Discussion Which backstory is the saddest?

[M3J]

Well I guess. But maybe he gets a pass since sabo's wasn't real (although his reaction was). Ace's death seemed to have more of an impact that sabos supposed one. Luffy already had a dream of becoming pirate king before he met sabo and ace. Aces death however deterred him from that dream till jinbei helped remind him of his Nakama. So perhaps luffy's real backstory should be the one with shanks and his crew which made him decide on his dream.
I don't personally consider Ace's death as part of luffy's backstory but he'll hardly have a case here otherwise.

That's not a pass because even though Sabo didn't really die, Ace and Luffy spent around a decade thinking he died. Ace being there is probably why Sabo's death didn't have much of an impact on Luffy, as we see that it was also the idea of loneliness that affected Luffy the most.

Well, the backstory also includes Sabo and Ace when they were together. Luffy might still have a case as he did care about Sabo.

 

[Ninja_Pirate]

Robin's island was blown up ... in that I think the biggest loss for her was losing a home ground and wandering around with a bounty poster, continuously chased ... You say she lost her mother ... but how is it any different from Usopp's mother dying or Luffy not having the motherly love or Belamery san dying.. moreover she didn't have her mother around all her childhood anyways... all ohara residents died, but they never treated robin as one of them anyways, the only loss I see is of the scholars, who had a good relation with robin, celebrating her birthday and all...

For luffy I think the back story should be about , not having parents, was taken care by grandpa who has given him to Dadan for talking care ... and has continuously thrown him into wild when he was a defenseless child.... Also Shanks... his ideal giving up his arm for his future ... for him to grow up .. i think that's something as a back story ...

 

[Holt]

That's not a pass because even though Sabo didn't really die, Ace and Luffy spent around a decade thinking he died. Ace being there is probably why Sabo's death didn't have much of an impact on Luffy, as we see that it was also the idea of loneliness that affected Luffy the most.

Well, the backstory also includes Sabo and Ace when they were together. Luffy might still have a case as he did care about Sabo.

Still not enough of a strong case though. Either ways he places around halfway of the strawhats in terms of backstory.
What I actually meant was what made him who he his and his dream which would be shanks. That's if we're going by what was responsible for their character at introduction. Yes true, ace actually helped with that.

---------- Post added at 09:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:02 AM ----------

Robin's island was blown up ... in that I think the biggest loss for her was losing a home ground and wandering around with a bounty poster, continuously chased ... You say she lost her mother ... but how is it any different from Usopp's mother dying or Luffy not having the motherly love or Belamery san dying.. moreover she didn't have her mother around all her childhood anyways... all ohara residents died, but they never treated robin as one of them anyways, the only loss I see is of the scholars, who had a good relation with robin, celebrating her birthday and all...

Losing her mother is part of it too. The biggest thing about robins story is the cluster of things she was forced to face and the sheer amount of things she lost which translates to everything. She was maltreated by her guardians, hoped for her mum, got to meet her and lost her on the same day as well. Add to every other thing she faced, it becomes an impossible story for a little kid. So its not about picking one particular aspect of her tragic past, its having to endure all of that at once.
Also the oharans might not have treated her as one, but that was still part of her home. And she watched an entire ship of the residents get blown up right before her eyes and considering she was about to get on too. Its enough to shake a little kid hated or not.

 

[Ninja_Pirate]

Losing her mother is part of it too. The biggest thing about robins story is the cluster of things she was forced to face and the sheer amount of things she lost which translates to everything. She was maltreated by her guardians, hoped for her mum, got to meet her and lost her on the same day as well. Add to every other thing she faced, it becomes an impossible story for a little kid. So its not about picking one particular aspect of her tragic past, its having to endure all of that at once.
Also the oharans might not have treated her as one, but that was still part of her home. And she watched an entire ship of the residents get blown up right before her eyes and considering she was about to get on too. Its enough to shake a little kid hated or not.

Robin's heart was definitely wounded if not scarred ... and we have seen her trauma of buster call during Enies Lobby ... But I think that was the trauma rather than the loss... She lost everything on that island which she never had anyways but just had hopes... She was considered a devil in her town ... Children won't play with her ... she was out of choices to be blunt ... Compare that to Nami , where she had to forcefully throw everything, her childhood for the sake of her village, when she had a choice to abandon them and live her own life.. ... compare that to Brook who lived in agony all along, and the time he spent there on that ship was long enough for someone to abandon his hopes which he didn't... and considering after their disaster how they have lived there life after that ... I would not rate robin so high on my charts with the girl she became later ... So at the end of the day , what robin lost was the hope ... and hope she found in Straw hats ...

Saul also said the same thing , that you will find a place where you will be loved ... All this time Aokiji kept the tab on Robin, like an angel in the shadows... He appeared in front of Shs even , because of Robin only... and at the end of Enies lobby he was shown relaxed, considering robin found a place she is loved at ...

There are other Shs who carried the guilt all these years, like Sanji, Franky and chopper .. and that guilt can never disappear even they have a crew and a purpose in life, its always there ... ... which could be considered a sad back story ... Robin's wounded heart got healed after coming up from the fear of buster call finding the nakamas ... Think about Sanji, Franky or chopper, they are scarred for life with the guilt, it was because of them for what happened to Zeff, Tom or Hilluluk(Hilluluk case can be said weak as he was anyways about to die)... but whatever

 

[Holt]

Saul sacrificed his life to save her. It doesnt matter if she was directly responsible for the buster call. It still took everything she had and she cared about in one fell swoop. Brook wasnt responsible for what happened and neither was nami. Robin still spent her life on the run with a massive bounty on her head, hunted for the sole purpose of existing which was considered a sin. Coupled with the lies the marines spread to justify hunting a little girl. She even gave up on life until luffy rescued her at alabasta and thought that she couldnt wish to live.

 

[M3J]

Still not enough of a strong case though. Either ways he places around halfway of the strawhats in terms of backstory.
What I actually meant was what made him who he his and his dream which would be shanks. That's if we're going by what was responsible for their character at introduction. Yes true, ace actually helped with that.

It's still a strong enough case, especially compared with Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp.

True, but Ace and Sabo also played a huge part in his life. If not for Ace or Sabo, would LUffy have as strong a motivation as he did to be the pirate king? to go out there and go on adventures?

I personally think backstory includes all and any information about a character before introduction.

 

[Holt]

When I said not strong enough, I meant in comparison to robin, brook, Nami class. True they probably did. There was that scene where they were spouting the dreams for the future.

 

[M3J]

Hard to beat them though, given they lost people that they loved and cared about and were forced to live alone for years, two in constant danger or abuse.

 

[Holt]

Yeah I know. That was my point.

 

[M3J]

I know, I'm just saying that I don't think any new STrawhat will beat Nami, Brook, and Robin in terms of saddest. They not only lost someone, but they lived horrible lives for years and shouldn't be compared. Though, even if you don't consider them, Luffy and Zoro would arguably have the least sad backstory. Usopp might have the saddest backstory, but I might be biased because I still consider Chopper's flashback to be one of the worst parts about One PIece.

 

[Shojin]

Robin's by a long mile!

 

[Holt]

I know, I'm just saying that I don't think any new STrawhat will beat Nami, Brook, and Robin in terms of saddest. They not only lost someone, but they lived horrible lives for years and shouldn't be compared. Though, even if you don't consider them, Luffy and Zoro would arguably have the least sad backstory. Usopp might have the saddest backstory, but I might be biased because I still consider Chopper's flashback to be one of the worst parts about One PIece.

Mostly agree although it is possible for a new SH to beat them. That's a blank cheque for Oda to do as he sees fit. In other words, its just like a challenge for him to make the next SH have one more horrible than them. I mean law isn't a SH and most likely won't be one but if he was, he'd give them all a run for their money. Definitely be right up there. The only thing is there's no fore shadowing of him being one so its possible to be a bit numb to his backstory. By the time we were told the backstories of most of the SH's, there had either already been part or it was all but confirmed that they would be. But yes it would be quite difficult to trump them.

 

[M3J]

Is it possible? Robin was marked since she was 8 and forced to live in fear of her life and knowledge that she had to betray before she was betrayed.

Brook lost his crew and lived alone for 50 years, and he had his shadow stolen so he couldn't escape.

Nami saw her mom shot right before her eyes and was forced to work for Arlong for years, suffering abuse.

I only see Law's backstory being on even terms with them. Not that I hope Oda turns it into a competition of sadder backstory.

 

[Holt]

Is it possible? Robin was marked since she was 8 and forced to live in fear of her life and knowledge that she had to betray before she was betrayed.

Brook lost his crew and lived alone for 50 years, and he had his shadow stolen so he couldn't escape.

Nami saw her mom shot right before her eyes and was forced to work for Arlong for years, suffering abuse.

I only see Law's backstory being on even terms with them. Not that I hope Oda turns it into a competition of sadder backstory.

It could be possible. Someone could just challenge him to do it.
Haha hope not (about the competition of sad stories) but you have to admit, the darker and sadder the backstory, the more amazing it is when the character is won over. And it also makes readers more invested in said character atleast for the period of their introduction to the story and induction to the crew.

 

[jimtors]

I cried buckets when i read Robin's backstory. The part where she asked, "Are you my mother?" and her mother cried... wow... Tearjerker T_T really sad... pinched my heart all over.
Dr. hilikuk too....

 

[fayah]

Robin's is the one that made me cry the most but objectively I think Brook's is the saddest?? Brook is so jovial/comical though it kinda downplays some of it, but he kinda went half insane/hallucinating with loneliness and had his whole crew die around him and wandered 50+ years. But I guess what's really more heart wrenching about Robin's story was how young she was when it happened

 

[seimei]

My choice lies with Franky. Idk, i guess i can smh relate with him. He gets traumatic experience while doing something he loves and capable of.

He reminds me of myself couple years ago. I hope i will be as SUPERR as him someday.

Next to it, comes brook's, and usopp's.

 

[Sharikaaria]

For some of these, it's like comparing apples and oranges - so many types of tragedies! It's a tie between Robin and Brook for me.

There's something about the way Brook died (the first time), playing music with his crew as each of them smiled to their imminent deaths, lamenting the promise to return to sweet little Laboon. And then he woke up to sail the seas alone for decades while Laboon bashed his own head against a rock. Too sad. It's excruciating because it gives you the sense of "so close, yet so far."

 

[ProGoddess]

For some of these, it's like comparing apples and oranges - so many types of tragedies! It's a tie between Robin and Brook for me.

There's something about the way Brook died (the first time), playing music with his crew as each of them smiled to their imminent deaths, lamenting the promise to return to sweet little Laboon. And then he woke up to sail the seas alone for decades while Laboon bashed his own head against a rock. Too sad. It's excruciating because it gives you the sense of "so close, yet so far."

Brook's story makes me cry really hard. He is probably one of the saddest stories in One Piece that I've cried buckets of tears. Most of the time the manga is always filled with humour, jokes and laughter, but when it comes to tragic stories, Oda seems to have a good hand at it in stirring emotions.

 

[I Am Atomic]

Robin because she had to endure her loneliness much longer than others. The way she laughed and cried ( Rishishi......) at the same time leaving on a boat from ohara broke my heart and vengeance against cp9 and akainu increased. Then when she said " i wanna live and take me to the sea with you" was the best and i cried more than robin, dammit.