One Piece Season 2 Review

Netflix’s live-action One Piece is back for season 2, continuing every possible thing that worked about its predecessor. As someone who is only vaguely familiar with the world of One Piece thanks to the immense popularity of the long-running manga and its anime adaptation, Netflix’s live-action One Piece was my entry point to the franchise.

Almost immediately, I fell in love with One Piece season 1 thanks to its unabashed goofiness, solid fight scenes, excellent cast, great characters, and the big, fat beating heart at its center. As far as I’ve been made aware, this all proved that Netflix’s live-action anime adaptation captured the spirit of the original show and the manga on which both are based.

While my eyes have been opened to the wonderful world of One Piece via Netflix’s show, I have chosen the latter to be my full introduction, as I am yet to go back and read the manga or watch the anime. This gave me a sense of tunnel-vision, of sorts, when watching all eight episodes of One Piece season 2.

After doing so, I am only growing ever more excited for One Piece season 3. As for season 2 itself, though, I am now only more in love with the world of One Piece than I initially was, given that the show simply continues everything that worked about its debut.

One Piece Season 2 Fixes A Common Streaming Problem

Despite everything that works about One Piece season 2, and there is a lot, perhaps the biggest praise I can give it is how it fixes an issue many have had with streaming shows of late. That issue is one that should arguably not be a talking point: TV shows having decently long runtimes. Each episode of One Piece edges ever so close to an hour long, with several going over the 60-minute mark.

So many modern streaming shows are criticized for having 25-40 minute-long episodes that feel rushed or underdeveloped. One Piece season 2 does not have that issue at all, with each installment feeling like its own mini movie.

This alone reflects the sad state of shorter episodes that have become the norm in the three years since One Piece season 1. The fact that one-hour episodes, which used to be regular in the TV world, now feel akin to small movies proves how One Piece is taking us back to what TV used to be.

One Piece’s Cast & Characters Remain Near-Perfect

Moving more into One Piece‘s story than outside factors, the show’s cast and characters remain a massive selling point. Every single cast member leans fully into One Piece‘s wacky world and their characters, making each one feel earnest. Whether it be action scenes, emotional moments, elements of levity, or the chemistry between them, all main cast members continue to prove they were excellently chosen.

If I had one small gripe about One Piece season 2 in comparison to its predecessor, it would be that the expanded scope and character roster mean the individual character arcs are not quite as tightly written. Season 1 introduced these characters, each of their dreams via specific episodes, and brought them together at the end.

One Piece season 2 doesn’t have that introductory benefit, meaning the arcs are not quite as concise. Still, each character shines in the moments they are given. Moreover, One Piece season 2’s new characters are just as excellently written as the main Straw Hats were in season 1.

Miss Wednesday and Tony Tony Chopper get engaging, emotionally resonant backstories that make them beloved new members of the crew almost instantly. Chopper’s backstory in particular has an emotional core I didn’t expect, thanks to two fun, well-realized characters of Drum Island.

Another thing that benefits the known Straw Hats from season 1 is seeing them at ease with one another. Several moments showcase their playful banter and the genuine emotional connections they have formed that were not as prevalent in season 1. While One Piece season 2’s format means their arcs are not quite as much in focus, it means more time for showing them as a family.

These moments are a joy to behold throughout, and there are still some arcs that really stand out. Zoro’s continued quest to prove himself as a swordsman after his defeat by Mihawk is compelling, as is Luffy’s connection to Gol D. Roger and the former’s endless optimism that he will follow in the latter’s footsteps.

One Piece Season 2’s Scale Is Gigantic, Often For The Better

If there is any benefit to waiting three years for One Piece season 2, it is the sheer scale of the show. The epic landscapes of the Grand Line are realized beautifully, be it in gigantic practical sets for Loguetown, Whiskey Peak, and Drum Island, or the huge CGI vistas of Reverse Mountain and Little Garden.

The former three locations, thanks to their practicality, allow for some of One Piece season 2’s standout action scenes. The battles in Loguetown reach the bar of the well-choreographed action in season 1, with Whiskey Peak exceeding it. Zoro’s fight against 100 Baroque Works agents is outstanding from start to finish and the show’s biggest action set piece yet.

The other locations in One Piece season 2 are just as big, but in a different way; They better emulate the wonderful islands of the Grand Line, from mountains with rivers that flow upwards to islands filled with dinosaurs or giant warriors. Either way, One Piece season 2 is massive in scale and, aside from a few noticeably weak CGI moments, often looks great enough to portray it.

One Piece Remains One Of TV’s Best Shows

To sum up, One Piece season 2 solidifies the show as one of the best on TV. It remains true that a lot of the elements it has simply should not work. Be it the talking reindeer, the exploding bugger powers, giant hairstyles that sport machine guns, or any of the other aspects of the world that sound downright silly on paper, it is easy to see why One Piece‘s world works so well for sensationalized media like manga and anime.

These elements should not work in live-action, but One Piece‘s unabashed dedication to trying and the complete earnestness with which it depicts its source material make it hard to resist. The “silly” elements remain so for a split second before the show makes them work against all odds, and you’re simply wrapped up in the wonder of it all.

Some smaller elements I want to praise are the expanded Devil Fruit powers in season 2. Oftentimes, these powers are either strange or, as alluded to with the bugger bombs, silly. In the final few episodes, though, One Piece leaned into the body horror elements of Devil Fruit powers that were genuinely effective.

One Piece season 2 also has some great antagonists. The various Baroque Works agents were fun to behold, with each offering neat battles for the Straw Hats to overcome. Miss All Sunday was a particular highlight, with One Piece setting her and Mr. 0 up for much bigger roles going forward.

The same can be said for characters like Dragon, all of which promise a big season 3. With that installment filming right now, I hope it returns as soon as possible so that I can continue exploring this weird, wonderful world I’ve fallen in love with. That love was only solidified by One Piece season 2, which I cannot recommend enough.