Character Discussion why did Oda let Zoro face Sommers and Sanji face Killingham while the opposite makes a lot more sense?

[Sanjiwillbeaking]

I found it a weird setup for Zoro to face Sommers to be honest. Same with Sanji and Killingham. Wonder why Oda didnt do the "obvious" setups.

Sommers is so talkative and that isnt normally not Zoro's type of opponent. Especially with Sommers love theme who fits Sanji a lot better. .
Killinghams nightmare theme fits Zoro better.

 

[vikas]

Sommers seems to have more authority

 

[Loki D. Terror]

Subversion of expectations

 

[Sanjiwillbeaking]

Subversion of expectations

I like it the change of setup tbh

 

[nik87]

A guy with hearts on his underwear was clearly intended as Sanji's matchup so the fact that he ended up facing Zoro means that these fights are completely optional, for Zoro at least, and there is no thought behind them.
The same as Lucci fight was in Egghead, just to give Zoro to do something while other things conclude, even tho he was doing literally nothing, mainly talking with Lucci.
It means Zoro could have skipped Elbaf if all he ends up doing is fighting Sommers, he wasnt necessary for anything. Expected, no risk no reward scenario, just like Egghead.

 

[Notwhy56]

Unfortunately I have no idea. I think he considered both but ultimately went with the far more inferior match ups

Sommers preaches the complete opposite message sanji learned in whole cake island and is a complete foil thematically to his character. Them fighting where sanji gets to defend his existence and the declarations of love (and pain) sora and zeff made to him would be much more thematically fit and better development to awaken acoc on then killingham. Zoro facing the one who's design translates to ryuma and actually has a fear of failure and could use a reminder of what its all for is much better writing than him fighting someone who foils sanji

 

[CoC: Color of Clowns]

I found it a weird setup for Zoro to face Sommers to be honest. Same with Sanji and Killingham. Wonder why Oda didnt do the "obvious" setups.

Sommers is so talkative and that isnt normally not Zoro's type of opponent. Especially with Sommers love theme who fits Sanji a lot better. .
Killinghams nightmare theme fits Zoro better.

1. Sword based fighter vs Zoro, makes sense.

2. Killingham is a Sanji fight because while he isn't a woman, he can create women Sanji can't fight himself. Sanji nerf from Oda.

3. Killingham seems to be a semi-decent dude for a Celestial Dragon. He was kind to Gunko, defending her against Sommers, and overall just doesn't really act as evil as your run of the mill CD. I think Killingham is a good guy deep down, and Sanji will realize that during this fight, and it will help him overcome his own issues with being a Germa Cyborg. Killingham is literally possessed like Harald, so that if he tries to go against Imu, and live his own life, he will always be subjugated. This is LITERALLY Sanji's worst nightmare regarding Judge and what Judge wanted out of him. If Killingham is Maffey's son, and Maffey is dead, we could have a connection there. Still wondering if Garling killed Maffey for failing to save Shanks.

4. Zoro vs Sommers is meant to explore Zoro's family. The Straw Hat Pirates DO NOT KNOW who Kuina is, let alone who Zoro's parents are. Why put him against the most family unfriendly Celestial Dragon? It's to explore Zoro's family history. Interested to see if Sommers knows about Enma, and what he says about Wano regarding it. I don't think Sommers has history on Shimotsuki Village, but it's possible. We also still haven't explored Tashigi's past as a clear cousin to Kuina whose family were the Wano immigrants that decided to not stay at Shimotsuki Village and instead settled elsewhere. Maybe Sommers killed Tashigi's family? I believe Sommers will say some wild shit that will make Zoro think about his own family. Sommers character focus is destroying families. I believe Zoro was so broken up over his father's death against pirates (still think Kaido killed Arashi), and his mother's death from what I believe was heartbreak after, he just HATES talking about his family. Shit makes him cry.

There's also a unifying point here: Kuma. I don't think Sommers kidnapped Ginny, BUT I do think the man who gave Ginny Sapphire Scales was Sommers, to get back at her for causing God Valley by leaking the info to begin with. If Sommers starts saying some wild shit about Kuma/Bonney, I think we will see Zoro recall his parents, and go nuts.

Oda teases Zoro's parents in an SBS, and now he's fighting a family serial killer who likes making parents die in front of their kids. If Zoro is hung up on his parent's tragic deaths, and Sommers starts bragging about how he loves making kids suffer by killing their parents... Zoro is going to lose his shit. Sommers is going to lead to the manga exploring Zoro's past fully, finally. Really excited to see Zoro's parents, and to see him whoop Sommers.

Edit: Also, anyone who wants to tell me Oda isn't going to give Zoro his 2nd flashback, we just got BROOK'S 2ND FLASHBACK IN THE MIDDLE OF LOKI VS IMU, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR SHIT, WE ARE GETTING ZORO'S 2ND FLASHBACK SAME WAY WE DID SANJI

 

[L57]

bx

I found it a weird setup for Zoro to face Sommers to be honest. Same with Sanji and Killingham. Wonder why Oda didnt do the "obvious" setups.

Sommers is so talkative and that isnt normally not Zoro's type of opponent. Especially with Sommers love theme who fits Sanji a lot better. .
Killinghams nightmare theme fits Zoro better.

bcs supper wommers negs killingbum

 

[HerreraIsBack]

A guy with hearts on his underwear was clearly intended as Sanji's matchup so the fact that he ended up facing Zoro means that these fights are completely optional, for Zoro at least, and there is no thought behind them.
The same as Lucci fight was in Egghead, just to give Zoro to do something while other things conclude, even tho he was doing literally nothing, mainly talking with Lucci.
It means Zoro could have skipped Elbaf if all he ends up doing is fighting Sommers, he wasnt necessary for anything. Expected, no risk no reward scenario, just like Egghead.

But the scenario is completely opposite for Sanji

 

[centurion]

Oda decided for once to switch up the Zoro and Sanji arc opponents

Zoro takes the goofy one that looks weak (usually reserved for Sanji) = Sommers

while Sanji takes the edgier one that looks strong (usually reserved for Zoro) = Killingham

Simply subversion of expectations, nothing more

 

[Notwhy56]

Oda decided for once to switch up the Zoro and Sanji arc opponents

Zoro takes the goofy one that looks weak (usually reserved for Sanji) = Sommers

while Sanji takes the edgier one that looks strong (usually reserved for Zoro) = Killingham

Simply subversion of expectations, nothing more

Idk if it was a good idea. Sanji has very necessary development he can gain from facing sommers and same with zoro and killingham

 

[Sir Yasheen]

Oda usually alternates silly and serious opponents for the two.
Hachi - Goofy
Kuroobi - Serious

Mr. 1 - Serious
Mr. 2 - Goofy

Kaku - Goofy
Jabra - Serious

Ryuma - Serious
Absalom - Goofy

So after King and Queen, oda is giving Zoro the goofy one and Sanji the serious one.

 

[Fn Lucci]

Sanji usually fights the bitch made guy, but they both are. Killingham happens to be the Black haired Sanji: an enhanced, entitled, elitist. His skill set is way different but that's good on Oda.

Sommers is a bit miscellaneous but he's focused enough on using his DF in a way that makes him suitable for a sword to handle.

 

[Notwhy56]

Oda usually alternates silly and serious opponents for the two.
Hachi - Goofy
Kuroobi - Serious

Mr. 1 - Serious
Mr. 2 - Goofy

Kaku - Goofy
Jabra - Serious

Ryuma - Serious
Absalom - Goofy

So after King and Queen, oda is giving Zoro the goofy one and Sanji the serious one.

I wouldn't call killingham serious tbh. Hes literally narpalactic

 

[Sir Yasheen]

I wouldn't call killingham serious tbh. Hes literally narpalactic

He’s definitely more serious than Sommers though.

 

[Desolate Smaug]

Sommers seems to have more authority

Even though he is being passed around by top tiers, he is objectively a proper 1 vs 1 fighter ad compared to Kili. Kili strength is in his creations. Zoro was always likely to get the straight up strength match that doesn't involve magic or other types of that gimmick.

 

[Luffy is the mc]

A guy with hearts on his underwear was clearly intended as Sanji's matchup so the fact that he ended up facing Zoro means that these fights are completely optional, for Zoro at least, and there is no thought behind them.
The same as Lucci fight was in Egghead, just to give Zoro to do something while other things conclude, even tho he was doing literally nothing, mainly talking with Lucci.
It means Zoro could have skipped Elbaf if all he ends up doing is fighting Sommers, he wasnt necessary for anything. Expected, no risk no reward scenario, just like Egghead.

Oda is struggling with his main cast. He needs to keep them busy so they don't interfere with Luffy's business but he only brings cheap opponents or have them running around.
One of his mistakes imo is the whole regen thing. This isn't a power that belong to Gorosei or HKs, it comes from Imu so they don't feel like they would be strong without him.

There is no point in having Sommers vs Zoro because he doesn't feel like a threat to him. And Sanji vs Killingham is a plot device for Sanji to unlock CoC.

 

[Juanpiz]

Even though he is being passed around by top tiers, he is objectively a proper 1 vs 1 fighter ad compared to Kili. Kili strength is in his creations. Zoro was always likely to get the straight up strength match that doesn't involve magic or other types of that gimmick.

He Caught members of a yonkou crew

 

[nik87]

But the scenario is completely opposite for Sanji

Exactly, there is a lot of thought behind Sanji's fight and it may go beyond the fight that requires aCoC from him.
Killingham is nightmare-manifester and Sanji is a guy who loathes himself or whatever Gaban said.
He is probably afraid of something and what are the odds that Kham will manifest exactly that...

Oda is struggling with his main cast. He needs to keep them busy so they don't interfere with Luffy's business but he only brings cheap opponents or have them running around.
One of his mistakes imo is the whole regen thing. This isn't a power that belong to Gorosei or HKs, it comes from Imu so they don't feel like they would be strong without him.

There is no point in having Sommers vs Zoro because he doesn't feel like a threat to him. And Sanji vs Killingham is a plot device for Sanji to unlock CoC.

I remain convinced that Oda has planned 1-2 fights at most for all crew members in post-TS, one of them being their final, main fight in the whole show and maybe one more where they achieve significant powerup/where they achieve something truly important.
Only the big 3 are getting more action more often but as you can see, even for THE fighter of the show, basically all his fights in post-TS were optional, except for King fight.
Yeah, Regen is proof he didn't put much though into it, mainly to keep the weaklings in the fight longer...
Funny thing is that it seems regen isnt even sourced from Imu as he hasnt relied once on it since he showed up with his real body...
This too might be sourced from national treasure from Mariejois, just like Domi Reversi which also has disappeared when real body showed up.
It is a shame Sommers' ability is used on such a clown, it has great potential to make Zoro suffer but it would just leave bad taste if Sommers achieves anything, fair and square.

 

[soupongo]

It's an inversion of the usual dynamics, though kind of meaningless since Killingham has been played as a clown since the flashback