Two things here:
- First, Mugiwaras tend not to ask to join. In fact as part of their (micro) heroes journey, they most often refuse or avoid it.
- Second, Carrot never accepted anything.
- Bonus, Yamato never asked to join either (this was just for the tease lawl)
You don't need mental gymnastic to understand what I'm saying here, you just have to pay attention to the subtext of the story, the little clues along the way.
Also two things here:
- First, I don't think anyone will join, I just think that Carrot still has the advantage for now if one needed to.
- Second, I'm not replacing anything, I'm just diving deeper into the lore and storytelling, something people won't do anymore because they think they already know the story by hearth. Robin is still an archeologyst, but in the schematic of the thematics and symbolisms of the story, she is more. Simple as that.
I don't think Oda cares about power level for his story. In fact the best thing he could do right now, is integrated someone weak. Its much better to tell a good story with a good conflict.
The point is, when you do those job to the master level point, the point I call the "shining Nakama action" then it's legitimate to think that those post fit said strawhat. Jinbe was an Helmsman since Impel down and his story in whole cake alone made it clear that Helmsman was his post. Just like that, Zoro was seen multiple doing the job of firstmate and one time specifically in an amazing fashon(being a step ahead of his captain, discussing his order, having a moral high ground), so Zoro is logically fit to be first mate. This post is quasi indeniable for him. The sequence in the live action was a gift to us from Oda saying "here you go, here is your confirmation".
Because you still think ZOro is nothing more than a combatant and Robin nothing more than an archeologist. You need to dive deeper.
Wrong, Nami was a false antagonist.
To Luffy music is primordial. This is not useless.
All of the strawhats without exception have this link to the sea or sea course.
Can be wrong, but I think brook was a captain before the Rumbar pirates.
This is were you are wrong. All of the thing I analyse are DEEPLY important for the story. Let's look back at the
TWELVE PILLARS and why are they important, shall we ?
1.
The quirk : Because comedy is foundamental to One Piece and EACH main protagonist must depict that traits.
2.
The fighting skill : To survive on the sea, you need to be able to defend yourself. Its basic stuff.
3.
The antagonistic introduction : The reason why this is important must be found in the subtext of the story. The mugiwaras are a bunch of pirate but also a bunch of "demons", demons that fight actual demons that are seen by the world as the gods and the celestials. Hence why, each mugiwara must feel special, and there is nothing more impactfull that an antagonistic introduction. It can take multiple form, the shading of the panels of a clear antagonistic introduction against the crew.
4.
The multi layered characterization : This is pretty basic. The strawhats are the main protagonist, so they must be extra developped.
5.
The symbolic reach: This is a following of the previous rule but this time on the symbolic/thematic sence. Pretty basic stuff here.
6.
The Strong character arc : Again, pretty basic. The strawhats being the main protagonists, they must also be the most memorables ones.
7.
The hint of a recrutment. : This takes many faces, but this is important as it is the first step for the recruitment. This is most of the time the "join my crew moment". Basic to become a strawhat. (note that Vivi refused in a way)
8.
The hint of 3 driving forces : This is VERY important has it is the backbone of point 4/5 and 6. Three HINTS of driving force means that we must be hinted by the story that the character has a strong Desire, a strong Need, you know, pretty basic stuff. (for the others, read
THIS to understand why I speak about Need and desire) but also a strong Need to follow and fight for Luffy. Once those three things are hinted, you can be sure that a strawhat is here. (one of the reason why Jinbe's recrutment was predictible back in Impel down).
9.
The post : Again, basic, I won't develop further, you know the drill. Without a post, no strawhat.
10.
The Shining Nakama Action : This is VERY important. Like I said because this is what differ the skill of a simple craftmanship of Usopp and a real shipwright like Franky. Its what make a Mugiwara shine. But why is this so important that I take so much time to make you understand it? Its because this "shining nakama action" is the ESSENCE of the shonen reduced to a single action for the crew. This is a shonen action that transform the character into something unique. A real shonen character. And because we are talking about pirate and One Piece, this action is related to the sea or the life at sea or the course of the ship on the sea.
11.
The Rescue. : Basic stuff. Each strawhat are somewhat rescued by Luffy. This is important because its what links the character to the main protagonist.
12.
The refusal of the call to adventure: This one I added late. Still not a fan of it as this is based on a freudian storytelling theory but I have to admit that Oda is using at least a part of the Hero's journey into his story. So this refusal of the call adds conflict to the story and each strawhat have one. It can take many faces.
As you can see, I don't analyse random pattern, but very important clues and pattern for the storytelling. Things that are UNAVOIDABLE in One Piece for a strawhats.
So please, take a breath. And read what I explained.
Each strawhats post are linked thematically to the sea and their character arc. This is not something that I want. This is just how Oda constructed the story, simply because it is the BEST way to create good characters and good Nakama.
Indeed. Simply because like Bonney, I think that Trauma can be witnessed in real time. In the present of the story. And flashbacks are just a TOOL, not an end to create good Drama.
You need to understand why the flashback are here in the first place. Its because each strawhats WITHOUT EXCEPTION had a moral pillar in their past. This is important as it is the main theme of One Piece (the inherited will). But the fact that those happens in the past are just a result of the situation and the storylines. The moral pillar could still be present in the story and give this "push" in the present of the story, we have enough room for that. And that doesn't end with Carrot. In fact, it applies also to Bonney right now.
So the rule break isn't really a rule break its just that we look at the flash backs as the rule, when they are not what make the conflict. The conflict comes from inside, from the characters in it.
I'm dumb about a lot of things, but not about storytelling. And I'm proud of it. Sorry not sorry.
I warned you for Yamato...