Romance Dawn – The episode opens 22 years ago in Loguetown where Gold Roger “King of the Pirates” (Michael Dorman) appears in arm and leg shackles. Vice Admiral Garp (Vincent Regan) ensures the people that Gold Roger’s reign of terror has ended before sentencing him to death. Gold Roger’s last words are a request to have his hand shackles removed because they itch. Garp reminds him of his previous warning. Gold Roger accepts the responsibility for his dire situation. Someone in the crowd asks where Gold Roger buried his treasure, “One Piece.” Gold Roger urges the people to take to sea in search of his treasure before he is killed. Garp watches as people flee from the arena. The narrator (Ian McShane) contributes the Great Pirate Era to Gold Roger’s final words.

Present Day, East Blue Sea – Bailing water out of a boat, Monkey D. Luffy (Inaki Godoy) says Shank’s (Peter Gadiot) adventure tales enticed him to follow his dream to find “One Piece” and become King of the Pirates. When his boat starts filling with water, he empties fish out of a barrel and hops inside. The barrel floats across the sea before entering a battle between two ships. A man screams, “Fire” before a cannon, followed by more cannons, crashes into the enemy boat. A short time later, Pirate Captain Alvida (Ilia Isorelys Paulino) orders the pirates to clean the Salvage ship. Alvida’s face is plastered on a wanted poster. She demands the crew be left for her before they board Salvage fighting.

The pirates hoist Luffy’s barrel onto the ship. Alvida demands the crew to give up the location of Roronoa Zoro (Mackenyu). A Savage crewman (Ruari McKee) claims Zoro booked passage to Sixis Island. She accuses him of lying because Zoro is pursuing her. When the crewman claims her name was not on Zoro’s target list, she bludgeons him to death. Koby (Morgan Davis) rushes in with a bucket and mop to clean up the mess.

Below deck, Koby is cleaning Alvida’s when Luffy pops out of the barrel. After calming a frantic Koby, Luffy asks for some food. Koby claims the ship captain, Alvida is the first to eat. Luffy identifies himself as a “pirate.” Koby describes pirates “scum” who murder and steal.

10 Years Ago, Windmill Village – Young Luffy (Colton Osorio) is thrilled to see young Shanks (Matt Herrington) has returned. When a pirate refers to him as a “street urchin, Luffy tells him that he is a pirate. Determined to show he is ready to join Shank’s crew, Luffy stabs himself in the cheek.

Back to the present, Koby questions why Luffy would want to be a pirate. Luffy says the sea air and a loyal crew. Koby claims Alvida controls his every move. Luffy asks why he doesn’t leave. Koby assures him that no one leaves Alvida. Luffy tells him about his search for “One Piece,” starting at the pirate graveyard, Grand Line. Koby warns of dangerous sea monsters ready to crush his bones. On the quarter-deck, Luffy accidentally hits the ship’s bell. Alvida accuses Koby of betraying her. Koby denies the allegation. After identifying himself, Luffy says don’t forget the name because someday, he will be king of the pirates. Laughing, Alvida asks who is the most powerful pirate. Her crew chants, “Captain Alvida.”

Alvida repeats the question to Koby when Luffy intervenes. She vows to always own Koby. Luffy says she is “dumb as a sea cow.” He stretches his body to avoid her morning star and a speeding bullet. Blaming Koby, Alvida swings her weapon at him as Luffy intervenes. Stretching his arm, Luffy hits Alvida with his fist, knocking her out to sea. After confirming the crew doesn’t have an issue with Koby, Luffy invites him to go with him.

Sixis Island – Mr. 7 (Ben Kgosimore) asks Zoro why he lights candles. Zoro claims it is in honor of someone from his past before asking why he follows him. Holding up a card, Mr. 7 says he is with Baroque Works which has an interest in his unique skills. Zoro refuses the offer to join. Mr. 7 claims Baroque Works would make him more feared and invincible. Zoro sarcastically asks if membership includes a free face tattoo before holding up his middle finger to display his favorite number one. Mr. 7 warns that refusal to join warrants death. A sword fight ensues and ends with Zoro chopping Mr. 7’s body in half.

In a flashback, Shanks closes young Luffy’s face wound with stiches. Luffy asks him to not do a good job, so he can show off his scar. After saying the lesson behind a scar makes a man, not a scar, Shanks reminds him that he didn’t earn it. Upset by Shanks’ refusal to let him be a pirate, Luffy eats his Gum-Gum fruit. Higuma (Tarner Burjaq) orders some whiskey. Makino says they are out. Shanks admits to his crew drinking it all before handing him a half-empty bottle. Higuma smashes the bottle. As Shanks cleans up the mess, Higuma pushes several dishes off the counter before leaving. Luffy demands to know why Shanks didn’t fight back. Shanks tells him that violence doesn’t solve everything. Luffy calls him a “coward” before walking away as Shanks grabs his arm which stretches.

Back to the present, Luffy admits to eating the Devil Fruit before stretching his lip. Koby asks where they are going. Luffy says the Grand Line. Koby regrets leaving Alvida. Luffy asks if he had a choice where would he go. Koby admits to always wanting to be a Marine. Luffy promises to make it happen.

Elsewhere In The East Blue – Nami (Emily Rudd) wakes up on a dingy to see a pirate ship. Pleading for help, she claims to have escaped a pirate attack. Red Suspenders (Greg Parves) and Striped Overalls (Sizo Mahlangu) loot her treasure chest to find it empty. They look back to see Nami floating away on their ship.

Shells Town, 153^rd Marine Branch – Koby is spooked by Alvida’s wanted poster. At a pub, Luffy contemplates how he will get them inside the Marine base while Zoro orders a bottle for him and a friend. Midshipman X (Dale Lourens) offers to buy Nami a drink. Nami tells him that he is too tall before asking Petty Officer Ukkari (Richard Wright-Firth) if he likes rum. After offering Zoro a rice ball, Rika (Kamdynn Gary) turns to bumps into Helmeppo (Aidan Scott). He calls her a “stupid girl” while crushing her rice ball with his foot. When she apologizes, he mocks her. Scooping up a chunk, Zoro eats it before ordering Helmeppo to eat and apologize. A sword fight ensues with more Marines joining in. Nami knocks Ukkari out and steals his uniform. Beating all the Marines, Zoro tells Helmeppo that his father, Captain Ax Hand Morgan (Langley Kirkland) owes him money.

Captain Morgan describes Zoro’s swordsmanship as “impressive.” After informing him of the 7-day penalty for assaulting a Marine, he invites him to enlist in the Marines. When Zoro declines, Morgan gives him an ultimatum. Zoro suggests says he could use some sleep.

Koby says Zoro saved Rika from the Marine that was supposed to be protecting her. Luffy assures her that there are good and bad Marines. Koby suggests Alvida was right about him knowing nothing about the world. Luffy reminds him that Alvida had him imprisoned. Koby agrees to help him prepare the boat, so Luffy can retrieve the Grand Line map from the Marine base.

Helmeppo teases Zoro who is restrained in the yard. Zoro promises to make him beg after his seven days are up. Helmeppo warns that he will die there because Captain Morgan will not release him. Nami joins the marching Marines to enter the base. Zoro watches as Luffy enters the yard through a manhole. Luffy says Zoro is a good guy after saving Rika. Zoro identifies himself as a pirate hunter. Luffy boasts of his being King of the Pirates someday before inviting him to join his crew. Zoro reminds him of his being a pirate hunter. Luffy asks if that is all. Zoro claims to have promised someone that he would be the world’s greatest swordsman. Luffy sets him free before leaving through the manhole.

Nami is looking for the Grand Line when Warrant Officer Sada (Claire Glover) confronts her. She claims Captain Morgan sent her to retrieve the Grand Line map for this afternoon’s security briefing. Sada tells her that Grand Line maps are stored in Morgan’s office. The petty officer accuses her of stealing his uniform. When he draws his weapon, a fight ensues and ends with her taking him down. She moves his body when Luffy enters through a ceiling hatch. She threatens to arrest him. After pointing out that she stole the Marine uniform, he accuses her of searching for his map. She says the map belongs to her as he heads to Morgan’s office. It doesn’t take long before they encounter Morgan.

A nude Helmeppo swings his sword in front of a mirror when Zoro enters the room.

Nami tells Morgan that she is taking Luffy to the brig because he was arrested in the square. Morgan asks her name. Claiming to have transferred from the 77^th, she tells him that she put in a request to serve under him. He orders her to carry on. In the yard, Luffy and Nami are in a heated battle with the Marines. Preparing to flee, Zoro joins them. After defeating the Marines, Captain Morgan approaches. A new battle ensues and ends with them defeating Morgan. Zoro loads the safe in the stolen ship. Luffy says they have to wait on Toby. When Helmeppo approaches to arrest them, Toby knocks him out. Luffy urges him to get on the ship. Toby informs him of his decision to be a Marine. Luffy waves as the ship pulls away from the harbor.

Garp receives an alert of Shells Town being looted by pirates. He informs Bogard (Armand Aucamp) of the Grand Line map being stolen by a pirate in a straw hat.

Cabaji (Sven Ruygrok) is questioned about the stolen Grand Line map.

Buggy (Jeff Ward) says the Grand Line Map belongs to him. He vows to kill whoever it takes to get it as the episode ends.

 

One Piece Cast

• Monkey D. Luffy (Inaki Godoy)
• Koby (Morgan Davies)
• Nami (Emily Rudd)
• Roronoa Zoro (Mackenyu)
• Buggy (Jeff Ward)
• Marine Helmeppo (Aidan Scott)
• Marine Captain Ax Hand Morgan (Langley Kirkwood)
• Bogard (Armand Aucamp)
• 7 (Ben Kgosimore)
• Yassop The Great (Stevel Marc)
• Higuma (Tamer Burjaq)
• Vice Admiral Garp (Vincent Regan)
• Captain Shanks (Peter Gadiot)

One Piece Synopsis

Luffy was an orphan when he came to know Captain Shanks. Determined to prove he is ready to be a pirate, Luffy stabs himself in the face. When Shanks refuses to let him join his crew, he eats Gum-Gum fruit which gives him a rubber ability. Luffy believes Shanks is a coward, so he sets out on his own to find the Grand Line map and Gold Roger’s “One Piece” treasure.

Luffy makes his way to Pirate Captain Alvida’s ship where he meets a prisoner, Koby. After Alvida ends up in the sea, Luffy and Koby escape. Koby’s dream is to be a Marine. Luffy devises a plan to steal the Grand Line map from the 153^rd Marine base. They encounter Zoro, a pirate hunter with extraordinary swordsmanship skills, and Nami who is also searching for the Grand Line map. After several encounters with the Marines, the three join forces. Koby stays behind to become a Marine.

Buggy also wants to get his hands on the map. Vice Admiral Garp sends Bogard to find Luffy and get the map back.

One Piece Review

My review is not based on the Japanese anime TV series, “One Piece.” I will comment on the wardrobe which appears to be the only thing Netflix portrayed correctly.

The series is miscast as most Japanese anime fans will agree. While the main cast may be comprised of capable talent, it fails to accurately portray the anime characters. The acting isn’t always believable and at times feels forced.

The CGI is amateurish at best. The fight scenes are laughable. The cinematography is subpar. The camera is zoomed in too close or too far away. It is difficult to identify a character when only a small portion of their face is visible. The lighting needs work as well.

The episode deserves a 6. Get more One Piece recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Our onsite advertising builds brand awareness, click the link to learn more.