Top 10 Best Moments in Netflixs One Piece

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the standout moments from the first season of One Piece’s live action adaptation! Be on the look out for spoilers ahead!

Individually, we all knew that Luffy, Zoro and Nami were capable of kicking a ludicrous amount of ass, but it’s here we get to see them combine their talents as they battle their way through wave after wave of marines in their own backyard. This is capped off with one hell of a brawl against Axe Hand Moran, in which we get to see Zoro utilize his three-sword style for the first time, as well as Luffy demonstrate just how painfully versatile his rubber powers can be!

Luffy’s inheritance of his iconic Straw Hat is one of his most defining moments, where he decides he’ll become a great pirate that will one day even eclipse that of his hero Shanks. After surviving being kidnapped, drowning and being eaten by a sea beast, Shanks chooses to leave his precious headgear with Luffy as a symbol of his faith in his dream. It’s an incredibly sweet and touching moment, where the almost-paternal relationship between them really sells just how vital a role model Shanks was for the future pirate king.

Fans could not be more pleased with the live-action’s introduction and portrayal of One Piece’s most infamous clown. And why wouldn’t they be? Jeff Ward slayed the role of Buggy, bringing a murderous charm and hilarity to the jester as only he could. The man held an entire town hostage as his captive audience and nearly killed Luffy multiple times, and yet we couldn’t help but laugh and be engrossed by his every moment. Keeping him around for the majority of the show’s run was definitely a wise decision, because the tight-rope between funny and fiendish that this iteration of the character is walking has been pitch perfect so-far.

While he may not have a hill as a backdrop, Zoro’s battle against Bucchi and Sham is still a great display of the swordsman’s skills. With Kaya’s mansion on lockdown, Zoro is forced to do battle against Kuro’s cronies, in a pretty tight space at that. Still, a couple of kitties aren’t anything to the Pirate Hunter, who utilizes the stairs, banisters and every other surface to his advantage. The choreography really sells the scene, and while there aren’t any tiger traps, seeing Mackenyu do cool shit with his swords always makes for a great time!

Another villain portrayal that might debatably be better in live action, Alexander Maniatis is so deliciously wicked as the Captain of the Black Cat Pirates that seeing him parade around as both butler and eventual sociopath is an absolute delight. Though the pinnacle undoubtedly comes when Kuro lets the cat out of the bag and reveals his savage nature. First by killing off Merry, then by stalking Kaya like a serial killer. Even though he more than deserved the ass-beating he got from Luffy, we’re sort of glad Kuro escaped so we at least have the chance to see him flex his claws down the line again.

After being tossed inside of a giant well by Bucchi and Sham, Zoro is left with only one option – to climb his way to freedom. Easier said than done, as escaping initially proves to be even too much for his innate strength. From there, his
slow ascendance is intercut with an extensive flashback, where we see a young Zoro train with, battle and eventually forge a promise with his childhood friend Kuina to eventually become the world’s greatest swordsman. The combat choreography as well as the emotional resonance might make this flashback the best of the live-action bunch, especially as we see Zoro finally pull himself out of a death sentence.

Just when you thought it was impossible for the world’s strongest swordsman to become even more of a badass…they give him an introduction like this. While some-what adjacent to the source material, the reveal of Mihawk as he slices through Don Krieg’s armada is a literal spectacle. Nonchalantly slicing up pirates, taking down the Don like he was nothing - slicing an entire galleon in half! You couldn’t ask for a better demonstration for the power differences in the world of One Piece, or a cooler messenger to deliver it.

Undoubtedly the most iconic moment in the East Blue arc, and all of One Piece in general, so to see it be brought to life so faithfully and with some powerhouse acting behind it was just plain awesome. Devastated by Arlong’s betrayal and the abuse she’s suffered over the years, Nami breaks down and starts to stab at her tattoo, only for Luffy to intervene. Overcome, all Nami can do is breakdown and plead for Luffy to help her. And what does Luffy say in return? Seriously, Emilly Rudd and Inaki Godoy were amazing here!

Talk about ending on a high. Taking the fight to Arlong and his army of Fishmen, the Straw Hat crew all got a chance to show off here in the best ways possible. Usopp set Chu on fire, Buggy made a grand return and less than gracious exit, and Luffy literally brought the house down on Arlong with one hell of a bombardment of Gum Gum abilities. Though our highlight has to be Zoro and Sanji wiping out every Fishman that comes their way – especially when the chef starts unleashing some devastatingly fancy footwork.

Becoming the strongest swordsman in the world is no easy feat, as Zoro discovered when he challenged Mihawk to a duel to the death. Confident in his strength and determined to fulfill his dream, the Demon takes on Hawk Eyes for the mantle…but as every One Piece fan knows, it turns into a one-sided slaughter-fest as Mihawk reveals the quagmire between them. The battle between the two is brief but blinding, but absolutely nails the source material’s tone and grandeur. We can’t wait for that rematch.
Which live-action One Piece performance was your favorite? Let us know in the comments!