#chapter 869

First of all, she doesn’t deserve Sanji. Simply put Sanji is just too good for someone like Purin. Sanji has even more clearly in this arc been pointed out as one of the kindest characters in One Piece, and to begin with just by being one of the main characters Sanji deserves real happiness. Putting him together with Purin, who has tried to kill him and his loved ones, and who is basically crazy wouldn’t be a happy ending for Sanji. She can get redemption, but that doesn’t excuse what she did and it doesn’t really make for a good relationship.

Secondly, there isn’t enough time for a real romance to develop. I see people saying that Purin x Sanji could be the new Usopp x Kaya, but remember that Usopp and Kaya knew each other for years and had a bond develop over a long time even before the climax we got to read. If Sanji and Purin developed feelings for each other that are supposed to compare to true love it would definitely need more time than a few days within the universe.

To begin with Sanji had to force himself to smile at the prospect of marrying Purin, and that was when he still thought she was nice. He might find her attractive, but there is no way that Sanji was ever actually in love with her. There simply is no way for them to be in love enough by the end of this arc to want to stay together forever or wait for each other. And before anyone compares her to Hancock, remember that Luffy and Hancock spent much more time together even though it might have started off as a very shallow and one-sided relationship.

Basically there is no stable foundation for this ship right now and it would be shallow from both ends if they ended up together. Also, for Sanji who already has a reputation within the fandom to be a “playboy” (I don’t agree, but still) he would just come off as even more shallow if he ended up with Purin, basically only because she looks good. Her personality isn’t exactly appealing at this point in time. Compared to Viola who hurts Sanji but acted evil against her will, Purin did those things at least partly of her own free will even if she might have been lying to herself. It simply wouldn’t be a healthy relationship.

As for Purin I take her character as someone who is very damaged, but Oda has also shown a few scenes that indicates that she might long for freedom and possibly even the chance of finding true love, just like her sister Lola. If she ends up with Sanji despite everything she would still end up with someone she didn’t choose for herself. Ending up with Sanji just because he is the first person to call her third eye beautiful would also be a very shallow reason from Purin’s side. Personally I’d see it as a better choice to show her getting a chance to finally be free and live her own life as opposed to getting turned into being a woman that’s supposed to wait for Sanji’s return.

At the end of the day there isn’t enough time for things to change in order to make this couple work. It would make both characters look shallow and the story would feel forced and rushed. I know this might not come off as legit because of my other biased opinions, but I really don’t think writing these two as a canon couple would be a good idea.

And this is if Oda even decides to redeem her to begin with of course. I’m not at all sure about what Oda plans to do yet, I only know that Purin definitely has a role to play still. That panel definitely means something, but if it’s good or bad is hard to tell. Personally I suppose having her turn and help the strawhats is more likely. Simply because they need all the help they can get to be able to get out of the current situation and  of course there have been hints of Purin not being completely evil. But Oda could just as well have us all fooled and make Purin go crazy again. But if Oda decides to redeem Purin in some way that doesn’t mean that her ending up with Sanji will automatically be a good idea.

I want Sanji to be happy, and I don’t think being with Purin is the answer. I want him to find love, because I truly think that he wants and deserves it, but whatever develops between Sanji and Purin will most likely not be enough for it to feel like a good romance.

Also, please remember that this arc is not about Sanji getting a girl (this includes Nami too), it’s about him confronting his past and finally seeing his own worth. It’s about him and his bonds to Luffy and his nakama.