Summary
One Piece Season 2 delivers perhaps its standout hour in “Reindeer Shames”, a beautiful bit of backstory for Chopper that also nicely tees up an action-packed finale.
Only one episode ago, I was saying that One Piece Season 2 utilising flashbacks was something of a novelty, so Episode 7 makes me look pretty stupid, since it’s virtually all flashbacks. But who’s complaining? “Reindeer Shames” is probably the best episode of the season, a truly lovely hour of storytelling and impressive special effects that is both wrenchingly sad and powerfully hopeful. This is precisely why everyone was so excited to see Tony Tony Chopper in live action.
Not that Chopper’s backstory is the only thing going on here, but it’s certainly the most impactful, despite a last-minute cliffhanger that sets up what is sure to be an all-action finale. It won’t be new in its broad strokes to any fans of the manga or anime, but goodness me, it’s effective.
So let’s break it down.
The Great Doctor Hunt
As mentioned, most of this episode is a flashback exploring Chopper’s past, told to Nami, Luffy, and Sanji by Kureha. This also doubles as a bit of background for how the Drum Kingdom fell into such disarray, since King Wapol’s selfish mismanagement of the kingdom is also integral to Chopper’s past.
Needless to say, Chopper was already treated like a monster before the Great Doctor Hunt. Wapol had decreed that all the physicians in the kingdom must work for him or be put to death, leading to a complete lack of healthcare for ordinary folks. The only two doctors who survived the purge of those unwilling to work for Wapol were Kureha and an eccentric named Hiriluk.
Upon discovering an injured Chopper, Hiriluk took him in and tended to his wounds, theorising that the cause of his strange appearance and ability to talk was likely due to him having accidentally ingested a Devil Fruit. Chopper became Hiriluk’s assistant, swayed by his optimism and determination to develop a cure-all that would eradicate all disease.
Don’t Eat Strange Mushrooms
Chopper and Hiriluk had their ups and downs, but their relationship quickly evolved into a surrogate father-son situation, with Chopper resolving to become a doctor just like his mentor. He also began to see the skull and crossbones hung up in Hiriluk’s home as a symbol of rejecting limitations, which is why he was so sensitive about it in the present day when Luffy found it in his chest.
Sadly, Hiriluk developed an incurable illness. Knowing he was dying and not wanting to put Chopper through the shock of seeing him drop dead, he cast Chopper out, telling him his wounds were healed and he should go and live his life. These scenes are pretty heartbreaking. But Chopper sticks around and eventually eavesdrops on a conversation between Hiriluk and Kareha, talking about the former’s condition and mentioning, offhandedly, a cure-all mushroom located in the perilous Death Valley that might be a solution.
Chopper travelled alone to retrieve the mushroom and returned it to Hiriluk, who brewed it up in a soup. Suddenly feeling much better, he resolved to head to the castle and liberate the doctors held by King Wapol, taking a healthy supply of explosives with him if necessary. It isn’t until Kureha arrives that Chooper, who is feeling pretty pleased with himself, learns the truth.
The mushroom was poisonous. The skull and crossbones next to its entry in Hiriluk’s book indicated its lethality, not its magical properties. Hiriluk knew this, but consumed the soup anyway to allow Chopper to believe he had healed him. He has gone to the castle to give his life to save the other doctors.
Heroic Self-Sacrifice
When Hiriluk got to the castle, he discovered that the doctors were fine, albeit prisoners of King Wapol. Naturally, the king ordered the fugitive doctor to be immediately executed. Hiriluk’s final act was taking his own life after asking Dalton not to harm Chopper, who would inevitably be arriving soon.
True to his word, Dalton met Chopper outside and prevented him from doing anything drastic, telling him to live his life as his father would have wanted. No, you’re crying! Dalton even went a step further and turned on Wapol. Chopper returned to Hiriluk’s house and was taken in by Kureha. In the present day, after hearing the story, Luffy pulls the skull and crossbones from Chopper’s chest and hangs it proudly, revealing himself to be a “monster” too.
The Finale Awaits
One Piece Season 2, Episode 7 ends, naturally, with some set up for the finale. The other Straw Hats are back at the base of the mountain, in the village, where things seem to be kicking off. Dalton spots some smoke in the forest and goes to investigate, leaving Zoro and Usopp to guard the villagers. When he finds the source of the smoke, he’s shot with three arrows by King Wapol’s sycophantic right-hand men. The king has returned to his kingdom.
To make matters worse, Vivi also spots Miss All Sunday in the village, so the king has brought reinforcements from the Baroque Works. It’s all going to kick off good and proper, which is just what we want from a finale.
I’ll see you there.
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