Season 2 of the Netflix live-action adaptation of One Piece finished filming on 4 February 2025. No official release date has been announced yet, but we know it will pick up at the Loguetown Arc. The promotional photo on their social media accounts gives us a glimpse of the Straw Hats’ new looks.
Plenty of new characters will be introduced in One Piece’s Season 2. For me, I’m most looking forward to Lera Abova’s performance as Nico Robin. However, for the Loguetown Arc, Smoker, Tashigi, and Monkey D. Dragon will be in the limelight.
Smoker and Tashigi will be played by Callum Kerr and Julia Rehwald. Rigo Sanchez is set to play Luffy’s father and the supreme commander of the Revolutionary Army. However, to people who are only watching the live-action series, the perception of him will be very different and confusing.
Monkey D. Dragon saved Luffy in Loguetown Arc, but the revolutionary has stood still for 25 years
I remember watching the Loguetown Arc for the first time, witnessing Luffy escape two near-death situations. Dragon saved him the second time from Smoker, but the first, although it looked like pure luck, had to be his doing. Theories suggest he has a Devil Fruit that allows him to control the weather.
To this day, I’m also convinced the theory is true. The weather changes within one arc were too much of a coincidence. Even the gust of wind knocking the Marines, freeing Luffy, was too convenient. However, this makes Dragon seem more like a guardian angel. I expected him to come back.
However, later in the series, all I witnessed was Dragon talk about making subtle moves against the World Government. While it’s pretty clear the revolutionaries are waiting for the correct moment, saving Luffy in Loguetown felt like he would be a significant figure in his life. Was it all on a whim?
I’m sure that Dragon also knows of Luffy’s feats against other pirates and the World Government. It’s a bit odd that he wouldn’t try to help, particularly during Ace’s execution.
Dragon either wants to protect his son or allow him to carve his path, just as he did with his life when he left the Marines and started the Revolutionary Army. It’s also not entirely fair to say he’s totally absent. Without him, Sabo wouldn’t be alive.
However, those tuning into One Piece’s live-action will be sorely disappointed. They won’t see Dragon again for at least 10+ seasons and I’m being generous by saying 10.
Will Netflix’s live-action shed more light on Dragon’s character?
The One Piece live-action has offered its own take on the characters. Nami is less cunning and actively fights, Zoro is more dry than hot-headed, and Sanji is a flirt rather than straight-up bleeding over women. These are all welcome changes, so Matt Owens might tweak Dragon’s character.
To explain Dragon’s character without confusing the live-action viewers, they might introduce the Revolutionary Army in Season 2 itself. They introduced Garp in Season 1 way before his debut. It’s the most likely path to keep viewers interested in Dragon while maintaining his mysterious, absent nature.
I do implore anyone watching just the live-action to explore the original manga for One Piece. While Owens’ version is amazing, waiting for multiple seasons will be torture. Absent characters like Dragon make more sense in the manga.
I also don’t trust Netflix enough to not cancel the series. They are notorious for it. So, the minute One Piece doesn’t bring in the money, it’s over.
The One Piece live-action is available on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
