User blog comment:Kunoichi101/Chapter 962: Oden's Greatest Achievements/@comment-2001:8003:100A:5100:F589:DB39:122A:823B-20191115131929/@comment-108.83.222.210-20191119011402

I think the problem is more complicated then that. I have no issue with the fact that a regular swordsman could potentially end Luffy's life if they could manage to cut off his head or stab him in the heart if they managed to do so. I have no issue with poison or disease taking someone. The issue is that some people have come to see Sanji as useless because he has not yet demonstrated the invincibility that Zoro appeared to show before this arc. There were some who thought that if Big Mom or Kaido had threatened him, he would have threatened them right back and they would have crouched in fear like children at his threats knowing that they would be effortlessly defeated or some other nonsense. I disagree with that, I think that each character in this anime is imperfect in some way and that these imperfections make it easy to identify with them. The fact that they are struggling is part of what makes the story interesting. Ig they could effortlessly defeat everyone they came across then the manga would need to be done differently then it is to keep things from ending instantly. I have seen manga with overpowered protagonists and they work because the protagonists either cannot fix all their problems with martial might or they have something else keeping them from just going on a rampage. I have no doubt that the Strawhats will be able to do this at the end and that is a good way to end a manga, but not necessarily the best way to start one. When I look at Zoro, I sometimes get the impression that he represents to some people everything that they wish they could be. While for me, Luffy is closer to the mark in that regard.

Then there is the fact that many went into Whole Cake expecting Sanji to be a...what is the proper word? A badass I think. They expected him to abandon his principles, his skills, and everything else except those related to fighting. I didn't expect this because Oda when I focuses on character arcs seems to do so in a way that forces the Strawhats to face their fears, their past, their demons, things that cannot easily be defeated by them alone. Case in point, Sanji is haunted by his biological family and not only do they seek to get him involved in their business when he cut ties with them, but Zeff is under threat and this is not an enemy they can hope to outfight at once yet. They managed to cause enough trouble that Zeff is no longer being targeted and they have humiliated her. If they had taken the direct route to fighting her usually favored in similar circumstances, the outcome would be very likely to be much different then it is. Fortunately, it seems that they have not only survived this experience but have grown from it. I look forward to seeing Zoro face whatever hobgoblins are buzzing around inside that head of his and come out of it stronger.