In Just 12 Minutes, Netflix's Returning Fantasy Series Outdoes Every Action Scene In Season 1

Thanks to an excellent 12-minute scene, Netflix's returning fantasy series, One Piece, outdoes all action beats from its predecessor. By the time of One Piece season 1's ending, its action scenes stood out as a solid part of the adaptation. However, it was the spirit and faithfulness of the story and One Piece's live-action cast that carried the show to finding true success.

The action was well done throughout, but by the end of One Piece season 2, it was completely overshadowed. While One Piece season 3's story may only continue this trend, that is in the distant future. For now, heaps of praise deserve to be aimed at a 12-minute scene in One Piece season 2, episode 3 that goes down as one of the best modern hand-to-hand action scenes on streaming TV.

Zoro Vs. The 100 Baroque Works Assassins Lived Up To The Hype

The action sequence in question comes as the Straw Hat Pirates find themselves ambushed by covert Baroque Works agents when visiting the island of Whiskey Peak. Roronoa Zoro, a former pirate hunter, faces a particular level of backlash from the assassins. After all, Zoro killed Mr. 7 in One Piece season 1, leading 100 agents to seek revenge.

Zoro vs. the 100 Baroque Works agents is undoubtedly the most ambitious hand-to-hand fight scene in the entirety of One Piece, and it lives up to the hype. The moment is one that many fans of the original manga and anime remember, thanks to the insane skills on display by Zoro to take out so many trained agents.

Naturally, the question of whether Netflix's live-action One Piece could replicate how great the fight was in the anime and manga was a pressing one.

Thankfully, One Piece succeeded. Not only does Zoro actually defeat exactly 100 agents, and, trust me, One Piece fans were counting, but the choreography and stunt-work to get there is masterful. Mackenyu is excellent as Zoro, moving with fluidity and tenacity that prove he could, one day, become the world's greatest swordsman.

The stunt men and women who played the Baroque Works agents were equally brilliant. It would be easy for such a cluttered and complex fight scene to look and feel overly choreographed, in the sense that you can see the moments where the performers are waiting their turn to attack, defend, or dodge. As far as I could see, this barely happened.

The choreography and the performances of each and every person involved are a big reason for this, as is the dynamic camerawork that weaves seamlessly through the action with beautiful long takes. Zoro is always in focus, with the scene never losing sight of him or the current enemies he is facing.

Adding in expert wirework, a dynamic, practical set, and exciting music, Zoro vs. the 100 becomes the best fight scene in the entire show, by a long margin. This is not to say One Piece's other action sequences are bad, either. They are actually almost always good, if not great. This just goes to show how much Zoro vs. the 100 lived up to the hype, outdoing everything from season 1 and standing out in a stacked season 2.

Zoro's Big Action Scene Made Up For A Less Impressive Final Fight

One of the fight scenes in One Piece season 2 that was on the good end of the scale, rather than the great one, was Luffy vs. King Wapol in the finale. Compared to the showdown at Arlong Park in season 1, Luffy's big season-ending fight scene was somewhat underwhelming. As alluded to, it was still good and engaging, just not in the same way as previous Luffy fight scenes have been.

However, thanks to Zoro's battle against the 100 Baroque Works agents, it is hard to be too upset about the final fight of the season. By that point, One Piece had already shown what it was capable of with hand-to-hand, practical fight scenes. While this does make Luffy vs. Wapol feel smaller in comparison, it proves that Netflix's team knows what they are doing.

Not every fight can be on the level of Zoro vs. the 100, as that simply just isn't feasible. Plus, not every fight scene should be like that, as each one should feel dynamic and fresh. Luffy vs. Wapol still did, even if it wasn't on the scale of Zoro vs. the 100. Because the latter happened at all in One Piece, though, the former felt less disappointing than maybe it would have otherwise.