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We’ve had a flurry of news about the live-action One Piece from Netflix. Major casting announcements, a 2025 release window, and – most importantly – confirmation that the second season will cover up through the Drum Island arc. While some fans might have expected them to cover through the end of the Alabasta arc, we’re just excited to see the first truly great arc in One Piece adapted into live-action next year.

Admittedly, Drum Island doesn’t quite make it to the top tier of One Piece arcs, but it marks a turning point in both the manga and anime. Luffy’s climb up a mountain, carrying both Sanji and Nami with him, is dramatic enough on its own, but the image of him standing atop Drum Castle, defending the pirate flag there, is the first time we got to see what Luffy really stands for. Like the pirates he idolizes, he’s a symbol of freedom in a world where every government entity is focused on control and oppression. As Luffy proclaims, in the face of an enemy with overwhelming power, that the Jolly Roger is still stronger, we get a taste of some of his more epic confrontations that will follow.

We love some of the moments earlier in the series, particularly Luffy putting his hat on Nami’s head in Arlong Park, but those were brief snippets of greatness mixed in with pacing issues and uneven character arcs. Drum Island, from start to finish, is a near-flawless representation of everything One Piece is about. It has humor, great fights, and an emotional climax that reduces us to tears every time we watch it. The sequence where we see Hiriluk’s dream fulfilled and the “cherry blossoms” raining down over Drum Island in an effort to give the people hope for the future is the perfect way to end season two of Netflix’s live-action show.

What is really remarkable about Drum Island isn’t that, nearly 80 episodes into the anime series and 130 chapters into the manga, we get the first great arc of the series. What stands out is that, as good as this arc is, it is followed by one that somehow manages to be even better. As excited as we are to see Drum Island and the CGI monstrosity of Tony Tony Chopper brought to life by Netflix, One Piece season three’s take on the Alabasta arc should prove to be even better. It looks like Straw Hat fans will be eating very well for the next several years.

THE ONE PIECE IS REAL...ly important to Popverse! That's why we've put together guides to help you watch through all the One Piece episodes out there, pick out the differences between the One Piece manga and live-action show, and even understand Monkey D. Luffy's Gear 5 form.