I think it definitely is Oda's cruelest blow. Up until this point, the series has shown us, over and over, that tragedy is for flashbacks, and everyone survives in the present (how Pell? HOW?). And no doubt Oda did that on purpose, to make this tragedy hit even harder.
Everything about this arc seems like it's leading up to Luffy rescuing Ace. Even the moment Ace gets hit (given the rest of the series), it seems like it can't really be happening, which, I think, is why we get the title of the next chapter telling us, yes, it really is happening.
I have more to say about this cruel switcheroo, but not until much, much later.
No, I take it back, the cruellest blow is *spoiler*. Which is cry-inducing in exact proportion to its awesomeness, and we're getting there.
If you're thinking of the moment I think you are, that certainly made me cry harder, but I wouldn't call it a "cruel blow."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2015-10-05 01:38 pm (UTC)Everything about this arc seems like it's leading up to Luffy rescuing Ace. Even the moment Ace gets hit (given the rest of the series), it seems like it can't really be happening, which, I think, is why we get the title of the next chapter telling us, yes, it really is happening.
I have more to say about this cruel switcheroo, but not until much, much later.
No, I take it back, the cruellest blow is *spoiler*. Which is cry-inducing in exact proportion to its awesomeness, and we're getting there.
If you're thinking of the moment I think you are, that certainly made me cry harder, but I wouldn't call it a "cruel blow."