The One Piece Podcast Episode 866 – "You Have It Set To Uncool"

Date: April 28, 2025
Host: Zach (Maji Media)
Guests:

• Ed
• Stephen Paul (One Piece English Translator)
• Joey Weiser (Eisner-nominated artist)
• Brian Newton (Animation director, Rick and Morty)

Overview

In this episode, the crew dives deep into Chapter 1147 of the One Piece manga, titled "What We're Afraid Of." The discussion revolves around the unfolding Elbaf arc, the introduction of the Holy Knights' nefarious plans, hilarious and pointed character moments, and the manga’s blend of humor, menace, and stakes. The episode features a detailed manga recap, speculation about upcoming plotlines, translation insights, and the classic Piece Together Q&A with listeners.

Main Segments

1. Crew Introductions & Catchup

[01:31–04:22]

• Zach introduces the panel: Stephen (translator), Joey Weiser (this week’s image artist and Eisner-nominated cartoonist), and Brian Newton (animation supervising producer/director).
• Joey describes strawberry picking in Georgia (with a nod to One Piece marines).
• Brian jokes about fandom and working on Rick and Morty, industry goings-on, and surviving California fires.

2. News & Updates

[05:40–10:31]

• Discussion of the Universal Studios "Fan Nights"/LED Fan event featuring One Piece food and theme attractions.

  "Drop anchor at Sanji's Galley and dig into One Piece themed food and beverages like Luffy's Meat on a Bone... Frankie's Cola Barbacoa." — Zach [07:41]

• Hype for a season 2 live-action One Piece announcement; cast Instagram lives, Robin's actress rumored to have a scene with Wapol.
• Update: Filming has wrapped; special effects & music underway.

3. Manga Recap – Chapter 1147: "What We're Afraid Of"

[11:53–66:48]

Cover & Extras

[11:53–18:31]

• Jump cover is video-game themed: Luffy with “gamer headphones,” PS1 controller banana joke, and 8-bit sprite versions of Jump characters.
• Debate about the inclusion of certain characters as sprites vs. full illustrations—Jump “criminology”/editorial choices.
• Ochre Child cover story: Yamato’s Golden Harvest Surrogate Pilgrimage continues. Raizo revealed as Daimyo of Udon.

Chapter Discussion

[22:36–66:48]
Key Developments (with notable timestamps):

• Holy Knights’ Hostage Plan Unleashed

  • [31:13] Sumner, a Holy Knight, transmits a message across Elbaf: 10 children are being held hostage, including Saul (“orange-bearded man”) beaten for pursuing them.
  • [33:51] Villages of Elbaf face terrifying "Sleepdids"—monsters drawn from the children’s greatest fears, attacking every region.
  • [36:11] The threat’s goal: Reduce Giants to slaves by holding children hostage; undermine Elbaf’s peace and history by destroying school and library.

• Giant Crew vs. "Sleepdids"

  • [41:08] Dorry, Brogy, and crew battle monstrous incarnations of the children’s deepest fears, including giant, terrifying "mom" figures, leading to slapstick apologies:

    "I'm sorry for always going out drinking, dear! I'm sorry for forgetting to take out the trash, dear! I'm sorry for eating the honey cake that was for the guests!" — Giants’ collective plea [49:03]

  • [45:41] The entire Giant pirate crew collapses in comedic horror as their “worst fears” (their wives) attack.

• Kids in Peril & Character Panels

  • [57:07] The 10 kidnapped children are named, each with quick sketches of their personalities and parentage, featuring standouts like Ronia, Mag, and Bent (afraid of his mother).
  • [62:02] Johanna, a child with horns, reveals she has no parents, spurring speculation about her origin.
  • [63:36] Colin, determined to be a “warrior,” is praised by his parents, notably Gabon (to Ripley):

    "Did you hear that, Ripley? Our son's a hero." — Gabon [63:36]
    "Not right now, honey. Come on." — Ripley [63:40]

• Holy Knights’ Ultimate Demand

  • [64:09] The Holy Knights threaten to burn Elbaf's school and library unless the Giants submit.
  • [65:28] Anje and Ripley defend the cultural importance of these institutions, linking to Ohara’s scholarly sacrifices—a direct callback to Nico Robin’s tragic past.

• Robin’s Showstopper

  • [66:27] Robin and Gabon prepare to stand against the Holy Knights to prevent another “burning of Ohara,” showing Robin’s resolve:

    “I won’t let them do this!” — Robin (internal monologue) [66:42]

  • [67:04] Robin’s eyes and demeanor signal she is ready to fight back, echoing her most intense and vengeful moments.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments:

• Brooke’s Loyalty

  “From the day that Captain Straw Hat Luffy bestowed upon me my second life, I have been dedicated to no one but him. … I would rather die than live without honor.” — Brook [28:53]

• Gunko’s Heel Turn

  “I want you to write songs for me. For the rest of your life, you’re going to be my slave.” — Gunko to Brook [27:08]

• Meta Commentary

  “A Celestial Dragon who’s a fan of Soul King—sounds like a nightmare of a fan.” — Jinbe [28:16], followed by Ed/Joy deep-diving on “right-wing One Piece fans” and how some “miss the whole goddamn point” [111:45]

Discussion & Reactions

Panelist Musings & Speculation

[67:36–86:00]

• Unanimous praise for the chapter’s blend of high stakes and comedy; comparison to old cartoons and slapstick manga.
• Deep appreciation for Oda giving focus to Straw Hats—especially Robin and Brook—highlighting the arc’s return to their POV and agency.
• Brian notes the “immortality” of Holy Knights seems to have rules or limits—parallels drawn to Fullmetal Alchemist’s homunculi.
• Discussion of the subtlety in Gunko’s pain (possibly from kicking her musical idol or power drawbacks).
• Translational insight on names and Sleepdid puns from Stephen.
• Panel agrees: Elbaf arc’s wordplay, villain personalities, and kid characterizations are rich and layered; echoes of Vicky the Viking.
• Robin is pegged as the potential protagonist for a major upcoming fight.
• “Mom” Sleepdids are fan-favorite monsters, with the panel imagining their own defeat at their hands:

  “Mom is unbeatable. If you haven’t learned that lesson now, you should.” — Brian [101:12]

• Theory that the 10 hostage kids represent a “next generation” of giant pirates.
• Oda’s humor gets examined for being antiquated (“very Flintstones,” “Honeymooners”), but it still lands among both hosts and fans.

Piece Together Q&A

[97:58–148:03]

• Audience discussions about Straw Hats’ hygiene habits (Brooke bathes once a week; Sanji is forced to wash him).
• Musings on who would be best equipped to take on the “mom” Sleepdids among the podcast crew (consensus: no one).
• Theorizing on Holy Knights’ connections to marine lore and Brooks’ past (God Valley survivor?).
• Favorite kidnapped Giant kid? Consensus: Ronia (for optimism); Brian votes for the schemer Bjorn.
• “Map scene” of Elbaf receives applause and irreverent anatomical jokes.
• Predictions: How long will the Elbaf arc last? New numbers are recorded for the podcast’s ongoing pool.

Translation & Editorial Insights

[139:40–145:47]

• Stephen explains the weekly manga translation process: He receives the full chapter complete with images roughly a week before release and executes his translation in tandem with editors, letterers, and proofreaders in Japan and the US.

  “You have to see the images to get the full context…” — Stephen [139:54]

• Names: "Sleepdids" are derived from "yuma" (Japanese for cryptids), maintaining Oda’s original etymological joke and spirit.

Closing Thoughts & What’s Next

[149:47–156:48]

• Praise for Robin/Gabon team-up and hope for a “legendary Robin moment.”
• Elbaf arc praised for focusing tightly on Straw Hats, giving “old-school” adventure vibes absent since pre-timeskip.
• Panel wraps up with shoutouts, plugs, and hints at the next non-manga break episode (possibly the “Boyfriend Bracket” or a marathon voicemail show).

Episode Highlights & Timestamp Guide

| Segment | Time | |--------------------------------------------|--------------| | Crew Intros & Catchup | 01:31–04:22 | | News & Updates (Theme parks, Live-Action) | 05:40–10:31 | | Manga Recap Begins (Ch.1147) | 11:53–66:48 | | - Holy Knights’ threats | 31:13+ | | - Giants vs. “Sleepdids” moms | 41:08+ | | - The 10 kidnapped kids revealed | 57:07+ | | - Gunko/Brook confrontation | 28:10–29:31 | | - Robin rallies against library burning | 64:09–66:48 | | Panel Reactions & Analysis | 67:36–86:00 | | Piece Together (Q&A) | 97:58–148:03 | | Translation Insights/Behind the Scenes | 139:40–145:47| | Closing Thoughts & Outro | 149:47–156:48|

Noteworthy Quotes

• “I would rather die than live without honor.”
  — Brook [28:58]
• “From the day that Captain Straw Hat Luffy bestowed upon me my second life, I have been dedicated to no one but him.”
  — Brook [28:53]
• “Men will sail the Grand Line instead of taking their trash out… instead of going to therapy. God, Luffy—that really explains a lot.”
  — Zach [88:18]
• “A Celestial Dragon who’s a fan of Soul King—sounds like a nightmare of a fan.”
  — Jinbe [28:16]

Final Takeaways

• A Fan-Favorite Chapter: The panel agrees this is a highlight of the Elbaf arc, blending Oda's unique comedic timing, tension, and heartfelt character drama.
• Brooke Shines: Brooke’s loyalty and stoic refusal to bend to power and fandom is a major emotional spine.
• Robin’s Imminent Moment: Robin is poised to exact righteous fury, potentially repeating history in her own terms. High hopes for a signature, cathartic fight.
• Villains Are Fun (and Hateful): The Holy Knights’ blend of eccentricity and evil is working, especially Gunko’s nuanced heel turn.
• Kids & Comedic Monsters: The new generation of Giant children are charming, each with distinct designs and personalities; “Sleepdids”—especially the “mom” monsters—are an instant gag classic.
• Arc Structure: The action is focused and clear, with a big, easy-to-read map, and the Straw Hats at the narrative center.

Next Time:
No manga break next week! The panel may tackle a Boyfriend Bracket (Yaoi Thunderdome-style) or marathon listeners’ voicemails. Stay tuned!

[All timestamps in MM:SS; skips ads, intro, and sponsor/plug sections.]