Recurring Themes In Oda’s Arc Structures

Despite how varied One Piece’s settings and story arcs are, there are a few recurring elements that Eiichiro Oda has recycled over successive sagas, by carefully concealing them within the finer details of each new island the crew journeys to. Plot points such as the “countdown to destruction,” or the sequential introduction of antagonists according to their relative strengths are staple features of Oda’s storytelling, and can be seen in virtually every arc since the Arabasta Saga.

With respect to the convention of introducing minor antagonists in the build up to the main antagonist, the order of increasing strength has held true for virtually every arc in the Grand Line. From the Baroque Works Agents and God’s Army, to CP9, the Admirals, the Donquixote Pirates, Big Mom’s Sweet Commanders, and the Beasts Pirates’ All-Stars, there is a clear trend of weaker antagonists getting involved first in each major story arc, before stronger foes make their way towards the Straw Hat Pirates.

Hence, encountering Saturn on Egghead may be the crew’s first step in fighting their way up towards Saint Figarland Garling, God’s Knights, and finally, Imu, who is potentially the most powerful figure in the World Government, and One Piece’s main antagonist. On one hand, the Final Saga may be the ideal time for Eiichiro Oda to subvert expectations and demonstrate the power of the strongest Gorosei from the start, but most signs point to a different conclusion.

Till now, Saturn has not demonstrated a great deal of combat prowess beyond his overpowered instant kill ability, immobilization, and regeneration, which raises questions about whether he is really a combat specialist to begin with. While it would be on brand for him to be a seasoned war veteran, given that his title is the Warrior God of Science and Defense, his real power may lie in his keen intellect rather than physical strength or combat ability.

The Symbolism In Saturn’s Name And Abilities

In addition, there is a great deal of symbolism in the names of the Five Elders, as each one is a pun on a particular planet from the Earth’s Solar System. As the furthest away from the Sun among the five, Jaygarcia Saturn’s very name could be a nod towards his real position in the hierarchy of the Five Elders with regard to their strength.

Naturally, this would put Saint Topman Warcury at the top of the list, which may also be fitting considering he is the designated Warrior God of Justice — a word that has very important connotations in the Marines’ philosophy and the ideals of the World Government as a whole. Alternatively, the entire hierarchy could be flipped on its head, which would make Saturn the strongest of them all. This makes his presence on Egghead all the more volatile, as the Straw Hat Pirates will have to escape the clutches of the most powerful member of the Highest Authorities of the World Government, perhaps second only to Imu.

Unfortunately for now, there is no real way to ascertain the merits of this assumption until each one of the Five Elders showcases their full power. Saturn and Saint Shepherd Ju Peter are also the only members of the Gorosei who bear visible scars on their bodies, indicating that they possess some level of combat experience. Conversely, it could also mean that the others were powerful enough to avoid sustaining injuries in their battles. Whatever the case may be, the Five Elders were more than comfortable meeting Shanks — one of the world’s most powerful pirates — in private, which indicates that they may be capable of handling themselves against an opponent of his caliber.

Lastly, there is the symbolism behind the Magic Circle used by Saturn to teleport on to Egghead Island. The origin of this ability and its implications on the Five Elders’ true nature has not yet been confirmed, but the number “5” is very prominently featured in its design. From one perspective, this might be a reference to the Five Elders themselves, but it could also be a further sign of a system of hierarchy among this group, which would make Saturn the lowest ranked. It remains to be seen whether any of this will prove to be true, as Eiichiro Oda is a master at deceiving readers into making false assumptions, and fans of One Piece can only hope that the truth will be revealed by the time the Straw Hats depart from Egghead.

One Piece is available to stream on Netflix.