The Loguetown Arc is the culmination piece of the East Blue Saga and transitions between the familiar waters of the original voyage of Luffy and the dangerous new world of the Grand Line. The town of Loguetown is referred to as the town of beginnings and endings as it is the homeland of Pirate King, Gol D. Roger and where he was cruelly executed in the town. This allegorical place predetermines the atmosphere of a curve of fate, predestination, and identity formation of the Straw Hats.
Loguetown is not a lengthy arc, yet it is very profound. It brings in new villains, increases the world, and provides every Straw Hat with a moment of growth as they gear up to the adventure they are about to embark on.
Reaching the Town Where the Pirate Era Began
The Straw Hats head towards the Grand Line after conquering Arlong and liberating Cocoyasi Village. But before they get Reverse Mountain they make a rest stop at Loguetown to re-supply and sightsee. Luffy admires the very location where Roger was executed and therefore comes to the town with excitement but not fear. It is not a death place to him, it is a reminder of the fact that dreams can transform the world.
Loguetown does not seem like other places on the East Blue. It is more crowded, bigger, and full of the Marines. History and the load of the legacy of Roger comes to life in the air, which the people still bear years after his demise.
Luffy and the Execution Platform -A Time of Fate.
Luffy begins with the historic place of execution where Gol D. Roger was executed. He is standing there with an odd feeling of belonging. This scene is not played as an event in which fate takes its course over him but instead, it demonstrates how the path Luffy is undertaking is subconsciously put into the same trajectory as that of the Pirate King.
However, the moment of peace soon becomes dangerous.
Luffy is ambushed by captain Smoker who is a Marine with a record of never letting a pirate get away. Smoker possesses the ability of the Moku Moku no Mi (Smoke-Smoke Fruit) that causes him to be intangible and nearly impossible to battle with physical abilities. It will soon become clear to Luffy that pure power will not suffice to defeat all the foes, as they need tactics, development, and new skills.
The importance of the introduction of Smoker is that he is the next level of troubles to Luffy. He is not evil. He is a Mariner who is a firm believer of justice making him a contrast of morality to Luffy instead of being a mere villain.
Zoro and the Mythical Blades
At the same time, Zoro comes to a sword shop to get another blade he lost previously. This results in one of the most memorable scenes of his character. He finds Sandai Kitetsu, a cursed sword that is believed to kill all it was owned by. The shopkeeper tells him off, but Zoro prefers to challenge fate.
He throws the sword in the air and stretches out his arm. In the event that the sword really causes bad things, it will cut him. Rather, the blade turns completely round his arm and he implants it into the floor.
This scene demonstrates that Zoro is confident about his fate. He thinks he will make the greatest swordsman of the world – and the world appears to pin this hope on him.
He also gets Yubashiri, a good quality sword which is presented by the shop owner. These two swords enhance the image of Zoro as a real swordsman.
Sanji, Usopp, and Nami Small Moments with Big Meaning.
Every Straw Hat has his time in Loguetown:
Sanji purchases expensive ingredients demonstrating his commitment to take care of his crew even at sea peril.
Usopp also buys equipments to upgrade his armaments, which marks the beginning of an expansion of his character as an easy-to-tell tale to a useful sniper.
Nami receives a new weapon, the Clima-Tact, but at this point it is no more than a party trick stick rather than a real weapon. It is later adopted as one of her signal weapons.
It sounds trivial, but these interactions are a kind of preparation, both mental and physical, to the unknown adventure in the future.
Buggy and Alvida Go Back to Take Revenge.
Loguetown is chaosed when two old time enemies come back:
Buggy the Clown,
and Iron Mace Alvida, now softened and smooth with having eaten a Devil Fruit.
The two establish an unthinkable alliance whose purpose is:
get revenge on Luffy.
They all take captive and they are trying to execute him on the same grounds that Gol D. Roger was executed. This scene resembles the first scene of the Pirate Era – a pirate, who is on the scaffold, with Marines and the enemies around.
Buggy uses his blade to cut up lightning and hit the platform, destroying it which spares the life of Luffy. As it was a coincidence or fate, the moment symbolically saves Luffy the fate that was not his.
The Clash of Smoker A Marine Who Will not Back Down.
With an outbreak of mayhem throughout the town, Smoker once again meets Luffy. Luffy even uses all means, yet the smoke body of Smoker annihilates all bodily assaults. Luffy is absolutely outthought in the first time in his life.
At this moment, a stranger comes and saves him at the last moment, Portgas D. Ace, the elder brother of Luffy. Ace easily resists Smoker and presents himself with a confident smile.
The appearance of Ace is a significant change of the story. He is charismatic, tough and belongs to the Whitebeard Pirates that is one of the strongest crews in the world. His appearance alludes to the huge world that lies past East Blue.
Luffy manages to escape with the aid of Ace and joins the crew again.
The End of East Blue, The Start of Something Greater is the title of the second episode of the first season.
When the Straw Hats are moving out of the town of Loguetown, Smoker stands there area aware that this crew will make the world shudder. He wants to pursue them, not because he hates them, but because it is his duty.
The film concludes with the crew heading into the Grand Line, where storms are raging and the huge portal of the Reverse Mountain looms. The last border was loguetown, and they were ready with their hearts and weapons to face the difficulty.
