In the sprawling tapestry of One Piece , episodes often blend explosive action with profound character moments. Yet, Episode 720, titled “The Bell Rings a Heroic Elegy! The King of the Country of Evil’s Moment of Truth!” , stands as a peculiar and fascinating anomaly. Sandwiched between the relentless gears of the Dressrosa arc’s climax, this episode is less about rubbery punches and more about the suffocating weight of a crown. It is a masterclass in atmospheric dread and a crucial, if uncomfortable, deconstruction of what it truly means to be a king.
In conclusion, Episode 720 is the "slow burn" of the Dressrosa arc. It is frustrating by design, melancholic on purpose. It reminds us that in One Piece , true strength isn’t just the ability to punch a Warlord into the bedrock; it is the resilience to ring a bell for freedom when your own people have already branded you a demon. By focusing on Riku’s failure to be the perfect king, Oda (and Toei) crafted an episode that isn't about winning back a country—it’s about the lonely, humiliating, and ultimately heroic act of refusing to let despair have the last word, even when no one is listening. one piece episode 720
At first glance, the episode focuses on Riku Doldo III, the former king of Dressrosa, as he desperately rings the Golden Bell to signal a rebellion against Doflamingo. But the "heroic elegy" of the title is ironic. This is not a triumphant rallying cry; it is the sound of a broken man trying to reclaim a hope he no longer fully believes in. The episode’s genius lies in its refusal to glorify Riku’s actions. Instead, it forces the viewer to sit in his humiliation. In the sprawling tapestry of One Piece ,
The animation style serves this mood perfectly. The colors are washed out, the shadows are long, and the sound design is deliberately sparse. The clang of the bell is harsh, metallic, and lonely—not the triumphant brass of a victory fanfare. When Riku finally strikes the bell, the episode denies us catharsis. The shot lingers on his weathered face, sweat and tears indistinguishable, as he whispers not a command, but a plea. It is a profoundly un-shonen moment: a climax built on exhaustion rather than adrenaline. Sandwiched between the relentless gears of the Dressrosa