Chapter Discussion Thoughts on Usopp in the recent chapter?

[Hamlette]

i think another reason it falls flat is because oda does this shtick with luffy almost every single arc and it's just not entertaining anymore

The real issue is that Oda doesn't want Luffy to actually fail or have any meaningful shortcomings. If Oda made Luffy's loss to Imu stem from a personal flaw, or at least one that Oda genuinely acknowledges as a flaw, then there would be an avenue for growth. It would make it much easier for Oda to write a speech that actually rings true, while also leading to meaningful development instead of feeling like empty fluff. But even that fluff speech from Gaban has to be challenged by a character preaching idealistic philosophies that he only has the luxury of embracing because of the countless sacrifices people have made for this crew to even reach this point.

When are we going to acknowledge that duty and freedom can coexist? When will Luffy realize that his idea of unrestricted freedom can only be achieved by fulfilling his duty to free the world from Imu? He will never truly be free until the world itself is free. And this whole idea that Nika, Joy Boy, and Roger don't matter is bunk. Your captain carries the Nika fruit, has inherited Joy Boy's will, and carries the same dream as Roger, a man he openly sees as his inspiration. There needs to be some grounding in reality within all of this idealism.

 

[Bluebeard]

I think Gaban sensed Usopp's inner conqueror here.

 

[Impact]

The real issue is that Oda doesn't want Luffy to actually fail or have any meaningful shortcomings. If Oda made Luffy's loss to Imu stem from a personal flaw, or at least one that Oda genuinely acknowledges as a flaw, then there would be an avenue for growth. It would make it much easier for Oda to write a speech that actually rings true, while also leading to meaningful development instead of feeling like empty fluff. But even that fluff speech from Gaban has to be challenged by a character preaching idealistic philosophies that he only has the luxury of embracing because of the countless sacrifices people have made for this crew to even reach this point.

When are we going to acknowledge that duty and freedom can coexist? When will Luffy realize that his idea of unrestricted freedom can only be achieved by fulfilling his duty to free the world from Imu? He will never truly be free until the world itself is free. And this whole idea that Nika, Joy Boy, and Roger don't matter is bunk. Your captain carries the Nika fruit, has inherited Joy Boy's will, and carries the same dream as Roger, a man he openly sees as his inspiration. There needs to be some grounding in reality within all of this idealism.

It's very interesting that you are saying Oda won't interpret anything Luffy does as a flaw because I think fans refuse to do the same thing with their beliefs about the story. They never think they might be wrong.

 

[Blahmigooo]

Ussop doing ussop things.

Even i can do that
I always give a top tier motivational speech on daily basis to my younger siblings and friends that I can't follow or do myself.

 

[NotTommy]

Oda should give Usopp way more serious moments than he's been getting post-timeskip. I feel like at this point, all that can be hoped for is that Oda sets up future plotlines and developments for Usopp here. It was a nice moment, as was Usopp standing up to Imu but I think more is needed.

 

[Jeanstealer]

A horrendous speech that basically amounts to Oda telling the audience that nothing will ever make Luffy grow as a character while pretending that the Luffy we currently have is the same as he's always been and unaffected by destiny bs.

 

[Dark Knight Sanji]

Feels so forced and fake

 

[The White Crane]

Usopp was in this chapter?

 

[Reborn]

Speech from both Gaban and Usopp didn't make sense.

If I have to blunt then their narrative weight is quite low.


During Enies, Usopp speech became iconic because of the build up we had - Luffy vs Usopp, Usopp leaving the crew, Robin in danger, Usopp trying to help but hiding his identity, iconic burning of the WG flag and going against WG...Luffy going down and the pep talk from Sogeking clicked because it reflected on the underlying nakama theme no matter what between two characters who parted ways due to the difference in the perspectives.



This time Gaban speech was about mocking Luffy G5 for being careless and goofy. Not being strong enough to be at Elbaph. It came across as strict tutor lecturing a student.

Usopp speech had no build up either. Both these speeches served not much of a purpose when it comes to story, apart from wasting panel time and dragging this fight.


If I have to make a guess then these two speeches were put in for some different reasons.


Oda was getting criticized by fans for G5 being goofy and laughing all the time.

Oda has put fans perspective via Gaban.

And, then he has put his own perspective via Usopp to shut down fans perspective regarding G5.

 

[Impact]

You're just turning Oda and Usopp into your personal punching bag.

 

[moreha9685]

Speech from both Gaban and Usopp didn't make sense.

During Enies, Usopp speech became iconic because of the build up we had

This time Gaban speech was about mocking Luffy G5 for being careless and goofy.

Usopp speech had no build up either.
Both these speeches served not much of a purpose when it comes to story, apart from wasting panel time and dragging this fight.

To me it reads like Oda simply following the bullet points for the arc, without putting the effort to properly connect them.
- IMU arrives on Elbaf;
- fight against Loki;
- Loki loses;
- fight against Luffy;
- Luffy loses: but hard!
- in fact, Luffy is impaled!
- Gaban saves him!
- Gaban delivers speech about how a PK should be;
- Luffy is enraged at being told what freedom has to mean to him;
- Gaban almost dies to IMU;
- but the giant princes saves the day!
- Usopp is there too: he delivers a speech saying that Luffy is Luffy, not a king, not a god;
- the speech concludes with Luffy being able to bypass IMU's shield;
- IMU appears defeated when, etc. etc.

Dude is on autopilot right now. He's been doing this shit for 30 years. It's his baby, I get it. But he should accept some more outside help and he should definitely listen to the criticism before a chapter is okayed for release.

 

[Luffy is the mc]

Tbf what is he supposed to do? He's too weak to fight Imu or the HKs so he tried to do his best.

His speech serves no purpose at all imo though since Luffy would have fought Imu anyway and what he says is not true. Luffy changes when he is in G5 Nika mode. The way he fights and the way he behaves.

 

[PuckTheGreat]

Ungrateful bum.
Don’t have the power to move the needle in any capacity much less save your captain but you have the nerve to talk smack & disrespect a geezer that just lost an arm saving your captain

first it’s ‘thank you good sir’ bumsopp & then you can stand on business for your captain.

Anyways, the crux of the speech itself being ‘we gonna die & fight for Elbaf regardless coz these man are brethren’ is not bad in itself but the delivery & phrasing were piss poor imo.

Also I think the whole destiny spiel with a hint of disrespect was unnecessary.

Should’ve been ‘Luffy’s gonna stand on business for his friends regardless & if he dies doing so, as his crew we will stand & support him till the end’ and should’ve ended there.

so we establish that the SHs will fight till the end here regardless of whatever the world expects of them without necessarily invalidating the advice Gaban gave Luffy.

All of that talk about freedom is forced & unnecessary.

 

[D. Plant]

That's Oda's style, characters suddenly stand up and say something out of the ordinary and usually without any visible build up.

 

[CoC: Color of Clowns]

Usopp is gonna get his power up soon.

 

[pg13]

Usopp is gonna get his power up soon.

Power up to fight who exactly?

 

[Necrohol]

Such a useless fodder bum. I'm starting to lose hope that he'll ever do something cool again.

 

[pg13]

Tbf what is he supposed to do? He's too weak to fight Imu or the HKs so he tried to do his best.

His speech serves no purpose at all imo though since Luffy would have fought Imu anyway and what he says is not true. Luffy changes when he is in G5 Nika mode. The way he fights and the way he behaves.

Usopp could be written to fight a dream monster or hell he could even fight a version of himself. I think killinghams fruit should have brought out everyone’s fears

 

[Akagame]

It was a nothing speech to me. They praise Luffy all the time.

 

[Kair0s1]