One Piece Episode 1179 Review: A Powerful Gaban Moment Leads to a Chilling Ending Twist

Episode 1179 of One Piece picks up exactly where last week’s episode left off, with Gaban finally stepping into the fight against the Knights of God. After the big tease at the end of Episode 1178, I was excited to see what Gaban could really do, and the episode does not disappoint.

What I liked most, though, is that this is not just a showcase of Gaban’s strength. His fight with the Holy Knights leads into a much more emotional moment involving Colon, while the episode’s final minutes bring a surprising twist involving Gunko, Brook, and Imu.

Gaban Proves Why He Was Roger’s Left Hand

Gaban easily becomes the highlight of the episode for me. One Piece Episode 1178 already showed that he could hurt Sommers, and this episode takes it even further. Gaban continues the fight with Sommers and quickly shows why he was one of the most important members of Roger’s crew. Even after admitting that he has gotten rusty, he is still able to cut Sommers in half.

What I enjoyed here is that Gaban does not need some huge transformation or flashy new power to make an impact. His experience and fighting ability are enough. After seeing Sommers survive so much damage, watching Gaban land a serious attack on him feels incredibly satisfying.

But the episode gets much better when Gaban’s fight becomes personal. Gunko discovers that Colon is Gaban’s son and uses the boy against him. Gaban tries to save Colon while also dealing with the burning school and library, but his Observation Haki shows him that he cannot save his son if he keeps fighting.

That leads to one of the episode’s most emotional moments. Gaban drops his axes and surrenders. Even though it was really emotional, I liked this scene because it does not make Gaban look weak. He is choosing Colon’s life over his own. The short flashback to Colon’s birth also makes his decision hit harder. We finally get to see the legendary Gaban not just as Roger’s former crewmate, but as a father.

Imu Takes Control as Gunko’s Mystery Deepens

Imu takes over Gunko in One Piece Episode 1179. | Credit: Toei Animation

The ending is where Episode 1179 takes a completely different turn. After Gaban falls, Colon’s cries seem to trigger something inside Gunko. She suddenly remembers Brook, and this immediately caught my attention. Brook also notices that Gunko looks like someone from his past, suggesting that there is a much deeper connection between the two.

I really liked that the episode does not explain everything at once. Instead, it gives us just enough information to make the mystery more interesting. Gunko realizes about Brook and moves toward him, seemingly ready to confront him. But before we can get any answers, Imu suddenly takes control of her body. That was a great cliffhanger.

Imu’s appearance also makes the situation in Elbaf feel much bigger. The Holy Knights are being pushed to hurry because Mary Geoise is burning, and Imu makes it clear that the World Government needs the Giants’ strength. The episode then ends with Imu preparing to show the power of a god.

It is a very different kind of ending from the Gaban fight, but I think it works. Instead of ending on another action scene, the anime leaves us with a much bigger mystery surrounding Gunko and Brook while raising the threat level around Imu.

One Piece Episode 1179 Overall Verdict

Imu from One Piece. | Credit: Toei Animation

Overall, I think One Piece Episode 1179 is a strong follow-up to last week’s episode. Gaban gets the spotlight he deserves, but the episode wisely gives his story an emotional side instead of turning it into another simple power showcase. His decision to surrender for Colon was easily my favorite part of the episode. It shows that Gaban’s greatest strength is not just his ability to fight. He is willing to sacrifice himself for his son.

The Gunko and Brook mystery also gives the episode an exciting second half, while Imu’s possession creates a chilling final twist. For me, Episode 1179 works because it gives us action, emotion, and a major mystery without trying to do too much at once. After Gaban’s arrival last week, Elbaf finally felt like it had a chance. Now, after this episode’s ending, things somehow feel even more dangerous.

One Piece Episode 1179 does not just continue the battle. It makes the conflict feel much more personal and leaves us with plenty to think about before the next episode arrives.

One Piece anime is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.

One Piece Episode 1179 Review: A Powerful Gaban Moment Leads to a Chilling Ending Twist