The One Piece Podcast – Episode 917: "Stay In Line!"
May 4, 2026
Host: Zach Logan
Guests: Ken O’Connor, Steve Yerko, Sam Leach
Episode Overview
This episode of The One Piece Podcast delivers a jam-packed analysis of two major One Piece topics: the midterm (WT100) One Piece character popularity poll results and an extensive anime recap covering the end of the Egghead arc and the start of Elbaf in the anime (episodes 1151–1160). The hosts dive deep into fan reaction, character trends, structural changes in the anime, and continue their own "Glup Shit Beard" tournament—celebrating the most obscure, beloved, or ridiculous One Piece side characters.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. WT100 Popularity Poll Midterm Results
(03:20 – 56:05)
General Reaction & Context
- The poll covers the top 100 most popular One Piece characters as voted by fans worldwide.
- Stakes include Oda drawings and merchandise for top vote-getters, with the poll promoted through official channels and the anime.
- Recency bias, meme votes, fan communities, and regional differences play robust roles in shaping outcomes.
Standout Moments and Quotes
- Panda Man’s Endurance:
"Starting at 100, we have Panda man, which honestly, I think is very fitting for him to be on here at all." —Ken O’Connor [17:16]
- Senior Pink’s Surprising Placement:
"There is a Senior Pink fandom. People who do genuinely like... I think Senor Pink is fine." —Zach Logan [18:13]
- Controversial Rankings & Meme Candidates:
Reaction to obscure characters (e.g., Hongo, Damalo Black) and meme favorites (e.g., Rockstar, the Kung Fu Dugong) fill the lower ranks.
- Debates on Character Worth:
Lively discussion about whether certain characters (e.g., Big Mom, Ben Beckman, Hawkins, Perona) are ranked “too high” or “too low.”
"Big mom...should really, and I mean this very sincerely, sincerely should be in the top 15." —Zach Logan [25:44]
- Meme & Community Influence:
"It seems like the meme votes this year are him [Rockstar], Damalo Black, Spandam..." —Steve Yerko [57:01]
Top 30 Overview
- The group gives a quick rundown of 30–10, shifts to more intense reactions on the top 10.
- Notable moves: Jinbe and Franky miss the top 20, Carrot drops significantly compared to previous polls, and Kuma surges into the top 25 after recent plot relevance.
- "Kuma at 22 is crazy...That says a lot about the strength of the story, you know?" —Steve Yerko [44:17]
Top 10 Results
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- Chopper
-
- Uta
-
- Shanks
-
- Ace
-
- Robin
-
- Law
-
- Nami
-
- Sanji
-
- Zoro
-
- Luffy
“UTA over Usopp is crazy.” —Ken O’Connor [42:10]
"Her popularity is gonna, like, it was. It's definitely gonna exceed, like, just like, the purpose of her character for that film." —Steve Yerko [58:49]
General Sentiment
- Despite some generational divides and surprise rankings, the hosts appreciate the diversity and energy of the poll.
- "One Piece is on the up and up. Like every single day at this point, it feels like. Yeah, for good and bad reasons." —Ken O’Connor [15:38]
2. Anime Recap: Egghead Arc Finale & Elbaf Start
(61:49 – 157:52)
Featuring detailed segment-by-segment analysis from Sam Leach, with reactions and commentary from Steve and Ken.
Egghead Arc Episodes (1151-1155)
- Narrative Highlights:
- Strong emotional climax for Bonnie and Kuma.
- Visual and thematic payoffs for Vegapunk’s message, consequences for the world order, and existential threats to One Piece’s world.
- Gear 5 Luffy, Bonnie's "distorted future" power, and joint attacks provide Looney Tunes-style animation flourishes.
- Animation Praise:
- "The entire Emmett fight is just really, really cool to look at. And well done." —Ken O’Connor [72:46]
- Gear 5 transformations, Conqueror’s Haki scenes, and emotional beats get high marks for energetic animation and pacing.
- "Chef's Kiss across the board. They did a really good job wrapping up Egghead." —Ken O’Connor [101:01]
- Emotional Resonance:
- Concludes with a powerful sequence of Bonnie, Kuma, and Vegapunk; final toasts and banquets on the ship to Elbaf.
- "The whole relationship of Bonnie and her parents and this sort of familial relationship that never was...extremely well done." —Sam Leach [75:56]
- Different reactions to dub changes (e.g., Buggy’s new voice actor) and the treatment of manga-canon flashbacks.
Elbaf Arc Episodes (1156-1160)
3. “Glup Shit Beard” Tournament Bracket Discussion
(160:31 – 164:55)
- The podcast rounds out with results and banter about their humorous contest to find the most obscure beloved One Piece side character.
- "A shit beard could only be described as if you ask any regular Normal fan of One Piece. Who is this character? They go, who the fuck is this character?" —Zach Logan [162:56]
- Justice for Chuji and Moosie, arguments over who ranks as the “gluppiest,” and speculation on which will advance.
- Participatory element: listeners can vote in Discord.
Notable Moments & Timestamps
| Time | Speaker | Notable Quote or Segment |
|-----------|----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
| 03:20 | Zach/Ken | “Midterm” popularity poll results begin |
| 25:44 | Zach | “Big Mom…should really…be in the top 15.” |
| 42:10 | Ken | “UTA over Usopp is crazy.” |
| 44:17 | Steve | “Kuma at 22 is crazy...says a lot about the strength…” |
| 58:49 | Steve | “Her [Uta’s] popularity is gonna, like...exceed…” |
| 62:06 | Sam | “Stay in line, folks. It’s still going.” |
| 75:56 | Sam | “…extremely moved by that final sequence there.” |
| 101:01 | Ken | “Chef’s Kiss across the board…the end of Egghead…” |
| 129:40 | Sam | “This scene is just cool as fucking hell…” |
| 135:59 | Sam | Nami’s “Ojo-sama” laugh, viral animation moment |
| 151:31 | Steve | “…no recaps. It’s a crazy time…” |
| 153:30 | Ken | “I've been loving it so far…haven't had this focus…” |
| 157:39 | Steve | “One Piece is at its best when it feels like an adventure.” |
| 162:56 | Zach | “A shit beard could only be described as…” |
Final Thoughts
This episode embodies The One Piece Podcast’s core strengths: knowledgeable, opinionated, and passionate hosts; genuine engagement with both canonical and fan-driven One Piece culture; and a welcoming atmosphere for listeners to join the conversation (Discord, sticker releases, and interactive polls). Whether you’re a manga reader, anime fan, or part-time participant, this episode offers an in-depth, entertaining review of the current state of the series and its fandom.
For more, check out the latest episodes, join their Discord for tournaments, and stay tuned for the upcoming manga recaps!