Episode 41: Luffy's Best! Nami's Courage and the Straw Hat
Air Date: 2000-09-13
Opening: We Are! (1st Opening)
Ending: Run! Run! Run! (2nd Ending)
Manga Chapters: Chapter 88 (11-19/19), Chapter 89 (1-19/19), Chapter 90 (1-7/19)
Short Summary
Nami stands up to Arlong as Genzo and Nojiko are finally able to revive Luffy. Zoro faces off against Arlong to buy time for Sanji to free Luffy's feet. Hatchi tries to stop Sanji, but his wounds catch up with him. Just as Zoro is nearing death, Luffy is freed and switches places with Zoro as his battle with Arlong finally begins. Luffy manages to knock Arlong down, but Arlong just gets back up again, displaying his persistence.
In-Depth Summary
The episode opens with Nami standing up to Arlong. Arlong simply replies that Nami has tried many times to kill him, but has failed. He says that if she joins his side, he will spare the entire village, except for Sanji and Zoro. However, if she stays with the villagers, he will kill them all. Nami is caught in between, not wanting the villagers to die. She calls the villagers and asks if they will die with her, and they all cheer. Underwater, Nojiko pushes on Luffy's chest, and finally Luffy regains consciousness, coughing up all of the water in a big fountain. Arlong wonders where the fountain came from, and Sanji realizes it is Luffy. Zoro stands up, telling Sanji that he can only hold Arlong for thirty seconds, and Sanji replies that it is enough as he dives into the pool. Zoro charges forward and manages to slice under Arlong's eye. Arlong licks up the blood and sneers, knowing Zoro is in no condition to fight.
As Sanji dives to the bottom of the pool, Luffy looks up to Genzo and asks where his pinwheel went. Arlong and Zoro square off as Arlong says that Luffy must be dead, unless his game was messed with. Usopp then arrives and fires an Egg Star at Arlong, which Arlong stops with his finger. He turns to see Usopp, who declares his arrival to the fray. He tells Nami all about his victory over Chu. Arlong becomes furious that Chu was unsuccessful in defeating Usopp. Hatchi then starts to get up, but Usopp points the Usopp Rubberband right at him. Hatchi winces, and Usopp's rubberband falls to the side. Zoro takes a swing at Arlong, but Arlong blocks his swords with his nose, saying how his nose is unbreakable and had Zoro not been weakened, he would have been scratched or bruised. As Arlong drives Zoro back, Hatchi realizes that the rubberband is not coming at him, and he yells at Zoro before leaping into the water. Arlong then lunges forward and jabs Zoro hard with his nose. Underwater, Sanji reaches Nojiko, but Nojiko spots Hatchi coming down from above. She swims past Sanji and stretches out her arms to stop Hatchi, much to Sanji's discontent.
Meanwhile, Arlong holds up a very bloody and battered Zoro, and tears off his bandages. He stares in amazement at how Zoro can survive with such a wound that Mihawk inflicted. Zoro then says that if one is not careful, their wounds will reopen. When Arlong asks about this, Zoro replies that he is referring to Hatchi. As Hatchi dives toward Nojiko, his chest wounds reopen and he cries out in pain, out of the picture. Sanji then lands, kicking the cement block holding Luffy's feet, and Genzo has to hold onto Luffy's head tightly as his neck retracts. Luffy is sent flying into the air, finally free, and so he stretches out his arms and grabs Zoro, flipping around to send Zoro flying and himself diving toward Arlong. Luffy uses Gomu Gomu no Bell, Gomu Gomu no Whip, Gomu Gomu no Pistol, and Gomu Gomu no Gatling Gun in succession to send Arlong smashing into a wall, collapsing to the ground. The villagers cheer, but Arlong quickly rises back to his feet without a scratch.
Arlong and Luffy square off at last. Arlong asks if Luffy knows the difference between humans and mermen, and Luffy replies that it is chins, noses, and webbing. Arlong becomes furious and lunges at Luffy, snapping his jaws at him, but Luffy evades. Arlong dives at Luffy, grabbing him and slamming him against a pillar. Arlong aims a bite at Luffy but Luffy pulls his head to the side, and Arlong ends up biting through the pillar. As Arlong stands up, Luffy manages to scramble behind him, and Luffy once again declares his dream of becoming Pirate King as the episode ends.
Mumbo230’s Notes
The battle between Luffy and Arlong finally begins, one of the most memorable fights of the entire series. Nami finally shows a real turnaround in her character as she stands up to Arlong at last.
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