User blog comment:Fliu/Wano Country Arc Act 1 Thoughts/@comment-24850639-20181113222718

Thanks for making another one of these threads man, I'm glad this one is getting more love than the last one.

As far as Luffy facing Kaido this early in the arc, it was most certainly expected. In fact, I'd have been more surprised if Luffy didn't face off against the guy until the actual final battle of the arc. That encounter was 100% necessary for all the reasons listed below, and more:

A) Luffy needed to learn the REAL difference in power between himself and a Yonko. The same way he learned that gap in his first battle with a Shichibukai (Crocodile), he needed to see just where his timeskip training fell short. He managed to overcome his shortfall in Observation Haki due to the battle with Katakuri, but that same battle also showed him that his Busoshoku Haki was insufficient. G4 Snakeman didn't change that, he just found a different way to "win" the battle. It's been timeout for all this "Luffy isn't ready for a Yonko" shit. He's not supposed to be ready to BEAT one at this point in the story, but its definitely time for him to get to the level of strength where he can realistically stand on his own in a clash with one. Super excited to see his next powerup after this.

B) We knew from the outset that the factories and the pollution they were causing was a problem that needed to be dealt with. Therefore, we needed someone on our side to get imprisoned so that we could get an inside look at just what is going on in there. We don't know Kidd well enough as a character yet for it to be him. We also got an in-depth look at just how horribly the Beast Pirates and Orochi's subordinates are treating the Wano natives that are forced to work there. This is a trademark "Luffy saves the day" situation, and no one else getting imprisoned made any real kind of sense. Oda said Wano would make Marineford look "cute", and I'm quite convinced that this prison breakout Luffy & Kidd cause is gonna make Impel Down look cute as well.

C) Going off of the last point, the people have been forced to work these factories, and drink/eat this polluted food for god knows how long. These people will undoubtedly resent Kaido/Orochi for this, but they need someone to rally behind to do something about it. Yet another trademark Luffy situation.

D) What occurs next for the Pirate-Mink-Samurai alliance is going to require quite a degree of very precise planning and execution. When has Luffy EVER followed a plan? Locked up in a cell where he can't fuck shit up anymore than he already has is literally the perfect place for Luffy while his alliance mates figure this out.

E) Luffy bearing his fangs at Kaido to the point that people see him thrashing Kaido around, regardless of the fact that he got one-shotted, is going to give people hope. Kinda relating to point C, people needed to see that Kaido isn't this untouchable figure. They needed to see that all it takes is someone who has the will, and they too can rise up. Shutenmaru/Ashura Douji seeing this was probably the most critical of all, as I definitely see him rallying the Atamayama Thieves behind Luffy. I personally see Zoro being the one to get Denjiro and Kawamatsu, but Ashura vouching for Luffy certainly won't hurt.

My personal hope is that this leads to Law getting more shine this arc, as I'm still clamoring for a big feat for him after the L he got handed in Dressrosa. I want to see Law be just as critical to this operation as Luffy is, not simply softening up Kaido for Luffy like he did with Doflamingo. After all we've learned about him, and his role in this, he deserves the proper protagonist treatment for once.