One Piece: the 4 failures of the Netflix live action series

One Piece, you know ? Now we can say yes. A cult manga whose 105th volume appears this Saturday, September 30 in France (and still being published in Japan), the work by Eiichiro Oda could not remain under the radar of live action adaptations for too long. It was Netflix that took the risk and a semi-miracle finally took place. The streaming platform revealed to us a first season in eight episodes resuming the first saga of the manga (series of several volumes breaking down the overall story, equivalent to seasons in series, editor’s note), East Blueand who exudes the desire to do well. One Piece in live action remains faithful to its model while assuming its own choices. However, it cannot be denied that the show missed a few steps. We can even name four of them.

Miss #1: the Syrup village arc

Even the fans most won over by the live action series seem to agree: episodes 3 and 4 are the weakest of this first season. By dividing the Syrup village arc in two, the key moment where the gang meets Usopp and Kaya, showrunners Steven Maeda and Matt Owens create a big slowdown in pace in the face of a much more energetic start to the series. Especially since we have the feeling that these are the two poorest episodes of the show with an economy of means, as with the restriction of the action to the mansion, where the manga allowed us to see more of Luffy’s abilities and Kuro’s cruelty (the latter not hesitating to attack his own crew, which does not appear in the series) with a strong action scene on the beach.

Miss #2: Usopp’s integration

Direct consequence of the failure of episodes 3 and 4, the missed arrival of a new crew member: the sniper Usopp. As much as the actor Jacob Romero perfectly embodies the timid smooth-talker, the character is weighed down by a plot that has too little interest in him. In Oda’s manga, Usopp is shown in the company of three young boys who, unlike the villagers, drink in the words of “Captain Usopp”. Three young people who, like Kaya, manage to see the big heart of their friend. A troop for which Usopp, although frightened and without hope of victory, would be ready to face all dangers, including Kuro and his crew, alone. Which also gave a particularly strong scene where Usopp’s courage was highlighted, making him an obvious straw hat for the future.

Without this sequence, the evidence of his future membership in the crew is no longer obvious. During these two episodes, the young man will have little proven his worth, nor even shared many strong moments with the rest of the gang. When he embarks, we have the feeling that it falls a bit like a hair in the soup. Fortunately, this lack of alchemy will be made up for later.

Miss #3: Luffy in action

The biggest fear we could have when announcing a One Piece live action series concerned the rendering of Luffy, an elastic man capable of all extravagances in the use of his powers. For now, we can say that our fear was not entirely justified as the show manages to feature our hero with special effects that are nothing to be ashamed of. Except that this elasticity will only be highlighted during scenes where it is essential. The rest of the time, Luffy will only rarely use his powers on screen, in order to avoid the use of special effects as much as possible (in order to reduce the budget?). A particularly striking observation during the fights where clashes which could extend over two or three chapters in manga will here give rise to a restricted exchange of blows rarely exceeding two minutes of screen time. It is no coincidence that Zoro retains the lion’s share of combat, where those of his captain lack scope.

A lack of ambition which becomes evident as we approach the end of this season, when Luffy must now face THE great threat of this first arc: Arlong. An anthology clash in the manga, Arlong being Luffy’s first real opponent. Here, almost nothing of the sort. Luffy shows his true strength, but it falls short. The fight at Arlong Park is nothing epic or extraordinary. A damp squib.

Failure #4: the Koby – Garp arc

Finally, we must return to the biggest addition of this live adaptation: an increased presence of Koby and Garp. Without euphemism. In the manga, Garp’s training of Koby is only told via mini-stories presented on the first page of each chapter. At least in the first years. Emphasizing this link so early in the series is only of interest to show that the Navy is shared by the same moral conflicts as the pirates. In reality, it is mainly a way for the scenario to slow down the main plot in order to provide breathing space and save time. An approach that is more economical than artistic.