LuNa analysis: parallels in-universe

Some people have been making some ridiculous comparisons between pairings in an attempt to justify incredibly shallow premises

So, with a little help from experienced readers, I bring to you a small analysis on 3 different relationships that have several parallels with LuNa, you may take it as counter-argument to shippers

LuNa and Saboala:

This one is the easiest to break down because it showcase the dynamic favored by the author in the case of certain characters. Despite being far smarter than Luffy, Sabo is still quite reckless and impulsive, mirroring Luffy's own reckless and hasty attitude:

Something interesting is that Koala's background is like an subversion of Nami's past: while Nami was enslaved and tormented by fishmen (Arlong Pirates) and freed by humans (Luffy and the crew), Koala was enslaved and tormented by humans (Celestial dragons) and freed by a fishman (Fisher Tiger); while Nami was forced to join Arlong's crew, Koala traveled with the Sun Pirates only due to a request to take her home; and both of them ended up with a permanent mark replacing a former mark of enslavement as a result of their interaction with fishmen.

However, their personalities seem to be somewhat similar as in both of them have quite a temper, which shows itself in their dynamic with Sabo and Luffy. Koala is the one trying to keep Sabo's own recklessness in check, and function as a voice of reason challenging his decisions. Similar to what Nami does with Luffy:

Even if they scolds their respecitve partners, they still care a great deal about them, and can still display through their physical language how comfortable they are with each other, and how much trust they put in one another.

One of the issues here is that while LuNa had hundreds of chapter worth of bonding at this point, we're introduced to Saboala without prior build-up. Instead we just get a dynamic similar to LuNa... However, some may not like this comparison because Saboala (just like LuNa) is a potent relationship as of now. Do we have a canon relationship similar to LuNa?

LuNa and ToDen

I thank my pals (loyal One Piece fans) for helping with this one, because I had a hard time finding the similarites by myself. The comparison personality-wise works with Luffy and Oden, how so?

While there some differences, both share a strong adventurous spirit. Evidence of this can be found in Oden's multiple attempts to set sail away from Wano because the country felt too "cramped" for him; his dream was to venture the world, see and experience everything outside Wano.

Similar to Luffy, Oden's intense desire for adventure often led him to recklessly run straight into danger without thinking. And while they both seem selfish in some of their actions, at the end they're kind and compassionate individuals who help those in need when given the chance.

However, the rest of this comparison is mostly situational. Instead of relying on character dynamics, it calls back to similar moments found in LuNa, you may find it odd, but Oda opened that door years ago as you'll see in the bonus.

The girls having a moment in which they doubt these guys are human, when seeing and constrasting the shape of the guys' bodies and the way they recover, is one of those similar situations. But, the most notable would be this one...

...when both girls felt remarkably ill, in order to not hold the crew back, they prioritized the journey of heroes over their condition. While the context and decisions taken may be different, the situation is kind of similar: the resolve of both women was to keep the guys moving forward to complete their goal, no matter what.

Bonus points for including both girls scolding their partners...

...something they share with Koala as we've seen before; they're not accepting every stupid or reckless the guys do, they'll voice their objections and even question their choices when necessary. That is something important because many people still think a pairing dynamic requires a woman to become extremely subservient instead of being an actual partner.

To some people, a mostly situational parallel may seem odd, but Oda opened this door with an interesting choice he made, which we're going to highlight in the bonus:

BONUS: LuffyxNami and TesoroxStella

Similar to Toden, this parallel doesn't offer much when it comes to dynamic or characterization. But, it does have something when it comes to similar situations.

I'll give a brief summary for those who are not up to date. Multiple sources, including an interview with the writer and direcetor of One Piece Film: GOLD confirm Oda remade the climax of the movie, which include a situational parallel between LuNa and TesoroxStella...

To have a full context on Tesoro and Stella history and relationship some may need to read Volume 777 (the free volume given to the first japanese attendees of the theatrical release). But, to make things short, Tesoro and Stella were lovers. She was a slave who got taken away by a noble while Tesoro could only watch helplessly

Just as Tesoro took Nami and decided to mock her faith in Luffy, the strawhat captain captain's expression made him recall his past self, making him realize for a brief moment he's putting Luffy in the same situation he was when Stella was sold to the celestial dragons.

So, we got 3 parallels to LuNa: one of them is a potent relationship at best, while the other two are canon relationships; one of these canon relationships was actually compared to LuNa in-universe thanks to Oda. However, relying solely on parallels doesn't cut it. A pairing with the potential to evolve doesn't solely depend on parallels with other bonds. Sure, it helps to solidify their position from meta perspective, but what ultimately makes LuNa so solid is their meaningful moments beyond inconsequential gags, and their consistent growth throughout the story.

Saboala may have a dynamic similar to LuNa; Oden and Toki as well as Tesoro and Stella went through similar scenarios, but the bond between Luffy and Nami is far more than these similarities and comparisons...

...it's the organic development of a strong companionship through shared experiences and solid chemistry.

My next One Piece post will show how inter-series comparison do more harm than good to shallow premises. Not sure, when I'm going to publish it, given I still have a couple of NaLu posts to make, but I'll make that analysis for sure.