This was originally my comment in the chapter discussion but I was asked to make this into a thread. Keep in mind this is only a rough draft. I'll probably edit it properly and post the better version somewhere else but for now those of you who are into this sort of discussion can enjoy.
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So Killer’s comment to Hawkins this chapter really confirms my thoughts on One Piece’s themes. It's an idea that has always existed in One Piece but Oda seems to really be exploring that theme here in Wano.
This is something peppered throughout the story at rare moments and it’s something people often confuse for fate or destiny. Especially when looked at in isolation but when you put them all together it paints a very clear picture.
The truth is that there is no such thing as “fate” in One Piece. Thats just something a lot of characters believe because it’s an easy “go to” explanation.
Whats actually happening is something far simpler.
One of the reasons the Katakuri fight was so great was because in encapsulated damn near every theme in the story in one single encounter while developing both characters. But the important part here is what it has to say about “fighting the odds”. Oda describes Luffy as a man of action. So in this encounter we have a clash between Katakuri the man who can see the future vs Luffy the man of action. The question asked for us at the start of the fight is “who decides the future?” and in the end the man of action succeeds over the man who could merely “see” the future. What the story is trying to say it made clear through Bege much earlier: “You can only see the future, everyone else has the power to change it.”
The ability to take action is what decides the future. Which is why Luffy succeeds where Katakuri fails.
The point the story is trying to make is that the most effective way to predict the future is to create it. Your actions effect the outcome. The Odds are NOT static. They are always changing and your actions have the potential to change them. Which is why guys like Killer and The Rooftop 5(wow that sounds like a band name) are on the same wavelength. They believe in their own ability.
In Luffy vs Katakuri, the future seeing man thinks that Luffy’s future is decided. Because he’s already seen it. But Luffy persists and takes action against every prediction. To the point where the outcome has completely changed. And by the end of the fight Katakuri can no longer see a future where he defeats Luffy. Because Luffy changed his odds. Through taking action.
We have this theme coming up again earlier in the arc with Tama. The Beast Pirates are at a massive advantage over The Alliance during the Raid. But because Tama chose to take action, those Odds have changed. Having literally said: “I’ve come here to change those odds.”
Oda has been telling us this long before Wano.
You can go back through the series and see this everywhere. This is why Shanks says to Coby at Marineford that: “those few seconds of courage you took to take action just changed the future”
Again the story is hitting at the idea of people’s actions being what decides the future. Not fate.
We see this come up again with Ivankov in Impel down. He tells Mr 2 that “Miracles only happen to those who never give up”.
It’s the actions of those who pursued something against all odds that create the miracles. Their actions created that new possibility. Not fate. Which is why you’ll see something like a storm saving Roger in his fight with Shiki. Roger persisted against overwhelming odds and was rewarded with a miracle.
Another commonly misunderstood scene that shows us this theme is when Hawkins is checking Luffy’s Odds after Marineford. Hawkins can’t get Luffy’s odds of survival to come out as 0%. A lot of people think this is fate but if you remember the theme then it’s clear whats actually happening here. This isn’t plot, this isn’t fate, the reason Luffy’s odds do not reach zero is because Luffy is still fighting. He hasn’t given up yet. The point the scene is trying to get across is that no matter what the odds are, no matter how often they change, as long as you’re still fighting/taking action? They are NOT zero.
This idea is even reflected in Luffy’s entire journey. Think of where he started. At the beginning of the series Coby tells Luffy that a guy like him with no Pirate crew had no chance. That the odds against him were so astronomical, that it was impossible for him to be the Pirate King in the Golden Age of Pirates. And you know what? Coby is exactly right. If Luffy faced Emperors as he was back then? He would have stood no chance and died instantly. But because Luffy kept taking action, growing stronger, building his crew, forming connections, Luffy has completely flipped that scenario. He’s completely changed his odds to the point where people are now calling him the 5th Emperor on the seas and is one of the most highly talked about Pirate King candidates. That idiot in a barrel who got lost at sea has now earned the respect of Kaido himself, being viewed as a worthy opponent and is now seemingly fighting on par with the World’s Strongest Creature. Luffy’s come a long way but if he looked at those odds….and did nothing? He’d be right where he was at the start of the story. Nothing would have changed.
To accept the odds is to allow things to remain as they are. When the odds aren’t in your favor you shouldn’t be thinking “Oh theres no way I can win.” You should be thinking “Ok what can I do to change that?” Having the odds stacked against you is indicator of how much action you should be taking. Not a sign for you to take no action.
Thats what Hawkins needs to learn in Wano and thats What I believe his character arc is going to be.
As a Bonus point: Blackbeard is the antithesis to theme. Because he has it backwards. He believes fate guides the actions. Rather than actions guiding the fate.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
So Killer’s comment to Hawkins this chapter really confirms my thoughts on One Piece’s themes. It's an idea that has always existed in One Piece but Oda seems to really be exploring that theme here in Wano.
This is something peppered throughout the story at rare moments and it’s something people often confuse for fate or destiny. Especially when looked at in isolation but when you put them all together it paints a very clear picture.
The truth is that there is no such thing as “fate” in One Piece. Thats just something a lot of characters believe because it’s an easy “go to” explanation.
Whats actually happening is something far simpler.
One of the reasons the Katakuri fight was so great was because in encapsulated damn near every theme in the story in one single encounter while developing both characters. But the important part here is what it has to say about “fighting the odds”. Oda describes Luffy as a man of action. So in this encounter we have a clash between Katakuri the man who can see the future vs Luffy the man of action. The question asked for us at the start of the fight is “who decides the future?” and in the end the man of action succeeds over the man who could merely “see” the future. What the story is trying to say it made clear through Bege much earlier: “You can only see the future, everyone else has the power to change it.”
The ability to take action is what decides the future. Which is why Luffy succeeds where Katakuri fails.
The point the story is trying to make is that the most effective way to predict the future is to create it. Your actions effect the outcome. The Odds are NOT static. They are always changing and your actions have the potential to change them. Which is why guys like Killer and The Rooftop 5(wow that sounds like a band name) are on the same wavelength. They believe in their own ability.
In Luffy vs Katakuri, the future seeing man thinks that Luffy’s future is decided. Because he’s already seen it. But Luffy persists and takes action against every prediction. To the point where the outcome has completely changed. And by the end of the fight Katakuri can no longer see a future where he defeats Luffy. Because Luffy changed his odds. Through taking action.
We have this theme coming up again earlier in the arc with Tama. The Beast Pirates are at a massive advantage over The Alliance during the Raid. But because Tama chose to take action, those Odds have changed. Having literally said: “I’ve come here to change those odds.”
Oda has been telling us this long before Wano.
You can go back through the series and see this everywhere. This is why Shanks says to Coby at Marineford that: “those few seconds of courage you took to take action just changed the future”
Again the story is hitting at the idea of people’s actions being what decides the future. Not fate.
We see this come up again with Ivankov in Impel down. He tells Mr 2 that “Miracles only happen to those who never give up”.
It’s the actions of those who pursued something against all odds that create the miracles. Their actions created that new possibility. Not fate. Which is why you’ll see something like a storm saving Roger in his fight with Shiki. Roger persisted against overwhelming odds and was rewarded with a miracle.
Another commonly misunderstood scene that shows us this theme is when Hawkins is checking Luffy’s Odds after Marineford. Hawkins can’t get Luffy’s odds of survival to come out as 0%. A lot of people think this is fate but if you remember the theme then it’s clear whats actually happening here. This isn’t plot, this isn’t fate, the reason Luffy’s odds do not reach zero is because Luffy is still fighting. He hasn’t given up yet. The point the scene is trying to get across is that no matter what the odds are, no matter how often they change, as long as you’re still fighting/taking action? They are NOT zero.
This idea is even reflected in Luffy’s entire journey. Think of where he started. At the beginning of the series Coby tells Luffy that a guy like him with no Pirate crew had no chance. That the odds against him were so astronomical, that it was impossible for him to be the Pirate King in the Golden Age of Pirates. And you know what? Coby is exactly right. If Luffy faced Emperors as he was back then? He would have stood no chance and died instantly. But because Luffy kept taking action, growing stronger, building his crew, forming connections, Luffy has completely flipped that scenario. He’s completely changed his odds to the point where people are now calling him the 5th Emperor on the seas and is one of the most highly talked about Pirate King candidates. That idiot in a barrel who got lost at sea has now earned the respect of Kaido himself, being viewed as a worthy opponent and is now seemingly fighting on par with the World’s Strongest Creature. Luffy’s come a long way but if he looked at those odds….and did nothing? He’d be right where he was at the start of the story. Nothing would have changed.
To accept the odds is to allow things to remain as they are. When the odds aren’t in your favor you shouldn’t be thinking “Oh theres no way I can win.” You should be thinking “Ok what can I do to change that?” Having the odds stacked against you is indicator of how much action you should be taking. Not a sign for you to take no action.
Thats what Hawkins needs to learn in Wano and thats What I believe his character arc is going to be.
As a Bonus point: Blackbeard is the antithesis to theme. Because he has it backwards. He believes fate guides the actions. Rather than actions guiding the fate.
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