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The number of live-action adaptations of various manga, animated series, and video games has increased in recent years, with Netflix heading many of the projects. From Alice in Borderland to Avatar: The Last Airbender, most have received controversial opinions from fans. Their biggest criticisms are that the showrunners completely miss the original's point and compromise on the emotional depth. Netflix's One Piece, however, stands out amongst them.
One Pieceis one of the toughest anime to translate to live-action, but Netflix nearly nails it. Although it should be limited by the episode count, it expresses the same emotional depth and nuance of Eiichiro Oda's manga. What makes the live-action even better is that it isn't afraid to offer a fresh perspective, many of which improve upon the existing One Piece lore. These five scenes prove that the writers actually respect and understand the source material.
Nami and Sanji's Heart-to-Heart Deepens Their Friendship
During the Drum Island Arc, Nami falls gravely ill after being bitten by an insect on Little Garden. The Straw Hat Pirates stop at Drum Island, a winter island famous for having the best doctors. However, with Wapol taking them for himself, Nami's only chance at recovery is Doctor Kureha, who lives in a castle up the mountain. Without a safe path up, Luffy and Sanji need to transport her without falling.
While they do make it and Nami's treatment is successful, Sanji is visibly shaken by almost losing her in the live-action. He takes extra care of her by cooking her meals, even while he is recovering from his injuries. She notices his usually flirtatious nature is absent, and he opens up to her about losing his mother, Sora, at a young age to a fatal illness. Seeing Nami like that reminded him of her, and so it affected him greatly.
For One Piece fans who have reached the Whole Cake Island Arc, this isn't news. Sanji's biological family had been kept a tight secret until then, hailing him as one of the best-written Shonen characters in anime. It was a huge surprise that the live-action writers foreshadowed his backstory, but fortunately, they left the tragic details to the future. Overall, it makes his friendship with Nami feel more genuine and adds nuance to the chef without giving away his entire story too early.
Merry’s Death in the Syrup Village Arc Raises the Stakes
In One Piece, the most brutal, inescapable injuries often don't result in death. A classic example of this is Merry, Kaya's butler and the designer of the ship, Going Merry. Kuro, the main antagonist of the Syrup Village Arc, reveals his true nature and slashes him with his signature Cat Claws. Despite the fatal blow, Merry is alive. The live-action adaptation, however, chose to let the butler succumb to his injuries. Zoro discovers his body in the well, and there is no miraculous return by the end.
Merry's survival made little sense in the original. The live-action did what Eiichiro Oda couldn't and improved upon the Syrup Village Arc. The Straw Hat Pirates being gifted the Going Merry by Kaya didn't just feel like a huge step towards beginning their journey anymore. With the ship finally setting sail rather than staying at the port, it also kept her loyal butler's memory alive.
This significant change impacts the fate of many characters, such as Igaram in Season 2. He sacrifices himself to allow Vivi and the Straw Hats a better chance to escape Whisky Peak. It's a grounded and tragic take on the cost of war and freedom that the original One Pieceshould have adopted.
Bartolomeo’s Involvement Puts His Devotion to Luffy in Perspective
Bartolomeo is the captain of the Barto Club, introduced in the Dressrosa Arc. He was inspired to become a pirate after witnessing Luffy's failed execution in the Loguetown Arc, something that isn't explicitly shown in One Piece'smanga or anime. His devotion is endearing to fans, often relating to his love for Luffy and the Straw Hats.
Netflix decides to take it one step further by showing Bartolomeo's origin parallel to the Loguetown Arc's events. Instead of being a vague background character, the green-haired pirate accidentally gets roped into Luffy's fight with Buggy. Back then, he was a simple thief, but as the episode "The Beginning and the End" progressed, the shift in his heart was palpable.
When the lightning struck Luffy's platform just as he was about to be executed, that's when Bartolomeo's devotion to the protagonist solidified. The live-action series shows this with a simple yet wholesome and effective scene where he stands in front of a mirror and mimics Luffy's Wanted Poster. It provides substance to Bartolomeo's character, a change that might greatly affect how fans react to certain future events.
Brook’s Introduction in Season 2 is Unexpected but Done Justice
The Straw Hat Pirates meet the Island Whale, Laboon, and his caretaker, Crocus, in the Reverse Mountain Arc. In the original, the former Roger Pirate tells the crew about the Rumbar Pirates, who kept the Island Whale in his care. However, the details are vague. The audience doesn't know what the missing crew looks like, nor do they comprehend how close they were to Laboon. It isn't until the Thriller Bark Arc that the missing piece of the puzzle, Brook, is introduced.
The live-action series goes for a different approach. Crocus' memories of the Rumbar Pirates are specific, with the crew singing the legendary song, "Binks' Brew."To the audience's pleasant surprise, Brook makes a physical appearance, played by Martial T. Batchamen. He even plays the song's violin instrumental version to a young Laboon. Yorki, the crew's captain, speaks to Crocus about the whale's safety, showing how much they care about him and that they were eager to reunite.
Although this scene initially received mixed reactions, Martial T. Batchamen's Brook is incredible. He naturally portrays the musician's cheerful demeanor. Combined with the Rumbar Pirates' departure from Reverse Mountain, the scene hits every emotional beat from the original. It also helps even out the pacing for Brook's eventual return and the reveal of his backstory, one of the major issues the original still faces.
Zoro's Trauma After Losing to Mihawk Gives His Arc More Depth
Most of the Straw Hat Pirates go through character development in One Piece. However, Roronoa Zoro isn't given as much tragedy and depth. This results in him being a one-dimensional stoic warrior archetype, as his only distinct trait is his undying loyalty to Luffy. The live-action series expands on the emotional turmoil of losing to Mihawk in the Baratie Arc, humanizing him. The swordsman begins to falter and doubt his strength, as seen in the Whisky Peak Arc.
Whisky Peak is the first major island that the Straw Hat Pirates visit in the Grand Line. The Baroque Work bounty hunters plan to trap the crew, but it's thwarted by Zoro, leading to one of his most iconic fights, taking down 100 agents on his own. In the anime, he was confident. In contrast, the live-action manifests his insecurities by having the swordsman imagine Mihawk criticizing him throughout the episode. Moreover, Mr. 9 openly mocks him throughout the fight, challenging the very constitution of his character.
What makes this alternate version of the same event work is the satisfaction of seeing Zoro overcome those obstacles. The viewers watch him struggle mentally, but emerging from the battle stronger after proving himself. Not to mention, the fight is brilliantly executed, thanks to Mackenyu's performance.
