I remember when Netflix announced they were doing a live-action adaptation of the anime One Piece. I wanted to cry. They’ve adapted three of my favorite anime to live-action — Cowboy Bebop, Bleach, and Death Note — and each one left me and the vast majority of their fan bases incredibly disappointed. I was not looking forward to watching another big anime IP ruined by awful dialogue, bad casting, awful fight choreography, and a horrendous new version of a story I love.
As I sat at my desk and begrudgingly hit “play” on the first episode of One Piece, “Romance Dawn,” I was mentally prepared to shield my feelings and just accept the show for what it is: another crappy at making anime things look cool in a live-action setting.
I have never been happier to be wrong in my life.
Netflix’s One Piece is, so far, an incredible adaptation. I know, I can’t believe I’m writing that. The casting, the choreography, the special effects, the way the characters we all love from the anime are portrayed in the show…I am very pleasantly surprised. I owe Netflix a huge apology for doubting that they could actually adapt the anime into a binge-worthy live-action series.
Ah, yes, you noticed the “so far” in the paragraph above; I am currently watching the episodes one by one and dissecting them in turn, reviewing them a couple at a time and updating this article as I go. I wish I could binge all eight episodes over a straight eight hours, but it’s just not possible. But I’ll be done soon enough.
So, without further ado, let’s talk about the episodes. Oh, and obviously, beware that there are SPOILERS AHEAD!
One Piece episode 1 review: “Romance Dawn”
One Piece kicks off with the execution of legendary pirate Gold Roger, who drops the ultimate “X marks the spot” teaser with his dying breath. Roger tells the world about his hidden treasure, the “One Piece,” and starts a revolutionary period for the pirate industry. Every pirate is now after his One Piece, including the adorable and stretchy Monkey D. Luffy. Luffy, magnificently played by Iñaki Godoy, always dreamt of becoming the King of the Pirates. Godoy brings the exact amount of charisma and charm needed for Luffy, with his big smile, his Gum Gum attacks, and his precious straw hat.
We’re also introduced to Nami (Emily Rudd), a very talented thief and excellent liar; and Zoro (Mackenyu), the ultimate pirate hunter who wields three swords and has the classic “I don’t care” attitude. We also meet Koby (Morgan Davies), who has always wanted to be a marine and was once captured by Captain “Iron Mace” Alvida (Ilia Isorelýs Paulino), who’s not the kind of pirate you want to run into. The best introduction belongs to Lieutenant Commander Helmeppo. Aidan Scott does a phenomenal job bringing him and his ridiculousness to life, and his interactions with Zorro are very entertaining.
In true One Piece fashion, we’re taken to Windmill Village, 10 years prior, and meet Shanks, the pirate who so very heavily influenced Luffy. Shanks tries to teach him that being a pirate isn’t all about the swashbuckling and brawls; it’s also about the freedom to live as one wishes. We also witness young Luffy eating a Gum Gum fruit, which is the reason he is so stretchy.
The episode ends with Luffy, Zoro, and Nami setting sail, victorious but slightly shaken. There’s something addictive about the sense of adventure that One Piece offers, and “Romance Dawn” nails it.
“Romance Dawn” sets up an epic quest in the perfect way. It honors the One Piece IP while offering its own unique spin.
One Piece Episode 2 review: “The Man in the Straw Hat”
This episode includes more flashbacks, mostly of Luffy’s not-so-pleasant childhood memories. We see how Luffy has become what he hopes is “a different kind of pirate,” as he likes to say. Shanks may not have let Luffy join his crew back in the day, but he certainly did care about him, as we see him come back for Luffy when he needed him the most. And also to shoo away a giant sea monster like he was telling his dog to sit.
Fast-forward to the present and Luffy and his “crew” of Nami and Zoro are working on cracking a safe containing the map of the Grand Line. The Grand Line are monster-infested, pirate-filled waters that even Google Maps would have a hard time navigating. Nami, who happens to be quite the navigation specialist, takes this opportunity to teach Luffy about the different quadrants of the sea and the mythical Grand Line where the legendary One Piece treasure is rumored to be hidden.
Just as they’re finishing up their conversation, a red flare interrupts the lesson and puts them to sleep. When they wake up, they find themselves kidnapped by a crew of pirates. And not just any pirates, but a circus led by the infamous Buggy, a clown pirate with a nose complex and a love of dismemberment. Like Luffy, Buggy has consumed a Devil Fruit: the Chop Chop Fruit, which allows him to be chopped down with no adverse effects.
Buggy’s not clowning around when it comes to treasure hunting. Zoro, who usually relies on slashing opponents down, has a hard time fighting him. Buggy’s detachable limbs seem almost unbeatable until Luffy and Nami pull off a brilliant trap and lock Buggy’s limbs in crates, followed by a Gum Gum Bazooka finisher that yeets him out of the ship in Team Rocket style.
Elsewhere, Koby’s loyalties are questioned as he starts his Marine training, but it seems like the vice admiral sees something in him. And then, just as we all let out a sigh of relief that our little ragtag crew made it out of Buggy’s circus alive and well, Nami reveals her true intentions. Away from Luffy and Zoro, she uses a communication device, letting someone know that she has the map, and to “tell him” about that.
“The Man with the Straw Hat” does an excellent job with world and character building. The fight choreography is absolutely beautiful. It is hard to take a crazy action scene from an anime and make it work in live-action, so kudos all around. Mackenyu, who plays Zoro, is a martial artist and gymnast in real life, and he’s putting those skills to great use here.
One Piece Episodes 3 and 4: “Tell No Tale” and “The Pirates Are Coming”
Episodes 3 and 4 take us to Syrup Village. There we meet Usopp and Kaya, two complex characters with the best kind of dramatic backstories.
As one of my friends put it, “Episodes 3 and 4 should have been an e-mail one episode.” Sure, the plot is given proper attention, but maybe too much. Flashbacks to Usopp and Zoro’s backstories are done excellently and in the proper anime style. And yes, Kaya and Nami’s friendship may have been slightly forced, but hey, we’re all here for some quickie camaraderie, right? Klhahadore aka Kuro (Alexander Maniatis) definitely stole the show. This guy’s so creepy, you’d think he keeps pet sea monsters in the basement. Adds another villain to my favorite villain collection.
While Episode 3 did feel like a bit of a drag to some, Episode 4 definitely had me yelling “aha! The pacing is finally moving along!”
The nighttime fight scenes could’ve used a few more lanterns, but there was a lot to like in these episodes, including the flashbacks to Zoro’s past. They gave us a good look into young Zoro, played by Maximilian Lee Piazza as a kid, and why he wants to be the best swordsman in the world. And they were slightly heart breaking. Also explains why he carries three swords; the white-hilted katana belong to his friend Kuia.
Meanwhile, up-and-coming Marine Koby (Morgan Davies) gets more screentime than the show’s literal heart and soul does. Iñaki Godoy, who plays Monkey D. Luffy perfectly, doesn’t really get much time to shine in these episodes. I understand introducing new characters, but our favorite stretchy dude is supposed to be the protagonist. Here’s hoping that we see more of him and his antics in the next episode.
All in all, these two episodes could have been just one, but we would miss a lot of little details needed to make this story as deep and meaningful as possible. We got new characters, a new ship, and…. grandpa?
One Piece Episodes 5 and 6: “Eat at Baratie” and “The Chef and the Chore Boy”
Finally, the producers have lifted the shroud of darkness that overtook the first four episodes, giving us a chance to soak up the sun (no pun intended) and the vibrant settings. Why the show initially looked like it was filmed during a lunar eclipse, we’ll never know. But this is One Piece, where grandiosity is the name of the game. We can overlook a CGI sea that looks plucked from an Age of Empires game when the stakes (and steaks at Baratie) are this high.
Episode 5, “Eat at Baratie” tosses up a flavorful dish of drama and comedy, featuring the complicated dynamics between Luffy and his marine vice-admiral granddad as well as introducing the irresistibly charming chef Sanji, portrayed to perfection by Taz Skylar. We also witness the evolution of Vincent Regan’s Vice Admiral Garp, who’s finally getting the narrative seasoning he deserves.
Episode 6, “The Chef and the Chore Boy,” serves as the main course, offering a nice combination of emotional parts and action sequences. We get an emotional deep dive into Sanji’s past, with Christian Convery delivering a truly amazing and touching performance as young Sanji. But just when you think you can sit back, take a deep breath, and wipe away a tear, the villainous fishmen arrive, setting the stage for some excellent fights that you can actually witness because they take place in glorious daylight! Sure, the special effects have their flaws, but who cares when the action is this engaging?
In summary, Episodes 5 and 6 are a feast for both the eyes and the soul. Iñaki Godoy’s portrayal of Luffy continues to be the north star guiding this ship, with Godoy’s charisma flooding the screen. He continuously infuses each episode with his infectious optimism. The series is doing an amazing job of exploring the power of friendship and the deep human connections that make the dangerous journey worth it.
One Piece Episodes 7 and 8: “The Girl with the Sawfish Tattoo” and “Worst in the East”
Tangerines are sweet, but friendship is sweeter.
If you have been holding out on the series so far (and yet read all of my episode reviews), now’s the time to jump aboard.
Episode 7, “The Girl With The Sawfish Tattoo,” takes us through Nami’s sad and painful past. It starts off with her childhood where she lives among gorgeous tangerine orchards with her mother Bell-mère and her sister Nojiko in Coco Village. The cinematography during this flashback is a visual treat after some of the darker scenes from the earlier episodes. As we peel away Nami’s layers, her heart-wrenching backstory unfolds, and it hits you like a cannonball to the chest. As a mom to two adorable little girls, I admit I was absolutely bawling my eyes out as Bell-mère said the most relatable lines ever.
"You deserve to live full and happy lives. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more for you… Buy you nice things, or cook you nice meals. I’m sorry I wasn’t a very good mother. Nami. Nojiko. I love you girls."
I promise I am not crying as I type this. Ok, I lied, this scene dismantled me as much as the original anime scene did.
Nami’s backstory is emotionally resonant, giving us a reason to care deeply for her and letting us know there’s much more to this thief and mapmaker.
After the emotional storm that was Episode 7, Episode 8, “Worst in the East”, does one hell of a job at closing the first (of many, hopefully) season of One Piece. Our favorite pirates confront the asshole Arlong, who actually turned out to be very intimidating and believable despite actor McKinley Belcher III having to act through layers and layers of fishy makeup. This fish-man gangster could have felt too silly, but Belcher turned into a credible threat with his deep, thunderous voice and expressive eyes.
And the spectacular dynamic between Roronoa Zoro (Mackenyu) and Sanji (Taz Skyler)… This duo is a
hot hot hot
delightful blend of rivalry and respect, and I am here for it. They’re one of those “frenemies” who argue over who gets the last bit of food but also have each other’s backs in a fight. Mackenyu and Taz Skylar nail their chemistry, and their clashes with Arlong’s crew bring some welcome humor to the show, especially after how many tears I shed over Nami and Nojiko’s story.
And then there’s Monkey D. Luffy, played by the incomparable Iñaki Godoy. I absolutely adore Godoy. I wish I had a picket-sized version of Godoy’s Luffy in case I ever needed encouragement throughout my day. He remains committed to finding the One Piece, but puts friendship and his crew above all else. His principles make you wonder: can you actually be an ethical pirate? If Luffy is any indication, absolutely. Even fighting against his grandfather in the end, he never backed down or changed his views or morals. Luffy is the definition of “be yourself.”
In the end, what truly makes this finale so good is the sense of camaraderie and purpose among the crew. As they set sail, following their goal to get to the Grand Line, the spirit of adventure and excitement is palpable. As they put their feet on the barrel and recite their life’s goals, we see flashbacks to their younger selves wanting the same things, and you can’t help but smile (and maybe let a tear roll down your cheek because you’re known for being overly emotional).
My final thoughts on season one of Netflix’s One Piece
Before it was released, I was certain that One Piece would be bad. I have never been happier to be wrong. Out of all anime adaptations Netflix has attempted, this is by far the best.
Everything from the casting to the way Netflix embraced the weirdness of the show — fish-men, killer clowns, Devil Fruit powers, cat and mouse people — it was very fun to watch. I still say Godoy carried this show on his back. He was born to play Luffy. The rest of the cast members are also perfect for their roles.
These eight episodes contain emotional storytelling and awesomely choreographed action. The season ends on such a high note that I find myself itching for season 2, which can’t come soon enough. I honestly give this adaptation an overall ranking of 10/10. I know, bold, but I cannot put into words just how pleased I am with it. And how sorry I am for having been so negative and skeptical about it beforehand.
Stream it, love it, talk about it. One Piece is available to watch on Netflix, and if you haven’t caught these episodes yet, what are you waiting for?
All aboard!
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