#the way i rewrote the entire jjk section after it got deleted 😭😭😭

[theclearblue]

Can I ask your top 5 favorite moments each from Jujutsu Kaisen and One Piece? And your top 5 (or top 3) favorite characters from each series?

Ooooh this is going to be difficult for me but I am very happy to! I think I gush about the characters I like a lot on my blog already ajljfljgf so I'll just list the characters, but I'll go more in depth on my top moments for both series. Uhhh major spoilers for both series under the cut.

For JJK, my top five characters are Yuuji, Kenjaku, Yuki, Geto, and Choso (and for a top ten, I would include Gojo, Nobara, Maki, Higuruma, and Mahito).

Ok for JJK, I thought this was gonna be easier but there are really a lot of moments I love, so some honorable mentions: Junpei's death, Yuuji and Nobara vs. Cursed Wombs, Gojo sealed in the prison realm, Yuuji vs. Choso, Nanami's Death, Yuuji vs. Higuruma, Sukuna taking over Megumi (yeah I considered all of these for the list lmao)

Premature Death (Ch. 76-78)

I certainly enjoyed JJK before this point, but Geto's character arc in Hidden Inventory is where I went "Oh, this is something special." In JJK 0, I was definitely intrigued by him and his relationship to Gojo, but without context, he comes off a little corny with how over the top evil he seems. And then we see him in Hidden Inventory, and he's just this...normal and polite kid? He wants to protect non-sorcerers? But then Riko dies. And the jujutsu system fails him, and his fall from grace is so tragic but also realistic to his character. We see him display this black and white thinking from the very beginning, "Jujutsu sorcerers HAVE to protect the weak non-sorcerers" flipped to "We need to protect jujutsu sorcerers from the non-sorcerers." Geto is a victim, but he doesn't identify the cause correctly. I think he's such a tragic character and really reinforces the themes of JJK so wonderfully, the system failed him (and really every young sorcerer), there was no support, and it really gives weight to Gojo's character and mission to become a teacher and raise strong sorcerers that can support each other.

2. Yuuji and Todo vs. Mahito (Ch. 127-132)

This is still probably the best fight in the series and it's a really good example of how fights can push forward the characters and themes in a story. JJK loves it's parallels, and one of my favorite parallels is Geto and Yuuji, both looking down at their dead friend and just, breaking from it. Yuuji's resolve just crumbling after seeing Nobara die is so heartbreaking, he isn't able to beat Choso, or suppress Sukuna from wreaking havoc, or save Nanami or Nobara. And it presents the same question that Geto faced with failing to save Riko or defeat Toji. Why is Yuuji a sorcerer? I think that Todo coming into this fight in a support role was a really good choice, where he reminds Yuuji that he still has things and people to fight for, what has he been entrusted with? And Mahito really proves himself to be the best villain in the series here, he's such a good foil to Yuuji and the way that they push each other's character developments is unlike anything I've seen. SO many good and important moments from this fight, and ending with Yuuji's "I'm you" speech? Maybe the best moment in the whole series.

3. Maki vs. The Zenin Clan (Ch. 148-151)

I'll always stand by the opinion that Mai's death is the best in the entire series and it's not even close. Maki and Mai's story is just so tragic, the way that they grew apart, but then reconciled but only at the end? I think their story is a really good way in how people react differently to oppressive systems, where Maki wants to break free from it and prove that she is strong, while Mai is "happy enough" to live under that system as long as she can have her sister by her side. She doesn't want to face the backlash that standing up for herself will cause. And for their family to turn on them and be willing to kill them in order to uphold the systems of power they have in place? Genuinely evil shit but it's realistic in how they treat Toji, Maki, and Mai, they are all victims of this family. Mai giving her blessing to Maki to "destroy everything" is another contender for top moment in this series, and Maki only being able to gain her full power by losing her sister, the one person she wanted to protect, is so cruel. Maki's character arc is truly one of the best in the series.

4. Yuki and Choso vs. Kenjaku

So this is the entry I definitely have the most mixed feelings on, I don't love everything about this fight (...namely...how it ended..) but I love A LOT about it so it's still on the list. Every interaction between these characters is endlessly interesting to watch, and I could write an essay on this fight. Yuki and Kenjaku as foils to each other, wanting to achieve the same goal of optimizing cursed energy but in completely different ways. Choso and Kenjaku's fucked up relationship where Kenjaku has been so cruel to, and Choso standing up to Kenjaku to fight for his brothers and starting his new life as a human instead of a curse. Yuki and Choso having to reckon with their humanity and their inhuman nature (star plasma vessel and cursed womb), every dynamic is just so amazing. And that's not to even mention Tengen's dynamic with both Yuki and Kenjaku. So many good character moments throughout this fight and I'm so invested in all four of them.

5. Takaba vs. Kenjaku (Ch. 239-243)

Sooo the Gojo vs. Sukuna fight was good fun and all, but undeniably I was getting pretty bored of it by the end. It's an alright fight but I think it was stretched out in order to line up Chapter 236 with Gojo being sealed in the prison realm in the anime. I needed something new, and oh man, Takaba vs. Kenjaku was completely unexpected but it blew me out of the water. This is genuinely one of if not the most unique shonen fights I have ever read, and Gege just really seemed to be in his element writing this. Not only is this one of the funniest parts of the entire series, but it does a lot of favors for both Takaba and Kenjaku as characters. JJK is big on duos, and it truly feels like they found their other half in this fight and push each other in new ways. Was the perfect breather before jumping back to Sukuna, and while I'm also not a huge fan of how it ended, there's too much I like about it to leave it off the list.

Ok, now for the hard part with One Piece lmao. For characters, I'm splitting it into a strawhats and non-strawhats list because I think it would be actually impossible otherwise ajfssdklj. For strawhats, my top five are Zoro, Robin, Sanji, Luffy, and Brook. For non-strawhats, it's Corazon, Law, Pudding, Crocodile, and Vivi.

Honorable Mentions: Shank's saving Luffy/strawhat passoff, Zoro vs. Mihawk, Nami's "Help Me", Luffy climbing up Drum Island with Nami and Sanji, Alabasta goodbye, Ringing the Golden Bell in Skypeia, Luffy vs. Usopp, CP9 Reveal, Sanji and Sogeking on the Water Train, Franky backstory, Sogeking shooting down the world gov. flag, Robin's "I want to live", Going Merry funeral, Brook's backstory, Luffy punches the celestial dragon, Boa Hancock's backstory, Ace's death, Luffy "I still have my friends", Fisher Tiger backstory, Kyro's backstory, "Raizo is safe", Brook vs. Big Mom, Pedro's death, Luffy vs. Katakuri, Yasuie's death, Hiyori standing up to Orochi, Oden/Roger backstory, Kanjuro reveal, Sanji asking Robin to save him from Black Maria, Robin vs. Black Maria, Sanji vs. Queen, Gear 5, Kuma and Bonney backstory (this is truly an evil task you've given me I love all of these moments and so many more lmao).

Robin's backstory (Enies Lobby)

If Water 7 and Enies Lobby counted as a "moment" I would, but unfortunately those are two full arcs lmao so I decided to choose just one aspect to include here. What can I even say that hasn't been said. Robin's backstory just perfectly explains where she comes from, her strengths and her flaws, and makes her character journey and development so special. No wonder she's had a hard time accepting the strawhats help, her entire life she's been an outcast and even branded as a demon just for the knowledge she carries. Her goodbye to her mother and to Saul are heartbreaking, and to see how she spends 20 years running away and not trusting anyone? It makes it so special when the strawhats tell her "You deserve to live, we won't abandon you, we are your friends no matter what and we will help you." Such a good backstory that not only cements Robin as one of the best characters in the series, but is so important from a world building and thematic perspective for the series as a whole.

2. Zoro's "Nothing Happened" (Thriller Bark)

This moment really cemented Zoro as one of my favorite characters, and is just a moment that has so many layers you can explore (you should check out melonteees recent video "Reframing Nothing Happened" she puts my feelings better than I probably can here lmao). I ultimately find this scene really tragic and scary, but wow does it just highlight Zoro's character development and how much he loves and respects Luffy and the rest of the crew. At the beginning of the series, this is a character who tells Luffy that if he gets in the way of his dream, he'll kill him. We see right before this that Zoro survives a near death experience and is really glad to still be alive, this isn't someone who wants to die. Yet when Kuma comes around, and he realizes he's outmatched, he starts bargaining with Kuma to save Luffy's life. He's not even giving up his dream here, telling Kuma you'll have the head of someone who would have been the best swordsman in the world someday. Him taking out Sanji and protecting him as well, just in this almost quiet anger when Sanji says "you'll have to find a new cook", it's such a good moment as well. Him accepting the pain bubble, it almost killing him, and him saying "nothing happened" because he doesn't want to upset Luffy with the sacrifice? Gahhh I could talk about this moment forever, and it's such a turning point for both Zoro and all of the strawhats I think.

3. Kuma separates the Strawhats (Sabaody Archipelago)

Contender for one of the most evil things Oda has ever done. This arc is full of so many amazing moments, and it just builds up to this terrifying climax where it feels like the strawhats are just getting hunted down, and each strawhat disappearing one by one just made my jaw drop, I stopped watching One Piece for like five days after this lmao. Luffy's desperation to help his crew and breaking down after, Zoro having this trauma response to Kuma, Sanji noticing and trying to protect Zoro, Brook trying to divert Kuma away, the bubbles popping one by one as each strawhat is sent away? Jesus Christ, I was a mess. And the decision to send away Zoro first, the protector and really just the rock of the crew that everyone can rely on, and Robin last, after going through SO much to try and protect her and to reassure her that she's safe with them? Wow. This moment and the Nothing Happened scene just got even more depth with Kuma's backstory, it's just seared into my brain.

4. Law's backstory (Dressrosa)

Anon I want you to know just looking at this picture and thinking about Law's backstory INSTANTLY made me tear up lmao, nothing has affected me quite like this in One Piece. Corazon's story and his personality and his just, absolute and unconditional love for Law made me fall in love with this character. He's been through SO much and instead of turning out like his brother because of it, he just becomes this very kind and caring person that wants to protect people from the ruin that Doflamingo brings. And just how Law is this very angry and hurt kid that gets taken in by Doflamingo because he sees Law's anger and is reminded of himself, and Corazon just is able to divert him from taking this path by just genuinely caring for Law, trying to find ANY doctor that will treat Law's illness and then being willing to steal the Op Op fruit in order to save his life? And just...at the end trying to not let Law that he got hurt, hiding Law away and telling him he loves him before facing Doffy, him CLINGING onto life in order to keep the silencing on Law so that he can cry and grieve for Law as he runs away? When I tell you I was SOBBING when Corazon died that's not an exaggeration. Just the pure unconditional love and the found family between them is so beautiful, and the way Law dedicates his entire life to Corazon and carries on his legacy? It just gives me chills.

5. Sanji in Whole Cake Island (...Whole Cake Island)

Ummm I'm going to cheat here because I'm including Sanji's entire character arc in this entry, but it's impossible to choose just one moment from it. From his backstory, to Sanji vs. Luffy, to finding out about Pudding's betrayal, to him returning to Luffy, to him saving the day with making a cake, everything about Sanji in this arc is such perfection. There are so many layers to this character and similar to Robin, seeing his second backstory really answers a lot of questions about him and where so many of his strengths and his flaws come from, and how Luffy is able to make him realize "We are your family, no matter what we will help you and you matter so much to us." I think the themes in Whole Cake Island about family are so powerful, and exploring them through Sanji was such a brilliant move that really did his character lot of favors, and made him one of the most interesting and dynamic strawhats.

This was a lot of fun for me anon so thank you so much for asking!! I don't know if you were expecting like, and entire essay on jjk and one piece but I'm always happy to provide alkfjslj

#the way i rewrote the entire jjk section after it got deleted 😭😭😭 #i had a mission though and i wasnt going to leave it be lmao #one piece #jjk #asks