One Piece season 2 review: "It's hard to imagine a better version of One Piece in live action"

The search for the One Piece is heating up in more ways than one. 29 years after Luffy began his quest to become King of the Pirates, One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has finally written down what the One Piece actually is. Luffy, meanwhile, continues to sail The Four Blues in search of this treasure onscreen, for 1100+ episodes in the anime and a mere 16 in Netflix's live-action adaptation. Yet that's not to say the latter is less important – something proved by the show's superb second season.

Upon its release in 2023, many declared this version to be a game-changer, breaking the live-action anime curse that befell Death Note and Cowboy Bebop on Netflix. And they were right to say it. For most fans watching, One Piece was the first anime adaptation to fully capture the essence of its source material, nailing key narrative arcs and character beats without rushing or stretching things out, Luffy-style. The cast were just the right amount of silly, channeling the Saturday morning cartoon vibes of the original while avoiding the temptation to overplay it or dumb things down.

In short, season one defied all expectations, solidifying itself as one of Netflix's most beloved originals. This all means that One Piece season 2 sails into view with a very different kind of pressure to contend with. One Piece no longer has to justify its own existence, but this second season has the difficult job of maintaining momentum and living up to the hype that wasn't felt so strongly the first time around.

A grand adventure

So how do these eight new episodes fare? The season two premiere kicks off in explosive fashion, quite literally, when Miss All Sunday shows up in a burst of rosy pink petals, attacking marines in the weirdest way possible. Able to replicate and regrow various body parts in other locations, the Vice President of Baroque Works grotesquely pulls at her victims with new arms that generate out of their own bodies, punching and even shooting them with these freaky appendages. Longtime fans and newbies alike will get a kick (or punch) out of this bizarre opening, which demonstrates confidence in the madcap antics of this world without feeling any need to over-explain or ease us in.

That's also true when we catch up with the Straw Hats as they sail towards Loguetown. Their banter – teasing Luffy's mantra about finding the One Piece to become "King of the Pirates," as if they've heard this spiel a thousand times before – comes from a place of love, immediately reestablishing their camaraderie as if they never left us. Two seasons in, the chemistry (or Nakana) is stronger than ever, not just between characters but between the actors too. Everyone feels even more confident in themselves this time around, more sure of who they are and the world they're building.

Season two brings the Straw Hats to the Grand Line, where they come across new locations grand in scope yet still imbued with that same, signature One Piece weirdness. Early on, the prehistoric island of Little Garden is a perfect example of this. The wonky (yet charming) special effects that often cropped up in season one feel more polished here, defying the often dull Netflix sheen that stories like this often fall victim to. You'll really believe it when Luffy catapults himself onto a giant whale with his stretchy arms, and you'll probably cry as that particular arc unfolds, too.

The episodic nature of Oda's worldbuilding makes season two the rare show that actually feels like an episodic TV series, one you could watch just as happily on a weekly basis as you could all at once. Yet, with each new location, One Piece still threads in a wider arc concerning the evil Baroque Works organization, and marines like Smoker (Callum Kerr) who are out to stop them. New villains pop up aplenty, each weirder, wackier, and often more stylish than the last. These "Tarantino-style Kill Bill assassins", as co-showrunner Joe Tracz describes them, "don't just do bad. They look good," and that in itself is quite a feat.

Explosive boogers, sticky velcro hair, and House of Wax-style shenanigans could slip into the realms of silly or even deranged, and they do at points, but (almost) always in ways that still make sense for the world. It helps that the stunt work feels more visceral this time, especially when it comes to Mackenyu's intricate swordwork. Look out for one prolonged, brutal sequence in episode three.

Chop shop

What could look like cosplay, especially when it comes to costume design, actually works remarkably well for the most part, and that's also true when the lore gets extra weird, like with the introduction of Miss Friday and Mr. 13. It's bold to faithfully render characters like this evil vulture/otter combo, which shouldn't work in live-action but still do somehow regardless. Not every transition from page to screen succeeds quite as well, though. When Miss Wednesday, aka Nefertari Vivi, mesmerises Luffy with her "Enchanting Vertigo Dance," the end result is just too silly. Fan-favourite Tony Tony Chopper similarly suffers when it comes to some of his transformations, although the effects used to bring his smaller form to life are essentially perfect in comparison.

This isn't to say that Chopper and Vivi will disappoint, however. Among many impressive new additions to season two – including veteran performers Katey Sagal (as Dr. Kureha) and Mark Harelik (as Dr. Hiriluk) – stars Chopper's Mikaela Hoover and Vivi's Charithra Chandran are the very best. Both are key to the emotional impact of these episodes, proving themselves to be just as vital as anyone in the returning cast. Get ready to fall in love with Choopper and Vivi, crying as you watch heartbreaking developments for both of them. And don't be surprised if you end up crying at how good the rest of the gang are, too.

Emily Rudd continues to embody the heart of the ship as Nami, Mackenyu nails the dry humour bound up in Zoro's stoicism, and Usopp's pluckiness takes on new layers thanks to Jacob Romero Gibson. Sanji is a little more overlooked, although Taz Skylar gets a chance to shine in one particularly emotive scene towards the end. And as for the crew's fearless leader? Iñaki Godoy's enthusiasm is matched only by Luffy's endless zeal for piracy, although his portrayal threatens to be a little one-note this time in comparison to the rest.

By the end of season two, it might not feel like Luffy and the gang are much closer to finding the One Piece. In fact, zealous fans in real life will almost certainly beat them to it. But when it comes to capturing the strange, mesmerising tone of Oda's world, treasure is already within our grasp. Some minor flaws aside, it's hard to imagine a better version of One Piece in live action. This is the rare adaptation that justifies its existence beyond animation, thanks to an extraordinary devotion to the source material and the means to make it happen. May this version's episode count hit triple and even quadruple digits like the beloved anime it follows, and continues to sail alongside.

One Piece season 2 is streaming now on Netflix. For a full, spoiler-filled breakdown of the season, check out our One Piece season 2 ending explained. Or for a glimpse at what's to come, dive into our One Piece season 3 guide.