The following contains spoilers for One Piece Chapter 1090, “Kizaru,” by Eiichiro Oda, Stephen Paul and Vanessa Satone, available in English from Viz Media.
The Pacifista Seraphim units have caused quite a stir among the One Piece fandom. These cyborgs are clones of the Seven Warlords, complete with their powers and more. One Seraph that has stood out to fans is S-Snake, a clone of Boa Hancock. As soon as it was confirmed that the Seraphim could have human emotions, it seemed obvious what would happen to S-Snake – she would fall in love with Luffy just like her counterpart. As of Chapter 1090, “Kizaru,” that theory has been confirmed. S-Snake quickly turned into the same love-sick mess as Hancock when Luffy came her way.
As expected as it was for S-Snake to fall for Luffy, there’s something odd about it. Hancock only fell in love because the Straw Hat captain tore down her preconceived notions of men and reopened her heart. S-Snake didn’t go through any of that, yet she falls in love, too. This is either a narrative oversight, or it says something about the Seraphim that wasn’t previously confirmed. Either way, this new revelation is set to change the direction of the Egghead Arc in ways fans couldn’t have previously anticipated. That said, there still needs to be a reasonable explanation for why S-Snake can skip over the character development Hancock went through to become infatuated.
Why Boa Hancock Fell for Luffy
Hancock’s initial disdain for men comes from her traumatic childhood experiences. She and her two sisters were enslaved by the Celestial Dragons, and the first man she saw branded her with their slave mark. This painful and humiliating past made her cold, distant, cynical, and cruel to everyone around her, even her fellow Kuja Pirates. When Hancock first met Luffy, she viewed him with the same disdain as any other man. Since this was before she liked him, her inability to win him over with her beauty was an unbearable assault on her pride. She even had him captured and sentenced to death. It was far from love at first sight. Hancock’s opinion of Luffy only shifted when she got to know him.
First, he covered the Gorgon Sisters’ slave mark during their battle because he they stated it was a fate worse than death. To him, it would have been the wrong way to settle his dispute with them. This first act of kindness led the Snake Princess to hear him out. Luffy further displayed his character when Hancock presented him with a choice. He could take a boat off Amazon Lily or have her revive the girls she petrified for abetting him. Luffy ignored the risk of being stranded on the Maiden Island and immediately thanked the Pirate Empress for the chance to save his new friends. This display of humanity was unlike anything Hancock had ever seen, much less from a man. Hancock was finally ready to open up to Luffy about her past. Luffy, in return, revealed his disdain for the World Nobles and that he went as far as to punch one. It was after this, and everything else that Luffy did, that Hancock fell for him.
Does It Make Sense for S-Snake to Fall for Luffy?
S-Snake’s infatuation with Luffy seems sudden compared to everything Hancock went through. Luffy grabbed her, looked her straight in the eye, and begged her to free his friends whom she petrified. The Seraph was quick to give in to Luffy’s forward demand. Dr. Vegapunk guessed how S-Snake’s inclination toward Luffy came to be. Going off Jimbei’s claim that the Pacifista acts like the real Hancock, the SSG leader concluded it was because of information passed down through their shared Bloodline Elements (One Piece’s equivalent to DNA).
That’s likely the logic the story will stick with going forward, but there should be more to it than that. Again, Hancock was more disgusted by Luffy because of her years of enslavement. The Straw Hat captain needed to prove himself and help the Pirate Empress melt the ice around her heart before she could open it up to him. It shouldn’t make sense for him to be able to skip all that development with S-Snake, at least not the way it’s explained.
However, the lack of shared experiences can also be used to explain why S-Snake was so quick to succumb to Luffy’s “charm.” She may not have been through everything Hancock went through to fall for Luffy, but she also lacks the traumatic past. Without enslavement to harden the Seraph’s heart, there are no mental barriers that Luffy needs to break down. S-Snake falling for Luffy could also say something about how the Seraphim were created.
If her love for Luffy is directly related to Hancock’s, as Vegapunk theorized, that could mean the Seraphim were developed within the last two years. Alternatively, it could represent how Hancock would have initially received the Straw Hat captain if she had a healthy upbringing; given S-Hawk’s petulance in Chapter 1090, this could be closer to the answer. Either way, both Hancock and S-Snake are now aligned in their feelings.
What Does S-Snake Falling for Luffy Say About the Seraphim?
S-Snake falling for Luffy seems to be setting up something for the overarching plot. Her compliance to Luffy’s request proves that the Seraphim can act without being programmed to follow an order; this contradicts S-Snake’s claim that they wouldn’t bother with the CP agents without being ordered to. In other words, the Seraphim are capable of independent thoughts and actions. The Seraphim’s potential to think for themselves could prove pivotal for the Egghead incident. In a worst-case scenario, they could be forced to follow the orders of St. Jaygarcia Saturn, who has the highest authority over them, and attack the Straw Hats as they try to escape. At first, the only way to stop this was by incapacitating the Celestial Dragon, but now it might also be possible to appeal to the Seraphim’s humanity.
S-Snake being open about her feelings could also open the doors for the other Seraphim. Each could reveal something about their template that wasn’t previously known. They could give away Mihawk’s weakness, Kuma’s personality, and even something about Jimbei. Once these new tidbits about the former Warlords are dropped, the originals can be addressed. Getting these stoic Seraphim to open up may prove difficult, but the results will be worth it. In any case, S-Snake is now free to add to the Hancock-loves-Luffy running gag. How much she contributes to this joke depends on how much time they together. If the Straw Hat Pirates decide to take the Seraphim off of Egghead along with the rest of their guests, S-Snake could be to Luffy what Sanji is to Nami and the other girls. Further, if the two Snake Princesses happen to meet, it’d be a scary event.