Critical Analysis of the Wano Arc in One Piece

Wano was one of the worst arcs in One Piece and might even be the only arc I kind of hate. This was a Marineford-esque situation, but instead of focusing on a single, impactful conflict, Oda tried to develop every character's story at once. This resulted in many hanging threads that left us with more questions than answers. Overall, Wano felt rushed and did not really mesh with its own setup.

The Flaws in Wano Arc

Kaido's Portrayal and Plot Development:

Kaido's character was set up to be an indomitable force that could legitimately threaten the World Government (WG) and Marines. He allied with Big Mom, another emperor, which was unprecedented and should have presented an incredible danger to the protagonist alliance. However, Kaido's grandeur and the sense of dread did not last. By halfway through Wano, there was almost no emotional weight or real sense of danger. Kaido's defeat of Luffy and Luffy's subsequent victory in a one-on-one fight were cheap and disappointing, despite all the setup that pointed towards Kaido's formidable strength.

The Promise and the Letdown

High Hopes for Character Development: One of the arcs was expected to be Zoro-focused since it was in Wano, Samurai Land. Yet, Zoro fought no dedicated swordsman since Thriller Bark and received no significant character development. The reveal of Yamato, while great, did not further Zoro's story. Similarly, Oden's dream of opening Wano was given a hollow ending, and Carrot struggled against Perospero and was given a leadership position in Zou, but her dreams were not addressed. Tobiroppo, except for Ulti, were badly handled, and the Numbers and the ninja were disappointing.

Challenges to the Protagonist Alliance: In Wano, the protagonist alliance faced significant challenges, such as forming an alliance and gaining allies because their opponent was an emperor. However, the alliance's efforts were overshadowed by the cheap and easy victories in the end. Similar disappointment was felt with BM, whose amnesia had no significant purpose, and the Marines and Shanks, who had no reason to be near Wano and did not fulfill their potential.

Impact on the Series and Plot Integrity

Rushed and Unresolved Plots: Green Bull's reveal only served to highlight the superiority of admirals over commanders, but it was undermined by Luffy's previous victory. The sensation of Luffy having a mythical Zoan fruit that lets him do whatever he wants is easily the most broken ability in the series. This hampers the admiration for Luffy's journey, making his strengths seem too exceptional. The impact on plot integrity is significant; the stakes have been dramatically reduced, and it is hard to imagine Luffy losing to anyone in the future.

Loss of Story Potential: The Wano Arc aimed for a strong payoff with the possibility of all the Supernovas allying to take down the emperors. However, this potential was missed, making other characters seem lesser by comparison. The revelation of the Supernovas strips them of their mystery and makes their power seem less impressive. Now, it is impossible for any other Supernova to overtake Luffy, and their importance is diminished.

Conclusion

While there were some highlights in Wano, such as Zoro's power-ups, Hawkins against Zoro, Momonosuke's resolution, Yamato's reveal, and Kidd and Law awakening advanced Conqueror's, these moments did not compensate for the overall letdown. Fortuitous plot lines and visual effects alone are not enough to make a good story. Oda, the writer who gave us amazing things like Water 7, Enies Lobby, Sabaody, and Marineford, should not have tried to develop so many stories simultaneously. He should have focused on fewer plot threads to be resolved effectively.

Wano damaged the series and took away from the dangers in the Grand Line, making the protagonist's journey less believable. The biggest lesson is that impactful and well-developed stories should be prioritized over hype and flashy visuals.