ZOROBIN: SKYPIEA ARC - 3
(Here the first article on Skypiea Arc; here the previous article.)

CLIMB TO THE ISLAND OF HEAVEN

ZORO AND ROBIN ARE CALM AND ARE ALWAYS TOGETHER

When the Going Merry ascends to the Isle of Heaven, the crew is in complete chaos: but Zoro and Robin are not only always together, but they keep the same calm. As a Zorobin moment, meaning that it implies a relationship between Robin and Zoro, it's not bad. Oda couldn't have randomly put these moments so repetitively. It should also be noted that they are the only ones who do not cling to something.

THEY ARE SHOWN TOGETHER

Since leaving for Skypiea, Zoro and Robin are often depicted with adjacent panels. For example, here they are flanked just at the moment of the ascent to Skypiea!

Or when they face Ener.

The panels representing Zoro and Robin together, despite the large number of characters, cannot be counted. In particular, the last scene also indicates the Luffy-Nami couple: in fact, both, even if they are not close, in that scene both have the same expression.

CONNECTION FOR THE FUTURE

In this scene, where the Going Merry climbs up to Skypiea (chap236), with Robin and Zoro on board together with the others, there is a reference to a very similar scene that will happen about 400 episodes later (chap655): in fact, while at Skypiea the Merry goes up towards the clouds, in Punk Hazard there will be...a mini Merry that will go up the clouds with Luffy and Usopp on board, together with Zoro and Robin. The mini Merry will also have the number 2 (Zoro's number). Also notice how Zoro and Robin's body language has changed: it is as if they have become more intimate, closer in a natural way, without this happening in a forced way. The author did a great job with these two characters! Zoro and Robin show that they have a certain feeling between them from the beginning, as their behaviors are immediately distinguished from those of the crew. Also, after the time-skip, Zoro and Robin changed physically, okay, but nobody thinks they changed to look more attractive to each other as well? Robin has grown her hair (like Nami, which is an important detail for the Luffy-Nami couple), and that's one thing a woman does to show off...and Zoro is dressed more elegantly: he has no more a shirt with a belly, but a real samurai kimono: in short, he is more elegant. And that is something men and women do to get noticed.

ROBIN, ZORO AND CHOPPER: THE COUPLE AND THE SON

From the beginning of Robin's appearance, and particularly starting from the narrative arc of Skypiea, Zoro, Robin and Chopper appear together, so much so that they almost appear as a group within the Straw Hat group. Just see the images taken from the FIRST PAGES and FIRST COVERS of the history of Skypiea. Chopper, treated almost like a "son" by Robin and Zoro, is an implicit bond and one of the many hidden traces of the Robin-Zoro relationship.

From the beginning, we can see the group of Zoro, Robin and Chopper practically separated from the others: the difference in behavior between Zoro's group and the others is striking. The somewhat childish agitation of Luffy, Nami and Usopp is contrasted by the more mature calm of Zoro, Robin and Chopper (chapter 238).

Even when they are received at Skypiea, they are always close.

ZORO AND ROBIN TO THE RESCUE OF USOP

As soon as they reach the Isle of Heaven, Oda makes Zoro and Robin act together to save Usopp, who was falling from the clouds. Both Robin and Zoro help Captain Luffy in the rescue: Robin by accompanying Luffy's arm and guiding him to the rescue of Usopp, Zoro by tearing apart an octopus that was hindering the combined action of Robin and Luffy. Both actions take place in the same pages: the combined action of Robin and Zoro will be seen again on other occasions, such as in Punk Hazard, directed in particular to the rescue of the weakest elements of the group.

(Continues here)

HERE ARE ALL THE ZOROBIN LINKS

Edited by joe 7 - 5/11/2022, 14:05