Netflix’s hit live-action series One Piece will take a measured approach to adapting a major story arc in its second season in order to set the stage for an even more ambitious third season down the road. Fans of the popular anime and manga were given an update by original creator Eiichiro Oda on which manga storylines the second season of the Netflix show would cover.
While Season 2 will adapt the Loguetown, Reverse Mountain, Whiskey Peak, Little Garden and Drum Island arcs, it will not include the highly anticipated Arabasta arc. Some viewers may be disappointed by this decision, but experts say leaving out Arabasta could be a strategic move that signals confidence in the show’s future. According to one industry analyst, choosing to skip the sprawling Arabasta storyline in Season 2 “indicates that the producers and Netflix are confident in the show’s future.”
The Arabasta arc is a pivotal moment in One Piece, depicted over 74 episodes in the original anime. In comparison, Season 1 of the live-action series covered the shorter East Blue saga in 61 episodes. By taking additional time to develop Arabasta, the creative team can properly adapt the longer and more complex story arc. The analyst noted the decision means “Season 3 that would cover the war for Arabasta” could be bigger in scope.
The first season of One Piece was hugely successful for Netflix in 2023, becoming the streamer’s most watched show that year. This success likely gave creators more freedom to methodically approach the epic One Piece narrative. While fans may need to wait a bit longer to see Arabasta unfold on screen, strategically reserving it for Season 3 could pay off by allowing its ambitious scale to be fully realized.