Spoilers are ahead from One Piece season 2 episode 5!
The fourth episode of One Piece season 2 saw the Straw Hats arrive at their second island on the Grand Line, Little Garden. Initially wary of the island's creatures, they soon discover that the real danger doesn't come from the prehistoric beasts or the giants that inhabit it. It's the Baroque Works agents, Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine, who arrive to try and finish a mission they previously failed.
Episode 4 also saw the introduction of two more Baroque Works agents, Miss Goldenweek and Mr. 3, who cause just as much trouble for the Straw Hats as their fellow operatives. However, things don't end too well for Nami, Zoro, and Miss Wednesday at the end of the fourth episode. Let's find out what happens next in the fifth episode of the second season, titled "Wax on, Wax Off."
Mr. 3 creates a torture device for the Straw Hats
Episode 5 picks up right where the fourth episode left off. We're taken to Mr. 3's wax house, where Miss Wednesday, Nami, and Zoro are being held captive. After wiping Miss Goldenweek's mark off of Nami's thigh, Miss Wednesday explains to her what the mark is. Nami then tries to wipe off the mark on Zoro's leg, but he dodges her. The trio faces a big dilemma. They're being held hostage, and they can only hope that the rest of their crew comes to their rescue.
The episode then cuts to Mr. 3 and Miss Goldenweek somewhere else on the island. Mr. 3 has created a large wax cake. That's weird! He tells Miss Goldenweek to bring Luffy after she's done playing with him. Unbeknownst to them, Usopp is eavesdropping on their conversation. He runs away after hearing their plan and searches for Luffy. He finds him at the beach, but Luffy's not like himself. Remember, Miss Goldenweek used her special paint on him.
Usopp tries to make Luffy snap out of his trance, but is unable to do so before Miss Goldenweek returns. He quickly runs away. Usopp isn't used to being the problem solver. He usually lets the other Straw Hats do the dirty work. But who can he turn to when some of his friends are missing, and one isn't acting like himself? Sanji! The episode then cuts to Sanji, who comes across the wax house. It's empty! Why? Well, Nami, Miss Wednesday, and Zoro have been taken to Mr. 3's wax cake.
We finally find out the cake's purpose when Mr. 3 explains it to them. Basically, the wax from the cake will constantly rain down on Nami, Miss Wednesday, and Zoro until they are completely turned into wax statues. Nami makes fun of Mr. 3's plan, saying that the wax cake isn't really torture when Zoro isn't suffering. Zoro can't stop laughing due to the mark on his leg.
This angers Mr. 3, who then wipes the mark off. This was Nami's plan all along. She wanted Mr. 3 to wipe the mark off because then Zoro would return to his normal self and use his swords to try to cut himself free. However, Nami's plan doesn't end up working because the wax is too hard to cut through.
The Unluckies are introduced
Elsewhere, Luffy and Miss Goldenweek have a tea party by the beach. Back at the wax house, Sanji searches through the Baroque Works files before a snail phone rings. It's Mr. 0! The Baroque Works leader thinks he's speaking with Mr. 3, so Sanji plays along.
Basically, Mr. 0 informs him that the Marines are hot on their trail. He then asks him if Miss Wednesday and the Straw Hats are dead. Sanji responds by saying that they are. Mr. 0 ends the call, saying he's dispatched the Unluckies to verify their deaths and clean up the mess.
Who are the Unluckies? Sanji discovers who they are shortly after the call ends. They're a duo consisting of an otter named Mr. 13 and a vulture named Miss Friday. Sanji gets into an intense fight with both of them in the wax house, but successfully beats them. He then speaks with Mr. 0 on the phone again and shares that they're dead. Now, Mr. 0 knows he's not Mr. 3. While Sanji doesn't give Mr. 0 his real name, he tells him he goes by Mr. Prince. Mr. 0 then responds by saying that he and the rest of the Straw Hats will regret helping Miss Wednesday.
Back at the wax cake, the wax is quickly hardening on Nami, Miss Wednesday, and Zoro. Mr. 3 informs Miss Wednesday of what's currently going on at her kingdom. Apparently, members of the Alabasta Royal Army are switching sides to join the rebellion against the king. Miss Wednesday asks Mr. 3 what Baroque Works wants from Alabasta, but he tells her it's a secret. While she's freaking out about everything, Nami and Zoro remain hopeful that Luffy will eventually come to their rescue.
Elsewhere on the island, Usopp gets the motivation he needs from Brogy to step up and help his friends. Back at the beach, Miss Goldenweek commands Luffy to walk into the ocean. Remember, Luffy is a Devil Fruit user. This means he loses all of his strength and mobility in water. Just as Luffy fully submerges himself in the ocean, Usopp arrives and yells out his name. This catches Miss Goldenweeks's attention, and she charges at Usopp. However, she's unable to grab him because he dodges her.
As Usopp runs to the ocean to save Luffy, he accidentally walks over Miss Goldenweek's paint palette. It flies through the air and hits her in the face. Uh oh! With all the colors on her face, Miss Goldenweek's personality starts changing wildly. Usopp then successfully retrieves Luffy from the ocean, and Luffy immediately asks him where the rest of their friends are.
The Straw Hats take on Mr. 3, Mr. 5, and Miss Valentine
The episode then cuts back to the wax cake. Luffy and Usopp arrive and find Nami, Miss Wednesday, and Zoro fully trapped in the hardened wax. This leads Luffy to chase Mr. 3 around the island to put a stop to him. Meanwhile, Usopp is left to deal with Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine. Of course, this is something Usopp isn't exactly thrilled about. He asks to duel Miss Valentine first, which was good on his part since it ends with Nami, Miss Wednesday, and Zoro free from the wax.
While Zoro takes on Mr. 5, Nami and Miss Wednesday fight Miss Valentine. Meanwhile, Luffy chases Mr. 3 all the way to Brogy's cave. Remember, Dorry is currently trapped in wax in the cave. In the end, the Straw Hats successfully defeat all three Baroque Works members. After freeing Dorry from the wax, Luffy reunites with the other Straw Hats by the cake. Sanji arrives as well and brings with him an Eternal Pose that's already set for Alabasta. This is good news for Miss Wednesday!
The Straw Hats make their way back to the Going Merry. Following a cheerful discussion with Brogy and Dorry, they set sail for Alabasta. However, they reach an obstacle in the water. It's a giant goldfish! Luckily, Brogy and Dorry save the day by slaying it. The Straw Hats then continue their journey, but something's off with Nami. While everyone's enjoying dinner on the ship, Nami walks to the deck and passes out. This is how the fifth episode comes to an end.
One Piece season 2 episode 5 review
The fifth episode wrapped up the Straw Hats' visit to Little Garden. It was a great episode overall, but the fight between Sanji and the Unluckies was the best part. One Piece might be a fantasy adventure series, but it also has its comedic moments. Sanji's fight with Mr. 13 and Miss Friday was one of them, and it was absolutely hilarious!
However, I do feel that Luffy's big fight with Mr. 3 went by really quickly. Maybe an additional minute or two showing Luffy struggling against Mr. 3’s wax powers and thinking on his feet would have made the fight feel more intense and satisfying.
One Piece season 2 is streaming on Netflix.