#ch499

Another thing Oda does to help manage the tone of this scene is have Zoro immediately show up to put Charlos in his place. He doesn't actually hurt him, but showing him up in the best way possible (Zoro asking if he's lost is beyond reproach) and almost cuting the guy in half shows that they're not as invincible as they've been presented thus far. They're scary in the way Spandam is scary, and just like Spandam couldn't go two chapters without scalding himself with his own coffee, Oda goes out of his way to show how pathetically weak these guys really are

(499)

Foreshadowing!

What a badass panel of Zoro. Doesn't matter that he's half dead, he's still good enough to dodge a bullet a point blank. He's not even reaching for Wado here, this chud isn't worthy of that honor.

There's a terrible irony about the Celestial Dragons refusing to breathe the "common air" while still eating common food and riding on the backs of bloody, dirty common people, They see themselves above everyone else in the world but are so pathetically dependent on those same people for literally everything.

I've said it once and I'll say it again: I love the simple sentimentality that Camie's Ferris wheel dream represents. It's so innocent and full of childlike whimsy, and the fact that it makes her cry just shows how many opportunities most people would take for granted she's been denied because she's a mermaid. It isn't just that she has to live in fear, she's also been denied joy, and that's something Luffy gives to her in this moment

Earlier it was established that the hospital is very close by, but I still fear that Zoro doomed this man by being the one to take him there himself