Is Netflix’s Latest Hit a Mindless Romp or the Best Show Ever? It Depends on Who You Are.

Have you been inundated lately with images of a curly-haired, spirited-looking lad wearing a red vest and a straw hat? Maybe you have seen the title “One Piece” running across your Netflix home screen, or heard the words uttered by your kids several times a day, and wondered to yourself, “A piece of what, exactly?” Allow me to explain: One Piece, Netflix’s live-action adaptation of the decadeslong manga and anime series of the same name, has taken over, debuting at No. 1 among Netflix’s TV series in 46 countries and staying in the platform’s Top 10 since its Aug. 31 release. The series has received rave reviews from critics and fans alike, accumulated 37.8 million views in less than two weeks, and secured itself a Season 2 renewal. It is, by all accounts, a smash success—a pleasant surprise, given Western media’s horrible track record for live-action anime adaptations, as well as the daunting challenge of turning a 24-year-old (and counting) animated series into an acceptable live-action version for die-hard fans.

But back to the big question: Should you check it out? Understandably, the anime-uninitiated might be a little confused about whether Netflix’s latest hit is a good fit for them. So, as someone who is a lover of anime, but who doesn’t watch or read the One Piece anime or manga, I am here to help you make an informed decision.

What is One Piece about? 

Swashbucklin’ pirates, matey! I think the genre sells itself—simply put, some of us are pirate people and some aren’t. But, for those in need of more details: One Piece is set in a fantasy world and follows a young man named Monkey D. Luffy (Luffy for short, pronounced “loo-fee”), played by Iñaki Godoy. Luffy’s dream is to assemble a crew of friends and sail the East Blue Sea, find what’s known as the “One Piece,” and become King of the Pirates. The One Piece is the hidden treasure of the former King of the Pirates, Gol D. Roger, who was captured and killed by the World Government. The contents of Roger’s treasure are unknown, but, according to lore, Roger left it together in one piece, hence the name. While plenty of corrupt buccaneers are at sea in search of the One Piece, Luffy might have a better shot than most at finding it because, in addition to being strong-willed and determined, he is essentially made of rubber—a side effect of eating something called a Devil Fruit in his youth—giving him super stretchy powers.

Sounds … damp. Do I need to have absorbed all this context from the anime or the manga to understand the live-action show? 

Not at all! Netflix’s adaptation is pretty condensed and provides the necessary exposition to be able to follow the show.

OK, so I’ll get it, but will I … like it? I’m not the biggest fan of anime, and this show sounds like it’s for kids. 

To weigh in on this, I have to first address the stereotype of animation being exclusively for kids. This is simply not true. People of all ages can enjoy animation as a medium; certain anime series that feature violent themes and oversexualized depictions of women are actually better suited for late teens and adults.

One thing to note is that there’s a lot more violence that animation can get away with that would translate as much darker or squicky if it were paired with real bodies, so when violent anime gets turned into live action, the violence is often censored or skirted around in a way that can feel a bit cartoonish or infantilizing. Speaking for myself, personally, Netflix’s One Piece adaptation isn’t a perfect fit because it feels a bit juvenile—it strikes me as reminiscent of the kids show LazyTown, but aged up for 15-year-olds. This is different from a Netflix hit like Wednesday, which is explicitly made for teens, but has a little more for adults to enjoy, thanks to its darker tone, mystery plot, and mature titular character.

Aha! So this One Piece show is for kids?

It’s certainly OK for kids of a certain age to watch. The show is billed as “Family Watch Together TV” on Netflix, but also comes with TV-14 content warnings for language, nudity, self-harm, smoking, and violence. This may sound harrowing, but after watching the show, I can say that it seems tween-friendly. All of the violence is either played up in a cartoonish fashion, or, if more gory, mostly kept offscreen and alluded to. For example, you might not see someone get chopped in half, but you will see an underling mop up the blood his body left behind. There are some characters who use profanity, as well.

But the series is not just for kids and tweens. Plenty of fans of the One Piece manga and anime are adults, and it seems like they’re loving this!

So, what’s your final verdict? Should I watch One Piece? Seems like everyone else is. 

Everyone’s mileage here will vary. Comparing it to other must-watch Netflix hits from specific genres, it’s no Squid Game—a show that I would tell even K-drama naysayers to watch. But, if you’re looking for a mindless pirate romp set in a fantasy world, I say why not give it a try? The series has plenty to offer, including action, clear-cut heroes and villains, archetypal characters (the dangerously optimistic leader, the singular girl who’s smarter than the boys, the gruff, taciturn fighter), and a good ol’ “assembling a group of friends” narrative (I’m always a sucker for that). Plus, there’s some particularly good eye candy (Mackenyu, hello), and the show sports a pretty diverse cast, including a trans actor, Morgan Davies, in a lead role.

At best, you might find yourself really engaged in One Piece. At worst, it’s still something fun to have on in the background … like I do right now.