In last week’s episode 1012, we finally get to see the Tobi Roppo fights beginning. If you’re anything like me, you’re watching the anime episodes of One Piece in between manga break weeks, and things are getting really juicy.
The episode adapts chapter 998 of the manga, where the Flying 6 are revealed in their Zoan Devil Fruit animal forms.
While Jinbe faces Who’s Who and Franky fights Sasaki, our boy Sanji gets caught in the web of a certain beguiling arachnid. Black Maria, whose Zoan animal form is a gigantic prehistoric spider, lures Sanji into a trap.
Of course, Vinsmoke Sanji should be able to escape Black Maria and defeat her… right? Wrong.
Sanji does not defeat Black Maria. Not because he loses to her, but because he doesn’t fight her at all. Sanji had vowed never to harm women, and for whatever her spider form is worth, Black Maria is still a woman.
Despite being tortured and ridiculed by Black Maria, Sanji chooses neither to attack nor defend himself, and stays true to his character.
A lot of people hate on Sanji for getting owned by Black Maria. But the way I see it, Sanji sticking to his core values is a sign of his strength. He chose not to retaliate on principle – he has my respect for that.
On the other hand, it would have been amazing to see Black Maria defeated by Sanji. Especially because she was so sure that he wouldn’t. Black Maria and Kaido knew that Sanji would never attack a woman, which is why she traps him in the first place.
Sanji could have developed a way to escape her clutches in a way that guaranteed Black Maria’s defeat without him actually attacking her head-on. But of course, Oda had other plans.
Black Maria was never supposed to be Sanji’s final opponentin the Wano Country arc.
Who will be Sanji’s opponent in Wano?
Sanji’s opponent in Wano will be Queen.
Sanji, being the third strongest member of the Straw Hat Pirates, will go up against Queen, the third strongest member of the Beasts Pirates.
Of course, since Luffy will go up against Kaido, and Zoro will take on Kaido’s right-hand commander, King, the second Calamity – Queen – is the perfect opponent for Sanji.
But if Sanji doesn’t defeat Black Maria, who does?
Who will Defeat Black Maria?
Black Maria will be defeated by Nico Robin.
Black Maria and Kaido’s main plan was to capture Sanji and use him as bait to trap Nico Robin. Robin is the only one who can decode the Poneglyphs, and Black Maria wants Robin to read the Poneglyph to Kaido so he can locate the Ancient Weapon, Pluton.
Black Maria has one of her subordinates, Sarahebi, fake being sexually harassed so Sanji would come save her.
How does Sanji Escape Black Maria?
Black Maria is sadistic and ruthless – she physically and mentally tortures Sanji, teasing him that she would keep him forever as her little pet. She humiliates him saying things like:
“Black-leg is the laughing-stock of all of Onigashima! And he’s supposed to have the number-two bounty? Tells you a lot about the level of your little crew!”
The pacing in the anime has been slightly off, but we can expect to see the full Black Maria vs. Sanji confrontation in the next episode.
We will also see how Black Maria already knew that Robin would come to free Sanji – she sets up spider webs in the two corridors that lead to the Banquet Hall. She also has her subordinates, armed with tranquilizer guns, placed in strategic locations to ensure that Robin can be seized.
But before anyone could come save him, Sanji does something that no one expected him to: he shouts for Robin to come save him.
Why Sanji isn’t Weak for not Fighting Black Maria:
This is why I don’t understand when people diss Sanji for “losing” to Black Maria. His chivalry is taken advantage of and he is brutally punished for it. The guy literally sticks to his code of honor despite being made fun of and demeaned.
He asks a female, his friend, his nakama, to come and help him. It takes a real man to ask for help.
This isn’t like when Nami took over Sanji’s fight against Khalifa, back in Enies Lobby. Black Maria is figuratively and literally roasting Sanji, and even in the face of death, instead of breaking or fighting back, he calls Robin for help.
Sanji avoiding his fight with Black Maria doesn’t make him weak.
This is One Piece – it’s not just some generic battle manga with a simple power scaling. Things like will, resolve, and morality weigh and score higher than just strength.
We already know that Sanji is capable of defeating Black Maria if he wants to – but Sanji is a guy who will risk his own life saving (or feeding) his enemies.
That is just who Sanji is, that is his role in the franchise. To be the powerful good guy who just refuses to fight with weapons and ever raise a hand on women.
Sanji calling Robin for help is a significant moment. It not only proves Sanji’s character, but also his relationship and trust in Nico Robin.
He relies entirely on Robin to rescue him, which is very touching. Robin on the other hand, finally gets her moment to shine. Sanji asking her to help is a sign of the Straw Hats’ faith in her.
About One Piece
One Piece is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine since July 22, 1997.
The man who had acquired everything in this world, the Pirate King, is Gol D. Roger. The final words he said at the execution tower were “My treasures? If you want it, I’ll let you have it. Look for it; I left all of it at that place.” These words sent many to the seas, chasing their dreams, headed toward the Grand Line, in search of One Piece. Thus began a new age!
Seeking to be the greatest pirate in the world, young Monkey D. Luffy also heads toward the Grand Line in search of One Piece. His diverse crew is joining him along the way, consisting of a swordsman, marksman, navigator, cook, doctor, archaeologist, and cyborg-shipwright, this will be one memorable adventure.
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