It’s been a long road since we first heard about the live-action adaptation of One Piece. All the way back in 2017, Eiichiro Oda confirmed that he alongside Netflix was working on the project. While the episode count has decreased from ten to eight, the wait for the series to finally reveal seemed endless. Now, we are only a few weeks away from it finally hitting Netflix and the official press offers some insight into the episode titles and a short description.
If you want to remain spoiler free for any potential plot points of the live-action adaptation then only continue risking at your own risk.
Episode 1: Romance Dawn
Directed by Marc Jobst, Teleplay by Matt Owens and Steven Maeda
Monkey D. Luffy, an optimistic young pirate with dreams of finding the One Piece, sets off in search of the loyal crew he needs to navigate the vast oceans. His journey begins when he helps Koby, a deckhand forced into servitude, escape an undesirable situation. While in Shells Town, Luffy meets Roronoa Zoro, a famed pirate hunter, and Nami, a Master thief, and the three form a tenuous alliance.
Episode 2: The Man in the Straw Hat
Directed by Marc Jobst, Written by Ian Stokes
Luffy, Zoro, and Nami find themselves imprisoned on an island overtaken by the deranged clown pirate, Buggy. Koby joins the Marines and proves his mettle.
Episode 3: Tell No Tales
Directed by Emma Sullivan, Written by Matt Owens and Damani Johnson
Luffy, Zoro, and Nami land in Syrup Village, where they meet Usopp, a local who introduced the group to Kaya, a sickly shipyard heiress under the care of trio of overbearing house staff. With the help of Koby, Vice Admiral Garp, a powerful marine, sets off in search of Luffy.
Episode 4: The Pirates Are Coming
Directed by Emma Sullivan, Written by Tiffany Greshler and Tom Hyndman
Luffy, Zoro, and Nami fight their way through Kaya’s mansion, which has now become a prison. Usopp enlists the help of Koby, Helmeppo and the Marines. Luffy finally gets the ship of his dreams as Garp closes in.
Episode 5: Eat at Baratie!
Directed by Tim Southam, Written by Laura Jacqmin
Luffy and the gang are tested in their ability to fight together on the high seas. They arrive at Baratie, a floating restaurant, where they encounter Sanji, a young chef with a love of fine dining. A duel on the docks shocks the group.
Episode 6: The Chef and the Chore Boy
Directed by Tim Southam, Written by Steven Maeda and Diego Gutierrez
The group is ambushed by a threat no one sees coming. After a hard-fought battle at Baratie, Sanji finally follows his dreams, while another crew member shows their true colors.
Episode 7: The Girl with the Sawfish Tattoo
Directed by Josef Wladyka, Written by Tiffany Greshler & Ian Stokes and Allison Weintraub & Lindsay Gelfand
The crew comes to the aid of a member in dire need of family.
Episode 8: Worst in the East
Directed by Josef Wladyka, Written by Matt Owens and Steven Maeada
A new pirate crew is born.
Matt Owens, one of the showrunners for One Piece, highlights that the show was built in a way that allowed for four two-episode arcs that each introduce us to the members of the Straw Hat pirate crew and focuses on the “spirit of togetherness and adventure.”
Our whole season is set up in four two-episode arcs where we’re meeting a new Straw Hat, getting to know them, and finding where they fit into their world. It’s not only an origin story of how this crew comes together…It’s an encapsulation of the idea of found family. A spirit of togetherness and adventure.
Matt Owens
The series remains ambitious and with only a few more weeks to go, we’ll finally see how they bring this iconic story to life. Monkey D. Luffy’s journey for One Piece remains an iconic story that has yet to find its end and is about to start anew for a new generation that missed out on the journey a long time ago.
