Cavendish Emerges as the Best-Written Character in One Piece’s Straw Hat Grand Fleet, Not Bartolomeo

In **One Piece chapter 1126**, Bartolomeo faced defeat at the hands of Shanks after invading Shanks’ territory. Bartolomeo’s unwavering loyalty to Luffy demonstrated that he is indeed a dedicated follower of the Straw Hats and may also be considered one of the most well-written characters in the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. However, this intense loyalty may actually hinder his development as a character.

The crux of the issue is that Bartolomeo lacks personal aspirations and primarily identifies as Luffy’s fanboy, which could potentially lead to his downfall in future events. In contrast, a more compelling character is Cavendish, who also joined the Grand Fleet alongside Bartolomeo. Unlike Bartolomeo, Cavendish possesses personal ambitions, thus positioning him as the best-developed character within the Grand Fleet.

Disclaimer: This article may contain potential spoilers from the *One Piece* manga series and reflects the author’s personal opinions.

One Piece: Examining why Cavendish might be the top-written character among the Straw Hat Grand Fleet

Bartolomeo as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

In *One Piece* chapter 1126, the Red-Haired Pirates confronted Bartolomeo and his crew on an island. Following their encounter, Bartolomeo’s crew was defeated, prompting Shanks to question their actions. Bartolomeo felt compelled to apologize for his recklessness, but the Red-Haired Pirates sought to impart a lesson.

One of Shanks’ crew members presented Bartolomeo with a vial, threatening that he would face trouble if he did not deliver it to his captain, Luffy. The vial was believed to contain poison, forcing Bartolomeo to make a split-second decision. Ultimately, he chose to drink the vial and expressed his apologies to Luffy for his foolishness.

It turned out that the vial was harmless and merely a test devised by Shanks to assess Bartolomeo’s loyalty to Luffy. Following this incident, fans labeled Bartolomeo as the ‘best-written character of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet’ due to his steadfast dedication to Monkey D. Luffy. Nonetheless, this unwavering loyalty may ultimately position him as one of the less favorable characters associated with the Straw Hat Pirates.

Bartolomeo as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Since his debut in the Dressrosa arc of *One Piece*, Bartolomeo has not indicated any personal ambitions beyond following Luffy’s quest to become the Pirate King. Although this goal is shared by his entire crew, they also possess individual dreams that help them navigate life’s challenges.

Prominent examples include Zoro’s aspiration to become the strongest swordsman and Sanji’s quest to discover the All Blue. Consequently, Bartolomeo is perceived as one of the weaker pirates and perhaps one of the least intriguing characters in the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. In contrast, Cavendish stands out as a character with more personal motives, making him a more compelling figure.

Hakudo (left) and Cavendish (right) (Image via Toei Animation)

Cavendish, another member of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, aims for popularity. While this goal may seem self-serving, it distinguishes him as a fighter instead of simply a fanboy like Bartolomeo.

Additionally, his dual personality, Hakuda, is still largely unexplored, presenting potential equal to that of the Straw Hat Pirates. Therefore, while Bartolomeo’s loyalty is commendable, his lack of personal ambition shifts the spotlight to Cavendish as the ‘potentially best character’ from the *One Piece* Straw Hat Grand Fleet.

Source