Ignored,
here's why
Yup. This was before she was trapped on Onigashima. That's why it would be a new territory for her (even tho she was there when she was 8)
This was the same day. She seems to have followed the scabbards and discovered the journal while the castle was burning (note that we still don't know who saved the journal btw)
Unsure. In fact, we can assume that Yamato went on wano with Kaido and went back with him on Onigashima to never ever return
So the laps time between her seeing Oden die and being locked up.. was probably less than a few days.
I'm reading
Indeed
I agree with that too
And that's where we disagree.
Carrot's "vibe" (we are gonna call that way everything you mentionned) indeed had the feeling of a recurring character. But that's not all it had. It had also the feeling of an important character AND a strawhat potential. I talk about this in this
article on my blog.
The way Carrot is portrayed during her introduction is in fact very similar to the way the strawhats are introduced. In fact on that front. Yamato and Carrot are pretty much equal. They both have a "strawhat vibe" introduction.
For those reason:
- Their introduction is "cinematically" written. What I mean by that is that their is more to the introduction that just "here is a new character". The way the character is drawn and act is very well.. "cinematic"
- The introduction is "antagonistic". Each strawhat have somekind of an antagonistic feeling to their introduction once their encounter one of the member. It can be done because of the preparation the character had or the way they interact with the strawhats.
- The introduction puts the focus on the specific character. In other word, when the focus was on other cahracter or if multiple characters are introduced.. the strawhat character will grab all the attention for a long laps of time.
- The introduction of a strawhat character often describe the characters personnality traits and characteristic.
You can check. each strawhat's introduction have that feeling of "wow.. this one is different". And Carrot don't escape that rule.. but their is a reason why Carrot's introduction
MIGHT feel less impactfull than Yamato for Yamato fans. It's simple:
When Yamato's introduction was concentrated in one single place. Carrot's introduction (just like the one of Robin in fact) got split in
TWO.
The first part came on chapter 804 and was push all the way to chapter 805 (when Carrot jumps) and the second one was displayed on chapter 823 (when Carrot sneaks on the ship). Each part have a specific role and each one are exclusively focusing on Carrot: The first part is there to describe Carrot's future role. This is when her lookout abilities are depicted but this is also the part where a warrior side is shown. This is the "fierce Carrot".. the second one in the opposite of that. It described the cheerful Carrot, it describes her entire personnality, her desire and her character.
I want you to understand that those two parts are in fact one big introduction. Oda knew Carrot's personnality from the start, but he choosed to wait until later to reveal her in all her "glory". The reason for that split.. on a narrative side might be simple: It's a way for Oda to split Carrot's characterisation in two in order to create an echo for her future transformation. Minks are full of duality and Carrot is the representation of that. So Oda had to split that into two parts in order to make a point. "Carrot is a warrior.. but she is also the most cheerful character there is".. and both sides combined ...
.. creates a strawhat introduction.
That's why Carrot and Yamato are on the same level on that specific front.
Yes.. but that's the thing. Yamato's development is NOW. It won't be later, it's now or never. And she is developped quite well.. as a arc character. She as the same attribute as an arc character.. but she lacks the most important development: a strawhat development:
- Being shown fighting with the crew
- Luffy's shown fighting FOR her
- Understanding the true importance of Luffy (not just as the leader of the future generation) but as a CAPTAIN.
etc..
While Carrot.. on the other side has some of that.. but lacks the pure development. The thing is.. Carrot's time has not passed yet.. she still has room for a strong development in another arc.. when Yamato does
not. For Yamato.. if those things are not shown rapidely.. it will be too late, it can't be done in another arc.. it would only feel like a repetition of Wano.
Yamato needs to be developped as a strawhat now.
Now.. I'm not saying it's impossible.. but the story is not leading that character toward that pass. But to another.
But yes.. it was. Not all the strawhats of course.. Sanji, Brook, Nami and Luffy had more important storylines.. but Carrot was more treated with more importance like for example.. Chopper.
And you can see that with the way Oda developped her during that arc to create a climax for her cahracter on chapter 888. I can't stretch enough how important it is for Oda to have focused almost an ENTIRE chapter (entire if you count 889) to Carrot as a character..
You really need to understand how important the notion of
Shining Nakama Action (to really understand that) is for the strawhats. It's a narrative
deal breaker. It's not something invented. It's a shonen tool that Oda has used with all the strawhats.
In fact you can compare the moment of Carrot and Jinbe and you will see that they are very similar in term of impact and narration. More! Carrot's moment is even more larger and impactfull that Jinbe's moment.
Again.. I know you guys don't trust me.. but the Shining Nakama action is real and - by it self - it proves that Carrot's treatment granted subtile, is on a complete other level that regular character or Arc character.
And that's why Carrot's case is so strange. That type of narration and all the lore and treatment Carrot received can only be narratively explained if Carrot is a
latent character for a future strawhat recruitment.
--
Now.. notes that this doesn't negate in anyway Yamato's chances, in fact yamato could get the same treatment in the future.. it's still possible.. but the fact is.. right now.. She didn't.
Yamato indeed had a strong development and a priviledge position as Ace's friend which could easily make everyone think she is close to the strawhat flag.. but her actual strawhat treatment.. the precise occurence of her desires, her interactions with the crew.. are not on par with what is expected of a future strawhat.
I understand the overwhelming hype around her character and that her close relationship to the theme surrounding joyboy makes her look like the best candidate..
but Oda NEVER plays this obvious game.
The reason I can see that, is not because I'm a Carrot fan, it's because i've analysised Carrot's journey for years to try to understand the profound narrative reasons for the odd choices Oda made.
--
On one hand.. Yamato's personnality is more the one of a fan and observer rather than a Nakama or someone who would put her life for Luffy on the line. On the other.. You may not feel that Carrot "fits" the strawhat. but in the facts. She does. And Oda has been adamant on this multiple times by showing Carrot interact with them, fighting with them, helping them, laughing with them.
In fact you can check in the story. It's very rare for a character with a development like Carrot to have that kind of bond with the strawhat.. More!The relationship between Chopper and Carrot is unique in the serie. All the character who had interactions with the strawhat had one gag, sometimes repeated or one similar interaction.. Most of them were just background character character but almost NONE had such a relationship with them. Carrot was
entire with the strawhat, with them, she passed through
every emotions and the strawhat respounded to that by passing through every emotion as well, to quote a few shared emotions between Carrot and the strawhat:
- The death of Pedro (Despair)
- The discovering of Whole cake (Joy)
- The sweats (Bliss)
- Seeing Luffy died with the poison (The Goofy scare)
- The meal (Disgust)
- Pedro is dead (The grief)
- Sanji is coming back (The relief)
- "We are putting down Big Mom" during the banquet (determination)
- The plan failed (Surprise)
- We are taking the mirror world back (Teamwork determination)
- We must keep moving forward (Acceptation and resolve)
- Is Luffy ok? (Worries)
- Tell him thank you (Acceptation and sadness)
And many more..
I want you guys to understand one thing. A character sharing that much emotions with the strawhat.. is
unprecedented.
The reason why that precise factor is passing under your radars is because.. yeah.. it's logical in a story to share those emotions with the characters..
But no.. no no no no no no no... no no no.
In One Piece, it's not "normal". In One Piece, sides character and even arc characters DON'T share that many emotions with the strawhat. Mostly they share one.. two or even three.. (Shiraoshi's desire / Rebecca's nostalgia / Wiper's determination /) . In fact only arc characters like Momo or Vivi or Yamato or Kinemon or Kyros have a BIT of shared feellings like that.. but that many and for a
background character on top of that..
It's
UNIQUE.