Netflix's One Piece Gently Mocks The Fans Who Criticized Season 1

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Published Mar 11, 2026, 2:01 PM EDT

Lewis is a Lead Writer for Screen Rant and has written for the site since 2022. This has allowed Lewis to explore a vast array of films, TV shows, books, comic books, and games from across the mainstream world of pop culture, reflecting his lifelong love of all media and typifying his experience in the world of fiction storytelling. To top this off, Lewis graduated from Northumbria University with First Class Honours in Film & TV Studies, truly exemplifying his experience in the medium.

One Piece season 2 includes a few meta references, one of which mocks fans over a specific season 1 criticism. If One Piece season 1's ending solidified anything, it was that the show was a faithful, if condensed, adaptation of the original manga. Moreover, many found the quality of Netflix's live-action version to match its fidelity, something that has only continued via One Piece season 2's reviews.

Despite a few changes from the One Piece manga, often included to speed up the pacing of the storytelling, the second season of Netflix's show has continued where season 1 left off. However, that does not mean either season is without its critics; One Piece fans are incredibly passionate, meaning some skipped elements have been met with controversy.

One Piece season 3's story will almost undoubtedly suffer the same small critiques, though it will hopefully continue the overall positive audience and critical reception. One of the specific elements that received criticism in season 1 was the apparent decision to skip an important arc from the manga. That said, One Piece season 2 included it, after all, gently mocking those who thought otherwise.

Nami Jokes About Those One Piece Season 1 Loguetown Criticisms

Figarland Square sign in One Piece season 2.

The criticism in question was the backlash over One Piece season 1 seemingly skipping the Loguetown arc. One Piece season 1 was based on the East Blue Saga of the manga, with season 2 confirmed to focus on the first half of the Arabasta Saga. Season 3 will complete the latter, setting the stage for season 4 and a new live-action saga.

The Ultimate · Straw Hat Challenge Set Sail for Trivia “I’m gonna be King of the Pirates!”

Eight questions from the Netflix One Piece live-action series. Every wrong answer is a plausible decoy — you’ll need real knowledge of the East Blue saga to go eight for eight.

GL Grand Line Gazette Editorial 8 questions · 3 min read

⚕CrewNakama!

🌊SeasEast Blue

🍋Devil FruitsGomu Gomu!

☠VillainsFear the sea

🏆DreamsOne Piece!

SET SAIL →

Monkey D. Luffy accidentally ate a Devil Fruit as a child, giving him rubber-like abilities. What is the name of that fruit?

AFlame-Flame Fruit BChop-Chop Fruit CGum-Gum Fruit DSmoke-Smoke Fruit

✓ Correct! The Gum-Gum Fruit (Gomu Gomu no Mi) turned Luffy’s body into rubber. He ate it from Shanks’ treasure chest as a kid, gaining stretchy powers but losing the ability to swim forever.

✗ Overboard! The answer is the Gum-Gum Fruit. The Chop-Chop Fruit belongs to Buggy, the Flame-Flame Fruit to Ace, and the Smoke-Smoke Fruit to Captain Smoker — but Luffy’s rubber powers come from the Gomu Gomu no Mi.

Luffy’s iconic straw hat was given to him as a child by a famous pirate who inspired his dream. Who gave Luffy the hat?

AGold Roger BMonkey D. Garp CDracule Mihawk DRed-Haired Shanks

✓ Correct! Red-Haired Shanks entrusted his straw hat to young Luffy in Foosha Village, telling him to return it when he becomes a great pirate. That promise drives Luffy’s entire journey.

✗ Overboard! The answer is Red-Haired Shanks. While Gold Roger originally wore the hat, it was Shanks who passed it down to Luffy after saving his life from a Sea King — a defining moment in the series.

Before joining the Straw Hats, Sanji works as a sous chef at a floating restaurant on the ocean. What is the name of this restaurant?

AThe Galley-La BThe Baratie CThe Sea Rat DMakino’s Tavern

✓ Correct! The Baratie is the ocean-going restaurant run by Chef Zeff, Sanji’s mentor. In the live-action series, it’s one of the most stunning sets — a fully realized ship-restaurant on the open sea.

✗ Overboard! The answer is The Baratie. Run by the legendary pirate-turned-chef “Red Leg” Zeff, this floating restaurant is where Luffy recruits Sanji as the Straw Hats’ cook.

Roronoa Zoro is famous for his unique sword-fighting technique. How many swords does he wield in his signature style?

AOne BTwo CThree DFour

✓ Correct! Zoro uses Three-Sword Style (Santoryu), wielding one sword in each hand and a third in his mouth. His dream is to become the world’s greatest swordsman by defeating Dracule Mihawk.

✗ Overboard! The answer is three. Zoro’s iconic Three-Sword Style places one blade in each hand and a third clenched between his teeth — a fighting technique unique to him in the One Piece world.

Each Straw Hat crew member has a personal dream. What is Nami’s ultimate goal that drives her journey?

ATo find the One Piece treasure BTo become the greatest navigator CTo draw a complete map of the world DTo defeat every pirate on the Grand Line

✓ Correct! Nami’s dream is to draw a map of the entire world. Her cartography skills and navigation talent make her indispensable to the crew, and her passion for mapmaking was nurtured by her adoptive mother Bell-mère.

✗ Overboard! The answer is to draw a complete map of the world. Nami is a gifted cartographer whose dream goes beyond just sailing — she wants to chart every sea and island so no one is ever lost again.

A powerful Marine Vice Admiral is revealed to have a surprising family connection to Luffy. Who is this high-ranking Marine?

ACaptain Smoker BAdmiral Akainu CCaptain Morgan DVice Admiral Garp

✓ Correct! Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp is Luffy’s grandfather. Known as “Garp the Fist,” he’s a Marine hero who wanted Luffy to become a Marine — not a pirate. Their family dynamic is a major subplot in the live-action series.

✗ Overboard! The answer is Vice Admiral Garp. Monkey D. Garp is Luffy’s grandfather and one of the most legendary Marines alive. Despite being on opposite sides of the law, their bond runs deep.

Usopp is recruited into the Straw Hat crew after the pirates help defend his home village from Captain Kuro’s Black Cat Pirates. What is the name of Usopp’s village?

AFoosha Village BShells Town CSyrup Village DCoco Village

✓ Correct! Syrup Village is Usopp’s peaceful hometown where he was known for telling tall tales. It’s also where Kaya lives, and where the crew acquires the Going Merry from her estate.

✗ Overboard! The answer is Syrup Village. Foosha Village is Luffy’s hometown, Shells Town is where Zoro was held captive, and Coco Village (Cocoyasi) is Nami’s home — but Usopp hails from Syrup Village.

The Netflix live-action adaptation was praised for its casting. Which actor plays Monkey D. Luffy?

AMackenyu BTaz Skylar CIñaki Godoy DJacob Romero Gibson

✓ Correct! Mexican actor Iñaki Godoy won fans over with his infectious energy and earnest portrayal of Luffy. Mackenyu plays Zoro, Taz Skylar is Sanji, and Jacob Romero Gibson plays Usopp.

✗ Overboard! The answer is Iñaki Godoy. The young Mexican actor perfectly captured Luffy’s boundless enthusiasm. The other actors all play Straw Hat crew members — but Luffy is all Iñaki.

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↻ SET SAIL AGAIN

In the manga, the last arc of the East Blue Saga is set in Loguetown, as the Straw Hats prepare for their adventures in the Grand Line that began in the Arabasta Saga. However, One Piece season 1 ended with the Arlong Park arc, causing many fans to worry that Loguetown would be skipped entirely.

This criticism only spiraled with One Piece season 2 being titled "Into the Grand Line," but the show proved the naysayers wrong. One Piece season 2, episode 1 is set entirely in Loguetown, adapting all the big moments from the manga before episode 2 began the live-action adaptation of the Arabasta Saga.

In the opening moments of One Piece season 2, episode 1, a meta joke was included. Nami says to Usopp, who voted to avoid Loguetown and head straight to the Grand Line, "And you thought we were gonna skip Loguetown." Evidently, this exchange was included as a direct nod to the critics of season 1, who caused a fuss over a skipped arc that was never going to be, well, skipped.

One Piece Season 2 Proves Loguetown Could Never Be Skipped

Luffy looking up at Gold Roger's execution platform in One Piece season 2

Not only does this meta joke from the writers prove that Loguetown could never be skipped, but so too do the events of the episode itself.

Be it the awesome fight scenes between Buggy, Alvida, and the Straw Hats or the smaller elements like Zoro getting his swords, Usopp getting his iconic glasses, and Bartolomeo's introduction, the Loguetown arc has a lot going for it.

Beyond that, on a much deeper narrative level, Loguetown is the place where some huge characters are introduced, and equally huge character moments take place. Smoker and Tashigi debut as part of One Piece season 2's cast at Loguetown, as does Dragon, the mysterious savior of Luffy and leader of the Revolutionary Army, who will be hugely important going forward.

Concerning Luffy's arc, Loguetown is where the similarities between him and Gold Roger begin to present themselves to others. This, as well as the Straw Hat captain viewing where Gold Roger's legacy of the One Piece began, only furthers Luffy's resolve to find the titular treasure.

All of this proves that the Loguetown arc could never and was never going to be skipped by Netflix's One Piece, with Nami's joke being the show's way of acknowledging that for all fans who feared the opposite was true.