The One Piece Podcast — Episode 897: “I Expect You to Die, Mr. Monkey” (SGS #27) Published: December 15, 2025
Episode Overview
This special SGS (Steven, Greg, Simba) installment of The One Piece Podcast, hosted by long-time contributors Steven (official One Piece manga translator) and Greg (One Piece columnist and series advisor), delivers a lively discussion during a manga off-week. Modeled after Oda’s SBS segments, the duo recap and analyze the latest three manga chapters—#1166, #1167, and #1168—unpack recent lore developments, answer community theory questions, and share offbeat anecdotes (often regarding their mischievous cat Simba). The episode is a mix of deep lore analysis, character discussion, fandom debates, and behind-the-scenes insights, making it a treat for both casual and hardcore One Piece followers.
Major Discussion Segments
1. Personal Catch-up: Injury Woes & Cat Chaos
[00:53–21:33]
- Greg recounts his recent streak of bad luck: recurring shoulder injuries, getting sick working in elementary schools, and comedic misadventures like angrily changing car tires only to re-injure himself.
- Steven shares a dramatic story about Simba the cat projectile vomiting onto their plastic Christmas tree in a fit of post-supper “zoomies.” This leads to a detour into the nighttime antics of male cats—including a tale of a host family’s persistently disruptive feline in a traditional Japanese house.
- Quote [12:36, Greg]: “The male cat of the house would walk back and forth up and down that engawa during the night... The cat would pow through the latticing, walk into the room and then continue to stare at me and meow as if I was gonna do a fucking thing for this cat.”
- Reflections on the joys of aging and the unpredictable loyalty of pets.
2. Manga Recap - Chapters 1166, 1167, 1168
[22:52–73:49] Ch. 1166:
- Covers the aftermath of the God Valley incident. Rox’s curse lifted—only for Garling to kill him. Roger’s crew discovers baby Shanks, and reactions from the Marines and other figures are shown.
- Discussion about Oda’s evolving art style, feeling the Straw Hats are drawn “chibified,” and lamenting the loss of their old, lanky look.
- Quote [24:44, Greg]: “I don’t like how Oda keeps trending towards... everyone sizing feels a little bit...off. Particularly Zoro, like their proportions are slightly weird.”
- Theorizing a "battle of the Garps"—Garp vs. Garling—as a perfect climactic confrontation.
- Quote [26:38, Greg]: “I think it'd be a pretty cool matchup...the battle of the Gars. Who is more garbage?”
Ch. 1167:
- Harald seeks favor for Elbaf with the Five Elders, becomes a “Knight of God,” and is tangled deeper in world politics. Shanks returns to Mary Jois, entangled in the aftermath of Fisher Tiger’s escape and the freeing of slaves. Eda, poisoned, dies, prompting Loki’s revenge.
- Extensive discussion of timeline inconsistencies involving Fisher Tiger’s backstory and the issue of whether he really did the legendary prison climb. Greg describes behind-the-scenes deliberations with production and Oda’s team for clarifying the story.
- Quote [45:30, Greg]: “…there Never was the climb. It didn’t happen because that was just the story...That was odo's idea for it and that's how the facts line up.”
- Debate over Shanks’ role in Fisher Tiger’s escape (and internet headcanons about Shanks' possible undercover or twin-pauper scenarios).
- Themes of tragic naivety (Harald) and the pressures of being a good king for your people.
Ch. 1168:
- Harald, now fully under Emu’s control, is forced to create a giant army. The “O with a cross” mark is explained as symbolizing the world under Imu’s rule—tying to pirate symbolism and Oda’s signature. Losing culture vs. advancing: Eda’s final words hint at Oda’s thesis (embrace both heritage and progress).
- Speculation on the “deep, deep sea” covenant and the mythos behind the world government’s powers; allusions to the powerful Davy Jones legacy.
Notable Quotes:
- [57:59, Greg]: "That's basically what this is. It's a symbol of the world under the control of Imu. And the horns probably...representing control over the world."
- [61:49, Greg]: “She says...you must remember your culture...but you must also add the new and continue to improve in different ways... The answer is balance: peace with strength.”
3. Patreon Q&A | Theories & Lore Debates (SGS Section)
[75:06–134:57]
Time Dilation Theory on Elbaf ([75:06+]):
- Prompted by a Louis Arnot quote, the theory that time may pass differently on Elbaf is considered, but both hosts are skeptical, positing it’s more about perception due to giants' lifespans.
On Calling Manga Authors “Sensei” ([84:59]):
- Explanation that “Sensei” means “expert/teacher” among many professions in Japan; in English contexts it’s used out of politeness or to match Japanese etiquette, but should be audience/context-dependent.
- Quote [90:13, Greg]: “It really is about your audience... When I was doing... press releases...it was required to call him Oda-sensei...For English readers, I’ll call him Oda or Odachi.”
Brooke’s Eating and Pooping Mechanics ([91:29]):
- Fun theorizing over whether Brooke needs to eat. Conclusion: His hunger is likely “phantom hunger”—spiritual/mental rather than physical necessity.
Imu’s Devil Fruit & Final Antagonist Debates ([93:16+]):
- Theorizing Imu’s powers are not from a single fruit but perhaps a “Connection Fruit” enabling control and metaphysical linkage to others; it's possible Imu is occupying Lily’s body.
- Quote [99:27, Greg]: “What if Emu is trapped in Lily’s eternal body? And what the fruit does is...it makes connections.”
- Blackbeard’s alignment: Greg believes he may not be “evil” but could become a final antagonist by misusing or becoming corrupted by Imu’s powers.
- Guessing on a possible “Gear 6”—it’ll likely happen, possibly as a fake-out or comedic twist.
The Forbidden Devil Fruits of God Valley & Elbaf ([105:55]):
- Theorized “forbidden fruit” could be the Dark-Dark fruit (Yami Yami) or possibly something linked to Luffy’s fruit.
Canon/Consistency Issues ([109:27]):
- Discussion about the World Government’s actions (or inactions) regarding Luffy and Blackbeard, concluding some moments are likely oversight or convenient devices for the story.
Deep, Deep Sea Covenant & Davy Jones ([129:18]):
- Deliberation over manga’s deep sea levels and Davy Jones lore; speculation that Oda’s using increasingly mysterious sea strata to foreshadow endgame mysteries.
4. Behind-the-Scenes & Translation Process
- Insight into translation choices (e.g., “deep, deep sea” vs. “abyssal”), internal debates with Oda’s editors, and adapting content for different cultural audiences.
5. Community Acknowledgement & Signing Off
- Express gratitude for fan questions (Discord, Patreon).
- Both hosts share ongoing and upcoming projects—Greg is writing columns for OnePiece.com (topic: “Wanted!” and Gil Bastar), Steven is translating titles like One Piece, Akanebanashi, Kurumizawa’s Folly, and recently finished Shohai Shoten and Trillion Game.
- Simba the cat makes a final cameo, receiving affectionate pats.
Key Timestamps
- 00:53–11:37: Greg & Steven’s personal updates, cat stories
- 22:52–49:34: Manga recap—Chapters 1166–1168
- 49:34–73:49: Fisher Tiger timeline debate, Shanks theories
- 75:06–134:57: SGS Patreon Q&A—covering time, honorifics, Brooke, Imu, final villain theories & more
- 136:08–141:51: Outro, project plugs, farewells
Most Memorable Episode Quotes
- Greg [26:38]: “It'd be a pretty cool matchup seeing the fight of the Gs...the battle of the Gars. Who is more garbage?”
- Steven [35:39]: “It’s much more interesting to see [Garp] as a three-dimensional character who is working with what he can do and living within those boundaries…”
- Greg [57:59]: “It’s a symbol of the world under the control of Imu…and the horns probably being, you know, representing control over the world.”
- Greg [61:49]: “You must remember your culture…but you must also add the new and continue to improve…balance peace with strength.”
The Episode in a Nutshell
A quintessential “SGS week” episode: lively personal banter, deep-dives into new manga lore, debates over timelines and character arcs, translation and production puzzles, and robust listener interactions. The episode encapsulates the heart of One Piece fandom by blending serious analysis, playful theorizing, and good-natured community spirit—all in the voices and style long-time listeners love.
Episode Title Origin:
“I Expect You to Die, Mr. Monkey” is a playful riff on classic Bond villain lines, referencing Luffy ("Mr. Monkey") and encapsulating the climactic tension in the One Piece saga.
For comments, theories, or to get your questions read in a future SGS, join the Patreon Discord or reach out on social media with #sgssensei.