User blog comment:Kaido King of the Beasts/The Nature of the Zou Arc/@comment-972068-20151208090234

This saga may be something like an Anti-Baroque Works Saga. Both sagas involve a new character who joins the Straw Hats simply to return to their home. Although it's not quite as much of a primary goal in this arc. Perhaps because a lot of other stuff has gotten in the way, and there's no real conflict or anything in Wano at the current moment, unlike Alabasta, which was about to go into war.

The Baroque Works Saga had many shorter arcs that served to simply transition the story. The Laboon Arc started like that, and then Whiskey Peak got the ball rolling, because it set the goal (get Vivi home) and then continued on. Then Little Garden Arc came. Fun arc, and it served as its own epic story arc while still being transitional, although small.

The Zou Arc may be like the Little Garden Arc. It doesn't really focus on the goal to Wano (then again, neither did Dressrosa), but both arcs have their big backstories and adventures. Also, is it a coincidence that a big part in both arcs is that Sanji is missing through most of it? Probably, but if not, it can be an interesting parallel.

It's 3 AM and I just felt like rambling my own thoughts. Might be something to think about.