Character Discussion Shamrock's existence has shattered the exaggerated potential of Shanks' character and power ceiling
- Thread starter Sugoi
- Start date
As for the manga, we've finally arrived in Elbaf! It's a laid back kingdom, but the serenity is about to be shattered by the arrival of a particular man! Meanwhile, there will be tumult in other seas as well! And at last, that one guy will begin shaking up the world!
Take a deep breath now, because soon you may not be able to come up for air!
This was Oda's message so no one is ready for Figarland Shamrock
Take a deep breath now, because soon you may not be able to come up for air!
This was Oda's message so no one is ready for Figarland Shamrock
depth how? If shanks had grown up as a celestial, became a holy knight or something, and then came down and became a pirate, then there would be some opportunity for depth. We know that is not the case, since he was raised as a pirate since he was an infant. Shanks backstory is being raised by the pirate kings crew, hes had it easy, i dont see any potential for any depth here. Oda has created room for depth for his bloodline, but not for the character itself.
Hot take: I prefer it this way.
The Shanks I met in the East Blue (to me) was a regular pirate with a regular crew trying to survive in the vast and dangerous world of OP.
When Garp says in Ennies Lobby that Shanks is one of the 4 most important pirates of all, the OP worldbuilding became too small for me, because it was ridiculous to think that now Luffy had a very powerful ally and this made Luffy's path and goal seem easier.
Shanks is still one of the most powerful pirates, but it's also good to see that among his family, there are others with the same status (or more) than him, and that's welcome for me.
The Shanks I met in the East Blue (to me) was a regular pirate with a regular crew trying to survive in the vast and dangerous world of OP.
When Garp says in Ennies Lobby that Shanks is one of the 4 most important pirates of all, the OP worldbuilding became too small for me, because it was ridiculous to think that now Luffy had a very powerful ally and this made Luffy's path and goal seem easier.
Shanks is still one of the most powerful pirates, but it's also good to see that among his family, there are others with the same status (or more) than him, and that's welcome for me.
IMO Shanks was never intended to be final villain material. His trope is the same as Minato, Ging or Urahara. He will have a important role in the story and in the MC progression either directly (by training) or indirectly (by inspiring), but eventually be used to hype the final vilain to allow the MC to prove that he get stronger hip and get recognition from him.
That said, Shanks being the one talking to the Gorosei does not stop this to happen. Shanks can totally be a good guy that knows the reality of the world and deal with it as he can. Like Garp. Shamrock existing does not eliminate this possibility.
But Shamrock do increase the possibility of Shanks dying imo.
Tbh, I always thought that even if Shanks get defeat by BB he would survive and that in the last chapter of the story Luffy would give him the strawhat. Until now I never subscribe to the theory of Luffy never seeing Shanks again and putting the stawhats on Shanks’ grave.
I think that Oda would be less reluctant to kill Shanks now that he got another Shanks in the story. The same way killing Ace was less an issue because he intended to introduce Sabo.
But this development is quite interesting. Let’s see what Oda will do.
That said, Shanks being the one talking to the Gorosei does not stop this to happen. Shanks can totally be a good guy that knows the reality of the world and deal with it as he can. Like Garp. Shamrock existing does not eliminate this possibility.
But Shamrock do increase the possibility of Shanks dying imo.
Tbh, I always thought that even if Shanks get defeat by BB he would survive and that in the last chapter of the story Luffy would give him the strawhat. Until now I never subscribe to the theory of Luffy never seeing Shanks again and putting the stawhats on Shanks’ grave.
I think that Oda would be less reluctant to kill Shanks now that he got another Shanks in the story. The same way killing Ace was less an issue because he intended to introduce Sabo.
But this development is quite interesting. Let’s see what Oda will do.
I'm just being hopeful and a little bit naive, I guess. There's a much bigger chance that he ends up as not that interesting of a character. However, I don't think the only way to give Shanks depth is the way you described it. We didn't really see him that much and we don't know his true feelings regarding some important things. Tho I don't really want to go into details cause I just would end up listing headcanons since we have no info whatsoever.
For now Shanks is kinda gary stuish which infuriates me sometimes, but it's too early to judge is what I want to say (tho knowing Oda's ways you're probably 99% right lmao).
For now Shanks is kinda gary stuish which infuriates me sometimes, but it's too early to judge is what I want to say (tho knowing Oda's ways you're probably 99% right lmao).
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There's plenty to hate about an evil twin being thrown into the story or whatever, but like 90% of people whining about it is just the stock of *Projecting a hypothetical/made up version of a character onto the real version of them, and expecting it to come true* crashing for people. WOAT case of it too cause it's the most obvious good guy character in the world, and people deluded themselves into thinking he was on some secret evil double agent shit, at the center of a high level conspiracy
When it comes to Shanks' depth as a character outside of that, there's plenty of room for Oda to write a story about Shanks that is compelling without having to make him Aizen. He already has interesting details being revealed recently, like how there's someone in his life that seriously judged him over his decision to not follow Roger's legacy- obviously, "it's Buggy haha" but this is the only person qualified to judge his character as a peer at that time, literally raised as his brother, and he thinks of him as a let down. It genuinely does indicate something for his character going forward, and there's clear potential there for Shanks' story to build on top of pieces like that. Whether it's going to be about how he didn't live up to other people's expectations to be Roger's successor, or how he was born too late to be Roger and yet too early to be his successor (Luffy), or how he isn't the man people want him to be, etc.
Obviously, that's also entirely speculative, and even if I end up right, I'm sure I'll be wrong on the exact details too- so my point is just that there's multiple avenues for the story to actually write something around who he is without him having to be written like someone's edgy OC. And at least in this case, there's something in the text supporting the proposed writing/characterization. He's also a character who hasn't been the focus of an entire arc just yet either, so obviously his character has yet to be fully explored, while also being someone that's been on Oda's mind for like 20 years, there's gotta be something there saved for him, even if it's not that deep in the end.
Also important- he's not the MC. He makes a lot of money for Shuiesha, Toei, and Oda, so he gets some love. He's the MC's goal and full circle moment, so he gets some love. He communicates basic ideas of what a decent person is to a young and impressionable audience, so he gets some love. But he's just not the MC. He doesn't have to be the strongest in world history, or be the greatest character ever. Shanks fans that act like 'this has to be true', cause people treat agendas like sports teams that they just bet real life money on or something, are doing him a greater disservice by setting him up for future slander in reality. Truthfully, he just has to play his role in the story and be strong enough for the MC's journey to be meaningful with him as a goal. People reading a story arc about that in real time will just admit "wow I can't believe it's finally happening man 25+ years, 1100+ chapters later, it's all coming full circle, kinda cool". Nobody, besides people reading the manga on 800% zoom and a ruler taped onto the screen, trying to decipher the exact amount of damage that a punch did based on how much dust particles are in the air, is gonna be sitting there thinking about how Shanks should have been "Warcury+ level" or "Joyboy level" or whatever lmao
When it comes to Shanks' depth as a character outside of that, there's plenty of room for Oda to write a story about Shanks that is compelling without having to make him Aizen. He already has interesting details being revealed recently, like how there's someone in his life that seriously judged him over his decision to not follow Roger's legacy- obviously, "it's Buggy haha" but this is the only person qualified to judge his character as a peer at that time, literally raised as his brother, and he thinks of him as a let down. It genuinely does indicate something for his character going forward, and there's clear potential there for Shanks' story to build on top of pieces like that. Whether it's going to be about how he didn't live up to other people's expectations to be Roger's successor, or how he was born too late to be Roger and yet too early to be his successor (Luffy), or how he isn't the man people want him to be, etc.
Obviously, that's also entirely speculative, and even if I end up right, I'm sure I'll be wrong on the exact details too- so my point is just that there's multiple avenues for the story to actually write something around who he is without him having to be written like someone's edgy OC. And at least in this case, there's something in the text supporting the proposed writing/characterization. He's also a character who hasn't been the focus of an entire arc just yet either, so obviously his character has yet to be fully explored, while also being someone that's been on Oda's mind for like 20 years, there's gotta be something there saved for him, even if it's not that deep in the end.
Also important- he's not the MC. He makes a lot of money for Shuiesha, Toei, and Oda, so he gets some love. He's the MC's goal and full circle moment, so he gets some love. He communicates basic ideas of what a decent person is to a young and impressionable audience, so he gets some love. But he's just not the MC. He doesn't have to be the strongest in world history, or be the greatest character ever. Shanks fans that act like 'this has to be true', cause people treat agendas like sports teams that they just bet real life money on or something, are doing him a greater disservice by setting him up for future slander in reality. Truthfully, he just has to play his role in the story and be strong enough for the MC's journey to be meaningful with him as a goal. People reading a story arc about that in real time will just admit "wow I can't believe it's finally happening man 25+ years, 1100+ chapters later, it's all coming full circle, kinda cool". Nobody, besides people reading the manga on 800% zoom and a ruler taped onto the screen, trying to decipher the exact amount of damage that a punch did based on how much dust particles are in the air, is gonna be sitting there thinking about how Shanks should have been "Warcury+ level" or "Joyboy level" or whatever lmao
