Many Fans Are Calling Out Oda For Constantly Favoring And Protecting Shanks
As the One Piece manga barrels deeper into its final saga, one character seems to be walking through the chaos with almost no narrative scratches: Red-Haired Shanks. Once seen as a mysterious mentor who appeared sparingly, Shanks has recently become the focal point of some of the series’ biggest hype moments — and many fans feel Eiichiro Oda is giving him special treatment. Across social media and forums, readers are accusing Oda of “protecting” Shanks from any real losses, humiliations, or on-panel struggles, while granting him some of the cleanest and most impressive feats in the entire series.
For critics, the pattern is hard to ignore. Whenever Shanks appears, he tends to dominate the scene completely: clashing with top-tier characters in a single blow, shutting down threats that have terrorized entire arcs, and exiting without a scratch or any real sense of vulnerability. Unlike other major characters who’ve suffered defeats, setbacks, or moral complications, Shanks often feels insulated from the harsher consequences of Oda’s storytelling. This has led some fans to argue that he’s being treated as “too perfect,” and that the story bends around him to preserve his aura.
Supporters, however, argue that this is the natural result of Oda finally cashing in on years of buildup. Shanks has been hyped as a legend since chapter one, and his recent showings are, in their eyes, simply the payoff. But even among those who love the character, there’s a growing debate about whether the scales are tipping too far in his favor — especially as other fan-favorite pirates and marines are forced to endure brutal, often tragic storylines.
The God Valley Arc Has Taken Over the Fandom
The current God Valley flashback has only intensified this conversation. The God Valley Incident has become one of the most captivating storylines in One Piece history, and many fans aren’t ready for it to end. Eiichiro Oda’s exploration of this long-mysterious event has brought together legendary figures like Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, Monkey D. Garp, and even the enigmatic Imu — creating a flashback that feels more like a grand historical epic than a side story.
Within this sweeping backdrop, Shanks’ presence and origins loom larger than ever. The arc dives deep into the power struggles that shaped the modern world of One Piece, revealing long-hidden secrets about the Celestial Dragons and the early days of piracy. For many, it’s a rare glimpse into the “true history” of the world, something fans have been waiting for since the manga’s earliest chapters — and Shanks keeps ending up at the center of those threads.
Some readers love this, seeing it as confirmation that Shanks really is one of the pillars of Oda’s grand design. Others feel it’s yet another example of the story bending to emphasize his importance, further feeding the perception that he’s being elevated above almost everyone else.
Fans Don’t Want to Return to the Straw Hats Yet
Surprisingly, many readers say they don’t want to go back to the Straw Hat Pirates just yet — and Shanks’ growing role in the past is one of the reasons why. Social media platforms are full of fans expressing that this arc feels like the most thrilling part of One Piece in years — with its dark tone, intense storytelling, and lore-heavy revelations. While Luffy and his crew are the heart of the series, the God Valley storyline offers something entirely different: a look at the legends and events that shaped everything we know.
One fan summed it up best on X (formerly Twitter): “If we return to the Straw Hats now, it’ll feel like waking up from a dream.” That “dream” is filled with larger-than-life figures — Roger, Garp, Rocks, Imu — yet Shanks consistently emerges as one of the cleanest, least compromised players among them. For fans already suspicious of “Oda bias,” this only strengthens the idea that Shanks is being narrated as the coolest, most intact legend of all, while others carry the scars, failures, and sins of history.
This tension creates a strange dynamic: the same arc that many praise as peak One Piece is also fueling a wave of criticism about how one character seems to benefit most from its revelations.
Is Shanks “Too Protected” For a Final Saga?
In a series famous for its emotional stakes and willingness to put beloved characters through hell, Shanks’ track record stands out. Ace, Whitebeard, Oden, and countless others have paid heavy prices for their ideals, often in tragic, devastating ways. Villains, too, have been humbled, broken, or exposed. Yet Shanks often appears above that cycle — a figure who gets the prestige of a dangerous world with relatively little visible cost.
Critics argue that this “plot armor” risks undermining tension: if Shanks always wins, always looks cool, and never truly struggles, then his scenes can start to feel predictable, no matter how beautifully drawn they are. Some fans are now openly hoping that the final saga will challenge him more directly — whether through moral conflict, a genuine defeat, or a moment where his choices backfire in a meaningful way.
On the other hand, defenders of Oda’s approach argue that Shanks’ mystique is the entire point. They see him as a living legend whose eventual full story — including any downfall or sacrifice — is being tightly reserved for the endgame. From this perspective, the “protection” is less favoritism and more careful pacing: Oda keeping one last, unbroken pillar standing until it’s time to truly shake the world.
A Testament to Oda’s Storytelling and a Growing Debate
The enthusiasm surrounding the God Valley flashback underscores Eiichiro Oda’s enduring genius as a storyteller. After more than two decades, he continues to surprise fans by revealing layers of history that connect generations of pirates, marines, and rulers. The arc’s pacing, emotion, and scope have reminded readers of One Piece’s golden era — a blend of mystery, world-building, and drama that few series can match.
At the same time, the debate over Shanks’ portrayal shows how passionately fans engage with the material. Even as some fear that returning to the Straw Hats will slow the story’s momentum, others believe this balance between past and present is what makes One Piece timeless — and that grappling with “biased” or “protected” characters is part of that long-running conversation.
Whether the flashback ends soon or continues, the God Valley saga has already cemented itself as one of the most powerful and defining chapters in the series’ history. The only open question is whether Shanks will continue to stand above the storm — or whether, before the final curtain falls, Oda will finally let the red-haired emperor bleed like everyone else.
