With Jujutsu Kaisen nearing its end and many other shonen manga suffering from disappointing endings, One Piece fans are terrified that several decades worth of volumes will end up with the same fate. However, considering that the ending of One Piece is meant to be the Straw Hats achieving their prospective dreams, it can’t be that hard to make the ending fans want.
Eiichiro Oda himself said that the ending would be a happy one. Anything in between is just a happy bonus, whether that means growing tensions with Imu or fighting Shanks.
So far, One Piece has been well-connected, and while some arcs aren’t to everyone’s taste, they are relevant to the overall story. It’s not to say fans aren’t right to be worried, considering how well-written Attack on Titan started out to be but then fell greatly with its climax. However, it was hinted that Hajime Isayama felt greatly pressured by fans, whereas Oda doesn’t seem to care about external pressures.
One Piece is More Than Just a Shonen to Fans
Yes, One Piece is a shonen manga and it does have all the makings of the genre. However, to fans who understand Eiichiro Oda and the message he’s trying to send, any ending is an amazing ending. The author is known to be quite unserious and wants freedom to be the number one priority in One Piece. Fans also have undying faith in Oda that he will deliver the ending One Piece deserves. That would inevitably mean Luffy becomes the Pirate King and the other Straw Hats achieve their goals.
On the topic of other shonen manga not being able to deliver, an X user replied to the same tweet with an interesting perspective on what a “good” or “bad ending” really means.
In the end, it is a subjective opinion. Several fans of Attack on Titan loved the ending and understood the symbolism. Some Jujutsu Kaisen fans just appreciate the fact that the main trio is alive and well. One Piece fans know Oda will, in time, reveal the mysteries of the Void Century, the true nature of the legendary treasure, and eventually make Luffy the Pirate King.
Oda Doesn’t Treat the Shonen Genre Too Seriously
Some fans genuinely joke they wouldn’t mind Buggy becoming the Pirate King by pure luck, as long as it means Luffy has his freedom and is sailing the seas. That’s the true crux of One Piece. It’s about freedom, not limited to just powering up and defeating villains to prove something. The Straw Hats have always been about liberation and adventure, the thirst for knowledge, and genuinely helping people who are suffering.
Eiichiro Oda developed the story in such a way that fans could never imagine he would disappoint. Now that the story is in its ending stages and hasn’t taken a hit, it only goes to show how careful Oda has been with connecting the dots. He has, after all, been the mastermind behind One Piece for more than 20 years. Only fans who don’t have respect for his craft would be disappointed with the ending.
One Piece is available on Crunchyroll.
