I has expectations for him with Wano since Oda likened him as a samurai early in the series and escalated with revealing Wanos existence and Ryuuma too especially.
This is something I was looking forward to for 18 years now or so, hence I'm very bitter.
WCI had some really nice character moments for Sanji but it was imo underwhelming in terms of meathead reasons/action for him lol. I really wish he had fought Katakuri with Luffy at least, it would have been perfection for me.
I feel Wano has had a really strong payoff for Sanji with him here and there but especially destroying the raid suit willingly/purposely and getting Ifrit Jambe too. That's peak fiction for me tbh. Also the Chuji stuff too.
Like with Kidd vs Law, I feel Oda is playing heavy favouritism or doesn't want to take major risks with Zoro and Kidd as character too or more likely doesn't know what to do with them.
150ish chapters and ironically all we got was Zoro feats wanking which Sanji was lacking imo until Wano.
I'm much happier with Odas handling of Sanji now but Zoro feels heavily neglected, like with Kidd.
You can seem the same issues with Kaido and Big Mom too.
This makes me think Mihawk will be mostly an enigma to the end and not get a lot of characters development but Shanks will get a lot instead.
Oda has also completed neglected Scopper so far and I'm beginning to think we're gonna see similar issues arise with Blackbeard and the Admirals too.
I dont even want to talk about how Oda has completed wasted Dragon and how non existent Luffys mother is too or ill really get toxic lol. Britney Will start singing about me next or even System of A Down (Clown)!
I don't think Zoro was "neglected".
He got the "scarring Kaido" moment.
He got the "cutting the dragon in the air" moment with a panel mimicking that Wanted one.
He learned that his village was founded by Wano people.
He had his nice moment with the people from Ebisu town.
He had the most interaction with the arc's princess from the SH's.
Some may say that he getting a new sword is a plus. I hate Enma, so, personally, I think that's a negative, but meh. Since I believe he's gonna either turn all 3 swords black at the same time, since he's a 3-sword user, or just Wado, it made sense to remove his black blade and give him another non-black blade. I just wish it was Nidai.
He participated on the rooftop battle.
I think there's a good mix of "battle" and "non battle" things for Zoro this arc. I just think people misplaced some expectations, thinking Oda would turn this into some other shounen where not always the MC is the one who solves the big baddie problem.
I had expected Zoro to take on either Doffy or Fujitora in Dressrosa, while Luffy was busy with the tournament thing. Didn't happen.
I expected Sanji to fight Katakuri. Didn't happen.
All Luffy.
I expected Zoro to fight some major antagonist samurai in Wano, didn't happen.
Orochi? clown.
Kyoshiro? Actually a good guy.
Kaido's secret son that have some twist sense of imitating Oden fighting like a samurai but it's still evil? Nope. Nice woman and might even join the gang.
Had to take some magical senzu bean just to go back to the original plan of Zoro vs King and Sanji vs Queen.
It's always been Luffy's show. I just think some people grew tired of it.
Giving Luffy two major fights in WCI while the "other mc" for the arc got nothing? That should have been the final nail in the coffin for people to understand that there's almost no room for other characters to shine. other characters get "moments" and that's it.