Episode 33: Usopp's Death?! Luffy - Yet to Land?

Air Date: 2000-07-19
Opening: We Are! (1st Opening)
Ending: Run! Run! Run! (2nd Ending)
Manga Chapters: Chapter 73 (14-19/19), Chapter 74 (1-19/19), Chapter 75 (1-7/19)

Short Summary

Zoro, growing impatient, goes off in search of Arlong, hitching a ride with the clueless Hatchi to Cocoyashi Village. Arlong returns to Arlong Park, and Usopp is hauled in by Chu. As doubts of Nami's loyalty rise, Nami proves her loyalty to the Arlong Pirates by stabbing Usopp. Luffy, Sanji, and Yosaku finally arrive on the island but are met with terrible news.

In-Depth Summary

The episode opens with Luffy, Sanji, and Yosaku making excellent time as their ship is pulled along by Mohmoo. Arlong is still in a fury as he is dragged away by his fellow mermen, and he knocks them all down, demanding why Usopp hasn't been captured yet. Usopp is running through the woods and tall grass, being pursued by three mermen. He uses a number of tricks, including putting his goggles on a tree and confusing the mermen by looking as though there are multiple Usopps. He hides behind a skinny tree but loses his grip and tumbles down a cliff by a waterfall. On the other side is Chu, threatening a villager by holding him by the throat. Chu spots Usopp and swims over to him, grabbing him by the nose and hauling him away.

Back in Arlong Park, Zoro rests upon his chair with the injured mermen around him, and he hears Hatchi fishing by the water with many fishing rods, getting all tangled up. Hatchi explains to Zoro that Arlong is in Cocoyashi Village, and offers Zoro a ride there in his octopus pot. Zoro agrees and leaves with Hatchi. Soon after, Arlong returns to Arlong Park, horrified that his mermen comrades are all beaten down. One of them tells him it was Roronoa Zoro, their prisoner, which makes Arlong livid. Usopp is then hauled in by Chu, and Arlong threatens him by sticking a knife in the ground by his nose. Usopp tells Arlong that he is a comrade of Zoro and Zoro will come back if he injures him. Kurobi then arrives and tells Arlong that Zoro was helped out of the prison, since his ropes were cut. He also holds out a map that belongs to Nami. The mermen suspect Nami of betrayal as Nami steps into the park, denying it. She says that she almost has the money that Arlong wants, and asks why she would rebel when she is so close. Usopp mulls over what Nami said.

In Cocoyashi Village, Zoro demands the villagers where Arlong is. They explain that Arlong left after Usopp attacked him, but Usopp is most likely dead by now for doing so. At Arlong Park, Hatchi returns and hears about Roronoa Zoro attacking the mermen. He says that there was a weird swordsman who said he was a guest of Arlong, and is looking for him. Usopp takes this opportunity to take his slingshot from his satchel, but Nami notices and whips out her staff, striking him across the face. Usopp gets back up and Nami says she is going to kill him, but Usopp only laughs it off. Nami takes a knife from Kurobi and has a very evil look in her eye, so Usopp fires a Smoke Star to cloud the whole area up and makes his escape. As he is running, he is stopped by Nami. Nami stabs Usopp in the belly with her knife, and Usopp falls into the water. Nami then hands the bloody knife back to Kurobi, clearing up any suspicion of her betraying Arlong's crew. She takes back her map and leaves. Arlong declares that Nami has become a wonderful woman.

Meanwhile, Luffy, Sanji, and Yosaku finally arrive at Arlong Park, but Mohmoo gets dizzy, affected by Sanji's kick. It sways around, back and forth. In Cocoyashi Village, Nami returns to her home, her hand bandaged up, and remembers when Arlong first introduced her to that room. On the coast, Mohmoo stops, sending the ship flying into the forest and speeding along the ground. Zoro is caught on the bow of the ship, and it finally smashes into a cliff. As Zoro, Luffy, Sanji, and Yosaku emerge from the wreckage, they decide to go find Usopp, but Johnny arrives, having witnessed Usopp's murder, and tells them with tears in his eyes that Nami killed him. The scene shifts to the beach, where a cloaked figure walks along, wondering if he is a ghost, as the episode draws to a close.

Mumbo230's Notes

Usopp's death is one of the more shocking and remembered moments in the series history. This episode has a very, very dark tone to it, possibly the darkest episode of the series thus far. It sets the tone for the rest of the story arc.

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