Sanji, the charismatic chef of the Straw Hat Pirates in Eiichiro Oda’s great epic tale, One Piece, has embarked on countless adventures throughout the series. Throughout the show, he displays his deep-seated values and culinary prowess.
However, even the most beloved characters can make decisions that leave fans questioning their judgment. Sanji’s journey features moments where his choices, even though they are often rooted in his strong moral code, unexpectedly lead to dire consequences. While his noble intentions and complex emotions often drive these choices, they have led to dire consequences and challenged his role within the crew in the One Piece world.
5 Lack Of Faith in the Crew During Ordeals With His Family
Episode 784: “0 and 4 — Encountering Germa 66!”
Sanji underestimates his crew’s commitment to one another and how they will go to extreme lengths to help each other. He believed that by separating himself from the crew, he could shield them from the wrath of his powerful and influential family, the Vinsmokes. He wanted to spare his friends from the danger and potential repercussions of challenging his formidable relatives.
While his intention was to shield his friends from harm, this decision led to events that placed Sanji and his crew in grave danger. By keeping his problems a secret and not trusting his crewmates, Sanji isolates himself emotionally and physically. Sanji’s decision reflects a lack of faith in the strength and determination of the Straw Hat crew. Had he shared his burdens with the crew, they could have provided emotional support and advice and devised a better plan to navigate their challenges.
4 Fighting an Ally of the Kurozumi Family
Episode 920: “A Great Sensation! Sanji’s Special Soba!”
In the events that led to the raid at Onigashima, the supposed plan of the Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai alliance was to work covertly before the grand plan to raid Onigashima. However, certain events almost jeopardized the plan before it came to fruition. Apparently, Luffy is not the only one with a knack for causing trouble, as the Straw Hat cook, Sanji, almost ruined the plan.
Sanji’s personal philosophy is that no one should waste food for any reason — partly because he spent many weeks starving on an island with Zeff. An ally of the Kurozumi family, the Kyoshiro, wrecked a Soba stand that included some already prepared food. This action angered Sanji, and he beat up the group. The fight alerted Queen and some top members of the Beast pirates to be on the lookout for Sanji. If the Onigashima raid hadn’t been successful, this would likely have fallen in as one of the many reasons for its failure.
3 Trusting Pudding
Episode 817: “Moist Cigarette – The Night Before Sanji’s Wedding”
Sanji displays a significant level of blind trust in Pudding, believing her sincerity and kindness despite being aware of the dangerous and manipulative nature of the Big Mom Pirates. The trust he had in Big Mom’s daughter, and his blind love when it comes to women, blinded him to her true intentions. This caused Sanji to let his guard down and believe in a false facade. This decision had severe consequences, resulting in Sanji becoming entangled in a trap that Pudding and her family orchestrated.
In the Whole Cake arc, some moments hint at Pudding’s true intentions. Sanji’s decision to ignore these red flags and maintain his trust in Pudding led to his capture, and the subsequent predicament faced by the Straw Hat Pirates.
2 Not Attacking Female Villains
Episode 1020: “Sanji’s Scream! An SOS Echoes Over the Island”
Sanji’s refusal to attack or harm female opponents is one of his most defining characteristics. This decision is rooted in his code of chivalry and respect for women. However, his chivalry can put Sanji at a strategic disadvantage, especially when facing formidable women. By limiting himself from engaging with women who act as his opponents, he hinders his ability to protect himself and his crew.
Sanji’s strict adherence to not harming women can be exploited by cunning adversaries, who have been known to use his chivalrous nature against him in battle. An instance of this exploit happened in the Onigashima war against Black Maria, a member of the Beast Pirates. In that context, Sanji decided not to fight Black Maria despite the risks. This tactical error compromised his ability to contribute to the ongoing fight at Onigashima, and Sanji’s decision could have endangered the crew.
1 Leaving the Crew For Viola at Dressrosa
Episode 632: “A Dangerous Love – Dancing Girl Violet”
In Dressrosa’s arc, Sanji fell for a woman and almost abandoned his role as a vital team member of the Straw Hats. The Straw Hat Pirates rely on each other’s unique strengths and abilities to overcome challenges and achieve their shared objectives. Sanji’s departure would have weakened the crew’s abilities, and disrupted the trust and unity they had built over the course of their journey.
Also, Sanji’s decision to leave the crew for Viola demonstrated a shift in his priorities. While personal relationships are important, the crew’s primary mission is to achieve their dreams and protect their friends. By prioritizing his romantic feelings over the crew’s collective goals, Sanji potentially compromised the crew’s ability to navigate future dangers and challenges.
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