2 Years Later, Netflix’s 86% RT Epic Fantasy Series Is About To Become the Next ‘Stranger Things’ Replacement

After almost 10 years, Stranger Things has wrapped up with a divisive finale. Regardless of what audiences may feel about the show's final season, it was one of the biggest shows on Netflix for years worldwide. The question now is: what will fill the Demogorgon-shaped hole left by Stranger Things? The platform needs an all-ages show filled with fantastical elements, a strong cast committed to their roles, and a wide world of stories to tell for years to come. Thankfully, Netflix already has that with One Piece, set to premiere its second season on March 10.

When a live-action One Piece series was announced, fans were quick to worry that Netflix would ruin their beloved franchise. To be fair, Netflix previously failed to adapt anime into live-action with projects like Death Note and Cowboy Bebop due to a lack of commitment to the source material in both style and substance. However, any doubts faded away once One Piece premiered, becoming one of the highest-viewed Netflix shows in the second half of 2023. The series not only satisfied fans of the manga and/or anime, but it also drew in new audiences. If you enjoy pirates, fast-paced action, and characters you'll quickly grow to love, all against the backdrop of a richly defined fantasy world, One Piece is perfect for you.

'One Piece' Is the Exact Balance of Fantasy and Reality Netflix Needs

Based on the manga by Eiichiro Oda, Netflix's One Piece follows Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) as he assembles a crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, to help seek out the "One Piece" — a legendary treasure left behind by the late King of the Pirates, Gold Roger (Michael Dorman). After defeating pirates, clowns, Marines, and bounty hunters in Season 1, Season 2 sees the crew about to face tough challenges in a place they've only heard legends about. Similar to how Stranger Things expanded its lore with the introduction of the Mind Flayer and Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), One Piece is bringing in Baroque Works — a criminal syndicate of people with unique Devil Fruit abilities. It seemed like Luffy was the only person who had Devil Fruit powers, but that's clearly not the case based on the One Piece Season 2 trailer. Not only will it impact Luffy's identity and his supposed uniqueness, but it also opens up the series to introduce more abilities.

What makes One Piece one of the rare, great live-action manga adaptations is how it doesn't shy away from the fantastical side of its source material. The production team for the series, Tomorrow Studios, isn't holding back on making visual effects look exciting and accurate to the manga. Season 1 had a lot of pressure to make the series easily accessible to new fans, while honoring what loyal fans wanted to see. Instead of trying to ground itself in modern-day reality, the show leans heavily into the story's breathtaking world with grand sets and colorful costumes. While there is intense action and impressive CGI, however, the relatability of the main characters is what keeps audiences hooked. Characters like Nami (Emily Rudd) and Roronoa Zoro (Mackenyu) may have started cynical and independent, but Luffy's infectious positivity and optimism win them over.

'One Piece' Can Brave the Storm That Sunk 'Stranger Things'

One of the major problems fans had with Stranger Things was how disjointed it felt in its final two seasons. The series worked best when the core cast members were all together, so seeing them split up into different teams with little to no interaction was a massive misfire. Yet when that was addressed in Season 5, it seemed like the Hawkins team was acting out of character compared to how fans knew them. As for One Piece Season 2, the Straw Hat Crew seems to have a strong bond that will help them overcome challenges together and make the personal stakes even greater.

Additionally, unlike Stranger Things, where the story's ending was still being written up to the very end of filming, One Piece has over 100 manga volumes and 1,100 episodes of material to adapt. Since the manga hasn't concluded and still has no end in sight, that means the live-action adaptation still has plenty of stories before it catches up. In the meantime, the series' creative team has the groundwork to provide meaningful arcs for the characters and blend stories in a way that feels natural. Luckily, One Piece Season 3 has already begun filming, so fans don't have to wait too long between installments to see these beloved characters again, but the show's upcoming return gives it the perfect opportunity to draw in new fans looking for their next fantasy fix post-Stranger Things series finale.