Where Could Netflix’s One Piece Live Action Series Go From Here?

Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece is finally out, and surprisingly, online reactions have been positive. While it may not be groundbreaking, it is highly entertaining and makes the right changes to the source material, as we’ve noted in our review.

Needless to say, when compared to other live-action adaptations like Dragon Ball Evolution or the Full Metal Alchemist film trilogy, One Piece stands leagues ahead in terms of character writing, set design, and its effective use of a whole new medium to convey this beloved story.

Most importantly, fans of this 26-year-old franchise have also embraced this adaptation with open arms, which hopefully suggests that more seasons will be on the way if it proves to be successful, pending the outcome of the ongoing Writer’s Strike, of course.

That said, as long-time One Piece fans ourselves, here’s where we think the upcoming seasons of One Piece could potentially head from here on out. Spoilers ahead for both the live-action series and One Piece as a whole.

Season One: Romance Dawn and the East Blue Saga

Throughout the first eight episodes of Netflix’s One Piece, we’ve witnessed the adaptation of the approximately the first hundred chapters, albeit with notable omissions. Fun but minor characters with little impact on future events, like Jango and Gaimon, are nowhere to be found in the live-action series.

However, it is weird that a major character like the octopus Fish-Man Hachi is also missing from this season, considering his major importance in the later Sabaody Archipelago and Fish-Man Island arcs in the manga and anime.

One cool thing about this first season is that it covered Koby and Garp’s story, which was only seen through the one-page Cover Stories segment featured incertain manga chapters. This also introduces Garp much earlier than his inital appearance in the Water 7 arc.

Truly, this sort of condensation is what makes the live-action series so compelling and easily digestible for both new fans and those looking to refresh their memories on key One Piece moments. With the template set by season one, how can the rest of the series follow suit?

Season Two: Baroque Works and the Arabasta Saga

As Luffy and the Straw Hats set sail for the Grand Line at the end of episode eight, the first episode of season two could potentially begin with their adventures in Loguetown. This will also showcase the fruition of Buggy and Alvida’s alliance and introduce viewers to Smoker and Tashigi of the Marines.

The next episode could introduce Baroque Works as a whole and depict Princess Vivi’s infiltration of the bounty hunting operation as Miss Wednesday. Once Vivi joins the crew, the fight with Mr. 3 in Little Garden could take up an episode, which would then pave the way for Chopper’s introduction in Drum Island.

By the mid-season, all the pieces will be in place for the climactic showdown in Arabasta. The Straw Hats will be racing against time to stop a civil war, and Luffy will engage in his first battle against a Warlord of the Sea, Crocodile.

Season Three: Blackbeard and the Sky Island Saga

As Vivi departs from the crew and Nico Robin joins in her place, the Straw Hats will set course for the island of Jaya. This alone will likely span several episodes as it involves unraveling the mysteries of the island and making the necessary preparations for the crew to reach the skies.

This is also the point where Luffy has a character-defining fight with Bellamy, and it marks the introduction of the series’ main antagonist, Blackbeard. If Luffy’s brother Ace wasn’t introduced in the previous season, this season would be an ideal opportunity to showcase his pursuit of Blackbeard.

Likewise, a significant portion of the season could be dedicated to the adventures in Skypeia and the battles against the forces of Enel. This arc would showcase the series at its most fantastical while also effectively conveying One Piece’s themes of anti-colonialism and anti-authoritarianism.

Season Four: Devil Child and the Water 7 Saga

The initial episodes of Netflix’s One Piece already teased us with the devious pirate Foxy, so dedicating an episode to showcasing his talent for stealing pirate crews through Davy Back fights would be fitting. This, of course, would then lead to the introduction of Admiral Aokiji and delve into his history with Robin.

This season would like be the most substantial yet, with the primary storyline revolving around Robin’s defection from the crew, Usopp departure due to the deteriorating condition of the Going Merry, and the introduction and eventual inclusion of Franky as a crew member.

The eventual showdown between the Straw Hat Pirates and the government agents of CP-9 will undoubtedly be a pivotal moment that could make or break the live-action series. If executed well, it could be a major triumph for the show as a whole.

Season Five: Brook and the Summit War

With a new ship and crewmate, the Straw Hats will embark on a spooky adventure on Thriller Bark. Two episodes could be dedicated to the introduction of the crew’s musician Brook, the curse of Thriller Bark, and the formidable powers of another Warlord of the Sea, Gecko Moria.

Zoro’s sacrifice at the end of this battle will serve as a major highlight of the season, along with the subsequent separation of the crew at the conclusion of the Sabaody segment. This would likely take up two episodes, which will leave the remainder of the season to cover the Impel Down jailbreak and the Summit War.

Luffy’s emotional journey will take center stage in this season, as he embarks on a mission to free former enemies from jail in a desperate bid to save his brother Ace from execution. At the same time, Ace’s captain, Whitebeard, launches a full-scale war against the World Government for the same reason.

If Netflix is open to expanding the number of episodes per season, this would be an opportune moment to do so. The series would benefit from the additional time to show where each crew member ends up after their separation. This would also allow for the exploration of Luffy’s expanded backstory involving Ace and Sabo. But beyond this point a two-year time skip lies ahead in the story.

Season Six: Time Skip and the Fish-Man Island Saga

After two years, the Straw Hat Pirates return stronger than ever, complete with new appearances and enhanced abilities. After a brief reintroduction in Sabaody, which could be covered in a single episode, the crew will plunge into the underwater world of Fish-Man Island.

The first season provided fairly accurate portrayals of these fish-human hybrids, but depicting an entire society comprised of them, along with mermaids and talking fish, would be a significant and ambitious undertaking.

Although Jinbei would have been formally introduced in the previous season, this is where he essentially joins the crew. The overarching conflict involving the antagonist Hody Jones and his deep-seated racism against the human race would be an interesting angle to explore over the course of an entire season.

Season Seven: Trafalgar Law and the Dressrosa Saga

As the crew sails toward the island of Punk Hazard, they will encounter the mad scientist Caesar Clown and Luffy’s saviour from the Summit War, Trafalgar Law. The two young pirates will form an alliance, capturing Caesar and put an end to his production of artificial Devil Fruits.

With the events of Punk Hazard potentially taking up two episodes, the remainder of the season could be devoted to Dressrosa. This would involve exploring the dread that hangs over its inhabitants, introducing new characters who will eventually become part of Luffy’s Straw Hat Grand Fleet, and delving into the central conflict between Law and the malevolent ruler of Dressrosa, Donquixote Doflamingo.

It’s a season that has a lot of moving parts, to the extent that half the crew, including Sanji, Nami, Brook, and Chopper, are not even present for it. It could be one of the most challenging story arcs for the live-action series to adapt, but if they manage to strike the right balance, it could be rewarding for both fans and newcomers to the series.

Season Eight: Vinsmoke Sanji and the Whole Cake Island Saga

Following Dressrosa, there is a brief stopover on the island of Zou, primarily focusing on the Samurai of Wano and the introduction of the animal people, the Minks. This arc mainly sets the stage for the disappearance of Sanji and half the crew's efforts to save him.

Luffy, Nami, Brook, and Chopper will embark on a mission to Whole Cake Island to save Sanji from the clutches of Germa 66 and the Big Mom Pirates, while the rest continue on to Wano for their showdown with Kaido.

This is also the point in the story where Sanji’s backstory is delved into more deeply, allowing for a comprehensive examination of his character. This will be a great treat for fans of Taz Skylar’s portrayal of the character in live-action. Whole Cake Island is also a fantastical place, providing the production team with ample opportunities to showcase the series’ practical and CG effects in an imaginative manner.

Season Nine: The Samurai and Wano Arc

A significant portion of the post-time skip arcs of One Piece culminate in the battle in Wano against the combined forces of Kaido and Big Mom. So, it’s essential for previous seasons to include proper foreshadowing and set-up to effectively lead into this pivotal conflict.

While the Straw Hats are prominent, the central conflict involves the crown prince of Wano, Momonosuke, and Kaido. Similar to Dressrosa, a ton of characters will be brought in and reintroduced, so it really depends on how the episodes are structured to do so.

Either way, in both the anime and manga, Wano has been a high point for the series as a whole, with Luffy attaining his Gear 5 form, ushering a significant evolution in the way he approaches battles. This is also where the Straw Hat Pirates truly become a world-renowned force to be reckoned with.

Season Ten: Egghead Island and Beyond

So, should this plan align with the live-action One Piece’s upcoming seasons, the show would reach the manga’s current arc by season ten. Not too shabby all things considered, and certainly easier to digest than 1,000-plus chapters and anime episodes.

This would still amount to just about 100 episodes, which is par for the course when it comes to live-action TV shows. The likes of Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, and The Sopranos come just shy of the hundred-episode mark, while Grey’s Anatomy and other serials like CSI and NCIS have long reached that number.

However, when it comes to Netflix’s own output, Grace and Frankie and Orange is the New Black is the longest with seven seasons each. Even Stranger Things is looking to wrap things up by its fifth season coming out in the future.

It is a grand plan for sure to see Netflix finish up One Piece to the end, but at the rate they are going, we are cautiously optimistic that they can see it through. If not, there’s always the manga and anime to fall back on.