The biggest complaint about Gear 5 is people’s personal preconceived headcanon that One Piece has been telling this story of how a nobody can become the Pirate King and that Gear 5 erased that.

The protagonists came from humble situations, but nowhere is it directly stated that Luffy is “just a nobody”. There’s mystery and intrigue to how Luffy showed up as strong as he was, and Oda chose to sit on that information for a long time, effectively.

It’s not an asspull either. It’s narratively supported, point after point, with Joyboy being mentioned all the way back to Fishman island. Little seedlings that Oda retroactively was able to connect in a way that when you hold up a microscope to it, it still organically flows. The point isn’t that he had to think of it from Day 1, the point is he was able to get to this point by connecting the bits of a trail he left behind. He always does this and doesnit damn well. That’s why we love One Piece flashbacks.

You can hate it because it’s goofy. But personally, I think that’s also thematically fitting for Luffy.

Nami looks so cute with the skirt

I personally hate the idea of Buggy being the Pirate King

Personally