Netflix’s live-action adaptation of One Piece is by far the best live-action take on an over-the-top fantasy anime and manga series and is renowned by critics as the one that broke the curse of bad live-action adaptations. The series proved that when people who genuinely love the source material come together to create something, the result is widespread appreciation and praise from audiences. This adaptation will certainly serve as a benchmark for future live-action anime projects, as it has established itself as one of the genre’s rare successes. That said, the One Piece live-action is far from perfect.
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While longtime fans of the franchise have voiced various criticisms, ranging from the changes made to the story to the quirky tonal shifts, the most common complaint was that the live-action lacked the level of action expected from one of Shonen’s top action-fantasy series. Even as the first season reached its final phase with Luffy’s fight against Arlong, a sequence that lasts much longer in the manga and anime, the live-action version felt noticeably short, with several major fights being cut altogether. There were understandable reasons behind reducing the action, but as Season 2 approaches, it promises to deliver more intense combat sequences, and even Roronoa Zoro’s actor, Mackenyu, has seemingly addressed this issue.
One Piece Season 2 Is Fixing the Series’ Core Issue from Season 1
One Piece Season 1, being the first installment of a major series, was under considerable pressure. With creator Eiichiro Oda’s direct involvement in production, the pre-release phase already suggested it was on the path to success. The release proved that to be true, as the series found its footing on every level, making it a solid live-action adaptation. This is something Zoro’s actor, Mackenyu, also confirmed in his interview with Crunchyroll earlier this year. In that interview, the actor expressed his excitement about reprising his role for the upcoming season and revealed that he and his team have a new ambition for his character.
Mackenyu explained that in the first season, their goal was simply to bring Zoro’s character to life. Having achieved that, he shared that their new goal is to align the character more closely with the anime and manga’s standards, making Zoro even deadlier and cooler. These words clearly imply that the upcoming season will focus more on action, and Zoro is the perfect character to address the series’ biggest complaint. Season 2 is indeed the ideal opportunity to elevate the action, especially as the Straw Hats enter the Grand Line, where the threats grow significantly, demanding more intense combat sequences. Fortunately, a newly released teaser also hints that the action will be taken to the next level, particularly through Zoro’s character.
One Piece Season 2’s New Teaser Hints Zoro Will See More Action
After entering the Grand Line, One Piece Season 2 is set to feature several smaller arcs before the Straw Hats make their way to Alabasta, where they will face one of the Warlords of the Sea. Among their many stops before reaching Alabasta, the crew will arrive at Whiskey Peak Island, a location that will showcase Zoro in some of his most intense action yet, as he takes on a hundred bounty hunters from the Baroque Works syndicate. Thankfully, the new teaser shows Zoro exactly in this situation, confirming that this iconic scene, one that elevates his character and makes him even deadlier, will indeed be part of the live-action adaptation. This strongly suggests that Season 2 will feature much more action.
Meanwhile, fans can also look forward to seeing Zoro become even cooler, just as Mackenyu promised, with a scene in Loguetown that perfectly captures why Zoro is one of the most badass characters in the One Piece franchise. All these hints so far confirm that the upcoming season will be far more action-packed, with scenes that surpass those in the first season. There is plenty to look forward to in Season 2, especially with the introduction of literal giants and monsters teased in the footage, indicating a far greater scale than before.
In addition to these elements, the casting of actors like David Dastmalchian as Mr. 3 and Joe Manganiello as the leader of Baroque Works further raises excitement. With the latest teaser emphasizing that One Piece Season 2 will deliver more action, the upcoming season might just become the best live-action adaptation fans could hope for.
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Source: Crunchyroll News
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