One Piece’s Biggest Problem Still Stops It From Becoming the Best (And It’s Time It Was Fixed)

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Despite being close to its conclusion, One Piece still avoids introducing a key element that could significantly enhance its story and depth. The series boasts one of the most compelling narratives in entertainment, having captivated audiences for nearly three decades. One Piece already delivers on almost every fan expectation, with its action and adventure being particularly strong. However, it’s the mystery surrounding the legendary treasure that truly keeps viewers engaged. While One Piece is fantastic in many ways, it isn’t perfect.

Watching One Piece unfold over the years, I’ve noticed a pattern that really stands out – a real reluctance to let characters die. Considering how vast and dangerous the world is within the story, and how long it’s been running with thousands of chapters, it’s striking how few major characters have actually met their end. It’s something fans are used to at this point, but even as we reach the final stretch of this epic adventure, the story still seems to avoid permanent loss. Honestly, I think it’s time the series addressed this and started raising the stakes with genuine consequences.

One Piece Still Shies Away From Killing Its Characters and Giving Them a Compelling End

The anime and manga series One Piece is currently showing the events unfolding on Elbaph, a crucial part of the story’s final arc. Things have become incredibly dangerous as Dorry and Brogy, powerful giants, are being controlled by Imu, and Elbaph is descending into chaos. They had even tried to kill Jarul, a significant figure among the giants. In the latest chapter, titled “With Pride,” Dorry and Brogy briefly regain control of their minds, realizing they were manipulated. Overcome with shame but driven by their pride, they make a shocking decision and swiftly behead each other.

This scene briefly added real weight to the story, especially given the long-standing feud between Dorry and Brogy. Their willingness to end their rivalry with a final, fatal battle felt like a natural conclusion to a major storyline, and the idea of their deaths was genuinely surprising. However, the moment was immediately undone when it was revealed their fight actually helped free them from Imu’s control, allowing them to magically reattach their heads and stand up again.

This scene demonstrates a continuing challenge for Eiichiro Oda: effectively portraying death in One Piece. It’s a shame, because this moment briefly felt like a real turning point, offering a satisfying conclusion to a long-running conflict and hinting at the increasing danger of the final arc. The series needs to address this issue, and the battle between Dorry and Brogy could have been a perfect opportunity – all the pieces were there for a truly impactful death. Instead, One Piece continues to shy away from killing characters, even going so far as to bring characters back from the dead, like Saul and Vegapunk. This is frustrating because when One Piece has depicted death in the past, it’s added a rare and powerful weight to the story.

One Piece Has Proven in the Past That It Can Kill Characters to Add More Gravity

While One Piece has shown many deaths in flashbacks, these moments don’t feel as significant because viewers already know those characters’ fates. However, when the series kills characters in the present day – like Portgas D. Ace and Edward Newgate (Whitebeard) – those deaths are incredibly powerful and remain memorable for fans. This demonstrates that creator Eiichiro Oda is skilled at writing impactful character deaths, but he reserves them for truly important moments. The deaths of Ace and Whitebeard stand out because they are the only major character deaths that have happened in the present timeline of the series.

The manga really needs to start utilizing some of its many characters more effectively. With such a large cast, it’s easy for them to get lost or forgotten if they aren’t given enough screen time. The recent events in the story presented a great chance to bring these characters into the spotlight, but the series missed the opportunity. This is holding the story back from reaching its full potential and exploring exciting new directions.

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2026-03-09 15:10