YMMV / One Piece – Baratie Arc

• Fanon Discontinuity: Die-hard manga fans tend to ignore the anime’s Adaptational Backstory Change regarding Zeff’s lost leg, preferring the original manga version, having Zeff Autocannibalizing it to not starve, for giving Zeff more agency and being more effective at showcasing their mentor-mentee bond. Notably, the live-action adaptation uses the manga’s backstory.
• Heartwarming in Hindsight: Sanji's breakdown out of gratitude towards Zeff for raising him becomes even more powerful after we learn during Whole Cake Island what an utter living hell Sanji's life had been prior to meeting him.
• Magnificent Bastard:
  • Dracule "Hawk Eyes" Mihawk is the World's Greatest Swordsman, a laidback yet lethal Warlord of the Sea who serves as Roronoa Zoro's greatest challenge. His sword skills practically unmatched and capable of decimating any opponent he faces, Mihawk introduces himself to the Straw Hats having annihilated Don Krieg's entire fleet singlehandedly before easily beating Zoro and regarding Luffy's attempts to attack him as mere annoyance. Later taking part in the Marineford conflict, Mihawk casually destroys waves of enemies with ease and puts Luffy on the run, with Mihawk barely breaking a sweat even as he swiftly defeats Buggy and faces Crocodile in combat. Mihawk personally trains Zoro over the course of two years out of respect for the man's tenacity, and Mihawk takes the news that he's been declared wanted by the government with a mere chuckle and an invitation to an army of terrified Marines to face him in combat.
  • Chef "Red-Leg" Zeff was an infamous pirate who searched the Grand Line for the mythical All-Blue. To accumulate funds, Zeff had his crew return to the East Blue, the tamest of the seas, in order to raid unprotected ships, but refusing to take anybody's food. Saving the young Sanji's life upon finding out he has the same dream, Zeff later uses his plundered fortunes to open the seafaring restaurant, Baratie. While running Baratie, Zeff refuses to turn down those in need of food, being perfectly willing to feed pirates even if it means giving them the energy to continue their crimes. To get Sanji to quit, Zeff orchestrates a plan to ostracize Sanji from the rest of Baratie to convince him to follow his dream of searching for the All-Blue, later giving a mocking yet heartwarming farewell to his apprentice.