Whosshalissa: The Blog

The moment I knew I was going to be perpetually weak in the knees for pirate flicks was when Johnny Depp slammed his compass shut and said, “Bring me that horizon,” in the 2003 feature film Pirates of the Caribbean. Picture six-year-old Aly holding tightly to her knees, watching in delight as sweaty men in rugged linen dueled over their subjective treasure and curses, and you will find my childhood where my love of the written arts began. My writers’ room baseline is Comedy, Romance, including cheesy romcoms and predictable period pieces (Hallmark hates to see me coming), music documentaries, classic television, historical and modern, to an extent, and if it is well written, Sci-Fi, Drama, Musicals, and I am always down for a superhero movie with good catchphrases, landings, and costumes. My one unpredictable side is adventure. Westerns, which I classify under adventure, can be fascinating, I’m looking again at you, Johnny Depp and your expansive resume, I’d like to personally thank The Lone Ranger for personally traumatizing my inner child in 2013, I’ve never forgiven nor forgotten the train robbery scene, or complete flops depending on the writing and plot line, predictability, you can only pull a non-specific vintage gun out so many times and it remain “cool” to watch, and cast.

I am a particularly difficult critic when it comes to cinema and the cinematic arts; television and film are easy for me to process, analyze, and predict, and I can count on one hand the number of works that have impressed me. A common “get to know you question is “what is your favorite movie/TV show,” and I always warn those who ask that I can count on one hand the number of films that have impressed me in 27 years of media retention. While many, and I mean MANY films/tv shows are wonderfully written and recommended by me, I consume media and if you can make me say “wow” I am going to recommend the work to anyone who will listen, but I maintain only four, after today five, pieces that have changed my brain chemistry and influenced the way I analyze media. The list, because I know you’re naturally curious, especially if this is your first impression of me, is: 

Pirates of the Caribbean (2003)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023)
The Artful Dodger (2023)

And I am proud to now add One Piece (2023) to that very short and distinguished list. 

While scrolling through Instagram reels, because I am a Millennial who cannot be bothered to watch TikTok first, a clip of a muscular, green-haired man wearing pirate stripes and carrying three swords caught my eye. At this time, I will say SPOILERS and carry on with my life as if you have seen the show already. If you’re reading past this point, it’s at your own risk. Zoro says to a shopkeeper who claims the Kitetsu in the sale bin is “cursed,” “How about we test what’s stronger. My will or the sword’s curse?” Then Zoro throws Kitetsu into the air, and the sword seamlessly falls to the ground without leaving a scratch on the aforementioned swordsman, thus proving to the shopkeeper that he is stronger than any alleged “curse.” If I remember correctly, and I do, the words that came out of my mouth were, “Who is THAT?!” After deep diving into the comments, I learned that it was Roronoa Zoro, a member of the Straw Hat Crew, from season two of Netflix’s live-action adaptation of One Piece. Sad to say, before One Piece, I was not an Anime girl, so I brushed off the video and kept scrolling. I had no prior connection or knowledge of the original anime, so my interest and brain, yes, judged a book by its cover. (We’ve got ourselves a One Piece Virgin; all aboard!) Yes, our beloved Zoro’s will alone was not enough to hook me yet. A few days later, I stumbled across another video. This time, it was from season one, and it was Luffy D. Monkey proclaiming, “I’m going to be king of the pirates!” 

King of the WHAT?! I love pirates! How did I miss a pirate show? This time, I researched the show, thanks Google, restarted my Netflix account, and hit play on episode one. From that moment on, how many classic cliches can I fit in here, because now it’s a challenge against the English language, I was hooked. In my lengthy review of the two seasons, I will cover the cast, the writing, the original writer and his influence on the live-action adaptation, my plans for the anime, and my overly educated conclusion on the show’s overall performance. Grab your fruit, though not the Devil kind, and sit back while a woman you barely know overanalyzes a show and characters that the world has come to love since 2023 with a degree she hasn’t utilized since 2020.

The Cast

Already, I am at a loss for where to start due to the brilliant cast Netflix and Eiichiro Oda have assembled. Not to mention the fact that I would eat a Devil Fruit for a second in the writers’ room. I hestitate already in part because I am afraid of not doing the main cast justice, and because it is becoming clear to me as I edit this work that my writing is rusty, and because I am concerned that my years of avoiding the written world will appear on the page, and that I will accidentally share the wrong tone or use an out-of-date word. Iñaki Godoy (Monkey D. Luffy) is one of the most influential young actors emerging in our world, and I expect to see him in big-budget movies soon, thanks to his believability and emotional range. I believed in Luffy within two episodes thanks to Godoy’s immersive character work. It is ridiculously hard to get into the mindset of a character, much less one written in the 90s, and even harder for actors to make their characters likable and believable. I have over twenty years of experience in theatre and performing arts, and I currently tour with a band called Almost Taylor, but if your crowd work on stage or on screen is not relatable, and if we, the audience, cannot see how much you believe in your character, then the illusion is shattered, and the show fails. Critics, like myself, are not only looking for character work, growth, and immersion; we are looking for breaks in the illusion itself. Can I get lost in this world? Am I rooting for this character? Suspension of disbelief is what maintains audience attention and leaves them wanting more at the end of an arc, episode, or season. Godoy portrays Luffy as direct. Strong-willed. Kind and relatable. He has immeasurable rubber powers that make him inhumane, but his nature, good manners, and respect for humankind and his friends make him unforgettable. From an outsider’s perspective, if I were looking at a one-sheet for the character of Luffy, he could be interpreted as obnoxious, overbearing, or loud (all ways that this author has been described); however, the writing and visual portrayal of Luffy do not lock him in a box of his character’s inherently human tendencies. He is portrayed as obnoxious only to the pirates he fights or demands excellence from. He is written as loud, but he is portrayed as loyal and willing to face uncomfortable bullies and settings as long as he can protect and elevate his friends. He is the captain, the leader, who makes difficult decisions without sacrificing his own moral code or the interests of others. He provides his crew with opportunities to use their excellent skills in cohesive awareness with his own. If Netflix and Oda had failed in casting a Luffy who could portray these intense, sometimes viewed negatively, and brilliant human traits, then their show would have failed, and the character would forever be remembered as silly or unnatural. I really like Godoy as Luffy. That’s my thoughts on that subject. Also, if you’ve ever watched an interview with Godoy, he embodies Luffy in his personal life, too, and I think it’s just wonderful. 

Season One

We begin with a murder. Actually, I think it would be considered an execution, death penalty, or capital punishment. Pick your poison, it’s fine with me either way, because Gold Roger (or as we quickly learn in S2, Gol D. Roger) is being offered for his pirate crimes and challenges onlookers to find his treasure, the One Piece. I’m not going to detail every single episode or summarize what happens in each season, because other authors have already accomplished those feats. This is a personal observation; however, I will clue you in on where we’re at in the storyline as I go along. God forbid we make it this far only to end up dazed and confused. I’m already hooked. My first thought when we met Luffy, and he climbed onto Alvida’s pirate ship, was, “WAIT!? ALVIDA IS A GIRL PIRATE?” I know we’re not supposed to root for her, or any of the “villains” in this series… but Alvida was incredibly inspiring, and I love that she stood on her business and didn’t take boot from anyone. What a great way to start a show. 

Like other great shows that have to start with an origin story, I genuinely felt immersed in the One Piece world and government, and wanted the Straw Hat crew to succeed. I loved that, at the beginning, Nami and Zoro kept repeating things like “Not a crew” during Luffy’s uniting of the main characters, and I also liked that each character had their own worldview, moral code, and identity they stuck to. A lot of times, when I’m analyzing shows, characters will break their own moral code or personal traits to move a story along or support worldbuilding. I hate that. I kept waiting for Nami to go back to the Straw Hats, the predictable move, or show up and clue them in on her plans, but she didn’t ask for help until Luffy found her in a vulnerable moment in the orange grove (I’m going to say it was an orange grove because…. yeah.) I felt Nami’s independence and her struggle to do it all on her own and felt emotionally tied to her reasoning, even if it didn’t align with the moral codes of the other characters, because that feeling of “No, I can do this on my own” is such a relatable feeling amongst humanity. Even Usopp, the resident historian of the Straw Hats, didn’t stray from his belief system, even as it expanded and changed throughout the episodes; his core led him to make the decisions he did. 

As a jumping point, one of my main criticisms of season one is that the world and character building could be even bigger. It goes without saying that the writer’s main goal was to highlight the Straw Hat crew and keep their worldview at the forefront, but I would have loved for a deeper dive into Usopp’s childhood, Kaya’s or Koby’s history, or even more backstory from Sanji and Zeff. I can almost guarantee the anime does this, and I should keep my mouth shut while I’m ahead, but even the secondary and side characters provided depth and worldview to this show, which was a delight. If you’ve ever heard me rant about shows like Cougar Town, a genuinely funny and entertaining show from the early 2000s, it starts almost in the middle of things, in media res, and you’re handed the characters while the writers scream, “Go, go, go! Just accept it!” In comedy settings, it works, but the characters are not given true depth and worldview until well into season two. One Piece sets you up for success by allowing you to see the characters’ motivations piece by piece until you find yourself agreeing with their decisions to moral dilemmas from your couch. Zoro is one of those characters who genuinely bring a historical motivation to life, which I rarely see written well, and his calm (stoic) nature is actually weighed by a mountain of grief, dedication, and guilt. Why would a pirate hunter choose to become a pirate? Why does he carry the third sword? What does it symbolize? The symbolism, both literary and cultural, is also a driving force that propels the characters forward… I can hear my college professors telling me to start a new paragraph if I’m going to move from criticism to symbolism. Good call, guys. 

As I was watching the show and Googling the history and the characters’ cultural background, I love that everyone is from everywhere, it’s a great way to tell stories, I watched their clothing, trinkets, and mannerisms closely because I didn’t want to miss the subtext that the art department and writers room had developed for… people like me who look for that sort of thing. If I got into everyone’s history, this analysis would never end, so I’m going to focus on the costumes and the symbolism I found while watching. The straw hat was the first piece of symbolism I noticed. When the hat is bequeathed to Luffy, I saw it as the passing of the torch, trust, a challenge for Luffy to be a better pirate than Shanks, but epsiodes later, when Luffy puts the hat on Nami as a comfort when she is crashing out and blaming herself over her best laid plan being reduced to ash, it becomes comfort, friendship, actually I would go as far to say a binding family moment, and as proof that Nami is destined for more than her percieved failure. Zoro’s third sword is another great example. He carries the sword not only as inspiration, he’s going to be the world’s greatest swordsman, but also in memory of his lost friend. Friendship has its own symbolism, too. I loved that Shanks taught Luffy that violence does not have to be the first course of action, unless people who cannot defend themselves, family, or friends need help. It provides the crew with an endearing sense of naivety, which, given their histories and hatred for pirates, the world, injustice, or whatever they’re against, is a nice place for people who love to compare and contrast symbolism. Nami and her compass, Zoro losing two swords, and Buggy and his clown makeup are all great examples of how the show uses costuming as a form of symbolism for viewers to enjoy. Oh, Buggy!

Now I get to talk about the villains. 

Villains do not scare me (I’m going to eat my own words when you get to the season two section of this review), and Buggy was no exception. I loved the way Buggy was written and portrayed. Jeff Ward, you wild man, you, what a delight it was to watch the maniac Buggy try to steal the map to the Grand Line from the Straw Hat Crew. The whole circus, creepy dictator vibe was so fun. Shoutout to the extras and background characters from these episodes because they crushed portraying fear and helplessness. I think the main kyrponite, the downfall, of people who eat the Devil Fruit and gain powers is so clever, the ocean, and when Buggy tries to use that to his advantage, it shows how far his character is willing to go to win. This section of season one is where my second critique lands, and take this with a grain of salt: I was pressed by how long Nami and Zoro were captured, and the whole torturing-them scene felt low-stakes. I thought Buggy’s associate would commit to the torture more, BUT I understand, and it did move the plot along well. Anyway, I loved Luffy and his responses to Buggy, always calling the clown by the wrong name, and the freeing of the townsfolk, out of character for a pirate but directly in line with Luffy’s moral code, was a great watch. 

I recognize that I did not address the Marines enough in this season one recap, but I really wanted to focus on the symbolism (Helmeppo’s hair wink wink another symbol) and Koby’s development, but I feel like they really took their strides in season two, so I’ll let them stay over there for now. 

The heart of the show boils down to friendship and chasing your dreams. I have omitted a lot for time’s sake, because this is already incredibly long, and I want my readers to like me, not hate me, but it’s Luffy and the Straw Hats who genuinely speak to the inner child of wounded adults who are watching the show. After season one, while I was waiting for season two, I kept thinking, “If I had half the guts, kindness, and belief Luffy had, I would already be successful.” The wounded part of my heart, lol trauma, that keeps me from just going for it, writing music and critiques, and showing up authentically online, was so touched by season one of One Piece. If I haven’t already convinced you to watch the show, or you are an anime loyalist who is on the fence about the live action (because it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea), let me inspire you to watch the last scene of season one. The Straw Hats put their fears and their worldviews aside and, together, as a team, determine who they are going to be. 

You know your dream. Start chasing it. 

Season Two

I want readers to know that while I would die to ensure the happiness of Tony Tony Chopper (Mikaela Hoover), as the parent to a four-year-old, I wanted to throw my phone against the television every single time that little guy started crying. As a parent, Chopper is insufferable, as a critic and writer who details and attempts to predict character growth, what an incredible trait for Chopper to have. The fact that I’m even making that distinction is what makes Tony Tony Chopper a memorable and dynamic character. While it’s clear via my bias who the standout addition to this season was, there were a few other additions to season two that, if I didn’t feel so insecure about it, I would have stood in my living room and clapped for their performances. I didn’t, but it’s nice to acknowledge I could have. 

Season two is where the writers really hit their stride. I researched the source material, specifically for the episode titled “GOOD WHALE HUNTING,” because I wanted to know the deeper history behind the team getting swallowed by the whale (already incredible symbolism and a classic, and historic, literary metaphor), and this might be the most sincere and accurate anime-to-live-action depiction the show has done yet. NOTE: anime purists, don’t come at me, I know Calm Belt didn’t happen, Crocus doesn’t live inside the whale, etc. Creative liberties are difficult, and for what they did, they did the best they could. Lol. Crocus also took me out emotionally because I knew, I KNEW, he was being presented as the “gatekeeper.” He is One Piece’s Cerberus! He guards the gates of the Grand Line, and they thought they could trick us, but lo and behold, the photograph of Gol D. Roger and Crocus proved me right, and I want everyone and their mother to know that. This is also where, if you’re following me online, you probably found me. I documented my favorite quote from the series to date because Luffy says, “People leave, Laboon. But sometimes, you end up somewhere you never thought you would. And you meet people who stay.” Brilliant. I’ve been informed that when I start reading the anime, that line hits even more directly to the heart. Great. 

And OH, how I loved the new characters this season. The dive into Baroque works, and their fascinating agents, Princess Vivi (Charithra Chandran) and Miss All Sunday (Lera Abova), was so much fun. I was not expecting to enjoy the newer characters as much as I did. Some were more memorable than others. I will stop here to point out that Miss Goldenweek gave me chills, and for a second, I was genuinely frightened, so shoutout to Miss Goldenweek (Sophia Anne Caruso) for giving me the heebeegeebees for 15 minutes. You go, girl. I for sure need more of Smoker (Callum Kerr) and Tashigi (Julia Rehwald), but let me stop here and transition one more time because I have got to back up to Princess Vivi before I start spilling about Chopper’s backstory with Dr. Kureha and Dr. Hiriluk, because I have thoughts, and if I don’t address Vivi I will probably go insane. 

Can you tell I JUST watched season two? I’ve had lots of time to process season one and the symbolism and… you get it. 

Princess Vivi (Charithra Chandran)… first off, what a fabulous casting decision. I loved every second with this character, except for that one weird moment when she hypnotized Luffy, and I was like, “Girl, what are you doing?” For a second, I was convinced I was having a fever dream and watching the wrong show. Weirdly out of place, but I will for sure allow it. It’s explained by the characters, the why at least, minutes after the hypnosis, but in the moment I was dazed and confused. Vivi is a great addition to the cast, and, as I said before when analyzing season one, she brings her own worldview as a princess and warrior to the table. She is also the one with the Warpol and Dalton history, which greatly helped the narrative. Without her, the stakes wouldn’t have felt as high. The only issue I took with Vivi is that sometimes, and I think it was just storytelling and had to be done, her fighting was inconsistent. In the whale, she’s a beast. Outside of the whale, it’s like forgotten she’s a skilled warrior for a moment. That’s just my observation; there could be a genuine reason why, I don’t know… take it with a grain of salt. The character herself just needs more screen and crew time, and she’ll be driving the boat emotionally very soon. Charithra was fabulous as Vivi, and I have no negative commentary on her acting. Unfortunately, she is up against the reason why you’re all here: Tony Tony Chopper, which was a TOUGH ask for Charithra to go up against (and let me tell you why). 

My Educated Conclusion

If you are still reading (I’m impressed because I am hyper-aware of my wordiness), you have reached the final paragraph in my analysis of Netflix’s One Piece: seasons one & two. Congrats, NOW you can disagree with me in the comment section and make up for everything I missed or got wrong. You have my blessing as long as you hit that repost button too. While I did my best to remain objective and critical, I do want to add, for any cast and crew who read this review (I can only imagine), that your creative work has become a strangely large part of my day-to-day life. I teach in a special education classroom with one of my best friends, who happens to be my co-teacher. All of our students bonded over season two, and One Piece has been used as our classroom illustration for writing and warm-ups more times than we, as a classroom, would care to admit. There are many shows deserving of accolades and praise, but only a few bring together a room full of human beings from different backgrounds and cultures. This show also broke me out of my creative writing rut, shoutout to Threads, and brought me into a world of incredibly inclusive and kind people on the internet. I appreciate you wanting to know my educated thoughts. 

In the future, I will watch the anime, although it will take me a while to get through all the arcs, and my viewing speed will determine how I break up my thoughts and reviews. I am excited to watch the original show and read the original anime after my many conversations with loyal fans online. If you follow my social media accounts, I will continue to post updates on the original show.

If you research me enough, and trust, I have a lot on the internet, you will discover that I am not only a writer, but a singer. An artist. For a long time I have been trying to figure out a way to blend my lyrical writiing and singign together on the internet, I didn’t believe they could reside in the same place for a while, and now, because a boy in a straw hat welcomed me into his world, I have successfully merged my writing, lyrical and creative, into one inclusive account. I like being in a world that allows multiple talents to grow. 

Now I am emotionally and forever pressed to see how the Straw Hat crew finds the One Piece, and I look forward to watching their journeys in the years ahead. 

Let me know your favorite One Piece moment in the comment section & I’ll see you on the internet!

9.7/10