One Piece Review: Netflix's Live-Action Series Delivers a Swashbuckling Response to Stranger Things

The imaginative Netflix series "One Piece" sets out to redefine piracy in a refreshing light.

This live-action adaptation of the long-standing and immensely popular Japanese manga embarks on an eight-episode journey that introduces us to a fantastical realm of daring outlaws, resolute lawkeepers, and even irate fish-human hybrids, all garnished with superpowers and a good dose of humor.

In this spirited fusion of "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Scott Pilgrim," and a hint of "Doctor Who" campiness, a youthful band of buccaneers sets sail in search of lost treasures while extending helping hands to those they encounter. It's a wholehearted, swashbuckling response to "Stranger Things."

For 22 years, the search for Gold Roger’s lost treasure has consumed the seafaring masses, to no avail. Enter Monkey D. Luffy (played by Iñaki Godoy), an affable yet resolute soul who never parts with his signature straw hat. Luffy harbors grand ambitions of discovering the fabled "One Piece" and ascending to the throne of pirates. His childhood consumption of a Devil Fruit imparts the comical ability to bend and stretch his body in absurd ways.

Scenes from One Piece Series 

In his quest for a map to the enigmatic Grand Line, an oceanic pathway fraught with peril and promise, Luffy clashes with the Marines, a formidable naval force commanded by the volatile Vice Admiral Garp (depicted by Vincent Regan). Along the way, he crosses paths with Nami (played by Emily Rudd), a resourceful orange-haired thief on the same map-hunting quest, and Roronoa Zoro (portrayed by Mackenyu Arata), a stoic pirate hunter sporting a distinct green coiffure and wielding three ever-present swords.

Primarily thanks to Luffy’s infectious charisma, these three disparate souls unite and cast off. However, the relentless Marines are in hot pursuit, and the maritime odyssey is peppered with escalating eccentricity. Jolly Rogers flutter, some characters seem plucked from a classic pirate movie, while others sport contemporary Hawaiian shirts, crop tops, and, in one peculiar case, a sawfish-faced individual sporting a trapper hat. Snail phones replace smartphones, and the rogues' gallery boasts an endless parade of vintage He-Man-esque villains, including a bizarre clown pirate, a malevolent butler brandishing Freddy Krueger-style claws, and a brash warlord wielding an absurdly colossal blade.

It's a whirlwind of a show, and the merging of so many genres results in occasional tonal shifts, from slapstick comedy to slasher-style horror. However, "One Piece" manages to avoid going entirely overboard with its action sequences, and the storytelling is generally well-paced.

Multi-episode escapades unfold with our heroes securing a ship, crashing a fine-dining establishment cleverly fashioned as a giant bass, and welcoming new crew members into the fold. Among them are Usopp (played by Jacob Romero), a sharpshooting marksman, and Sanji (portrayed by Taz Skylar), a charismatic chef. However, while "One Piece" exudes the vibe of a Saturday morning cartoon (it did spawn an animated series in 1999), it also carries its share of sailor-ready language, violence, and weighty themes. Parents, take heed if your young ones clamor to explore it.

The mythology of "One Piece" remains fresh to American audiences, just as the faces in the cast are unfamiliar. Emily Rudd had a supporting role in Netflix's "Fear Street" trilogy, while Mackenyu Arata happens to be the offspring of martial-arts movie legend Sonny Chiba.

Yet, it's Iñaki Godoy who serves as the heart of the show with his portrayal of the effervescent Luffy, endowing "One Piece" with an essential, unwavering moral compass. In a world where bad deeds run rampant and pirates are often associated with pillaging and lawlessness, Luffy staunchly defends his friends and those in need. "Who says pirates have to be frightening?" he proclaims in his relentless campaign to change hearts and minds.

From quirky characters to epic showdowns, "One Piece" presents a colorful treasure trove of binge-worthy content.