The animation peaks. Then it breaks your heart.
If you've been following the Egghead Island arc, you knew things were getting heavy, but One Piece Episode 1122 hits different. It's the kind of episode that reminds you why we've spent decades watching a rubber boy and his chaotic friends. This isn't just another fight sequence; it’s the culmination of a legacy. We finally see Monkey D. Garp, the "Hero of the Marines," go all out.
Honestly? It’s brutal.
The episode, titled "The Last Lesson! Impact Inherited," focuses almost entirely on the chaotic retreat from Hachinosu (Fullalead Island). Garp is old. He’s bleeding. He’s surrounded by the Blackbeard Pirates—monsters like Shiryu, Avalo Pizarro, and his former protégé, Kuzan (Aokiji). Most anime would give a legend like Garp a clean, heroic victory. Instead, Toei Animation and Eiichiro Oda give us something much more grounded and painful.
The Weight of the "Galaxy Divide"
The visual spectacle here is insane. When Garp uses "Galaxy Divide," the screen literally vibrates with the intensity of his Haki. You’ve probably seen the clips on social media already. The way the animators handled the Conqueror's Haki—those thick black-and-red lightning bolts—makes it feel like the world is splitting.
But look past the flashy lights.
The real story in One Piece Episode 1122 is about the future. Garp isn’t fighting to win a war; he’s fighting to buy seconds for Coby, Helmeppo, and Grus. There’s a specific moment where Garp tells Coby, "You are the future of the Marines." It’s a passing of the torch that feels heavy because we know Garp is likely not making it off that island in one piece.
Why Koby’s Moment Actually Worked
Koby has always been a divisive character for some fans. He started as a whimpering kid on Alvida’s ship. Seeing him step up in One Piece Episode 1122 to unleash "Honesty Impact" was a massive payoff. The animation for this specific move was intentionally mirrored to look like Garp’s "Galaxy Fist." It’s visual storytelling 101. It shows that Koby isn't just Garp’s student; he’s his successor.
💡 You might also like: How to Watch The Wolf and the Lion Without Getting Lost in the Wild
The "Honesty Impact" isn't just a punch. It’s Koby finally shedding his self-doubt. Throughout the episode, he's terrified. His hands shake. But when he sees Garp pinned down, something snaps. The destruction of Pizarro’s giant stone hand was a feat of strength we haven't seen from a non-Devil Fruit user in a long time.
It’s crazy to think about how far he's come since Episode 1.
The Tragedy of Kuzan vs. Garp
We need to talk about Aokiji. Or Kuzan, as he goes by now.
His fight with Garp is layered with so much unspoken trauma. They aren't just two powerful guys hitting each other. They are a teacher and a student who genuinely cared for one another. One of the most heartbreaking details in One Piece Episode 1122 is the flashback to their "Battleship Bag" training.
They used to punch the hulls of massive warships—no Haki, no Devil Fruits—just raw physical strength until the steel dented.
Seeing them trade blows in the present day, knowing they are both holding back a little bit of their heart while putting 100% of their power into their fists, is peak One Piece. Kuzan’s face is shrouded in shadow for most of the fight. He doesn't want to do this. But he made his choice to join Blackbeard, and Garp made his choice to protect the "New Era."
The Animation Shift
Toei has been on a roll since the Wano Country finale, but this episode felt different from the Gear 5 episodes. While Luffy’s fights are looney and fluid, Garp’s combat is "heavy." Every punch feels like it has tons of weight behind it. The sound design team deserves a raise for the way they handled the impact of Garp’s fists hitting the ground.
📖 Related: Is Lincoln Lawyer Coming Back? Mickey Haller's Next Move Explained
It sounds like a mountain collapsing.
What Most People Missed About the Ending
The episode ends on a bittersweet note. Garp is lying on the ground, an ice blade through his chest, laughing. He’s laughing while the Blackbeard Pirates surround him. It’s the "D" initial trait—smiling in the face of death.
But is he dead?
The manga readers have been debating this for months, and the anime adaptation of One Piece Episode 1122 leans heavily into the ambiguity. The Narrator’s voiceover confirms that "The Hero, Monkey D. Garp, went missing at Hachinosu." Note the word "missing." In the world of Shonen anime, if you don't see a body and a funeral, they’re usually coming back.
However, his loss is a massive blow to the Marines. With Garp "removed" from the board, the power balance of the world just tilted violently toward the pirates.
The Real Impact on the World Government
This episode isn't just about a cool fight. It’s about the crumbling of the old guard. Whitebeard is gone. Big Mom and Kaido are (presumably) gone. Now, Garp is out of the picture. The "Legends" are being systematically replaced by the "Worst Generation" and the young Marines like Koby.
It makes the upcoming events at Egghead Island—where Luffy is facing an Admiral and one of the Five Elders—feel even more high-stakes. There is no safety net anymore. No "Hero" is coming to save the day.
👉 See also: Tim Dillon: I'm Your Mother Explained (Simply)
How to Process the Aftermath of Episode 1122
If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by the emotional weight of this episode, you aren’t alone. The community response has been a mix of awe at the animation quality and genuine sadness for Garp’s fate.
Here is how you should look at the current state of the series:
- Watch the Flashbacks Again: Go back and watch the early episodes where Garp first meets Koby. It makes the "Honesty Impact" scene hit ten times harder.
- Keep an Eye on the News: The narrator mentioned that this event will send shockwaves through the world. Pay attention to the background characters in the next few episodes; their reactions tell the real story of the power vacuum.
- Analyze the Lyrics: The music choices during the final retreat were very specific. They didn't use a triumphant battle theme; they used something more melancholic. It’s a signal that while the kids escaped, the cost was far too high.
The brilliance of One Piece Episode 1122 lies in its ability to make us care about a character who has been mostly on the sidelines for hundreds of episodes. Garp has always been "Luffy’s Grandpa" or "The Guy Who Fought Roger." Now, he is finally his own man, a tragic hero who prioritized the life of a young soldier over his own legendary status.
It’s a masterclass in character writing.
If you’re looking for what to do next, the best move is to revisit the "Battleship Bag" sequence. It’s the key to understanding why Kuzan is so conflicted. It’s not just about a betrayal; it’s about a son fighting his father. The nuance in their expressions during those brief frames of combat tells more of a story than any dialogue could.
The era of the old legends is officially over. The world is in Koby’s—and Luffy’s—hands now.
Practical Next Steps for Fans:
- Re-watch the scene where Garp enters Hachinosu in Episode 1114 to compare his peak energy with his state at the end of Episode 1122.
- Pay close attention to the newspaper headlines in the upcoming "bridge" scenes, as they provide context for how the public perceives Garp's "disappearance."
- Observe the specific Haki colors used for Koby; they suggest his development is heading toward a very specific branch of Observation Haki that we haven't seen fully explored yet.