© Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Toei Animation
Episode 1107 thickens the plot while giving us many interesting moments for its characters.
I will say the overarching theme of this episode is one of high tension. Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong or is starting to go wrong. The Straw Hats are separated, the various Vegapunk members lose contact, and the World Government Seraphim are on the run. There's a brief moment where it seems like momentum has swung back in our heroes' favor after Stussy betrayed CP0 and revealed his true loyalties. Even when she joins our heroes, that sense of buoyant optimism slowly fades.
The whole feel of the island has changed a bit over the past few weeks. Egghead Island entered our collective consciousness as a place with possibilities for the future. This is all technology that can change the world, where everything can be better, brighter, faster and more beautiful. That technological utopia was shattered under the combined efforts of the World Government, the Navy, Seraphim, and CP0.
Vegapunk's (or perhaps more accurately, Vegapunks'?) laboratory has moved from fortress to hunting ground. Now our heroes are separated and cut off from each other with violence around every corner and a growing sense of dread. The same technology that made everything seem possible is slowly being severed or destroyed, leaving the brilliant minds of Egghead Island isolated and uninformed. Things will get worse from here.
That bleak prognosis aside, there were many enjoyable character moments in episode 1107. Even a lifelong Sanji hater (is that a word?) like me had to admit that his dancing Messing around and barking at Stussy's every command is so funny and pathetic. In this case, who can blame him? The way I was raised, when a cruel woman tells you to do something, you bark and make faces:3—that's just good manners.
Rating:
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One Piece is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
