When it comes to One Piece, Eiichiro Oda is known for his complex world-building, detailed character arcs, and thrilling battles that push characters to their limits. However, unlike many other Shonen series, Oda rarely kills off major characters to explore more on their growth, redemption, or even humiliation through non-lethal means.
Although this choice has made it possible for characters to change in unexpected ways, it has also frustrated fans who believe that certain scenes would have a greater impact if the character had died or not returned into the story as a major figure at all. In light of this, a particular topic has centered within the fandom around Eustass Kid, following his devastating loss to Shanks.
The Rise and Fall of Eustass Kid in One Piece
Eustass Kidd was introduced initially in One Piece as one of the twelve prominent pirates of the “Worst Generation“, a group of notorious pirates poised to challenge the established order of the world. He made a name for himself right away thanks to his magnetic Devil Fruit powers, ruthless nature, and unyielding ambition.
Throughout his journey, Kid’s defining trait was his confidence; sometimes even manifesting into borderline arrogance. He believes that his determination and strength are enough to overcome any obstacle, which in many cases, led him to impressive victories. However, it also blinded him to the take on seemingly difficult confrontations, as he did not hesitate to challenge even the Four Emperors.
But still, Kid’s downfall came swiftly and brutally during the battle at Elbaf. His overconfidence proved to be his doom, as he decided to challenge Shanks once more. Known for his own mastery of Conqueror’s Haki and calm, calculated demeanor, Shanks easily overpowered Kid in that battle that many fans saw as the definitive end of Kid’s ambitions. Shanks single-handedly crushed Kid’s spirit, crew, and reputation with his Kamusari, leaving him a broken man without a ship or crew to his name.
Looking Ahead to the Fate of Eustass Kid in One Piece
Given the severity of Kid’s defeat, fans are intrigued by the idea of what will be his next role in One Piece. Will he come back as a major character into the story’s premise by rebuilding his status once again or just will be discarded forever from the plot? u/AAtomic2021 has hosted a discussion thread on Reddit to speculate about Kid’s fate.
According to many fans, Kid will probably come back in the story, as Eiichiro Oda follows no-killing rule most of the time and usually make his characters come back in unexpected ways.
However, many fans believed that this was the perfect moment for Oda to deliver a definitive end for the character that would leave a lasting impact on the story.
One of the key criticisms of Eiichiro Oda’s approach to storytelling is that it can rob characters of the finality and closure that death or defeat often brings. In the case of Kid, the loss at the hands of Shanks would solidify his role in the story as a tragic character; someone who aimed too high and paid the ultimate price for his ambition.
Instead, by allowing Kid to continue his journey, Oda will risk ruining the impact of his defeat. Kid’s survival would suggest that there may be more to his story, and it’s difficult to see how he could meaningfully return to the story after such a decisive loss.
Another concern is that Kid’s return could cast Shanks in a negative light. Shanks is one of the highly-regarded characters in One Piece, known for his strength, wisdom, and leadership. If Kid, after being so crushingly defeated, somehow manages to return to the story, it could be seen as a failure on Shanks’ part to eliminate a potential threat.
Ultimately, it is unclear whether Kid is still alive or not from One Piece‘s episode 1112. Unless someone comes and saves him, he will probably be dead. Only time will tell whether Eiichiro Oda still has plans for him or not. But if he manages to survive, it will sure reduce the narrative stakes in One Piece.
One Piece is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
