Nami Deerest
Episode 6 of One Piece season 2 starts with Miss All Sunday speaking to Wapol, the corrupt former king of Drum Kingdom. He's been financing Baroque Works for a while and wants what he's owed. Blackbeard has vacated Drum Island and now is the time for Wapol to make his move.
Wapol is given a gift, which happens to be a Devil Fruit. There's no telling what sort of power it may include, but Wapol greedily gobbles it down as the Baroque Works group prepare for their next mission.
Onboard the Merry, Nami is still feeling under the weather. She's been in and out of consciousness for 4 days now and she's got nasty black veins up her arms.
Meanwhile, at the Isle of Renaisse, we catch up to a Marine Communications Outpost where Smoker and Tashigi are on the hunt. They make it to the outpost, intending to intercept the calls. Smoker tells Tashigi to radio Marine HQ and let them know there's no sign of Baroque Works just yet.
Smoker has had enough and decides to turn his attention to Luffy and the others instead. Still, they head inside the outpost first, where they find evidence of what appears to be a skilled swordsman taking out marine members. Smoker thinks it's the Straw Hats and goes it alone to smoke (no pun intended) them out.
In the depths of the outpost, Smoker finds Miss Thursday, another Baroque Works member. Smoker takes her out easily.
Meanwhile, Tashigi heads in and fights with Mr 11, recognizing that he too has another skilled blade in the form of Kashu. Tashigi takes him out too before the pair reconvene, knowing that Baroque Works were clearly looking for something… but what?
Well, Smoker interrogates Mr 13 and demands answers.
At Drum Island, Vivi explains that the politics between Alabasta and Drum aren't great but this is their only option to save Nami. They need to find a skilled doctor, but they also need to be careful.
Flashbacks to 10 years ago explain more about this hostility. At Pangaea Castle, in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, a tense round table discuss Dragon and how he's the greatest threat to the World Government. King Wapol is completely indifferent to the threat and decides to turn a blind eye to the issues affecting the world.
It's a complete contrast to King Cobra of Alabasta, who wants to do what's right by the people. The two have contrasting ideologies, with Wapol demanding respect, claiming that "politics is power" and doing very little to help international relations.
When Wapol strikes Vivi outside the palace, it almost causes all-out war between the two Kingdoms. Vivi does well to shake off the implications, but in reality she starts sobbing. Igaram stands up for her and reassures the girl over her tenacity and great virtues.
Back in the present, the group make it to Drum Island but find hostility from the Kingdom residents who refuse to open the door to them. Vivi is the one who talks them around, dropping to her knees and apologizing. Luffy and the others follow suit and it does the trick to gain them entry.
Here, they meet with Dalton, captain of the Civilian Guard. He's joined by Maria and other civilians. Dalton explains that Blackbeard has ruined their town, having arrived and had their way with them. Wapol abandoned them upon seeing Blackbeard's power and they've been living in misery ever since.
Dalton continues, pointing out that the only one who can help Nami is the witch Kureha. She's currently in a castle situated at the very peak of Drum Island and the only person who can help them. Luffy is determined to get there before nightfall.
Luffy drops off Zoro, Vivi and Usopp at the local tavern and heads up the mountain with Nami. The group make it to the top of the mountain, but they're not alone. The trio are taken into the castle, as Luffy pleads with the creature that takes him inside (Chopper!) to help save his friends.
Nami awakens to find Kureha and Chopper there. Turns out Nami was actually bitten by a Kestia, which is a particularly nasty creature that poisons its victims. Luffy and Sanji are here too and both seem to be okay.
The Episode Review
I'm not sure if it's just me but I genuinely thought Miss Thursday was Miss Merry Christmas when Smoker saw her, because honestly that looks nothing like Miss Thursday. That whole arc serves as a way of giving Smoker something to do, but it doesn't really add much to the overall story.
However, we finally get a look at Chopper and Dr Kureha, for what should be the most emotionally charged part of season 2 (especially diving into their backstory!) It's clear now that the Alabasta Arc is being reserved for season 3, with Baroque Works taking the limelight this year.
The changes with the source material are a tad disappointing this episode too, as I was kinda hoping to see the killer rabbits and that wild avalanche. However, it's a minor point in what's otherwise still an enjoyable adaptation.
The show has done a pretty decent job in keeping things action-packed throughout, and the way this episode ends, it seems like we're on course to close out the Drum Island arc with a bang in the final 2 episodes. Roll on the next chapter!
Episode Rating
3
Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
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