Ron Does Stuff

I thought the previous episode was a pretty well-done introduction to the new season. We know where the Straw Hats are, and we get a terrifying introduction to this season’s antagonists. Let’s see what the second episode brings us!

When we left the Straw Hats in the previous episode, they had just arrived at Reverse Mountain, and we start at the same place in this second episode. However, traveling up the mountain is different from getting to it, because, as Zoro so succinctly put it, you need to get it right or die.

Not that I’m a visual effects specialist or anything, but I thought the landscape they made for this was so good and so cool. And the sequence of them going up Reverse Mountain? I can see why Bob Netflick thought it would be a good idea to show this on the big screen. It’s pretty cinematic! You could add the Luffy/Smoker fight in episode one as well. I think that and this Reverse Mountain sequence, ending with the Going Merry going inside the whale, would look spectacular on the big screen.

After the title card, we see that Luffy has somehow ended up on a plateau and not in the water after attempting to attack the whale before the Going Merry went in. There’s an old man with him with a huge syringe that has a tranquilizer in it that…uh… tranquilizes the whale, with the rest of the Straw Hats still in it. The old man’s name is Crocus, and he tells Luffy that it’s useless to try to get his crew out of the whale since they’re already dead, but Luffy doesn’t think so.

And Luffy is right, because the Straw Hats are still alive in the whale’s mouth. We know because the uvula is pretty prominently displayed, so they haven’t made it down the intestinal track just yet. Nami may just be the navigator, but she’s definitely doing First Mate duties because she gets the guys organized so they can start thinking of a way to get out of the whale. Sanji and Usopp are looking for ship parts, while Zoro is going to try to cut the whale open from inside, I guess?

Back on dry land, Smoker and Tashigi run into Garp, Koby(!), and Helmeppo, because going into the Grand Line isn’t something you just do, even if you’re part of the World Government. It looks like there’s friction between Garp and Smoker? Is it just Smoker chafing under authority, or is it Garp looking out for his grandson? Whatever the cast, Koby, Helmeppo, and Tashigi are told to ~explore the town~ while Garp and Smoker have a ~private~ meeting.

Back at the Grand Line, Luffy isn’t giving up on Crocus and is pestering him about saving the Straw Hats. He literally breaks into Crocus’ home to ask for his help, and we get told that the whale’s name is Laboon and that there’s only one way to approach Laboon. What’s that approach? We don’t find out just yet.

Over at Loguetown, Smoker brings up the fact that Luffy is Garp’s grandson, but Garp insists this has nothing to do with Luffy being family. He tells Smoker that, unlike Marine ships, pirate ships can’t travel on the Calm Belt, so they need to go up Reverse Mountain. What makes Marine ships so different then? Are they machine-powered? But they had sails as well, at least from what I remember from the first season? Maybe the manga and anime fans know why.

ANYWAY, Garp talks about the rest of the One Piece world, and I like this worldbuilding! Alabasta — they haven’t been there yet, right? — is on the verge of civil war, with its princess missing. I saw that headline in the newspaper Crocus was reading! There’s also a Revolutionary Army that’s looking to overthrow the World Government, and it’s led by Dragon, the stranger who saved Luffy from Smoker. INTERESTING.

Inside Laboon, it looks like they’re already in the stomach? Since Usopp bumps into something, it falls into the stomach acid. Will the Going Merry even survive this season? Are we going to get a new ship? Anyways, Sanji and Usopp finally find the ship part that they need, but they have to move a freshly dead body to get to it. But turns out it’s not a dead body, it’s just a weird guy! And Sanji can kick a weird guy! I kinda wish it was better shot, but whatevs, still thought it was an entertaining fight!

Back on theGoing Merry, they make a uvula=girl whale joke, and I’m sorry. I’m sorry, because I laughed. I shouldn’t have, but I did. I am just that guy. I also think that Mackenyu and Emily Rudd’s faces sell it for me. Anyways, Zoro is off to tickle the whale’s uvula — he can tickle my uvula — and while he does that, Nami gets attacked by a woman, who I am guessing is weird guy’s companion. I thought this was better shot than Sanji’s fight scene! Just when it looks like this new character has Nami cornered, the rest of the crew arrive to help her out.

Back on land, Luffy gets Crocus to tell his story, which is sort of Laboon’s story as well. Laboon came with Calico Yorki and the Rumbar Pirates. Looks like Laboon was an orphan who started following the Rumbar Pirates because of their music. Why does this make me think of “Whalien 52”?

Stream it on Spotify!

Turns out the Rumbar Pirates had to leave this lonely, lonely, lonely whale for its own safety, and Crocus agreed to take care of it until their return. Unfortunately, Crocus heard from a ~reliable source~ that the Rumbar Pirates left Laboon alone in the Grand Line, and now the whale’s just trying to go back to look for them on the other side.

Inside Laboon, Zoro puts two and two together and figures out that these two new characters are members of Baroque Works. And outside the Grand Line, Garp is telling Smoker about them as well. Rather than chase after Luffy, Garp wants Smoker to focus on bringing a member of Baroque Works alive to the Marines. The ones with the Straw Hats are Mister Nine and Miss Wednesday, and when Laboon starts acting up again, wouldn’t you know it, Miss Wednesday helps the crew out.

Outside the whale, Luffy has a serious conversation with Laboon about how people leave, but you also meet people who stay, and it moved me a bit? Maybe I’m just more emotional in my old age, but that Laboon talk almost got me!

Back in Loguetown, Koby’s giving Tashigi the Luffy talk about following her dreams, while Crocus does it for Nami, after Miss Wednesday kinda demotivated her while inside Laboon. And both talks do wonders! Nami’s confident about navigating the Grand Line again, while Tashigi stands up for herself and convinces Smoker to take her with him to the Grand Line. As the Going Merry sails away from Crocus’ island, Twin Peaks, we find out that he was actually part of Gol D. Roger’s crew. He knows what the One Piece is!

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