A Clever One Piece Live-Action Detail Sets Up Netflix’s Season 5

Netflix’s One Piece season 2 includes a clever reference to a story from the eventual fifth season of the show. The ending of One Piece season 2 saw the Straw Hats dedicate themselves to Nefertari Vivi, the princess of Alabasta. Naturally, this sets up the story of One Piece season 3, which is expected to be set entirely in the desert kingdom.

Although this is the most immediate story to be told in Netflix’s live-action version, several One Piece Easter eggs look beyond that. Be it references to some of the most powerful characters in One Piece or visual blink-and-you-will-miss-it moments, it is clear that the creators of the show know the world and intend to keep exploring it.

One of the latter references can be seen when Mr. 5, a member of One Piece‘s Baroque Works, is reading a newspaper. In that newspaper, several nods to the wider world of the Grand Line can be spotted. Through one of these, the expected story of One Piece season 5 is adequately teased.

One Piece’s Live-Action Water 7 Reference Sets Up Season 5

Although the headline of this newspaper sets up season 3 by reading “Alabasta Royal Army Switches Sides!”, a smaller column to the right-hand side sets up season 5. This column reads “Water 7 Celebrates Local Hero: Barbara Troy.” In One Piece, Water 7 is an island in the Grand Line, primarily known as a home for shipwrights.

While the headline itself does not actively set up anything from One Piece, the reference to Water 7 tees up one of the biggest stories in the entire show. The Water 7 Arc of the original manga is considered one of the most emotional stories in the first half of One Piece that serves as a turning point for the whole show.

Sticking to the assumption that One Piece season 3 adapts the remainder of the Alabasta Saga, it can also be assumed that season 4 will adapt the Sky Island Saga. This would then place the Water 7 Saga as the perfect story for season 5, capitalizing on the brief tease shown in season 2.

How Likely Is One Piece To Reach 5 Seasons (& When Could It Release)?

Given the number of premature cancellations in the modern era of TV, it is logical to question whether Netflix’s One Piece will even make it to season 5. However, based on the popularity of the first two seasons, this is somewhat likely. One Piece season 2 remains at the #1 spot in many countries across the world, despite its viewership halving from season 1.

This decline can likely be attributed to the near-three-year wait for One Piece season 2. This is promising for season 3, which is currently in production and expected to be released in 2027. With only a year separating seasons 2 and 3, the latter could see an increase in viewership numbers, thus providing more hope that season 4 will happen.

If so, season 5 looks likely. This all depends on the renewal of season 4, but the promising reception of season 2 makes this an increasingly likely possibility. Naturally, though, the next question this raises is when One Piece season 5 could be released.

If One Piece season 3 does, indeed, release on Netflix in 2027, this is a good start. What would be even better is if One Piece season 4 is officially confirmed before then. In this scenario, the fourth season of the live-action show could be produced and released by 2028. If this one-a-year format continues, One Piece season 5 could come as early as 2029.

Of course, this is wishful thinking, especially in the modern age of TV shows taking two to three years to return. Evidently, though, Netflix views One Piece as one of its flagship shows. Even when looking at a worst-case scenario, One Piece season 5 may not come until 2030. Either way, this would mean a Water 7 adaptation in live-action less than five years after it was first teased.