One Piece season two has debuted on Netflix to a whopping 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. The critical acclaim isn't entirely surprising, given the response to season one was almost as enthusiastic (a 93% score, if you're asking).
That the live-action adaptation managed to grow in acclaim is, however, slightly surprising, given that many second seasons tend to slump in reviews. But Luffy and the gang have managed to captivate critics and fans' hearts once again.
The second season series sees Luffy and the Straw Hats set sail for the extraordinary Grand Line, a legendary stretch of sea where danger and wonder await at every turn. As they journey through this unpredictable realm in search of the world’s greatest treasure, they’ll encounter bizarre islands and a host of formidable new enemies.
Here at Digital Spy, we loved it, calling it: "A soul-quenching joy, it was comforting to be welcomed back into a world where, even in the darkest of times, hope doesn't just prevail, it burns bright. A sentiment we all could do with feeling."
Season two managed to build on the already impressive season one. As Inverse put it: "One Piece can finally move past the table setting and actually get to what has kept viewers coming back year after year and arc after arc: island-hopping adventures, scary yet campy villains, and stories that make you cry without realising it."
Similarly, critic Perri Nemiroff said: "Even after an excellent first season, One Piece season two feels like a wildly impressive level-up in many respects."
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Similarly, GamesRadar wrote: "One Piece embodies the endless optimism of its pirate crew with a second season that's stronger and more confident in almost every aspect. This is the live-action adaptation that longtime fans deserve."
The AV Club credited much of the success to the folks behind the camera. "Owens, Tracz, and the writers continue to capture the secret sauce of this work, one where literal cartoon characters are regularly granted unexpected depth."
And if you think you may be immune to tearing up, you might be surprised, according to RogerEbert.com: "It’s goofy, knowingly strange, and wears its heart on its sentimental sleeve, and that’s enough to put some wind in its sails."
The series stars Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy, Emily Rudd as Nami, Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro, Jacob Romero Gibson as Usopp, and Taz Skylar as Sanji. They're joined by an impressive ensemble including Vincent Regan, Jeff Ward, David Dastmalchian, and Joe Manganiello amongst others.
Netflix’s live-action adaptation of One Piece is based on Japan’s highest-selling manga series of all time by Eiichiro Oda, with over 100 volumes and 500M copies sold worldwide.
The manga, and its anime adaptation, have a global, multigenerational global fan base. When the live-action series debuted in 2023, it spent eight weeks on the Global Top 10 and made it to number 1 in over 75 countries. Season Two looks like it could be set to beat those records.
One Piece season 1 and 2 are available to watch now on Netflix.
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