One Piece Season 2 Review: The Straw Hats’ Next Adventure Is Bolder and More Chemistry-Driven

After a surprisingly great first season, One Piece Season 2 looks to overcome those waves of doubt and fan pressure once again. Of course, it still has a lot to prove, but fortunately, it’s able to do so by allowing new and old characters to rise to the occasion. 

Particularly, the addition of new characters like Princess Vivi and Chopper round out the crew’s new dynamics. Although it takes some time for them to be fully integrated, One Piece Season 2 does a solid job in fitting them into the main story.

That said, there’s still much to appreciate from the bond shared between Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji. Within these eight episodes, that chemistry really brings out the personalities of each character quite nicely.

Luffy’s crew is a much more cohesive unit, which shouldn’t be a surprise given all of the fighting they did against Buggy and his pirate associates in Season 1. However, because Season 2 is an Odyssey-esque adventure, it allows the crew to develop individually in a way that contributes to the whole.

For example, throughout the Loguetown episode and into the Whiskey Peak story, Zoro is given this arc where he’s still dealing with Mihawk’s shadow lurking over him. In a way, it shows that he’s still trying to maintain that confidence he’s had, but how his internal fear is brewing.

Moreover, the Little Garden episode is indirectly linked to Usopp, who’s the only one not caught by the elusive Baroque Works. The intertwining of his fear of not being the protector he wants to be and taking those risks even though he’s powerless is executed quite well.

Of course, Luffy also gets time to develop himself mainly on the Reverse Mountain episode as he learns that not every problem requires a fight.

Despite his crew being Jonah’d inside the gargantuan Laboon, the way that Luffy becomes more proactive here lends itself to a bit of a tearjerking story. Crocus’ presence as an overwatch, grandfather-like figure also creates a family charm that’s a little bittersweet too.

Nami also does have some development as she worries about having to learn how to navigate the Grand Line on that episode as well. Additionally, throughout Season 2, until about midway through, she does have some problem with being the only girl. That is, until Vivi comes along.

As for Sanji, it does feel like One Piece Season 2 makes him a comedic, but still charismatic, force to be reckoned with. He gets into much more physical situations and constantly banters with Zoro about who gets the job done better. Yet, not much is done with him, character-wise.

The most that’s done with Sanji as a character can be found in the back half of Season 2. Although the lore reveal of why Sanji is dedicated to caring for everyone is well-explained, it’s pretty much all you get this season. It wants to be simple, yet it feels a bit short.

However, that’s most likely because more attention is placed on the integration of Princess Vivi, aka Miss Wednesday. One Piece Season 2 dives into her true motivations and allegiance turn well, but they mainly serve to drive the overarching narrative forward.

Season 2 does take some time to get her acquainted within the Straw Hats, but Vivi walks a fine line between being the femme fatale and a damsel-to-be-delivered. She proves to be physically capable even when Igaram is no longer in Season 2, but it takes time to round her out.

Just like how Season 1 explored each character’s past in backstories, Season 2 also does that with Vivi. Those flashbacks, which connect into the Drum Island episode, do an adequate job in rounding out her motivation, but also feel small in impacting the present moments.

Although Vivi’s character is adequately developed, one character that gets an entire episode dedicated to their backstory is Chopper. It shouldn’t be a surprise since how he’s a fan-favorite character, but given the hour-long runtimes, it is.

Chopper’s backstory in the back half of One Piece Season 2 is deeply rooted in this mentor-apprenticeship narrative that succinctly shows why Chopper is the way he is. Just like the rest of the Straw Hats, he wants to do good, but he’s feared and inexperienced.

The way that Dr. Kureha and Dr. Hiriluk play their roles in Chopper’s story leads to some of Season 2’s most heartbreaking moments. If you thought that the Laboon story on the Reverse Mountain episode was sad, Season 2 Episode 7 doubles the emotion.

That’s also because of how natural the visual effects, in terms of Chopper and other creatures, blends in quite nicely.

The animation is fluid and the designs are executed well enough as to not veer off into uncanny territory. Mikaela Hoover’s squeaky voice acting adds to the adorableness of Chopper, but when he goes brute mode, the practical suits might step into that space just a bit.

However, the action of One Piece Season 2 still continues to stun with its large-scale set pieces. Most fight scenes, whether it be Zoro taking down nearly a hundred Baroque Works agents to the Straw Hats fighting a returning Buggy, never cease to hold back.

There may be certain scenes that are a bit restrictive with what they can show, but that’s likely due to the extensive VFX work. Fortunately, there’s enough practical effects that are used to make most of these Season 2 fights feel more intense.

That said, there’s a few problems that One Piece Season 2 has in setting up future storylines. Particularly, it has to do with Smoker, Tashigi, and the Marine investigation that the first half of Season 2 wants to explore. Given Garp’s connection, it should’ve played more of a role.

It certainly feels like Season 2 wants to explore Luffy’s family background as early as it can because it may never get that chance. Of course, the original One Piece story digs into that several chapters in, but the Netflix series can only do so much as of now.

However, since One Piece Season 3 is already in the works, the show should have no problem finally connecting the pieces together. As the Straw Hats get closer to their next destination, both of these storylines can finally intertwine.

One Piece Season 2 continues to be Netflix’s best live-action adaptation as the Straw Hats get more time to bond in this Odyssey-esque journey. Although there are certain elements that need to be fleshed out more, Season 3 has the opportunity to do just that.

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All episodes of One Piece Season 2 are now streaming on Netflix.

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