My write-up for the last episode might’ve been misunderstood a little. I definitely am won over to ONE PIECE’s breed of gleeful insanity, and I so enjoy the experience of just vacationing in the New World for 30 minutes every Wednesday that it’s really become something I look forward to every week.
However, there is a whole spectrum of ways to enjoy an anime. Some are great for provoking discussion and analysis, and others are great to just sit back and enjoy without over-thinking. It’s the former that’s really best suited for this column, though. To use a recent example, there have been some episodes of PSYCHO-PASS which I haven’t been overwhelmingly entertained by (whose cop show structuring has been boring at times, actually), but they’ve always provided plenty to talk about.
Doing these write-ups for new ONE PIECE have felt somewhat akin to reviewing a trip through a roller-coaster ride or a pick-up basketball game I played with some friends. Certainly, I enjoy both experiences, but the act of trying to break them down and evaluate them like I’d do for any other review is at best, difficult to find the words for, and, at worst, a rather frumpy exercise.
We talk about the ROCK/SUCK Meter sometimes on the Vice Pit, and saying anything qualitative between those two extremes when discussing a given ONE PIECE episode feels silly. Nami making the conscientious decision to go back and protect the giant kids? ROCK. Brook’s snow man-making session and subsequent duel with a disembodied torso? ROCK. The absurdity of the banana boat Usopp conjures to travel to the opposite end of Punk Hazard? ROCK
Despite what I said last time, I'm hanging in with the show. But hopefully you understand me, here. What more is there to say, really?
Watch this episode, "Save the Children! the Straw Hats Start to Fight!” here and decide for yourself, then read my comments about the previous episode here.
Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk
