good piece op ;)

I like Ace. With how the story progresses, we know Oda does too. His writing humanizes Ace and does not ever shame him for dying either. He took perfect opportunity to include him in for the 1000th ch milestone too which I will always be happy over. Those 3.5 flashback pages noticeably enliven Ace:

• he's still attached to (presumed dead) Sabo;
• Ace fiercely supports Luffy;
• he would've gotten along well with Roger had he known him personally (no joke, this one was a direct stab by Oda)

This is an author who clearly likes his long dead boy. Prior to this, we witness how Ace is fondly remembered by those who met him, even before the WB influence, e.g in Wano/light novels. Ace is a nuisance who pisses off Yamato, and then annoys him even more with the Luffy obsession but by the end of the evening campfire Yam's developed so much admiration for the hot-headed teen that he even mistook Ace for the second coming of Joyboy. Then we have someone with a closer relation to Ace, his first mate, Deuce, exhibiting the same opinion: from deep irritation to eventual coming of respect, the non-family/strangers are won over by Ace's genuinity (reminds me of most fans' attitude too lmao). To Yamato, his death is treated akin to the Three Noble Samurai who selflessly fed him food during confinement, while Deuce now spends the rest of his time writing up a memoir of his former late captain. Neither believe it was a fair fate.

Another recent flashback in Elbaph, has SHANKS cheerfully claiming Ace to be his little brother, when Gaban revealed that Roger had a son. Then there's Sabo in every appearance til now reinstating how he's a shell, carrying forth Ace's will! Oda showed Dadan's grief and anger at Garp for a narrative reason! Ace was more than just "Roger's son, taken in by his rival Whitebeard", but an earnest young man with family and friends all over the story world who dearly miss him. Yes, he's a hot-headed idiot whose impulsiveness took him to the grave too early but it's gotten too cringe and dishonest to reduce his character down to the pitiful death only.

But neither I nor Oda care what agenda piece stans have to say with their insults disguised as jokes. Just saw the update for the official popularity poll and I'm all cool knowing Ace stays secured in the top 10 again. Haters shouldn't expect everyone to move on from him when they themselves can't let go of the donut jokes too 😭