Friends come first for Monkey D. Luffy, even before his hunt for “One Piece”, the famed treasure of deceased pirate king Gold Rogers. Episode six of the live-action fantasy series ended with protagonist Luffy asking his crew to find and help Nami, despite her giving away his precious map to the Grand Line to Arlong, a rival pirate leader. So, Luffy (Iñaki Godoy), Roronoa Zoro (Mackenyu), Usopp (Jacob Romero) and Sanji (Taz Skyler) set sail to Conomi Islands, to investigate what’s going on with Nami (Emily Rudd).
For Plot Overview Read: One Piece Episode 1, 2 Review
Titled “The Girl With The Sawfish Tattoo,” episode seven commences with a flashback to Nami’s early years, offering viewers a glimpse into her origin story for the first time. Growing up amidst a picturesque tangerine orchard, Nami’s childhood initially appears idyllic; however, more tragic details emerge later to explain her hatred for pirates. Considering my prior grievances about poorly illuminated scenes in the first four episodes, I have to laud the cinematography in episodes 7 & 8. Most of the crucial scenes unfold during daylight, rendering the visuals brighter and more engaging.
While episode seven turned out to be much more emotional than I had anticipated, the season finale titled “Worst in the East” provided a fitting conclusion to this live-action adaptation of “One Piece.” Luffy and his crew confront the fearsome Arlong, the antagonist who has wrought havoc on multiple islands, including Nami’s homeland. Consequently, episode eight is replete with action, featuring multiple fights and entertaining exchanges between Roronoa Zoro and Sanji. Their fierce rivalry takes a fun turn as they confront Arlong’s crew, showcasing their camaraderie beneath their outward competitiveness. Mackenyu and Taz Skyler feed off each other’s energy and give us a good “hostile strangers to protective friends” arc.
Standing by your friends and pursuing your dreams remain the quintessential themes of this series, with Monkey D. Luffy proving that one can be a successful pirate without compromising their ideals. The sub-plot about Luffy’s marine grandfather pursuing him is not forgotten and the feuding grandfather-grandson also confront each other in episode eight. Iñaki Godoy makes all of Luffy’s special-effect scenes look delightfully hilarious instead of ludicrous. McKinley Belcher III plays antagonist Arlong, who is a fishman, so while the actor is covered up in heavy layers of make-up that doesn’t inspire much fear, his deep voice manages to make the character villainous and intimidating.
The climactic moments of “One Piece” were celebratory in nature, with Luffy finally finding a loyal group of friends ready to help him find the greatest treasure in the world. And so, the season ends on a triumphant note, with all of Luffy’s crew vowing to pursue their dreams and search for the elusive “one piece” together. Hopefully, there will be a second season soon!
Stream the series on Netflix.
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