Summary
Netflix’s live-actionOne Pieceadaptation is entering its second season, which is expected to differ from season one in eight key ways.One Pieceseemingly broke the anime-to-live-action adaptation curse, creating a wildly popular series in season 1 that looks like it could be around for years. Still,One Pieceseason 2will be crucial to the show’s future on Netflix, so it can’t afford to be complacent or assume that season 1’s success guarantees it a long future on the streaming giant’s platform.
One Pieceseason 1’s endingdid its part to keep fans excited for season 2 by teasing the Straw Hats' entry into the Grand Line, but season 2 will need to keep the momentum going. Luckily,One Piece’s castis excellent, and the writing team and production crew distinguished themselves early on as well. So, while the show’s future appears to be in good hands,there are still eight key differences to expect betweenOne Pieceseason 2 and its first seasonthat will help the series continue its success.
8 Biggest Ways One Piece Is Netflix’s Perfect Cobra Kai Replacement
Cobra Kai’s final season begins in 2024 ahead of the show’s conclusion in 2025, and there’s no better replacement for it than One Piece live-action.
8One Piece Season 2 Will Enter The Grand Line
The Grand Line Is Home To The Most Notorious Pirates And Biggest Treasures
Perhaps the most important wayOne Pieceseason 2 will be different from the show’s debut season is that Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates are set to enter the Grand Line this season.One Piece’s Grand Lineis a treacherous stretch of ocean where the world’s most infamous pirates live and operate, making this a big step up for the Straw Hat Pirates. Luffy and company might have defeated Arlong in season 1, butthe pirates they face in season 2 will be on another level.
Both the live-action and anime version ofOne Pieceare available to stream on Netflix.
Of course, the Straw Hats will also be able to score bigger prizes and even chase after the fabled One Piece treasure in the Grand Line. The stakes will be altogether higher inOne Pieceseason 2, which should keep the show fresh and exciting as it seeks to continue season 1’s smashing success. The Grand Line also provides nearly endless opportunities for the show’s writers to continue introducing the massive world from the original anime.
7One Piece Season 2 Will Have Better Villains
One Piece Season 2 Will Include Smoker, Crocodile, & More
One Pieceseason 2 will also differ from season 1 in that it will have superior villains. That’s not a knock on season 1’s villains — they contribute to someexcellent fights inOne Pieceseason 1— but rather a nod to the fact thatOne Piecenow has the chance to introduce some of the most iconic and intimidating villains from the anime. Upon entering the treacherous Grand Line, the Straw Hats are set to encounter the dangerous mafia-style pirate organization known as Baroque Works.
Baroque Works is run by Crocodile, one of the anime’s most iconic villains, and his bounty of over 80 million berries makes him one of the most wanted criminals inOne Piece’s world.
Baroque Works is run by Crocodile, one of the anime’s most iconic villains, and his bounty of over 80 million berries makes him one of the most wanted criminals inOne Piece’s world. For reference, Arlong —who is far and away the most dangerous villain inOne Pieceseason 1 — has a bounty of just 20 million berries. Further, there is only one villain in season 1 who uses a devil fruit, and there should be several of them in season 2.
6One Piece Season 2 Will Feature More Devil Fruit Users
The Grand Line Is Full Of Devil Fruit Users
Another consequence ofOne Pieceseason 2 entering the Grand Line is that there are bound to be far more devil fruit users than there are in season 1.The Grand Line is full of pirates who are also devil fruit users, which will make the Straw Hats' lives much harder in season 2. However, the presence of more devil fruit users inOne Pieceseason 2 will also increase the level of spectacle in the show.
Luffy has the power of the Gomu Gomu no Mi fruit inOne Piece, which effectively makes him into a Rubber Human, giving his body the stretchy, resilient properties of rubber.
Devil fruits provide supernatural abilities that should be impressive in the show’s live-action format, and should lead to some incredibly entertaining fights that couldn’t occur without devil fruit. For example, Crocodile’s devil fruit allows him to turn his body into sand, making it nearly impossible to injure or capture him. With that in mind,One Pieceseason 2 will not be cheap to produce, but it should provide an incredible spectacle.
5One Piece Season 2 Will Have Less Exposition
One Piece Season 1 Properly Introduced The Show’s World
AfterOne Pieceseason 1 effectively set up the show’s world and introduced the main characters,One Pieceseason 2 should need much less exposition than season 1 had. Although manyOne Piecefans are already familiar with the show’s world because of the anime, there is a good portion of fans who came into the series blind, so season 1 had to take the time to properly introduce this incredibly imaginative world and ease new fans into the lore.
One Pieceseason 2 is expected to introduce one or more new members of the Straw Hat Pirates, so it should be noted that some exposition will still be required.
Further,One Pieceseason 1 gives the main characters a layered introductionthat will allow season 2 to jump straight into new arcs. The backstories of the five main members of the Straw Hat Pirates are covered in a series of flashbacks in season 1, and while the show will have to introduce a new set of villains — likely Baroque Works — that’s much easier than building up protagonists because villains often rely on a level of mystery.
4One Piece Season 2 Won’t Have To Prove Itself
One Piece Season 1 Already Energized The Fanbase
Another key difference betweenOne Pieceseason 1 and season 2 is that season 2 won’t have to prove itself like the first season did. BeforeOne Piece, there was a trend in the industry of unsuccessfully adapting anime into a live-action format. Consequently, some fans were understandably skeptical that Netflix could effectively adaptOne Piece’s world for live-action, but with season 1 knocking it out of the park, there is little concern remaining.
Accordingly, this freedom could provide the confidence and flexibilityOne Pieceneeds to become a flagship series for Netflix.
That might seem like a minor detail, butit will give the writers, cast, and crew the confidence required to pull off some truly epic moments. Knowing that the show will go into its second season with a sizable following, the showrunners can be much more bold with how they approach the adaptation. Accordingly, this freedom could provide the confidence and flexibilityOne Pieceneeds to become a flagship series for Netflix.
3One Piece Season 2 Will Have A More Focused Narrative
One Piece Season 2 Adapts A Smaller Arc Than Season 1
One Pieceseason 2 will have a leg-up on season 1 because its exposition in season 1 and adaptation of a smaller arc will allow it to tell a far more focused narrative.One Pieceseason 1 adapts the “East Blue” arc, which is 61 episodes long.One Pieceseason 2 is expected to adapt the “Entering The Grand Line” arc, which only includes 15 episodes. However, there is a good chance season 2 will adapt portions of the “Alabasta” arc to introduce more of Baroque Works and set up season 3.
One Pieceseason 1 has an outstanding story, but it should get even better in season 2 as the show narrows its focus and digs deeper into the characters and world.
Even so, there are far fewer episodes forOne Pieceseason 2 to worry about adapting, and the exposition from season 1 should remove the need for major flashbacks. With that in mind,One Piece’s sophomore season should be able to tell a more linear story that focuses on one or two serious conflicts, making the story less episodic and more connected.One Pieceseason 1 has an outstanding story, but it should get even better in season 2 as the show narrows its focus and digs deeper into the characters and world.
2One Piece Season 2 Will Have More Straw Hat Pirates
Chopper Is Expected To Join The Crew In Season 2
One Pieceseason 2 is expected to add at least one more Straw Hat Pirate to the crew, which will mark another key difference between it and season 1. Chopper, the team’s half-reindeer medical expert, is expected to make his debut inOne Pieceseason 2, expanding Luffy’s crew and adding one of the most iconic characters from the anime. Further, while it’s difficult to say for sure which Straw Hat Pirates might be included,it’s safe to assume that one or two more crew members make some sort of appearance.
Accordingly, Luffy’s crew is likely to gain a member or two every season, which should raise the crew’s ability and reputation, allowing them to go after bigger prizes and participate in battles with higher stakes, leading to a more entertaining story.
This is important because the more Luffy’s crew grows, the more it can compete with the big fish found in the Grand Line. Luffy and his friends are formidable foes, but a five-person crew is not nearly big enough for them to become a serious force in the Grand Line. Accordingly, Luffy’s crew is likely to gain a member or two every season, which should raise the crew’s ability and reputation, allowing them to go after bigger prizes and participate in battles with higher stakes, leading to a more entertaining story.
1One Piece Season 2 Will Have More Sailing
One Piece Season 2 Will Mostly Be Set In The Grand Line
One strange thing aboutOne Pieceseason 1 is that the show spends a surprising amount of time on land for a series that is purported to be about pirates. That’s not to say there’s no sailing or impressive naval sequences, but there are perhaps fewer of these things than one might expect due to the show’s need to build the world and introduce characters. However,One Pieceseason 2 is expected to mostly take place in the Grand Line, which should lead to much more sailing and a lot more naval sequences.
This should lead to plenty of conflicts on the water, and it will create loads of opportunities for travel on theGoing Merry.
Firstly, it’s safe to expect the Straw Hat Pirates to have a bit of a hard time finding the Grand Line, which could leave them stranded at sea for a time. Further, to properly introduce the Grand Line, they will have to travel a lot, likely sailing from place to place in each episode. This should lead to plenty of conflicts on the water, and it will create loads of opportunities for travel on theGoing Merry. With that in mind,One Pieceseason 2 should spend considerably more time on the water.
One Piece
Cast
One Piece follows young pirate Monkey D. Luffy and his diverse crew as they embark on a daring quest for treasure. Released in 2023, the film brings the adventurous world of the popular manga to life, capturing Luffy’s relentless pursuit of the legendary One Piece treasure.
