For Several Episodes I Felt Confused As To Why Mihawk Didn't Take Luffy With Him When He Was Practically

For several episodes I felt confused as to why Mihawk didn't take Luffy with him when he was practically in his hands after Zoro's defeat.

Until in the last episode it dawned on me that letting Luffy go was a gift for Shank.

And look! That gift got Mihawk a drink!

And, who knows, maybe not only a drink, if Mihawk tells Shank everything and admits he actually spared Luffy?. .☺

This mutual slapping looks like the opposite of tomgreg, right?

Oh, but it actually, really, honestly, so doesn't!

I love this scene so much for in fact it's a whole new tomgreg step to the healthy relationship.

Like, by slapping back Greg communicates loud and clear that he is not ready to put up with any more humiliation. He wants equals. Or as much of equals as a boss and an employee can be.

And I believe Tom gets it. He steps back first. And that whole fantastic 'I got you' scene happens. Tom is so fed up with all the humiliation Shiv put him through that he's gonna do his best to clean up his act.

Love this scene.

On the comedy side, Archie is talking about how she imagined Stede being taller, muscly and charismatic, while actually describing Jim she's fallen for. (Yes to taller - even bending over a bowl of soup Jim is taller. Yes to muscly. And yes to charismatic - doing fairytale voices was just the tip of the iceberg)

On the tragedy side, there's Izzy bitterly watching Archie going on about how she thought the guy Ed is pining for would be taller, muscly and charismatic and probably thinking. Yeah. Thought so too.

Ken Rosenberg, a man of many talents

"My wall, my beautiful wall..."

What if Tommy gave Ken cart blanche when it came to the colour of the walls in that new house?

I mean, poor timing of bringing up the issue aside, it didn't really sound like Tommy actually cared, but Ken - Ken got so excited about changing the design. Until Tommy interrupted him, that is.

Just can't help but wonder. What if we got Ken Rosenberg doing his first interior project design thanks to Tommy's permission? What if we got a calmer and more peaceful Ken Rosenberg, what with all the (generally) soothing effect of doing something creative?

What if we got Ken Rosenberg willingly rejecting a position of Tommy's right hand man (still serving as his lawyer, though, ofc) and signing up for a design school instead?

What if we got Ken Rosenberg who got so emotionally involved in interior design that he actually stopped doing drugs just because he'd rather spend extra time and efforts on studying, checking on design guidelines, etc., which requires clear mind? Like, he would still be all fussy, but in a positive and productive way, out of eagerness for creating rather than out of helplessness and anxiety?

Tbh, I'm enthralled by this non-existent and much happier Ken Rosenberg

The very first time Ghost calls Soap "Johnny" is, surprisingly, not during that Alone mission.

And not even during Graves' betrayal, like I thought.

It was in the El Sin Nombre's house! When Soap got released after the interrogation and was trying to get to the penthouse of El Sin Nombre.

Specifically, Soap's stepping outside and Ghost informs him that he can see him. That's the moment.

And I looove what it tells about Ghost.

In the beginning Ghost didn't take Soap seriously, even though Soap was doing his best every step of the way. But when he volunteered to be the bait for the El Sin Nombre's mission - that was the turning point for Simon, I believe.

(Lieutenant Riley just couldn't fall for some sucker, right? It had to be a guy who's brave to the point of recklessness)

And when McTavish actually survived the suicidal task - that's when Ghost started warming up to him.

...Huh. Looks like it was Ghost who made the first move, after all.

Two Gods of death sacrificed their eternal lives for Misa.

And a human wannabe God felt nothing for her.

Huh