10 best fantasy and science fiction shows of 2023

3. One Piece

Thinking back on 2023, it might be the year of underdog adaptations exceeding expectations. Live-action adaptations of manga and anime don’t have a great track record…but just like how HBO’s The Last of Us broke the video game adaptation curse, Netflix’s One Piece stretched far beyond what many viewers thought was possible to actually deliver a show worthy of the beloved manga series by Eiichiro Oda.

One Piece is a grand adventure that follows aspiring pirate Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) as he assembles a crew and sets out on the high seas. Luffy’s goal: to become king of the pirates and find the renowned horde of treasure — known as the One Piece — left behind by the last pirate king. One Piece has a pitch perfect cast, some absolutely stunning sets and special effects, and a compelling story that leans into the zaniness of the source material. Yes, this is a series with fish-men and marines with mouse ears; yes, it is just as fun as it sounds.

The beauty of One Piece is how accessible it is, which allowed it to bring in tons of new fans whether they were familiar with the manga and anime or not. You didn’t have to be a One Piece aficionado in order to appreciate Luffy’s pure-hearted antics or relatable journey. One Piece is all about following your dreams. The show always kept the simple beauty of that idea at the forefront even when it delved into murkier waters, such as the climactic showdown between Luffy the fish-man Arlong. It was so wholesome and such a great time.

It’s clear that One Piece was an enormous labor of love for all involved. Pulling off the rare trick of pleasing both longtime franchise fans as well as newcomers, One Piece has firmly established itself as one of the biggest fantasy shows of the year. And it’s coming back for season 2!