Holy crap, so many brilliant things happened but this takes the crown. I mean, CROCODILE. It’s been literally years since I’ve seen his arrogant face. When I heard that sinister laugh from that shadowy cell I just knew without looking. I listen to the New World Symphony and STILL think of Crocodile vs Luffy.

I need to hold off, though, because I’d bore everyone to death if I rambled on about Crocodile for the entire post. (I could totally do that, btw).

One of the things I liked about this episode was that Luffy is running into powerful, influential people left, right and centre. There is Crocodile, obviously. Ivankov and Inazuma (two revolutionaries) are now fighting his corner. The Fishman right there in the screenshot is the one and only Jinbei: an angry Shichibukai in the level six cells for a time out. 

Level six was kind of creepy. The sound was flat, dead. Just a moaning whistle of wind and shadowy cells. I got Silence of the Lambs vibes from the place. They only found Jinbei because Ivankov pulled another one of his forced reassignments on a guard (who was at least happy with the result this time) and asked where Ace was being held. They found Jinbei instead. No Ace.

Luffy, bless his heart, had no idea who Jinbei was. Jinbei, because he is a cool guy, told Luffy he was too late to reach Ace and was straight-up impressed by how he not only broke into Impel Down but reached Level Six. (I think I like Jinbei. He’s on my good guy list).

The only thing was, Luffy, Ivan-san and Inazuma ran off after he told them this.

The audacity. I would have at least offered to bust Jinbei out in return for the intel. Oh, well. Luffy is in a hurry, I guess, and Jinbei won’t be there forever. (Was it ever mentioned why Jinbei was thrown in the cells? I can’t remember).

When Luffy and co. tried to backtrack through the lift shaft, Hannyaball finally showed he was worthy of his pay grade. He fired a spike trap at them, but the poison gas did the damage. It put Luffy straight to sleep and if Inazuma hadn’t quickly cut up the floor and blocked the lift shaft, their break-out could have ended right then and there. (Inazuma’s Snip Snip power is cool, btw. Very versatile. A bit like Moria’s, come to think of it).

And that’s another thing I liked about this episode. Luffy was caught out. He’s not some Gary Stu, and Ivankov’s presence doesn’t guarantee him success. The staff at Impel Down aren’t numbskulls. They still hold most of the cards.

This guy, though... 

There’s nothing as motivating as the the threat of job-insecurity, eh? XD

Once Inazuma took care of the poison gas, Luffy woke up. Ivankov, rightly, scolded him for being so reckless. I mean, running into a cloud of poison gas right after Ivankov had JUST HEALED HIM FROM POISON? What was he thinking? 

Ivan tries to convince Luffy to, well, not give up on Ace, but to trust in Whitebeard to rescue him, because Whitebeard is Godly and also has Godly virtues (like not abandoning crew because they are family.  I am looking at you right now, Blackbeard, you traitor). A Royal Rumble is about to go down: Shichibukai and Admirals vs. Whitebeard Pirates. If you get between that lot, you die. No questions.

But Luffy is Luffy. Ace is family too. He turned to Ivankov, looked him straight in the eye and said: “If I give up now...”

That determination shining out his face reminded Ivankov of Dragon. I liked the morph into Dragons’ face the animators used there to hammer home the point. Maybe Dragon once said the same thing in Ivan-san’s presence? I kind of like the thought of that. :)

While they were wondering how to get out, the Crocodile Thing happened.

Oh, the delicious irony. Luffy put him in Impel Down and now he’ll be the one to break him out. Well, if Luffy does accept his help.

I really hope Luffy does. Not just because I like Crocodile and want to see him raising hell again but because this will be a HUGE dilemma for Luffy, for the following reasons:

a) morals: what Crocodile did to Vivi and Alabasta was low. If Luffy casts the past aside and does anything he can to help Ace, no matter who he has to team with, this will cement his Morally Grey Status I like so much.

b) team well-being. Can he trust Crocodile not to turn on him as soon as he’s busted out? Luffy put Crocodile in there. Nico Robin is now working with Luffy. Might Crocodile want revenge? I don’t think I’d trust him.

Meanwhile, the literal long arm of the law dragged Ace out onto the concourse and handed him over to Cigar Vice-Admiral guy.

I was briefly excited when Ace resisted the guards when he found out Luffy had reached Level 6 (Luffy is definitely Ace’s berserk button). But Magellan spoiled my hopes he’d escape. Damn it, Magellan. >:(

Looking forward to more Crocodile in the next episode. I sense much mind-fuckery ahead. Whatever you think about Crocodile, the plot always becomes much more interesting when he shows up.

I must confess to a miniature freak out when I saw the title card. Thought for a moment Luffy was going to fight Blackbeard and win. Then my Blackbeard for Final Villain prediction would have been Gomu Gomu no Smashed to Bits.

Thanks, Jinbei! You saved Luffy and my plot prediction.

Though there wasn’t as much action, I liked this episode just as much as 445 and 446. This is because I also like mind games and Blackbeard is good at getting into opponents’ heads and messing them up.

He shit-talks until they snap, tanks any hits, then gets up and unleashes his power. This is exactly what happened to Luffy. I was honestly worried for Luffy for a moment. Ace was caught out too, but it was only for a split second and he is more experienced and cool-headed than Luffy.

I wonder what it must’ve been like to have been hit - properly hit to the extent it drew blood - for the first time in years? Blackbeard’s power is pretty dangerous. If he gets you, your only option is fisticuffs. Or a long wait in a dark void.

It didn’t phase Luffy that much. Even when Blackbeard told Luffy how his vortex works and what it did to Ace. Luffy was so enraged, he leapt to his feet for another round.

Then Uncle Jinbei, the Voice of Reason, stepped in. He basically said: “Luffy, this guy has always been a whack-job and now he has this freaky power that beat the unbeatable Ace. Do you want to save your brother, or be hammered into the ground like a tent peg by this psycho?”

Then Crocodile, The One Who Asks Inconvenient Questions, chimed in.

In his customarily bitchy manner, he basically said to Blackbeard: “You must be the no-name random who took my old job.” Familiar with the Shichibukai  job description, he pointed out that the Marines should have summoned Blackbeard to help, and that by being at Impel Down, he risked being fired. Why would he risk that if he’d gone to so much bother to get the job?

Blackbeard’s reply was uncharacteristically genre-savvy. “All part of the plan. "Do I have to tell you everything about it?" Hah, I thought. Good comeback, Teach.

But Crocodile cannot be out-bitched.

“No, you don't,” he fired back. “Actually, I'm not interested at all.”

That was golden. Even Teach thought that was shady.

Then, a rumble and dusting of masonry warned the 4th Floor Rioters of Magellan’s return. Everyone else with an ounce of sense was perturbed by this, except Blackbeard, who wants to meet him for some reason. (At first I thought, well, maybe Teach knows he’s a bad match-up for Magellan because his Dark Gravity can negate the Warden’s poison, but then Magellan steamed through them later on. I don’t get it yet).

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Luffy and Blackbeard had a stare down.

Then, Luffy did something unexpected.

He walked away from the fight.

I actually blinked and couldn’t believe it for a moment. Luffy listened to Jinbei, thought about what he had come here do to and made the right choice. That showed real guts and maturity. Good decision, Luffy.

Then some interesting chat happened. While walking past, Jinbei acknowledged that Blackbeard had helped them by removing the barriers to their escape. To my astonishment, Blackbeard also acknowledged the chaos of Luffy’s riot had helped his crew infiltrate. I imagine Luffy didn’t like the thought of accidentally helping Blackbeard because turned to him and said: “I will save Ace at any cost.” To which Blackbeard replied: “I won't say it's a waste. Anything is possible in this world.”

Blackbeard is such a weird guy. He’s shit-talking you one minute, then half encouraging you the next. He never forgot their meeting on that island when he told Luffy that Skypeia really did exist. That’s another thing I like about Blackbeard: he never forgets a face, or a conversation (which is probably a bad thing for most of the OPverse, but yeah...)

He is also convinced that the One Piece exists.

And I believe him. Blackbeard’s a smart guy. He stole all that info about the Devil Fruits. I’m sure he learned something from Whitebeard about the One Piece, too.

Then Luffy walked away. 

Has he ever had to walk away from a real fight before?

Either way, that must have been HARD to swallow his pride and bow out. But I’m proud of him. And he got to take out his frustration on that Minotaurus, so there is that. But still... Blackbeard. You so evil.

And he’s definitely up to something. Apparently, the Blackbeard Pirates are going to put on a show that will shake the whole world. I am also convinced Shiryu has something to do with it because he destroyed all the CCTV and cut off all communication to Marineford.

What are you up to Blackbeard? Actually, no. Crocodile asked the right question. Why the hell are you in Impel Down? I never really thought of that but now it’s bugging me. Is there a secret stash of fruits somewhere? Is there a clue to to Raftel’s location hidden in a vault? Are they stealing Impel Down’s sick PA system for their World-Shaking show? I am full of questions and no answers.

At least Magellan is back to kick some ass and take names. I smiled when he acknowledged Hannyabal and said he was the only one who could take his place as Warden. I hope that’s not a death flag. I kind of like Magellan...

On self-destruct mode? Procrastinating? Worrying about making that big decision? On a drunken night out and just have to fight that bellend at the bar who’s twice your size?