Without Oda's genius writing. Although next episode will likely conclude the flashback arc, and return us to the raid on Onigashima (or what's left of it), it's safe to say that this flashback has been one of the pinnacle events in all of One Piece. Oden quickly became a beloved character, the unrequited gathering of the Nine Red Scabbards, the journey onto Roger's Rival's crew of Whitebeard, the journey to the end of the Grand Line with Roger himself, and the tragic return home and five-year-long struggle against Orochi and Kaido hoping to save Wano only to meet his fate once again protecting those important to him.
Beyond that, journeying with Whitebeard and Roger in their heyday, seeing the formation of the Nine Red Scabbards and learning their backstory, meeting Momo and Hiyori before their tales interweave with the Straw Hats, and seeing what Wano was like before its calloused destruction at the hands of Orochi and Kaido truly set a major precedent for an already gargantuan and endlessly impress story. It's safe to say that One Piece, a now 24 year old story, is not losing any steam and is somehow, against what is generally considered possible or conceivable, picking up steam in a big way.
It's hard to say exactly where the Wano Country Arc will land in the grand scheme, it still has Arlong Park, Alabasta, Water 7, Enies Lobby, Sabaody Archipelago, Impel Down, Marineford, Dressrosa, and Whole Cake Island to contend with for it place as a fan favorite or "best" arc, but from where we stand right now it will at least be among the greats and the way Toei has been upping their game it's also safe to say that this will easily be one of the best animated and showcased arcs in the anime.
The final moments of the episode and the stylized "to be continued" will go down as one of the most iconic sequences of the series along with its callback scene some 400 episodes ago.
Truly one of the highlights of the series and one of the best episodes to date: 10/10.
