Welcome to the Grand Line, friends! Season two of the live action adaptation of the ever-popular anime and manga “ONE PIECE” created by Eiichiro Oda premiered on Netflix at midnight on Tuesday.
The world of “One Piece” is magnificent and imposing, with the anime encompassing over 1,000 episodes and counting. I was introduced to the manga by my friend Connor, whose enthusiasm and energy sold me on why I need to dive in.
After reading part of the manga and slowly catching up with the anime, I finished season one of the live action as soon as it aired and the majority of season two the night the episodes were released. The show charmed me in an instant, with an incredible cast, breathtaking sets and most importantly, people who are dedicated to sharing their craft with the world while honoring the original.
What makes this adaptation special is the way it becomes explicitly clear that the cast and crew respect the source material. They are not here to make a “better” version of the anime, but here to adapt the work into a different medium, which they do with their whole hearts.
And I’m not the only one to think highly of the show. Season two received a 100% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviews praising the originality and creative direction of the show.
“Even after an excellent first season, One Piece Season 2 feels like a wildly impressive level-up in many respects.” said critic Perri Nemiroff, which feels like an appropriate way of phrasing it after watching the first four episodes.
But before I get ahead of myself, let’s set sail! Mild spoilers from this point onward relating to the events and plot of season two of the show.
“ONE PIECE” follows Luffy (Iñaki Godoy), Nami (Emily Rudd), Zoro (Mackenyu), Sanji (Taz Skylar) and Usopp (Jacob Romero) as they set sail to the grand line, where adventure (and the coveted one piece) awaits.
(Side note: a real-life version revealing what the one piece truly is happens to be buried in the ocean if anyone is feeling particularly brave. And also has a submarine.)
They are joined by new cast members, including Charithra Chandran as Miss Wednesday, Lera Abova as Miss All Sunday, Mikaela Hoover as Tony Tony Chopper, Daniel Lasker as Mr. 9 and many more.
Without spoiling too much, I will share that we will meet some incredible characters this season. The VFX is out of this world, and the way in which creatures that exist in the manga come to life are highly impressive. The dinosaurs, deer (a very specific one, I should say) and all those who arrive do so with undeniable zing.
It is difficult to find a balance between fun and realism when the world of “One Piece” is so animated, but they found an even better balance this time around. The costume, hair and makeup team made the characters come to life, and not in a way that made you cringe, but rather view them as though they popped from the pages of the manga straight to live action.
Starting off with the first episode, titled “THE BEGINNING AND THE END,” we are introduced to Miss All Sunday, Mr. 9 and Miss Valentine (Jazzara Jaslyn) as they decimate a marine base. Miss All Sunday’s powers, which I will keep to myself in this review, are as magnificent in the live action as they are in the anime, and honestly, seeing the effects in that way makes everything feel more terrifying.
I am doing my best to keep the spoilers to a minimum, so I won’t reveal too much, but the characters interact with one another in an authentic and natural way. The passage of time feels right, and their relationships strengthen and develop from the moment they are introduced through the rest of the season.
Another aspect the show did well was managing the timeline of the manga. The live action went with a more chronological approach, which works especially well considering that many of the viewers are not familiar with the manga or the anime, and have the chance to figure things out as they go.
I sincerely hope the show will run for a long time, and I do know that it’s confirmed for a third season already with the exciting additions of Xolo Maridueña (Kobra Kai, Blue Beetle) as Portgas D. Ace and the impeccable Cole Escola (Oh, Mary! on Broadway) as Bon Clay.
With a grand adventure, larger than life battles and a treasure to find, the Straw Hat Pirates are in for a challenge, and they face it with inspiring strength and creativity.
So… Should you watch the second season?
The short answer is yes, and the long answer is a resounding yes. With the impeccable ability to do so, the live action has managed to capture the charm of Eiichiro Oda’s manga and add a different and unique spin to a beloved world. If you think you’re ready to immerse yourself in an adventure across the East Blue with some of the finest pirates around, I think this is a sign to do so.
Rating: 5/5.