One Piece is one of the longest-running anime and manga series, remaining strong even after more than a thousand episodes and over a thousand chapters. Although it's one of the most beloved anime , even One Piece has arcs considered weak, especially by the series' expectations. One of the worst is the "Fish-Man Island" arc, which is particularly regrettable as it's also the Straw Hat Pirates' first major arc after the time skip.
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Furthermore, the arc introduces an important storyline by exploring themes of oppression, racism, slavery, and hatred towards Fish-Men and Mermaids .
The worst arc of One Piece
Sanji 's perverted joke , for example, is amplified to an uncomfortable level, leaving fans grateful for the significant change in the character in One Piece . Meanwhile, the arc's main villain, Hody , doesn't even come close to the great villains of previous One Piece games, despite what he represents, and can easily be overlooked by the other attention-grabbing enemies. While the One Piece is attempting to correct some of the original arc's problems, another change could have helped this arc immensely, and that would be the inclusion of Arlong.
One Piece: Arlong Park Arc
Going back to the beginning of One Piece , Arlong is the final boss of the East Blue Saga . While the Straw Hats encounter many villains before him, Arlong Park is the climactic conclusion to their time in the East Blue, and it's an epic conclusion that makes lifelong fans of One Piece . Furthermore, the fight between Luffy and Arlong is iconic and showcases the kind of captain and friend Luffy is. Meanwhile, Arlong is an enemy unlike any other at that point in the series, foreshadowing the dangers that await the Straw Hats when they enter the Grand Line.
The Straw Hat Pirates have evolved a great deal since Arlong Park, gaining new members all the way to Fish-Man Island. Along with that, they've become significantly stronger. An incredible way to showcase this growth is through a rematch with an old villain, as is the case with the epic rematch between Luffy and Rob Lucci in Egghead. This display of strength could have been done earlier, however, with a rematch between Luffy and Arlong. Furthermore, with Arlong concluding the Straw Hat Pirates' East Blue Saga, there would be something poetic about having him help usher in their next saga as they enter the New World.
Arlong, Jinbe and Hody
It would be poetic to have Arlong as the main villain before the Straw Hat Pirates arrive in the New World, as this would continue the exploration of themes of oppression and hatred, centered on Fish-Man Island. On this island, Fish-Men and Mermaids are marginalized and treated as inferiors, without civil rights, even being enslaved, while the World Government turns a blind eye to such atrocities, allowing the Celestial Dragons to benefit from this discrimination. Arlong, with his belief that Fish-Men are superior to humans and deserve to dominate, symbolizes this fight against the oppressive system, but his motivations and methods contrast with those of other characters, such as Hody, who is lost in hatred, even harming the very Fish-Men he claims to fight for.
The difference between Arlong and Hody deserves further exploration, as it reflects how hatred can become cyclical and generate varied responses. While Arlong, despite his flaws, had a certain care for his crew, Hody is consumed by anger and the desire for revenge, preventing him from seeing beyond his suffering. The contrast in attitudes can also be seen in how other pirates, such as Jinbe, respond to oppression and seek more peaceful alternatives. Arlong's return could offer a unique opportunity to delve deeper into these dilemmas, showing how the cycle of hatred and oppression affects each character differently, and revealing viable alternatives for resistance and liberation for the Fish-Men.
Villains who have returned before
It's not uncommon for villains from the past to return to One Piece . Bon Clay made a triumphant return in Impel Down, saving Luffy several times. Crocodile also returned, and remains a character in One Piece since joining the Cross Guild with Mihawk and Buggy.
The perfect moment would have been Fish-Man Island, given his direct connection to the island and several of its main characters. Furthermore, his history with Nami and Jinbe would have made this reunion even more interesting. Arlong is one of the best villains from previous arcs, so if Arlong didn't return, it would have been a missed opportunity. One Piece missed this chance once before with Fish-Man Island, but hopefully it won't make that mistake again.
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