User blog comment:12th Supernova/Chapter 851: Full Candy Jacket/@comment-173.175.91.92-20161230161716/@comment-24850639-20161230164910

We couldn't possibly count all the times that we've analyzed logic, evidence from the story, and context clues to form a hypothesis on what we think is going on, just to all be foiled by Oda slapping us across the face with something we couldn't have seen coming. We can all just as easily be fooled again, you're completely right, and I agree with that.

However, in most of these cases of us being fooled, there was also some kind of subtle hint as to what he was planning all along. He's only made these plot twists even more intricate as the story moved along, as we sort of started to catch on to being able to tell when he may be hiding something. I can agree that the Pudding reveal seems way too obvious for us to not have caught on too, but you have to agree that she follows the historical pattern Oda has ALWAYS used for revealing a bad character. Ambiguous intentions, ambiguous appearances (3rd eye), a focus on their individual story (non-important arc characters dont get flashbacks, period), and actions that directly affect the main protagonists in some way or another. In addition to this:

- No official name box STILL (The official box, not just the name)

- "Only my family knows my true nature" (what other nature would she be talking about if what we usually get is the sweet, innocent Pudding?)

- Unwarranted malevolent behavior (No need to go super bitch mode with the insults to Sanji and the SHs if she could have just erased Reiju's memories from the beginning and moved on)

What reason do you honestly see to hold out hope that she's somehow a good person under all this? I'd love to hear your thoughts, it's not like I'm 100% sure we're right to doubt her. Just seems a little late in the arc now for yet ANOTHER plot twist regarding her.