Dressrosa’s arc birthed one of the most significant conflicts in One Piece, so what elements made it so great?

One Piece is an anime series with over 1000 episodes, and many intriguing and exciting arcs keeps fans glued to the screen. And out of many of the arcs, some are received more than others in the adventure series.

However, it can be concluded that all One Piece arcs are excellent and choosing a favorite one depends on the antagonist and what the arc tends to explore coupled with its significance in solving the mysteries in the story. The events of Dressrosa and Punk Hazard birthed the most protracted conflict in One Piece.

Why should Dressrosa Arc sit in One Piece hall of fame?

The Dressrosa arc is the second lengthiest after the land of Wano arc. While this might be a bit tiring, with the anime being one of the longest-running anime franchises, the antagonists and introduction of some characters make the Dressarosa arc worthwhile.

With its longevity, the pacing could be faster and more consistent since fans already know that the final showdown would be between Monkey D. Luffy and Donquixote Doflamingo.

The Villain: Donquixote Doflamingo

Donquixote Doflamingo Is arguably the greatest villain in One Piece. He is not the most powerful, but he wears the crown of the most wicked villain in one Piece. Doflamingo is an architect of destruction, and his devil fruit power is symbolic of his noxious personality. His evil nature is complemented by his perfection as a great manipulator and dehumanizer of people through his strings of doom. Doflamingo is a puppeteer who used his strings to bring a once-prosperous kingdom to its knees. A villain that turned a great king into the people’s enemy and made some of the people slaves by turning them into toys.

Doflamingo’s evil nature manifested itself during his pernicious reign at Dressrosa and as a young kid. As a young kid and a Celestial Dragon, enslaving and dehumanizing people are nothing new. And when his father decided to leave the Celestial Dragons’ home, he murdered his father to reclaim his place among them. However, when his request is denied, he causes trouble for the nobles and blackmails his way into becoming a warlord. Doflamingo also murdered his brother Roxinante, a heinous crime that did not make him tick or sympathetic. Regardless of his backstory, his behavioral nuances demonstrate that his evilness is innate. He is the most memorable villain in One Piece, a well-written adversary of the Straw Hats and a miscreant who elevated the Dressrosa arc.

The Backstories

The Dressarosa arc does not have the best backstory in One Piece, but one thing it did right is exploring the backstory of Doflamingo. Evil always has a source, and from Doflamingos backstory, being evil has always been a part of him. His backstory added more depth to his villainy origin. Coupled with that, the story of Senõr Pink explores his humane side, how he once felt pain and why pain means nothing to him. His fight with Franky seemed like a masochist battle– the battle of who gives in to the pain. Senõr Pink’s past illuminated his current behavior and explained why he has an odd appearance and a pacifier glued to his mouth.

Even though these backstories lengthened the arc, they vividly portray that every villain has an origin story. Not limited to the villains alone, the arc also dived into Sabo’s backstory, a homage to his reappearance and reunion with Monkey D. Luffy. The backstory of Sabo is a trip down memory lane since it would bring back memories of Portgas D. Ace’s final days at Marineford.

Admiral Fujitora’s Sense of Moral Justice And Power

Admiral Fujitora ate the Zushi Zushi no Mi devil fruit, which enabled him to harness and manipulate the gravitational force at will. Throughout the series, the admirals and vice admirals have abused their positions of power and acted more like the government’s lapdogs. However, an admiral that proved otherwise is former Admiral Aokiji. Aokiji assisted Nico Robin during the destruction of Ohara, and while his motives and goals are still unknown, he might just be the fans’ favorite Admiral in One Piece.

In the Dressrosa arc, Admiral Fujitora is introduced to delve into the alliance between the Straw Hats and Trafalgar Law. And, while the Admiral would most likely be compared to government figures such as Fleet Admiral Akainu and Admiral Kizaru when first introduced, he is different and has a strong sense of justice. The blind Admiral is the first person in power to oppose the existence of the Schibukai. Even though these warlords help the Marines in carrying out some deeds and serve as balance on the sea, he sees them as a plague that must be eradicated. The appearance of Fujitora creates a balance in the Marine as someone who acknowledges their wrongdoings and willingly expresses his displeasure, unlike Akainu.

Fujitora’s enormous power of the gravitational force he brings forth with his sword makes him formidable, even for Doquixote Doflamingo. Doflamingo described him as a monster because of the nature of his power, which was vividly displayed in Dressrosa. Due to his heightened senses and great strength, Zoro and Luffy also had difficulty fighting Fujitora. Fujitora is a counterbalance to the evil nature of the powerful people in the Marine, a man with such a sense of moral justice that he blinded himself to unsee the atrocities of the world. At the end of the arc, he is drawn to Monkey D. Luffy’s upbeat personality and wishes he hadn’t blinded himself so he could see his face. Unlike the other Admirals, Fujitora’s unique character will undoubtedly bring a smile to fans’ faces.

Despite the Dressrosa arc’s lengthiness and certain displeasure that might ensue due to the longevity of some events, these events are the foundation of the beauty about to unfold. The long coliseum battles in Dressrosa laid the groundwork for characters that later became part of the Straw Hats fleet. It is with Dressrosa that the battle of Whole Cake Island, Zou and Wano country ensues. In One Piece, no scene is insignificant, no matter how drawn out or lengthy. And while the Dressrosa arc might be an embodiment of this flaw, it will still sit as one of the top 3 best arcs in One Piece and features one of the best-written villains in the series.

Src: gamerant.com