The latest episodes and developments in One Piece’s Final Saga have the fandom more active than ever, but not every creative choice is being celebrated. Jewelry Bonney’s recent transformation into what appears to be Gear 5 has sparked a major backlash online, with many fans arguing that the moment breaks the internal logic of the story and undermines how special Luffy’s power is supposed to be.
What was likely intended as a wild, visually fun moment has instead become one of the most divisive talking points in the series’ recent history—happening at the same time as the beloved God Valley flashback, which many readers consider peak One Piece.
The God Valley Arc Has Taken Over the Fandom
The irony is that this controversy is unfolding during what many fans view as one of the greatest arcs Oda has ever written. The God Valley Incident has evolved into one of the most gripping storylines in One Piece history, and a huge portion of the fandom isn’t ready to see it end.
Oda’s deep dive into this once-mysterious event has brought together legendary figures like Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, Monkey D. Garp, the Celestial Dragons, and even the shadowy Imu, turning the flashback into a sweeping historical epic rather than a simple detour. The arc explores brutal power struggles, secret deals, and the foundations of the current world order, peeling back layers of the “true history” that fans have been curious about since the earliest chapters.
Because of this, many readers feel a strange disconnect: on one hand, they’re watching a masterfully written flashback that raises the series to new heights; on the other, they’re frustrated by modern-day decisions like Bonney’s Gear 5 that feel more like spectacle than carefully built lore.
Why Bonney Turning Into Gear 5 Feels Wrong to Many Fans
The core of the backlash stems from what Gear 5 represents. For years, fans believed it was simply Luffy’s most advanced Gear transformation. Then the truth was revealed: his Devil Fruit is actually the Mythical Zoan Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, and Gear 5 is the awakened form tied to the Sun God himself.
To many, that made Gear 5 feel almost sacred—something uniquely tied to Luffy’s identity, his destiny, and the will of the world. So when Jewelry Bonney suddenly appears in a Gear 5-like form through the power of the Age-Age Fruit, a lot of viewers felt the moment came out of nowhere.
Online discussions are filled with comments like:
- “If anyone can just look like Gear 5, then what was the point of all that buildup?”
- “Luffy’s power doesn’t feel unique anymore.”
Fans argue that even if Bonney’s ability can show possible futures or change age and appearance, directly copying a god-tier transformation cheapens both the form and the years of foreshadowing behind it.
The Age-Age Fruit vs. Nika: A Clash of Power Systems
Supporters of the scene try to rationalize it using the Age-Age Fruit’s flexibility. Bonney has already shown the ability to manipulate age, alter bodies, and create hypothetical “future” versions of herself. From this perspective, her Gear 5-like appearance could be interpreted as:
- A “what if” vision of what she might look like with that kind of power.
- A temporary illusion or exaggerated gag rather than a true replication of Nika’s abilities.
However, critics counter that the anime doesn’t clearly frame it that way. Without explicit explanation, the scene can easily be interpreted as Bonney actually accessing Gear 5, which clashes with everything we’ve learned about Luffy’s Mythical Zoan and the uniqueness of his awakening.
For many, the problem isn’t just the image of Bonney in a Gear 5-style form—it’s the lack of clear boundaries between canon power systems and playful interpretation.
A Fandom Split Between Fun and Consistency
The reaction to Bonney’s Gear 5 moment has revealed a growing split in the fandom. Some viewers are happy to shrug it off as a stylistic flourish or anime gag, focusing instead on the emotional beats and larger narrative. Others believe that even brief “fun” scenes shouldn’t come at the cost of long-standing world-building.
This tension is especially noticeable because the Final Saga is supposed to be where everything comes together:
- The Void Century,
- The Ancient Weapons,
- The true nature of Devil Fruits,
- And the secrets of figures like Imu and the Gorosei.
In a period where every detail feels important, anything that seems to contradict established rules hits much harder than it would in an earlier, lighter arc.
Fans Don’t Want to Return to the Straw Hats Yet
Adding to the complexity is the fact that many fans currently feel more invested in the past than the present. Social media is packed with people saying they’re not ready to leave the God Valley flashback behind.
Readers praise this storyline for its darker tone, its political intrigue, and its dense lore, often calling it the most exciting One Piece has been in years. While the Straw Hats are undeniably the emotional core of the series, this arc offers something different: a firsthand look at the legends and turning points that shaped the world Luffy inherited.
One fan on X (formerly Twitter) summed it up with a sentiment many share:
“If we return to the Straw Hats now, it’ll feel like waking up from a dream.”
Against that backdrop, moments like Bonney’s Gear 5 transformation feel even more jarring, as they risk pulling fans out of the carefully crafted mythos they’re currently so absorbed in.
A Testament to Oda’s Storytelling and the Pressure of the Final Saga
Despite the controversy, the sheer intensity of the debate is, in a way, a testament to Eiichiro Oda’s impact as a storyteller. After over two decades, fans care so deeply about the consistency of his world that a single scene can ignite global discussion.
The God Valley flashback has reminded many readers why they fell in love with One Piece in the first place:
- sweeping world-building,
- emotional character histories,
- carefully planted mysteries finally coming to light.
At the same time, the backlash to Bonney’s Gear 5 shows how delicate the balance has become. Every choice now has to live up to years of setup and expectations.
Whether Oda or the anime production chooses to clarify the intent behind Bonney’s transformation or simply move forward, one thing is clear: fans are paying attention to every detail. The Final Saga is being judged not only on its hype moments, but on how respectfully it treats the rules and symbolism that One Piece has built for more than twenty years.
For now, the God Valley saga continues to shine as one of the series’ finest achievements—while Bonney’s Gear 5 moment remains a controversial reminder of how easily a single scene can split the fandom.
