night so he could get prepared Franky family take him by suprise when he was prepared for a battle
AAARRRGHHHHH seeing luffy cry here, and especially that "its tough.." always immediately kills me. tears in 0.3 seconds. even though ive seen this maybe 50 times, it doesnt even matter. i really, really, really cant stand seeing luffy cry. that shit HURTS.
I think the main reason Usopp fights so well against Luffy is that he's not scared for his life. Unlike in all his other fights. And he had more time to prepare, of course.
Ussop's dream is to be a brave warrior of the sea. However, it's something he's been since the very beginning. He believes that he's a coward and that he's weak but he objectively isn't. A coward doesn't try to fight an entire pirate crew by himself for his home and it's people (before he knew Luffy and the rest would help). Everytime when it comes down to it, Ussop chooses to fight despite how terrified he often is. Ussop is the bravest strawhat and he's definitely a warrior. Ussop's dream can only be achieved if Ussop believes it is. The problem is that Ussop just can't see that about himself. His challenge is entirely mental. His insecurities and self image are what hold him back not his strength.
The better translation for what Luffy say is more like, "its too much" or "its really heavy". Because Luffy is confessing that he's struggling with this burden.
Majority of people actually think the fight was because of Merry, not because of Usopp's insecurity. Carson and Lindsey actually had a good grasp that it's both and it's need to be addressed
