LogFAQs > #968347436

It is simultaneously Usopp's weakest moment as a crew member and his strongest moment in terms of character (to that point). Him basically telling Luffy to fuck off because he wanted to replace the derelict Merry was wrong for several reasons. The fact that he was willing to fight his obviously MUCH stronger best friend and captain for his belief in something was something of a turning point for Usopp the coward. Don't get me wrong, he's still a coward (it's just who he is) but until that moment, Usopp had really just tagged along and hadn't shown any real conviction for anything aside from avoiding fights. His fight with Luffy showed that deep, deep down, he actually does have a spine and will fight anyone if he believes strongly enough in something, well-reasoned or not. It was also a key moment for Luffy as Captain. To that point, Luffy's will and strength had justified his role as Captain but he'd never had to deal with the "weight" of the job. Confronting Usopp's insubordination was a stark reality check for his duty as the leader of his crew. It wasn't an enjoyable experience but it was utterly necessary to demonstrate that goofy and whimsical though he may be, he will NOT tolerate disrespect and rebuke for doing his job as Captain of his ship. Note that his crewmates protest his decisions regularly BUT they always go along with it because ultimately Luffy's ship and they respect that. Usopp's stand was the example of what happens when protestation becomes outright insubordination. It's something that's traditionally punishable by death in that setting.