Overview
- Numerous characters in One Piece emerge unscathed from life-threatening situations, which lessens the gravity of their sacrifices.
- Notable examples include Pell, Spandam, and Kiku, all of whom survived injuries that should have been fatal.
- Creator Eiichiro Oda’s hesitance to eliminate characters can lead to disheartening moments, detracting from the narrative’s emotional resonance.
The acclaimed series One Piece has garnered worldwide admiration for nearly thirty years due to its intricate characters, expansive world-building, profound themes, captivating narrative, exhilarating action, and unique power system. Yet, one notable critique from fans towards creator Eiichiro Oda is his aversion to killing off significant characters.
Throughout the series, several key figures appear to suffer lethal attacks—often accompanied by poignant, emotional death scenes—only to reappear soon after in subsequent chapters. This recurring pattern diminishes the meaning of their sacrifices, creating a perception that true death is a rarity in the world of One Piece. Below, we will explore some prime examples of Oda’s frustrating tendency to revive characters in critical moments.
Pell
Defied Death from a City-Destroying Bomb
- First Appearance: Chapter 155 (Manga), Episode 91 (Anime)
Pell is perhaps the most infamous survival story in One Piece. His intended “death”scene was incredibly moving; using his Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Falcon Devil Fruit abilities, Pell heroically carried a bomb intended to obliterate Alubarna to a safe height, where it detonated. However, he reappeared shortly thereafter with merely minor injuries, much to the dismay of fans who felt his sacrifice should have held greater weight.
Pagaya
Survived Enel’s Lightning Strike
- First Appearance: Chapter 239 (Manga), Episode 154 (Anime)
The trend of characters appearing to sacrifice themselves, only to return later, continued with Pagaya in the Skypiea arc. In a dramatic moment, Pagaya pushed his daughter Conis to safety from Enel’s deadly lightning. While this scene added depth to his character, his eventual reappearance alive and unscathed diminished the emotional impact of that moment.
Spandam
Survived Robin’s Revenge
- First Appearance: Chapter 355 (Manga), Episode 249 (Anime)
Spandam, the despised former chief of CP9, faced retribution at the hands of Nico Robin, who utilized her Hana Hana no Mi powers to exact final vengeance. To the audience’s shock, a subsequent Cover Story revealed his survival and subsequent recovery, allowing him to join CP0. This turn of events frustrated fans who felt that such a notable antagonist should have faced true consequences for his actions.
G-5 Marines
Survived Caesar Clown’s Deadly Experiment
- First Appearance: Chapter 681 (Manga), Episode 607 (Anime)
During the Punk Hazard arc, the G-5 Marines, including notable characters Smoker and Tashigi, experienced a poignant moment when they placed themselves in danger to rescue Tashigi. Their ultimate fate was less impactful when it was revealed they survived being petrified by Caesar Clown’s deadly gas experiment, minimizing the emotional stakes of that scenario.
Charlotte Moscato
Survived Big Mom’s Lifespan Theft
- First Appearance: Chapter 829 (Manga), Episode 788 (Anime)
At the onset of the Whole Cake Island arc, Charlotte Moscato faced a dire confrontation with Big Mom, who used her powers to steal his lifespan. The audience was led to believe he had perished, only to find him alive by the arc’s conclusion. His survival detracted from the scene’s intended emotional depth, which was meant to showcase Big Mom’s ruthless nature.
Pound
Survived an Attack from Charlotte Oven
- First Appearance: Chapter 831 (Manga), Episode 792 (Anime)
Pound, the biological father of Chiffon and Lola, embarked on a quest to reunite with his family during the Whole Cake Island arc. In a dramatic moment, he appeared to be attacked fatally by Charlotte Oven, only for later revelations in a Cover Story to indicate that he had survived. This undermined the weight of the scene and left many fans disheartened.
Kin’emon
Survived Kaido’s Brutal Assault
- First Appearance: Chapter 656 (Manga), Episode 580 (Anime)
Kin’emon was prominently featured in the Wano Country arc, and his dramatic confrontation with Kaido appeared to spell doom for him. In a gut-wrenching moment, he was seemingly mortally wounded, sacrificing himself for Momonosuke’s safety. However, his survival, explained through the means of unconnected limbs from a previous arc, felt anticlimactic and trivialized the stakes of his supposed final act.
Kiku
Survived a Devastating Stab
- First Appearance: Chapter 913 (Manga), Episode 899 (Anime)
Kikunojo, known as Kiku, is a significant member of the Red Scabbards who, during the fierce Raid on Onigashima, incurred multiple life-threatening injuries. Despite suffering a severe abdominal stab from Kanjuro and losing an arm to Kaido, Kiku later survived thanks to Hiyori’s healing intervention. While her character brought joy to fans, her improbable survival left some questioning the stakes and tension within the story’s fiercest moments.