ONE PIECE: Into the Grand Line Sails Beyond Expectations (OP/ED)

(Image via: Netflix)

The second season of Netflix’s live-action adaptation of the Japanese anime and manga sensation One Piece, entitled ONE PIECE: Into the Grand Line, released on March 10, 2026, to massive acclaim.
by Emery Brown

One Piece, written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda, has been one of the most influential and successful manga of all time since its first publication in 1997. Since then, it has received numerous adaptations of its source material, one of which is Netflix’s live-action series, bringing the fantastical world to life. As a die-hard superfan of the series, I was thrilled when season one debuted in August 2023; while it had evident flaws, it was enjoyable to see my favorite characters and locations "in the flesh."

The second season, titled ONE PIECE: Into the Grand Line, knocks the first season out of the water for me. Here, we see the stakes of the world climb as the Straw Hat Pirates enter the Grand Line, a dangerous stretch of ocean known for its diverse, dangerous islands and foes. Beginning with the Loguetown manga arc and ending with Drum Kingdom, I was worried that the production wouldn’t hold up as well now that the series was getting to the truly fantastical. I was very much proven wrong.

First, the costume designs were incredible, as they were for season one, blending goofy One Piece charm with realistic fashion and practicality. However, it was the more unusual characters I was worried about—particularly the furry doctor of the Straw Hats, Tony Tony Chopper. Yet, I was wonderfully surprised by how amazing he looked, rarely ever breaking the illusion of being as real as the actors on screen.

The set design was perfect, taking these fictionalized locations and making them feel like real communities. Loguetown was turned into a historical, colonial-style city, while Whisky Peak became an Old West-inspired town. This gives me faith for later locations in the series, as they only get more unusual from here.

The story, of course, was great, as it was in the original. However, Into the Grand Line, with the gift of hindsight, fleshed out many of its characters, providing them original storylines that make them more compelling characters overall. For example, Bartolomeo, a boisterous street thug who—after witnessing the failed execution of Straw Hat Captain Monkey D. Luffy—was inspired to become a pirate himself and a loyal follower of Luffy. In the manga, he isn’t introduced until Dressrosa, an arc hundreds of chapters after Loguetown, yet is said to have been there to witness the execution. Into the Grand Line gives Bartolomeo a prominent place in the arc, conveying his transformation in real time. Should the live-action make it to Dressrosa, Bartolomeo’s return will be an emotional and captivating one.

Once again, Netflix’s ONE PIECE provides for the die-hard fans as well, with brief glimpses of future characters, references to plotlines yet to come, and other things to make someone like me point at their screen in excitement. Undoubtedly, part of the success of Netflix’s adaptation is its catering to both new viewers and the superfans, creating a blended audience that will continue to watch.

Into the Grand Line isn’t without its flaws, however. At times, its cheesy one-liners, while campy and goofy, can get tiring. Additionally, some of the original content, particularly surrounding some of the antagonists, fell to exhausting tropes that were absent from the original. However, with this season, the writers have proven themselves to recognize fan criticism and improve upon it in future seasons, so I trust them in improving their craft for season three.
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Overall, ONE PIECE: Into the Grand Line isn’t perfect, but its flaws are outshined by its strengths, carving out an identity of its own. I think it's a great adaptation and a wonderful season, giving me hope for the future of the series, earning it an 8/10.