Shanks is one of the most important characters in One Piece, and that goes without saying. Although he has been on the sidelines for about 2 decades in the story now, with only brief stints here and there, Shanks is now a main player in the great game, and that excites all the fans. As was seen at the beginning of the Final Saga, Shanks is now serious about claiming the One Piece, or at the very least, giving Luffy a proper challenge to the One Piece. This means that Shanks will be more involved in the plot than ever before, and that is incredibly exciting for both the fans and great for the story as well.