Finishing the final episode of this “season” is a satisfying experience. I did some reading and learned that the millennial dragon arc were the first episodes written originally for the anime and not based on the anime, solidifying my theory that they are connected to the real world turn-of-the-millenium zeitgeist. Furthermore, I realized Apis and the rest of the crew’s attachment to these millennial dragons greatly contrasts the disrespect towards the sea cow beast back at Arlong Park. Perhaps we are now seeing a shift towards a more inclusive model of anti-fascist revolutionary behavior.
Apis’ parting words to the Straw Hats, thanking them for teaching her that “acting a little crazy isn’t such a bad thing,” emphasizes the core value of the crew: chasing one’s dreams no matter what. This theme is reinforced when the crew once again shares their individual goals as they climb the mountain canal. They all recognize the immense amount of sacrifice & loyalty it requires to pursue true greatness, and have imparted this wisdom onto young Apis as she begins her journey to preserving her family’s legacy in earnest.
What really stood out to me about the crew at this point is how well they all still get along with each other. It is difficult to ascertain exactly how long they have been traveling together, but it has certainly been long enough that their continued positive vibes are impressive. Long distance travel of any sort can take a real toll on relationships, whether planes, trains, automobiles, or boats, so seeing them still working together peacefully sets a solid standard for friendship. I particularly appreciated Sanji & Usopp being so close, hugging each other in joy & celebration, as they both tend to have some anti-social behaviors but have found some solace in each other’s company.
A trait that I tend to ascribe to a lot of media is the concept that certain cartoonish or silly elements of a story or narrative are simply a result of exaggerated storytelling. Assuming these adventures are based on retellings of true stories, then, much like real oral traditions, or the ones about the millennial dragons, some details may get altered here and there between recounts, often just to make things more interesting. When the Gullwing Mary flies over the top of the mountain canal and drops in the air, leaving the crew floating for a moment before falling to land safely back on their ship, this is just a hyperbolic visualization of the event. It was probably originally described as just going over a big wave and they all got bucked up a bit, but for entertainment’s sake, and to glamourize the heroes, it is now portrayed in such an outrageous manner that it gets laughs instead of gasps.
We see a similar trait play out with the characters’ abilities to fight through & recover from grievous wounds. Here, Luffy gets chopped up by Eric but continues going and never mentions the injuries again, but in earlier episodes, we have seen Zoro get viscerally impaled and then just keep going for multiple days & battles, and so much more. This is a metaphor for the trauma & emotional wounds we carry forward, which are also invisible. Although not physical, the mental wounds from traumatizing events also bleed out everywhere, over ourselves, our relationships, our whole lives, but life goes on. Taking time to heal damage, whether physical or emotional, can be difficult to manage when there is so much else happening all the time, but both must be addressed before either can really heal.
Last note, Nami has the best outfits. Although everyone else has the same clothes on all the time, Nami has a few different shirts & shoes and stuff, and today we see her bust out her pink rain jacket. I find this to be a realistic nod to a woman packing more clothes than the men on the ship would without drawing too much attention to it or playing it for laughs as a mockery.