Character Discussion Defending Usopp: The Toad Oil incident

#1
Wano was a a terrible arc for Usopp, there’s no sugarcoating it, but it was more that he was underutilized rather than that it assassinated his character. The biggest indictment on the Fanbase’s reading comprehension via-a-vis Usopp in Wano is the scene of Toko using his toad oil to try and save Yasuie. Upon re-reading the arcI’m not sure how in the world this was ever interpreted as Usopp being intentionally scummy or malicious. Here are a few quotes from users completely misunderstanding the situation.

Oda: "Let's have Usopp lie to a little girl about magical healing toad oil, then kill off her guardian, so she can try to save him only to realize Usopp lied"
Remember when Tama tried to use Usopp's fake toad oil to revive her father?
Remember when Usopp had a moment to consider the weight that some of his lies can have on people's lives despite his intentions?
Pre TS Usopp was one of the most compelling, grounded, realistic, humanised (literally), tragic, nuanced, controversial, tormented, badass, heroic etc characters!
Now look at him...
It's fucking disgusting what Oda has done post TS. Never mind he accidentally tricked Toko into believing he could resurrect her recently murdered father with his "magical, miracle toad oil" too!
During Wano though, he watched O-Toko believe his lie about toad oil during Yasuies execution.
Usopp later doesn't even apologize to Toko personally after he tricked her with toad oil I'm having war flashbacks :willight:
As you can see the common interpretation of the scene is that Usopp freely choose to sell fake medicine, advertised it as a panacea, and, most egregiously, targeted the poor of Wano and specifically Tama.

The problem with this is that this is complete headcanon:HeadCanon:. In fact it is even worse than headcanon, it is a complete fabrication made up entirely in the mind of Usopp haters.

Firstly, all jobs assigned to the strawhats in Wano were chosen by Kinemon. Usopp was only acting on information given to him by Kinemon, a native of Wano who Usopp should trust. So even if the other two points were true it would be Kinemon’s fault not Usopp’s.


Secondly, nowhere does Usopp advertise the medicine as a cure-all panacea. He only shows it healing minor cuts. How in the world could Usopp know that Toko would think it would revive a dead man.

Lastly, We know Usopp didn’t sell the Toad Oil to the starving and impoverished citizens of Wano like the residents of Ebisu town. He only sold the toad oil to the citizens of the Flower Capital, the abode of the Rich and Middle Class in Wano filled with Orochi sympathizers. Toko only got the oil, firstly, because she was allowed in the Flower Capital due to being a part of Hiuori’s entourage, and secondly, because SHE STOLE IT FROM USOPP. That’s right, Usopp never sold Toko a thing yet he still gets slander.



It’s honestly so ridiculous, imagine if any other character was slandered for something like this. Do the fans expect Usopp to have foreknowledge that a resident of Ebisu town would happen to be in the crowd because of her connections to Komurasaki, That she would steal the medicine, Yasuie’s execution, Toko’s relation to him, that she would misunderstand him, etc. The only way that this would be a valid critique of Usopp’s character is if you believe he has future sight.
 
#8
You know i dont hate Usopp right? People always misinterpret me calling out Odas handling of Usopp as me being an Usopp hater, but I am the number one Usopp fan in the world for that reason I no longer read one piss, I cant read a story by an author who's an an absolute asshole to my favorite character, lets stop the cope and just admit Usopp is forever doomed as long as Oda is alive
 
#11
You know i dont hate Usopp right? People always misinterpret me calling out Odas handling of Usopp as me being an Usopp hater, but I am the number one Usopp fan in the world for that reason I no longer read one piss, I cant read a story by an author who's an an absolute asshole to my favorite character, lets stop the cope and just admit Usopp is forever doomed as long as Oda is alive
Doesn’t matter you didn’t understand he scene
 
#13
Ussopp main skill is lying, and the snake oil was likely a lie he chose to sell. This is not the first time the guy has done the salesman gimmick (rubber bands in skypia), so I don't know if it matters too much he was doing it for Kin'emon. He didn't intentionally mislead O-toko but sometimes well intentioned lies hurt people.

Ussopps introductory arc is basically the snake oil stuff in focus: lying repeatedly and then facing unintended consequences for said lies. Becoming a slick talking liar isnt why he set to sea, it was to be a brave warrior. My post was just predicting that the moment was set up for Usopp relying on lies less going forwards because I believe he probably felt horrible about the O-toko situation.
 
#16
Doesn’t matter you didn’t understand he scene
3 years passed without seeing Usopp and when he was reintroduced into the story, Oda introduced him as a toad oil salesman

Zoro was killing corrupt Warlords, Robin was collecting Intel, Franky was building houses for the poor wanonese residents

And Oda gives usopp the role of slimy toad oil salesman and his lie is exposed during an execution ritual

I understand perfectly that Oda hates Usopp
 
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