Share and Follow
As the original One Piece anime continues to captivate audiences, Netflix has teamed up with Wit Studio to breathe new life into the series with an anime reboot. However, before this new project took shape, Netflix had already ventured into the One Piece universe with its first live-action adaptation. While many fans approached the series with skepticism, expecting to critique it harshly, they found themselves pleasantly surprised. The live-action version not only won over devoted followers but also attracted viewers who might not have engaged with the anime otherwise.
The adaptation skillfully condenses the story, distilling 95 chapters of the manga and 44 anime episodes into just ten concise and engaging episodes. As anticipation builds for the release of Netflix’s One Piece Season 2 on March 10, 2026, fans are eagerly awaiting the introduction of beloved characters from the series. With the promise of exciting developments, this is an excellent opportunity to revisit and reevaluate the first season of One Piece by examining each episode’s unique contributions.
The Syrup Village arc, part of the East Blue Saga in One Piece, begins with the Straw Hat crew arriving at the Gecko Islands. This location is not only significant for its setting but also for introducing their future sniper. At this stage, the crew comprises Nami, Luffy, and Zoro, whose modest, unnamed vessel is insufficient for their growing needs. While exploring the docks of Syrup Village, they encounter Usopp, who leads them to his childhood friend Kaya. Their adventures quickly escalate as they face off against the Black Cat Pirates, some of whom have infiltrated Kaya’s estate.
“Tell No Tales” Rushes the Syrup Village Arc With Bad Pacing
The Syrup Village arc of One Piece‘s East Blue Saga begins with the Straw Hats’ entry into the Gecko Islands’ titular town, which housed their future sniper. At this point, the crew consisted only of Nami, Luffy, and Zoro, but three members were already too much for their original, unnamed boat. Upon searching the docks of Syrup Village, the Straw Hats meet Usopp, who immediately takes them to meet his childhood friend Kaya. The heroes soon come into conflict with the Black Cat Pirates, a few of whom found jobs at Kaya’s estate.
Although the title “Tell No Tales” refers to Usopp’s habit of lying through his nose about literally anything, the episode manages to compress the Syrup Village arc into an hour’s worth of runtime. The live-action retelling remains as engaging as ever, but fans found the episode relatively lacking in detail. Some of the most interesting elements of this One Piece arc were saved for the next episode, leaving this one feeling empty.
“The Chef and the Chore Boy” Strays From One Piece’s Canon
As the title suggests, “The Chef and the Chore Boy” is emotionally hinged on Sanji’s childhood relationship with Zeff, the only mentor and father figure he has ever known. Viewers were heartbroken to watch Zeff eat his leg in order to save food for Sanji — when they were both shipwrecked on an uninhabited island. While the rest of the episode is mostly forgettable, fans could never forget Zeff’s sacrifice.
On the other hand, the episode has few surprises other than the revelation of Nami’s betrayal, one of the most ancient plot twists in One Piece. Following his defeat at Arlong’s hands, Luffy has no choice but to keep his promise to Nami as a crewmate. He sets sail for Arlong Park, with Zoro accepting his role as Luffy’s first mate, yet another event that remains ambiguous in the manga. Despite all these little additions, however, “The Chef and the Chore Boy” cannot be compared to the rest of the season’s brilliance.
“Worst in the East” Failed at Making Changes to One Piece’s Manga
One Piece‘s Season 1 finale was an impressive achievement, successfully tying up all the loose threads that had emerged until that point. Performing such a delicate task deserves praise, although “Worst in the East” eventually ends up unsatisfactory. The long-awaited battle between Luffy and Arlong did not disappoint, though, as the Sun God’s iconic Gum-Gum War Axe came smashing down on the villain and his lair. An ending like this would have been ideal, only for the episode to go even further.
“Worst in the East” also shows Garp and Luffy physically meeting for the first time, with the grandfather effortlessly defeating his grandson. Netflix’s One Piece had revealed Garp’s overwhelming strength long before the finale, making this meeting somewhat pointless. Even fans who knew nothing about the story could have predicted that Garp would let Luffy follow his dream. That said, centering Koby and Helmeppo early made sense in the larger context of the manga.
“The Pirates Are Coming” Makes One Piece’s Syrup Village Arc Even Better
Zoro’s childhood past comes to light in “The Pirates Are Coming.” This midpoint Season 1 episode features a younger Zoro’s heartwarming/heartbreaking dynamic with Kuina, whose death has fueled the Straw Hat swordsman ever since. The plot effectively combines Zoro’s backstory with his current difficulties with the Black Cat Pirates, emphasizing his strength and determination to persevere in his dream of becoming the greatest swordsman in the world.
Meanwhile, Luffy has his first encounter with poison after devouring a toxic soup designed for Kaya. “The Pirates Are Coming” soon concludes with Kuro’s defeat and Usopp joining the Straw Hats. Netflix’s version also offered a better backstory for the Going Merry, named after Kaya’s murdered lawyer, Merry. This is a small but significant improvement over the anime, in which Merry flagrantly named the ship after himself.
“The Man in the Straw Hat” Introduces Live-Action Buggy & Shanks
Buggy the Clown was once thought to be a side-character, a wannabe villain with ambitions greater than his powers. And while the same applies in the manga, Buggy has somehow failed his way to the top of the world. As such, this character’s introduction was a particularly delightful aspect of “The Man in the Straw Hat.” Buggy is just as melodramatic and irrational as in the anime — the live-action also underscores the human costs of his madcap antics through the viewpoints of his helpless victims.
Another significant event in the episode was Luffy’s backstory with Shanks, who gave him the Straw Hat he considers his greatest treasure. The scene with Shanks rescuing Luffy from the Lord of the Coast is spectacular, with Netflix dropping a stronger Haki hint than either the anime or the manga. “The Man in the Straw Hat” reaches its climax with a battle between the original three Straw Hats and the Buggy Pirates, ending with a “mysterious” allusion to Nami’s betrayal.
“The Girl with the Sawfish Tattoo” Breaks One Piece Fans’ Hearts All Over Again
The live-action One Piece makes countless homages and references to its predecessor, and an additional dash of world pop culture always helps. The obviousness of this episode’s title aside, “The Girl with the Sawfish Tattoo” perfectly encapsulates one of Nami’s biggest moments in One Piece. Her backstory proves that Nami never intended to deceive the Straw Hats, while simultaneously highlighting her noble decision to save Cocoyashi Village from the Alrong Pirates.
When Nami herself is deceived, she breaks down and screams in vain, slicing across the sawfish tattoo on her shoulder. In a near-perfect scene-by-scene replication, the live-action series shows Luffy stopping Nami and tenderly placing the Straw Hat on her head. While this singular scene isn’t enough to elevate the episode further, “The Girl with the Sawfish Tattoo” sheds a warm spotlight on the beating heart of One Piece.
“Eat at Baratie!” Showcases One Piece’s Most Iconic Fight
“Eat at Baratie” brings the Straw Hats to the only floating restaurant in One Piece. Before this, however, the episode includes a conversation between Monkey D. Garp and Dracule Mihawk, as well as Mihawk’s defeat of Krieg in an unparalleled display of swordsmanship. Luffy instantly makes friends with Sanji, but the latter remains somewhat hesitant. Sanji also mentions his dream for the first time — and while the manga has itself steered away, fans know that the discovery of the All Blue will be a significant event.
All things considered, however, the best part of “Eat at Baratie” features Roronoa Zoro’s life-changing battle with Dracule Mihawk. The resulting skirmish is as epic as expected, with Mihawk ultimately respecting Zoro’s fighting spirit by wielding his actual weapon, Yoru. Zoro, who could barely block the world’s strongest swordsman when he was using his daggers, was utterly vanquished. Although fans missed Zoro’s tearful declaration to Luffy, it would happen in the very next episode.
“Romance Dawn” is One Piece’s Best Introduction Episode
One Piece began as a pair of one-shots called Romance Dawn, which was subsequently reused as the manga’s opening title. The first episode of Netflix’s One Piece is a phenomenal consolidation of the first few chapters, revealing both flashbacks and ongoing events in perfect synchrony. Luffy meets and saves Koby from the Alvida Pirates, setting the boy on a journey that’s only now beginning to bear fruit. “Romance Dawn” also revealed Nami and Zoro, with the latter’s introduction sending chills down the fandom’s collective spine.
Luffy convinces Zoro to help him find a map of the Grand Line, safely protected in Captain Morgan’s office in Shells Town. As Dracule Mihawk would later predict, Luffy’s greatest power — the ability to make allies out of anyone — was perfectly visualized through his dynamic with Zoro. Watching Luffy, Zoro, and Nami coordinate to defeat Captain Morgan was a magnificent sight, albeit only a tiny testament to their ultimate capabilities.
