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beanghostprincess · 8 months

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My take on OPLA's "Zoro vs. Mihawk" fight because I love to criticize the things I like

I'm gonna start by saying that I love the live-action. I'm obsessed. The casting is great and the set is stunning. However, despite enjoying OPLA I do have a lot of complaining to do about it because I absolutely love analyzing media and characters. That being said, I don't want this post to make it look like I am disregarding the directors and writers here. They did a good job with what they had but I personally think I would've done it a lot differently.

So... Let's start!

The thing that bothers me the most about episode 5 (episode that I honestly consider to be the worst in a lot of ways and for a lot of reasons) is that they intend to make it look like Zoro has this intense and personal connection with Luffy. A devotion that makes him so damn worried and self-conscious about losing the fight that he starts crying (or at least they tried to make Mackenyu cry? I'm not sure there. But he cries in the manga so, yeah. 'Frustration' perhaps is a better word). And Zoro does feel that devotion towards Luffy from the very beginning. The guy literally changed his life! But that is obvious and visible in the manga/anime because we can see Luffy making promises and being demanding and direct and literally a damn sunshine to Zoro. They have this conversation about him getting back his swords, about being the king of the pirates... There's this connection between them. One that says:

"You'll be my first mate" and "I'd literally give my life for you"

Damn, if there was a trope for love at first sight only for captains and their first mates? They would be the damn blueprint.

But OPLA wasn't able to make them show that connection because most of the scenes are rushed and/or skipped. And I understand. I truly do. It's just a live-action and the manga is long as hell. But the thing is... Don't expect me to believe Zoro's devotion is real if you haven't even shown me how it started. The root of the problem isn't the fight or his speech in episode 5, but the lack of emotional connection in episode 1 that they could've easily fixed by reordering the scenes.

So, regarding everything pre-ep 5: If they had shown us their relationship better, episode 5 wouldn't have felt so... Rushed? Out of character? And I don't mean out of character in a 'Zoro wouldn't say/do this' way (because of course he would, and did canonically) but in a 'OPLA!Zoro wouldn't say/do this because he hasn't experienced the exact same things that manga!Zoro has' way.

Yes, it's a live-action, but as a stand-alone? Zoro's behavior doesn't make any sense. That also happens with Nami, but this post isn't about our weather queen. Not today, at least.

Before I get into the fight I must also say that, even if I appreciated Zoro/Nami's dynamic and scenes, I find them completely unnecessary and useless. Firstly, because those scenes would've been better if they had used them to build their relationship with Luffy and not only between them. Secondly, because the writers do absolutely nothing with them. The relationship is only used as a plot device to foreshadow Arlong Park. And it bothers me because they could've done that without taking scenes from Luffy/Zoro and Luffy/Nami. This also happened because they decided to put so many scenes with the Marine, by the way, but I guess everyone is aware of that already.

The thing about the straw hat pirates is that they're a family. There are different connections/relationships/dynamics between them. But the main focus and reason why they joined is always Luffy and only Luffy. OPLA wanted to make them all a family in the first episodes and share all the important scenes together when actually that doesn't work like that. Everyone in the crew builds different dynamics with Luffy with personal and private scenes, and I think they took that magic away from them in OPLA wanting them all to share the same experiences for no reason. They don't build private connections (besides Nami/Zoro, but that doesn't even work in the end). This is why I like OPLA!Sanji so so much! His scenes with Luffy are immaculate.

Basically: The writers decided that since it's a live-action and most of the viewers will be already OP fans, it doesn't matter if they make Zoro's devotion exist without actually showing it because we already know he's devoted to his captain. So they take that info, make it happen, and they give no explanation to new watchers as to why the hell this dude who is supposed to not trust people easily, suddenly trusts Luffy so much. Even if it's a live-action, you should never take things for granted as a writer.

Now that I've established how it doesn't make sense for Zoro to act the way he does due to the lack of scenes with Luffy pre-episode 5, I'm gonna talk about my overall opinion about the fight itself and Zoro's pretty iconic speech to Luffy.

I'm no expert with fighting scenes but I've watched enough movies and animes (and you don't even need to, to be honest) to know that it is incredibly rushed. There's no tension. And the choreography is so... Dull. The only fight scenes I enjoyed were the ones in episode 1. This, in my opinion, is mostly the director's fault. The shots are either boring or too exaggerated and the whole fight is just not enjoyable to watch. The setting also makes it really empty. Everyone is just... There... Together... Netflix, don't be so scared of putting space between characters, I'm begging you. A bit of theatre directing is what this scene needs.

Also, Sanji isn't there and it bothers me a lot. Like a whole lot. Like a lot lot. And the fact that Nami is there when she shouldn't be (and also holds Usopp's hand? Like girl, chill, you've only interacted twice? They should've added Usopp to that drinking game scene if they wanted them to grow closer like that before the fight. But of course, Usopp is just the comedy relief for Netflix) also bothers me a lot lot lot.

In general, OPLA's shots aren't my cup of tea, and the overuse of comic-like moments dividing the screen made me cringe more than once (the first time was funny. Referencing the manga. But then it gets tiring. Mostly because the shots are just too close to their faces). Also, what's up with the corners being blurry all the time and the shots being extremely close to their faces? I don't know if it's just me but it's uncomfortable to watch.

Leaving that aside, Mackenyu did a great job with the fighting scenes. Love him to death. Kissing him from a distance. Great work.

Now, the thing that bothers me the most...

Zoro's speech.

Not only do they skip the important part where Zoro calls Luffy "The king of the pirates" but they also make it extremely dull and boring. It's not Mackenyu's fault. He's a good actor. However, I do think that this scene didn't need a close approach between the characters.

What this scene needs is passion. Frustration. Tears. Screaming. Relief when Zoro realizes Luffy isn't disappointed. Determination when he decides to keep fighting and training to become the world's greatest swordsman. And I think Mackenyu's performance would've been way better if they had given him the right indications and space between him and Iñaki.

I always say that physical space is great for scenes like this one because it challenges the actor to express their emotions without physical contact. A close and sweet approach is also good, but I think they should've just used that for the scene in episode 6 where Zoro wakes up. Them being physically close then is good, because there's a bond and they want and crave touching each other. However, after losing a fight and almost disappointing his captain? What Zoro needed was to openly cry to the sky and yell at Luffy that he would become the world's greatest swordsman. For himself. For Kuina. And for Luffy, his captain.

It's a very emotional scene and I get that it's complicated to do the same thing the manga does... But it really isn't that hard to give Mackenyu space so he has to yell and be openly frustrated. It seems like he wanted to cry. Like he was trying to cry. But the tears didn't come out because having Iñaki and the others so damn close didn't give him the space he needed to yell his emotions.

On the other hand, even if I don't like this scene and I prefer Luffy and Zoro to not be so close to each other, this would've kind of worked if they had had some connection and scenes pre-episode 5. But they don't. So, yeah, whatever.

Also (and this is just me being me) I wouldn't have used an aerial shot of them for the final scene. Zoro is satisfied now. He faints but he's happy. He proceeds to wake up happy in the next episode. So why not end it with his smiling face as he faints? That's also a recurring topic in the One Piece world! Make it reference Roger and foreshadow Loguetown and Marineford. These directors aren't being creative, let me tell you.

Overall, you can tell that I didn't like how they portrayed this episode, especially this fight/speech. However, before I end this post I want to say that I am aware of how hard it is to make a live-action and it's completely understandable to make scenes shorter and rushed. It's obvious that everyone working on this live-action loves One Piece, and even if I don't like a lot of the things they're doing, that doesn't mean I can't feel the effort and love they put (mostly the actors. The cast is outstanding and extremely sweet!) making this show.

I have more complaints about episode 5 (mostly about Nami's character) but this was just to talk about Zoro and the fight! Let me know in my inbox if you want more of my opinions on OPLA or just want to tell me something! <3

Editing TikTok account where I'm posting my One Piece edits: seraspring

#i spent like an hour making this lmao #i could've written more but my adhd won't let me remember everything that's on my mind and put it into words #i be complaining about opla and the next day i'm like 'me and the bestie!'#i swear i love the live action don't let my criticism fool you #zoro and luffy are married btw it happens in episode 6 #i didn't want my zolu heart to take over the post so i had to hold back #roronoa zoro #monkey d. luffy #zolu #dracule mihawk #opla #one piece #one piece live action

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sidewalk-cracks · 8 months

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sanaserena · 7 months

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YAY, OPLA is still in the top 10 - top 4 most streamed last week - this week, in it's sixth week of airing! See ↓↓ from here: Twitter Link

In my personal opinion, that's looking good. It's also interesting to compare OPLA's streaming stats week by week compared to several other shows in the top 10 (but in saying that... I haven't had time to do a full comparison, just bits here and there, so I can't say anything for sure...still, it's very interesting to look at!! And considering, I usually don't have the time or effort to follow any other show in such detail... but One Piece has such a special place in my heart!)

I finally am back round with screenshots from Episode 6 - and my thoughts on the episode. I also really loved this episode, the cast has so many good moments, and I love how we see the crew bond and develop through one of the biggest trials of the Straw Hat pirates friendship.

Highlights of Ep 6:

Do you know how much I love these sets? Why sometimes I love live action? Because we get to see even more sides to the manga panels, to the anime scenes that probably weren’t important or thought about at the time. For example, I love that we get to see more of the inside of the Going Merry (we do see this in the manga, but there's something more intricate and detailed about the live action's adaptation)

The interactions between Koby and Garp. The more times I re-watch OPLA, the more I like these interactions. I like them because we get to see Koby develop and how Garp becomes his and Helmeppo's mentor (something we only see in cover stories in OP, before their big appearance at the end of a specific arc, where the Koby and Helmoppo have clearly grown up.)

The interaction between Garp and Mihawk. This is OP only, and we see a different kind of Warlord/Marine interaction past the East Blue Saga in the One Piece Manga. I liked that this was introduced in OPLA season 1, it does so many wonderful things like, give us more Mihawk time (those who know, know how rare he is in the manga, but beloved despite those rare appearances), show us more of how the Warlord system works/or does work, and of course hammers in other plot points for OPLA. (Also, Steven John Ward is such a magnificent Mihawk.)

The interaction between Sanji, Usopp, and Luffy. When Luffy speaks of Wado Ichimonji, and pronounces the name completely wrong in a very Luffy way, sometimes I ask myself, do I love this line in OPLA because I know it’s a very Luffy trait from the manga, or do I love it because Inaki delivers this line so well?

This episode gives us more wonderful expressions from the cast. Taz is such a fantastic Sanji and Jacob is pretty good as Usopp. They're both great in this episode. I've heard some people complain that Usopp and Sanji were done a bit dirty in season 1, but truthfully, I have high hopes that the showrunners will give them more space for development in season 2 now that they've been introduced. If you squash everything into season 1, that only leaves less space for character development on screen later on. So I'm looking forward to seeing OPLA develop some of our favourite OP characters in their way, but faithful to Oda's vision.

I love how they did Sanji's backstory. They did not skimp on the truth behind Zeff's leg, which the anime does, and the manga is a little more brutal on.

You know, sometimes I had my doubts, before OPLA was released, on whether Craig Fairbrass would make a good Zeff. There were so many white actors and I like hmmm. But, damn it all, he’s perfect. He brings Zeff alive with so much zest and flavour. Both in present and the past flashbacks. It was wonderful. (Also, it does make me laugh every time I see his braided mustache jumping when he speaks, love it.)

Christian Convery is also fantastic as young Sanji. He acts wonderfully. He's like a little angelic cherub, and thus for the extended starvation period, he was a little too fleshy, however, this is a child (and we can't ask him to starve just for acting at his age, and for something like this in a tv series, I'd much rather the vfx went to the bigger elements, like Buggy's devil fruit powers, Luffy's devil fruit powers, the Sea King, etc.), and his acting still managed to convince me that he had been starving for days.

And as usual, I can't fit all the screenshots here ... see Part 2: Here, and Part 3: Here.

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duckielover151 · 2 months

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Some OPLA Thoughts: Episode 6

Holy crap, you guys were right. This one WAS even better than the last episode. I don't even know where to start.

Okay, the only possibly negative point... Honestly, Zoro's wound didn't look that impressive to me. I was expecting something a little more dramatic for what was-- rightfully-- meant to be a life-threatening injury.

But everything else in this episode was absolute gold.

I love that this is the event that's really impressing upon Luffy what it means and what it takes to be a captain. I honestly don't remember that being such a big deal until later into the anime, when Nami's sick and Vivi's berating him for not being willing to bow down to the Drum Island guards-- to do whatever it takes to save her. He's so visibly shaken throughout this whole episode, until Zoro wakes back up... It was some really great character development. And I loved how often he continued to smile... even when you could tell he really wasn't feeling it.

And damn. All the child actors have been pretty good-- no complaints, at least. (My issue with Kuina was a writing one; I think both young actors did a great job with the scripts they were given.) But Christian Convery as young Sanji was, like, just on another level. I hope he was having a great time doing so many dramatic, emotional, angry scenes, because they came out great. (Okay, maybe I was expecting a little something more with the special effects, as far as him looking starved half to death goes... but they did a great job with the sunburns and general skin deterioration so... I'll give that one a pass.) And I cannot stress enough how glad I am that they didn't censor the origins of Zeff losing his leg like they did in the anime.

I loved the little Easter egg of Nami reading about Noland to Zoro while he was unconscious. There's an added depth to a liar reading a children's tale about a liar.

The fish-men look great. (Arlong's voice is fantastic. Love that casting.) And I really love that they're not downplaying the racism that exists towards fish-people in this world. That yes, Arlong hates humans, but there is a reason he is the way he is. That's something that doesn't really get addressed until much, much later in the anime, and I think they made the right choice in bringing it up.

There are so, so many things... The way they're continuing to incorporate Buggy, the reveal of Nami's betrayal, Zeff's little argument with Sanji about how he didn't save his life so he could give up on his dream and work in a restaurant for the rest of his days... I loved them all. There was not a single scene in this episode that didn't hit exactly the mark it was meant to, and I'm more excited than ever for the next one.

#one piece #OPLA #episode 6

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aster-ria · 8 months

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Well Episode 6 it is!!!!

#one piece #one piece live action #opla spoilers #opla live posting #opla live reaction #opla #episode 6

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hellouniversehowareyou · 8 months

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you can see the exact moment sanji got hooked

#episode 6 is insaaaaaaane i love every single second so much #opla #one piece #one piece live action #opla episode 6 #opla spoilers #one piece live action spoilers #black leg sanji #monkey d luffy #straw hat crew #mugiwaras #mugiwara no ichimi #IT'S TOO LATE FOR YOU MY CHILD YOU HAVE THE UNCURABLE GONNA-FOLLOW-THIS-WEIRD-DUDE-WITH-A-STRAW-HAT-TO-HELL-IF-NECESSARY #i love opla sanji so much it's incredible #so good #opla delivers again

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brainrotcharacters · 8 months

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A Zonami Post

I'm just realizing

Episode 7

When Nami saw that the boys were there and she told them to fuck off

It was long after this

This

And this

Now.

this shot where zoro was watching nami. someone explain to me why did my brain interpret this shot as Zoro guarding his emotions now, after nami already betrayed them. now, as opposed to nami guarding her emotions the entire time she sailed with the boys. Zoro could tell she was hiding something, but never knew it was a Luffy betrayal of this caliber.

why did i read this scene as Zoro internally ignoring every memory where he felt "Hey she's OK. Maybe I can work with her." why did it feel like he's compartmentalizing their teamwork and the strange dream he had that she left them. Zoro can see that Luffy is entirely involved in persuading her back and possibly decided he's in charge of being emotional. As his first mate, I need to keep a level head.

this scorpio son of a bitch (affectionately) put his emotional walls up.

She's the same person who betrayed Luffy. She stole Luffy's map, which Luffy needs to fulfill his dream. If that gets compromised, Zoro's own promise with Luffy is as good as gone too. He's guarding his emotions now; don't look me in the eye and tell me he wasn't upset with himself for taking his guard down and learning to trust Nami (Luffy as mediator or not).

Listen. Listen. *uses jingly keys*

It's the same expression. It's the 'my feelings are now guarded from you' expression.

With that said,

I didn't watch the anime. I learned second hand that any zoro + nami content is few and far between. and even I felt catharsis at seeing her hug him + usopp sorry sanji you'll get that hug at season 2

#zoro x nami #one piece live action #zoro #one piece #one piece Nami #Nami #i didn't have a point to this rant #i just realized when i was rewatching opla #zoro's episode 7 detachment was after episode 1-6 bonding with bestie #when a cancer deals an emotional wound to a scorpio (half joking)#on an unrelated note #I keep getting threatened with the gif limit thing #lmao this is a PowerPoint presentation rn Tumblr I NEED THE PICS #lmao look at zoro's face in the last pic #let her hug you she's avoidant. physical touch is rare for you two #zonami

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