Do you guys also feel

[ahill1]

...that the CP9 group doesn't do justice to the 'next step' of a God that was about to blow up an entire ISLAND? Luffy defeating said God seemed way more impressive than him later defeating some guy whose finger was as powerful as a pistol. If anything, Eneru would be better suited as the next step of a bunch of assassins, not vice-versa. Heck, even Crocodile with his powers seemed more impressive than the CP9 group which just showcased superhuman abilities.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

As I already mentioned in the arc rating thread, I agree. Anything short of an Admiral or another Shichibukai would've felt like a step down from Enel from a progression perspective. At the very least, they should've had someone with a very OP Devil Fruit as the antagonist to make things feel like a step up from Enel in any way if Oda wanted to avoid power creep. Assassins who's skills Luffy can easily counter and who's DFs mainly consist of turning into animals is far from a step up.

 

[sei'taer]

I loved Enel for showing how far the crew still had to go without asspullery. Rubber aside Luffy had no business even being competitive there.

CP9 was the next logical step of beatable opponents.

 

[ahill1]

As I already mentioned in the arc rating thread, I agree. Anything short of an Admiral or another Shichibukai would've felt like a step down from Enel from a progression perspective. At the very least, they should've had someone with a very OP Devil Fruit as the antagonist to make things feel like a step up from Enel in any way if Oda wanted to avoid power creep. Assassins who's skills Luffy can easily counter and who's DFs mainly consist of turning into animals is far from a step up.

Yeah, I agree. But maybe as Sei'taer stated Eneru is an enemy far from Luffy's reach weren't it the natural weakness inherent to a rubber vs lightning battle.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

Whilst I agree with that, it also shows just how cheap a plot convenience it was that Luffy was immune to almost everything Enel dished out purely due to his DF, especially when realistically, lightning's heat would just burn through him. Enel should have been saved for a later arc regardless imo, seeing as how the the Straw Hats had gained enough of a power up to make things seem more reasonable for Luffy to win at that point and there was nothing in the plot Skypiea introduced that would be necessary until Sabaody that couldn't have been introduced on some other island.

 

[Papasmurf]

Well, realistically Luffy would just die from oxygen poisoning if he inflated his limbs through an open wound

 

[sei'taer]

Yeah I'm not disagreeing the Enel was a little too powerful, but it got the point across along their run in with an Admiral right afterwards that Luffy was still way way weaker than the strongest people in the world.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

That still begs the question of was it necessary for Enel to be at the point in the story here appeared. After all, Luffy getting the reality check of where he stood in the world after defeating an esteemed Shichibukai would've been a decent enough progression, not to mention CP9 could've still been seen as a step up from Crocodile without it being inconsistent due to how much he'd slacked off since losing his dreams. Enel being brought in throws that off somewhat, considering the tension of Lucci being capable of killing the crew if Luffy weren't to stop him seems somewhat hollow when we'd previously seen the likes of Zoro and Sanji be plot armoured capable of surviving attacks from Enel meant to kill them.

I'd still say introducing Enel in between Thriller Bark and Sabaody would've made things seem far better from a progression standpoint, not to mention the heavenly aspect of Skypiea would've created quite a good contrast with the ghoulish aesthetics of Thriller Bark.

 

[ahill1]

I'd still say introducing Enel in between Thriller Bark and Sabaody would've made things seem far better from a progression standpoint, not to mention the heavenly aspect of Skypiea would've created quite a good contrast with the ghoulish aesthetics of Thriller Bark.

Ditto. My problem also mainly lies on when Eneru was introducced as an enemy. I think being introducced in a later point of the series would have worked better.

Although I guess someone could say the Skypiea arc kind of strengthened Robin's bond with the crew, in which case if there weren't Skypiea Robin leaving the crew and suddenly changing her demeanor (it wasn't that much of a change since she was still a mysterious woman) would be too shallow and sudden, since the CP9 arc would be happening basically right after she joined the crew.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

Although I guess someone could say the Skypiea arc kind of strengthened Robin's bond with the crew, in which case if there weren't Skypiea Robin leaving the crew and suddenly changing her demeanor (it wasn't that much of a change since she was still a mysterious woman) would be too shallow and sudden, since the CP9 arc would be happening basically right after she joined the crew.

Robin was scarcely shown interacting with the crew much, so just replacing this arc with a small adventure arc before CP9 would still suffice. Hell, even the Davy Back Fight could've worked if Robin was given more focus within it.

 

[Warmmedown]

Apples and oranges