Summary
Luffy’s final opponent inOne Pieceseason 2 looked set in stone, but a surprising story update for Netflix’s adaptation has thrown the upcoming bout into doubt.One Pieceseason 1’s endingsaw Iñaki Godoy’s Luffy take down the fearsome fishman Arlong during a crushing climax. In Eiichiro Oda’sOne Pieceanime and manga, Luffy faces a string of lesser opponents following his Arlong victory, then eventually encounters his next major opponent: Crocodile of theSeven Warlords. It seemed fairly certain, therefore, that Crocodile would serve as the final villain for Netflix’sOne Pieceseason 2.
That no longer appears to be the case. AOne Pieceseason 2 update from Odahimself confirms the new batch of episodes will cover Loguetown, Reverse Mountain, Whiskey Peak, Little Garden, and Drum Kingdom. Oda’s statement suggests that the Arabasta arc in which Luffy fights Crocodile will not be covered in the forthcoming season, and will instead form the basis of season 3. As a consequence of delaying Arabasta, Luffy’s final opponent at the end ofOne Pieceseason 2 is no longer obvious.
How Many One Piece Episodes Netflix’s Live-Action Covers (& Where To Start Watching The Anime)
The One Piece anime has over a thousand episodes, so Netflix’s live-action series has a lot of ground to cover. Here’s what One Piece season 1 covers.
One Piece Season 2’s Final Battle Won’t Be Luffy Vs. Crocodile
One Piece Season 2’s Predicted Final Villain Now Looks Impossible
How much manga material to cover was always the biggest challenge Netflix’sOne Piecefaced in its second voyage. On one hand,Arabasta is the next significant chapter of the manga and anime story, and Crocodile represents the next logical step up from Arlong in terms of power and villainy. On the other hand, squeezing Arabasta intoOne Pieceseason 2 was always going to be a tall order, especially considering the various smaller, albeit still important, stories that must play out beforehand.
Casting Live-Action Crocodile For One Piece Season 2: 8 Actors Who Would Be Perfect
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One Piece’s live-action crew has evidently chosen to prioritize pacing and authenticity to the source material over skipping straight onto the next landmark saga.Crocodile may appear in a background role, lingering in the shadows ominously like a sandy Thanos. Oda’s list of islands thatOne Pieceseason 2 will visit, however, points toward there not being enough time to adapt the Arabasta arc. That, in turn, means season 2 cannot conclude with Luffy punching Crocodile into the sand.
Who We Think Luffy’s Final Opponent In One Piece Season 2 Will Actually Be
3 Main Contenders To Face Luffy In One Piece Season 2’s Finale
If not Crocodile, there are a selection of alternative options for Luffy’s final opponent inOne Pieceseason 2. The last island on Oda’s list is Drum Kingdom, where the crew first meetsnew Straw Hat member Chopper. The villain of that particular arc is Wapol, the snowy island’s greedy ruler, suggestingLuffy and Wapol could be scheduled to trade blows inOne Pieceseason 2’s finale. It should be noted, however, that the big-mouthed Devil Fruit-user functions as more of a comedic character than a genuine threat, lacking the same dangerous edge carried by Arlong and Crocodile.
Another possibility is thatOne Pieceseason 2 places greater focus on Baroque Works, Crocodile’s underground criminal organization. The high-ranking Baroque Works agents play supporting roles inOne Piece’s anime and manga, but casting a major Hollywood actor likeDavid Dastmalchian as Mr. 3implies that Netflix’s live-action adaptation has bigger things in store for the group. Baroque Works' various criminals serving as the Straw Hats' final opponents inOne Pieceseason 2 would then lead directly into Crocodile, their leader, assuming main villain duties for season 3.
MCU & DC Actor Joining One Piece Season 2 Makes Another Dream Casting Possible
A confirmed actor addition for Netflix’s One Piece season 2 makes a dream live-action casting for one iconic character much more plausible.
A final option would be to shiftCaptain Smoker intoOne Pieceseason 2’s prime antagonist berth. Smoker’s arrival was the big sting teased at the end of season 1, and Callum Kerr has since been cast in the all-important role. According to the manga and anime, Smoker’s screen time should be rather limited after Loguetown, but Netflix’sOne Piecehas already afforded marine characters such as Garp and Coby greater prominence compared to the source material.
According to the originalOne Piecestory, Luffy and Smoker should only fight near the beginning of season 2. Their match gets interrupted by Luffy’s father.
The same could happen with Smoker, culminating in the marine captain going head-to-head against Luffy as season 2’s headline match. The only snag would be whether Smoker is truly villainous enough to provide a genuine threat. Essentially just a marine doing his job,Smoker’s morality is not entirely dissimilar to Garp’s, and the captain certainly isn’t an outright evildoer in the same mold as Arlong and Crocodile.
Does One Piece Season 2 Have A Big Enough Main Villain Without Crocodile?
Delaying Crocodile Risks Disappointment In One Piece Season 2
The doubt over Luffy’s final enemy inOne Pieceseason 2 raises questions over whether the live-action show has a big enough main villain if Crocodile is forced to stand on the sidelines until season 3. Arlong possessed a swagger - an air of invincibility that made him the perfect obstacle for Luffy to overcome in the dying moments ofOne Piece’s debut season. Luffy fights a lot of rogues and tyrants between Arlong Park and Arabasta, but just like Buggy the Clown in season 1, none seriously trouble him. Wapol is much too weak, theBaroque Works criminalsare underlings, and Smoker cannot truly be tagged as a villain.
By pushing back the big battle against Crocodile,One Pieceis ensuring it can do justice to the Arabasta arcand the characters introduced within it. As a downside, that decision inevitably leavesOne Pieceseason 2 at a disadvantage by risking a less explosive final battle compared to Luffy vs. Arlong.
One Piece
One Piece follows young pirate Monkey D. Luffy and his diverse crew as they embark on a daring quest for treasure. Released in 2023, the film brings the adventurous world of the popular manga to life, capturing Luffy’s relentless pursuit of the legendary One Piece treasure.
