User blog comment:12th Supernova/Chapter 808: Pachyderm Panic/@comment-72.205.181.157-20151128011930/@comment-24.235.56.183-20151128202902

No I did not see that because there's a difference between literary parallels and recycling a thematic device. Cosmetic similarities are bound to happen when you go on for 800+ chapters, but to say that Oda is recycling plots is ludicrous.

Alabasta and Dressrosa had a lot of parallels because it was an effective way to move the story. They are both the first major plot after crossing the Red Line, so it makes sense for Oda to make them mirror each other. But the differences within those similarities are what make the story great.

For instance, both arcs start with a former member(Vivi, Law) of the Shichibukai's(Croc, Doffy) shady organization(Baroque Works, Doflamingo Family) asking the SH crew to accompany them to a kingdom in turmoil(Alabasta, Dressrosa) in order to stop the man that is trying to opress its people.

Cosmetically, that's the same thing, so I can see how someone with no appreciation for storycraft would be upset. But where Vivi is trying to save her country without the help of anyone, Law is essentially trying to kill himself in the process of killing Doffy and is using anyone he can to reach his goal. Both characters took advantage of a strong crew when they happened upon them, but a) Vivi cared so much about the kingdom, and felt so guilty that she didn't want the help when she got it, and b) Law cared nothing for the kingdom, and felt no guilt in using the Straw Hats as pawns to get closer to Doffy. He has essentially put two opposite characters into the same situation, and it's completely natural. That's amazing.

Even looking at it and trying to see a formula- this happens, then this happens, then this happens- that only works in the most general sense. Where in Ennies Lobby did Usopp run away and then manage to get the upper hand on a much stronger opponent? When did Zoro get captured because he was injured/passed out drunk? And when in Arlong Park did Sanji do something clever by using stealth? These are all major plot points and none of them are common in the two arcs. Water 7 is not being oppressed/held hostage by CP9; Arlong Park never suffers a natural disaster like Aqua Laguna.

If you have no appreciation for the intricacies of the story, then all you see is a female crew member(Nami, Robin) abandoning the crew, only to discover that they are being blackmailed and they don't want the crew to get hurt. After talking to Luffy, they cry out a wish for him to help her and he goes to beat up the strongest guy(Arlong, Lucci), leaving his cohorts(Arlong pirates, CP9) to the rest of the crew. There's so much more to the story, but all you see are the most generic details.

Also, Tarot cards and playing cards are not the same thing.