Third Shift Musings - One Piece Episode #3

Koby gets a beat down but for the right reason.

Remember in my first post about this show when I said Luffy has hands? Well that hasn’t changed because this wild man has HANDS.

Okay so when we left off, Luffy and Koby were trying to help Zoro escape but they were intercepted by Helmeppo’s father, Captain “Axe-Hand” Morgan, a giant of a man who was busy terrorizing everyone in Shells Town where the Navy/Marines are based (the shows calls them both Navy and Marines so I’m using both as well). He literally has an axe where his right hand should be (looking forward to hearing that story) and what looks like a metal bottom jaw. His motto is execute anyone who is against him and that includes our boys. But that man has no idea that LUFFY HAS HANDS!

Captain Morgan and his men are still reeling from Luffy’s ability to stretch his body after catching his soldiers bullets and shooting them back. Morgan realizes that Luffy has eaten one of the Devil Fruits found on the Grand Line. His men may be chicken shits, but Morgan is ready to fight. He tells his men to attack using swords while Luffy and Koby try to free Zoro. Just as they get to them, Zoro is freed just in time, stops them all in their tracks and basically tells them he’ll cut whoever moves. As he’s holding them off, he takes the time to have a full-on convo with Luffy and Koby. Like, he’s holding two swords in his hands and has one in his mouth, but is having a talk about joining Luffy’s crew. Wild.

Morgan, like me, wonders why his men are just standing there and tells them to get moving. Luffy says hold on, let me handle this right quick. He pulls his leg back and swings that thing, clearing all of the soldiers. Morgan is pissed his soldiers are trash and tells them all to unalive themselves. The look they gave him when he said that made me laugh my ass off! The soldiers all looked like they were ready to jump him! But before they make a decision, Luffy charges Morgan and proceeds to beat his ASS. Luffy may be rubber but he’s strong AF. He pounds Morgan into the dirt but is interrupted by Helmeppo’s bitch ass.

Being the punk that he is, Helmeppo holds a gun to Koby’s head, threatening to shoot him. Luffy looks at this goober and then smiles. Koby knows what that smile means and tells Luffy to keep beating Morgan’s ass and not to worry about him. Koby, the coward, is willing to take one for the King of the Pirates. But Luffy ain’t dumb. He knows Helmeppo is a bitch and won’t actually shoot. He gets his rubbery fist ready for maximum impact while Morgan recharges and prepares to take Luffy out. Luffy’s fist makes contact with Helmeppo’s face at the same time Zoro takes Morgan out. Teamwork makes the dream work!

The soldiers celebrate being free of Morgan’s tyranny and Zoro falls down from hunger. The trio end up at the restaurant owned by Rika’s mom and they are eating like they’ve never had food before. The Navy/Marines walk in and tell Luffy that since the trio are all pirates that they’ll have to leave immediately. Luffy’s like, “no problem” and he and Zoro begin to walk out. The head Navy/Marine guy asks Koby if he’s also a pirate and he freezes. Navy/Marine guy asks Luffy the same question and dude shows us all what a cool friend he really is. He begins telling Navy/Marine guy about Koby’s stint as a chore boy and before he can get to the meat of the story and ruin his chances, Koby hauls off and punches Luffy dead in the face. Luffy smiles and then beats the brakes off Koby. Navy/Marine guy pulls Luffy off Koby and tells him to get the fuck out. Koby realizes what Luffy did for him, gathers his balls and tells Navy/Marine guy that he too would like to be a Navy/Marine guy. They’re all skeptical because Koby was with pirates but then he pulls a Luffy and says with a fierceness he’s been missing all this time, that he WILL be a Navy/Marine guy. After some tense moments, Navy/Marine guy accepts Koby and his Navy/Marine journey begins.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Nami. She’s been slipping and sliding her way around Luffy and his antics. She has her own plan to travel to the Grand Line so she tries to find a map that will take her there. She finds a map but it marks a spot where Buggy the Immortal (who looks mysteriously like a circus clown) is probably located. I’m not sure who or what Buggy is, but that discovery of the map seemed to change her tune. I can’t wait for that confrontation.

I loved this episode because it touched on the main theme of letting go of fear. Koby let go of his fear to realize his dream of being a Navy/Marine guy. If Luffy hadn’t provoked him enough to punch him in the face, Koby never would have had the courage to make his move. Seeing Koby boss up and go for it made me so incredibly happy.

Luffy is still my number one because his confidence that he’ll become King of the Pirates is incredible to see. I have that same confidence whenever I’m trying to reach a goal because I already have the end game in my head. I don’t allow anyone to stop me, especially the naysayers who don’t have the imagination or confidence to dream big. Let’s see what’s next for him.

Stay tuned for the next episode.