The Egghead Arc Stumbles: One Piece Fans Are Outraged by Episode 1138’s Pacing

The One Piece anime has been on an incredible run, with the Egghead Arc delivering some of the most stunning animation and emotionally resonant moments in the series’ history. Episode 1137, in particular, was a masterclass in direction, leaving fans on the edge of their seats with Bartholomew Kuma’s devastating punch on Saint Saturn. The stage was set for a monumental follow-up, but the latest episode, 1138, has been met with widespread fan backlash and criticism. The sentiment across social media platforms is a resounding “This is outrageous,” as viewers express their disappointment over what they perceive as a poorly-paced and narratively hollow episode. The abrupt shift in quality has left many feeling that the anime’s momentum has been needlessly stifled at a critical point in the story, and the controversy has ignited a fresh debate about the long-standing issue of pacing in the One Piece anime.

The core of the fan outrage stems from the episode’s reliance on extensive flashbacks, which many felt were completely unnecessary and disrupted the flow of the narrative. Episode 1138, titled “Thank You, Dad – Bonney and Kuma’s Warm Embrace,” was meant to be a poignant moment of reunion between the father and daughter. While the scene itself was a highlight, the episode’s pacing and filler content are what drew the most ire. The episode was padded out with numerous flashbacks to Kuma’s backstory, a story that had been told just a few episodes prior. This decision to rehash already-seen content, instead of advancing the current, high-stakes plot, was seen as an insult to the viewers’ intelligence and a clear attempt to stretch out a single manga chapter into a full episode. This kind of padding has been a common complaint for the One Piece anime for years, but it feels particularly egregious now, given the incredible quality of the episodes leading up to this point.

Why the Backlash is So Strong

The fan reaction to Episode 1138 has been unusually fierce, and it’s not just because of the flashbacks. The episode’s perceived failures come at a time when the stakes in the Egghead Arc are higher than ever. Here’s a breakdown of the key issues that have fueled the outrage:

• Disrupting a Climactic Moment: The episode immediately follows a major climax—Kuma’s punch on Saint Saturn. Instead of showing the immediate fallout and the Marine’s reaction, the episode shifts into a slower gear, which killed the built-up tension. The dramatic cliffhanger from the previous episode was not given the impactful follow-through that it deserved.
• Pacing Issues: One Piece is notorious for its one-chapter-per-episode pacing, but recent episodes have shown that the anime team is capable of adapting more content when necessary for a better flow. Episode 1137, for example, broke the one-chapter rule to end on a more satisfying note. The return to the slow, stretched-out pacing in Episode 1138 felt like a step backward and a missed opportunity to maintain a strong narrative momentum.
• Filler Flashbacks: The decision to include lengthy flashbacks to Kuma’s tragic past, which was the focus of a recent arc, was the biggest point of contention. The audience is already well aware of Kuma’s story, and these flashbacks served no purpose other than to fill time. It created a feeling of narrative inertia, with the plot barely moving forward, which is a cardinal sin in a weekly anime.
• Undermining Character Moments: While the reunion between Bonney and Kuma was touching, the overall lack of forward movement in the episode diminished its impact. The episode felt like a speed bump in the middle of a high-speed chase, and many fans are frustrated that a potentially great episode was hampered by poor directorial choices.

The Legacy of Pacing and the Future of the Arc

This controversy highlights a long-standing issue that has plagued the One Piece anime for years. The show’s slow pacing and reliance on filler have often been a barrier for new viewers and a source of frustration for longtime fans. The Wano Country arc, for example, was praised for its animation but criticized for its pacing, with some feeling that it unnecessarily stretched out the story. The Egghead Arc has been a breath of fresh air in this regard, with a renewed focus on dynamic animation and a more streamlined narrative. However, Episode 1138’s stumble has cast a shadow of doubt over the arc’s future. Fans are worried that the anime is reverting to its old habits, and that the incredible momentum built over the past few months will be lost. As the Buster Call is officially invoked on Egghead Island, the stakes are at their absolute highest. Viewers are now hoping that the next episodes will learn from this misstep and deliver the high-octane, fast-paced action that the arc demands. The fate of the Straw Hats and the future of the One Piece anime hang in the balance, and fans are waiting with bated breath to see if the series can regain its footing and deliver the epic conclusion the Egghead Arc deserves.