379-381: "Brook's Past! A Sad Farewell With His...

379-381: “Brook’s Past! A Sad Farewell with His Cheerful Comrade!”, “Bink’s Booze! The Song that Connects the Past with the Present!” and “A New Crewmate! The Musician, Humming Brook!”

‘Wave good-bye but don’t you cry, our memories remain.Our days are but a passing dream, everlasting though they seem.Beneath the moon we’ll meet again, the wind’s our lullaby.’

You may have realised but I was putting off watching the last three episodes of the Thriller Bark arc because I knew from the preview that 379 dealt with Brook’s past and it would therefore contain Sad Laboon.

I’m so glad I made myself sit down at watch them. What a peaceful, elegant and respectful way to end an arc. I love how Oda treated Brook’s transition from lonely, drifting survivor clinging to the memories of his past, to shiny new addition to the Strawhat crew with a bright future. Brook did not abandon his memories and his love for his old crew when everything was done and dusted and the offer to join the Strawhats was again extended. Oda had the patience to allow Brook to let the Rumbar Pirates go gradually, with dignity. He let Brook remember them and grieve so he could move on and look forward to a wonderful new life with his new friends to whom he owes so much already.

What was really lovely was that the Strawhats who had gathered around the piano listened. They listened to Brook story and recognised how much the Rumbar Pirates and Laboon meant to Brook. In true Strawhat style, they banded together to help Brook honour their memory.

As I suspected, the backstory itself was a multi-car pile-up of tragedy, made worse in an odd way by intervening stretches of happiness and false hope. I’d say Brook’s past is up there with Robin’s and Chopper’s. Brook’s past is different, though, because his journey started out full of hope and friends but the cruel vagaries of life ground him down until all that remained was the living hell of loneliness.

The backstory started by introducing Brook, the irritating morning person, waking up the Rumbar Pirates on their ship with a song. On deck, the ‘pew pew pew’ of a tiny whale called from the water in response to Brook’s song. “Go find your pod! Your mum must be worried!” the Captain called out. But Laboon had probably already lost his pod at that point. He had nowhere else to go.

Laboon earned his placed as a Rumbar Pirate by helping out when a bunch of Panda Pirates attacked. The next thing, we see Brook sitting on deck underneath the stars. There were shots of Laboon dancing in the water. Breaching. Laboon even shared a treasure horde with his pirate family. When Laboon was chased by the Sea King, the Rumbar Pirates defended him.

But the seeds of trouble were already sown. When the Rumbar Pirates disembarked on an island, Laboon wanted to come. They had to explain he couldn’t because… well… he’s a whale. The crew asked Brook to break the news to Laboon because they believed Laboon liked Brook best.

Once again, they asked Brook to reason with Laboon when the time came to part for good. The Rumbar Pirates knew they were headed for the Grand Line. Laboon was still a baby whale and they would not have been strong enough to protect him (which was right. They couldn’t even protect themselves in the end). But when Brook broke the news to Laboon, the cute little whale did not want to hear it.

Still, the Grand Line called. The Rumbar Pirates set sail. Laboon trailed after them. He made questioning peeps, which received on response. The Rumbar PIrates hid from him and ignored him, believing if they cut ties harshly, Laboon would get the message and leave. Laboon began to cry. His peeps became more urgent and desperate.

When the ship picked up speed and left him behind, Laboon realised they had left him. Laboon might have been a baby but he is an intelligent, emotional mammal with a long memory. When the reality of the situation sunk in, there was a close-up shot of Laboon’s wide, wavering eyes, which Oda uses to express much of his emotion. The scene was tinged with red and Laboon cried his little whale eyes out.

Guh. ;_;

The Rumbar Pirates had a hard time reaching Reverse Mountain. They weathered a horrific storm, but navigated the treacherous waters and came out the other side with the help of the lighthouse. On the other side of the Red Line, they met Crocus, who said hi and then asked them if the whale by the boat was their pet.

Brook and the Rumbar Pirates were happy to see Laboon and they threw a huge celebration party for reaching the Grand Line safely, but that moment was so damned sad. When they left Laboon, the little whale had no one and nowhere else to go. Laboon would rather have taken his chances following them secretly, being battered and scarred by storms and the hazards of the Grand Line than being alone.

Unfortunately, the Rumbar Pirates knew they still had to leave Laboon behind. At least this time Laboon would not be alone. Crocus was there, which is a small blessing. (That man deserves a medal for looking after Laboon).

Again, the Rumbar Pirates left Laboon behind, with a promise to return in two or three years.

Then everything fell to shit in episode 380.

I really liked how the tale of the downfall of the Rumbar Pirates unfolded. We were afforded glimpses of it, flashbacks of misfortune that seemed like paradise but only because they were set in contrast to the living hell that was Brook’s isolation.

The way Oda portrayed Brook’s isolation made me shiver. Brook wandered on deck, strewn with the corpses of his companions. He picked up a skull and laid it in a coffin with all the others. Many, many others.

Then the memories flooded him, all the silly, wonderful memories: the two guys who argued over a battle accident, staring up at the stars wondering if Laboon looked at the same ones, running from the Marines, the Captain’s bounty increasing, celebrating…

Then it was back to grim, lonely reality. Brook hummed absently and grabbed the wheel.

The Captain caught the plague from a jungle they visited. Loads of the crew already had it. The Captain knew he was dying. He gathered the Rumbar crew in his room and ordered them to push forward on a new ship and desert the one that had become a plague ship. He would make it over the Calm Belt and they would meet again (I think this was a lie. He had condemned himself to death, but wanted to make his crew feel better).

At the last, the Captain grabbed Brook’s hand and sobbed that he was filled with regret. Brook promised they would meet again (ugh) and saw the Captain off to his death with the song he loved so much.

Ten years later, Brook is rolling about the ship, amusing himself by taking off his pants and forming forty-five degree angles. (I know he had the recording but damn, I still wonder how Brook managed to cling to sanity). That dream he had that his crew were still alive and had found a summer beach island was beyond cruel.

In the present day, Brook showed Luffy and co. the Tone Dial he bought. It contained a message from the Rumbar Pirates to Laboon, as they lay dying of the poison their attackers laced their weapons with. A scene like the one in Titanic where the string quartet play until the boat sinks followed. All the Rumbar Pirates alive sang Bink’s sake until they keeled over. Brook swore to take the message to Laboon if his fruit revived him. They sang. It was down to a quartet, a trio, a duet and then a solo.

Episode 381 was filled with a quiet optimism (though there was an important development that has filled me with trepidation).

Brook officially joined the crew (which took about two seconds again. “May I join your crew?” “Yeah!”) Now that he has his shadow back, now he knows Laboon is okay, and now he is able to escape the Florian Triangle, he is able to fixate himself on a new goal: to take the message from the Rumbar Pirates to Laboon.

I don’t know why, but I swear Laboon knows. No idea how (he must have whale knowledge, or something) but he let out a happy roar and Crocus remarked Laboon was in a particularly good mood today.

After the party, Brook could be found sitting quietly beside the shrine Franky built (which Usopp designed - the Strawhats had a competition. I dread to think what Luffy’s design looked like - and Chopper decorated with flowers). Brook played Bink’s Sake for them as a final farewell.

Then Zoro appeared and asked Brook if he could lay Yubashiri, his dead sword, to rest alongside Brook’s friends (which shows how much Zoro’s swords mean to him). I loved how nervous Brook was when he spoke to Zoro, almost as if he was afraid Zoro would not approve of his joining the crew. But Zoro made a joke about how much Brook’s luck sucked because the Strawhats were a handful and they both knew everything would be fine.

Everything across these episodes was just perfect. Nothing was overwrought or overly emotional. The tragedy wasn’t whacked over your head repeatedly. It was quite subtle and almost realistic. I am also confirmed in my love for Brook. He is an incredibly strong character, who has endured unimaginable loneliness and ill-luck and has never lost his faith in humanity.

I’m so glad Brook exists. ^_^

Must say I am worried about the Vivre Card issue, though. I also have a weird theory that Captain Lola is related to Big Mom. Lola revealed she was born in the New World, that her mother is an amazing, famous pirate, and she has a Vivre Card.

The Vivre Card thing isn’t evidence, really. It’s only because Ace had one too and we know he is under protection from a Yonko. Lola told Nami to keep the card in case they run into trouble in the New World. If this turns out to be true, does that mean the Strawhats will be under the protection of Big Mom?Damn, I wonder what’ll happen to Moria if Big Mom finds out he snipped her daughter’s shadow? xDBut Ace…I am worried. Lola also mentioned the Vivre Card reflects the other holder’s vitaity. Luffy’s half was burning, shrinking and curling up at the edges. I don’t think Ace is in a good way.

I am preparing myself for the worst now.

This is always the correct reaction when meeting Laboon.

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