Loguetown Setting The Stage in One Piece Live-Action Season 2 Episode 1

Live Action Adaptations, Episode Reviews

5–7 minutes

Loguetown Setting The Stage in One Piece Live-Action Season 2 Episode 1

Loguetown was always going to be an unusual place to open One Piece Live Action Season 2, Episode 1. Technically, the Straw Hats are still in East Blue. They have not crossed into the Grand Line yet, and on paper, nothing has changed.

But Loguetown sits on the edge of that change. It is the place where the Pirate King’s journey ended, and where the Straw Hats pause before their own truly begins.

Season 2 understands that tension. Episode 1 lets the crew arrive, breathe, and look back for a moment before the story moves forward. It feels like a farewell to the East Blue saga and the launch point for everything that follows.

(If you’re curious how the entire season holds up, you can also read my full review of One Piece Live-Action Season 2. )

Episode 1: The Beginning and the End (Loguetown)
Director: Emma Sullivan
Screenplay: Matt Owens & Ian Stokes
Runtime: 1:07:00
Airdate: March 10, 2026
Credit Music: My Sails Are Set (Loguetown Opera Ver.)
Stream it here on Netflix

Guide to My One Piece Live-Action Season 2 Episode 1 Review

Spoiler-Free Thoughts

This episode felt like the show taking a deep breath, looking back at everything we loved in Season 1, and then saying, “Alright… now we’re really going.” I straight-up got chills when the Straw Hats sailed into Loguetown. No rushing straight into the Grand Line, they gave this place the breathing room it deserves. It truly felt like the definitive end of the East Blue saga and the launchpad for everything ahead. By the time the credits rolled, I was already grinning like an idiot.

A group of five characters dressed in a pirate-themed setting on a ship deck, with a blue sky and clouds above. They are engaged in conversation, with two characters in colourful outfits, one in a pink apron, and others in casual attire.

The carnival atmosphere, the bustling crowds, Luffy paying quiet respect at the execution platform… it all hit harder than I expected. The fights have real weight, the character moments feel sincere, and the production value clearly jumped up a notch. I was genuinely surprised by how much one particular returning face from way later in the story gets to do here, not just a blink-and-miss-it cameo, but actual scenes and personality. I spent half the episode scanning every crowd shot for Pandaman (Oda’s legendary panda-faced Easter egg) and came up empty… though if those panda teddies in the background count, we got plenty!

A clown in a large hat and colourful outfit performs dramatically in a circus setting, with carnival decorations and lights in the background.

Buggy absolutely steals the screen every second he’s on it, theatrical, unhinged, and hilarious. And that one line Luffy drops about him not being a very good lawyer? I laughed out loud. The teamwork between Nami and Usopp in one of the big fights is pure gold, exactly the kind of clever, in-character combo that makes you cheer.

A woman with vibrant orange hair is walking through a bustling market, holding a bundle of fabric. She wears a blue shirt and has a friendly expression. In the background, various market stalls and shoppers can be seen.

I’m also glad we still get to see the little girl Usopp “challenges” for his goggles, even if the full contest isn’t shown; it’s a nice little nod that keeps the spirit alive.

A man with white hair and a green-trimmed jacket smokes a cigarette, looking intently towards the viewer.

Smoker’s introduction is brilliant too, the way he removes his cigars only when he actually needs to speak, otherwise they’re just permanently clamped in his mouth, is such a perfect character quirk. I had so much fun watching him on screen, and I’m already looking forward to whatever they do with him next.

The episode title card treatment is gorgeous, and yeah, the Hollywood film-reference pun still feels a tiny bit out of place to me, but the execution made me forgive it instantly.

Spoilers Ahead: Full Deep Dive

If you’ve seen it (or don’t mind knowing everything), here’s where it gets juicy. If you want to skip spoilers, click here.

Four characters in a dimly lit room, with one woman in a yellow costume holding a bat, another woman in a cowboy hat and fur coat leaning over a male figure lying on a table, and a man in a red jacket wearing sunglasses looking on.

The cold open with Miss All Sunday, Mr. 5, and Miss Valentine tearing through the Marine base is brutal and efficient. Robin is already hands-on and terrifying right from the jump.

Then we’re with the crew on the Merry, low on supplies, and Sanji talks everyone into Loguetown.

A woman with bright orange hair wearing a blue top gestures with a card in her hand while talking to a man dressed in a striped coat with green hair, set in a bustling market.

The Victory Day carnival, the execution platform, Bartolomeo actually trying (and spectacularly failing) to rob Nami… I know him from later arcs, but seeing him get real dialogue, real interaction, and then getting completely outmanoeuvred by Nami at this point was such a fun surprise. That pocket-picking reversal is peak Nami, and I completely enjoyed it.

A young man with green hair, wearing a beige martial arts outfit, stands in a traditional setting, extending his arm with a clenched fist.

Zoro’s weapons-shop sequence with Tashigi and the Sandai Kitetsu curse test is tense and satisfying.

A clown with blue hair and a large hat stands over a young man in a red vest, who is kneeling with his hands tied. The scene is set in an ornate environment with dim lighting and decorative elements.

Luffy at the platform, the Buggy-Alvida alliance staging that ridiculous show trial… Buggy is chewing scenery the entire time. And when Luffy deadpans that Buggy “isn’t a very good lawyer,” I actually paused and rewound because it was so perfectly timed.

The fights deliver: Zoro cutting down Cabaji with his new blade feels great, but my favourite moment is Nami and Usopp teaming up against Alvida, the Pepper Star sneeze combo is hilarious and so in-character for both of them.

Three characters standing together at night, with illuminated trees in the background. The first character has curly hair and is wearing a straw hat and a red sleeveless top. The second character has green hair and is dressed in a cream-coloured shirt. The third character has blond hair and is wearing a light blue shirt.

Then Smoker enters the chat with those smoke powers, looking incredible on-screen. The cigars detail is genius, he only takes them out when he has to speak, otherwise they’re just part of his face. It’s such a small thing, but it makes him feel lived-in and cool as hell. I had a blast watching him, and I’m genuinely excited to see where his story goes.

A sailing ship with pink sails navigating through calm waters, surrounded by towering cliffs and a cloudy sky.

And the ending… that quiet shot in the rain with Dragon watching his son sail away, Sabo standing right behind him, Bartolomeo, imitating the laugh on the wanted poster, it all lands like a cannonball. They didn’t hide these future pieces; they wove them in early, so everything already feels connected.

Little details that made me smile

A quirky scene featuring a large, friendly-looking snail with a decorated shell, set on a wooden surface inside a building. In the background, a person is singing while holding a snack, with other people gathered outside in a lively environment.

Usopp leaving that Den Den Mushi message for Kaya is such a sweet, small touch.
Sanji realised that his old Baratie crew stole his tuna recipe. Tiny continuity that rewards Season 1 fans.
Smoker’s soft moment with the little girl spilling ice cream shows he’s not just a hardass.
Miss All Sunday slipping Tashigi that Baroque Works card at the bar. Robin is actively recruiting, and it’s delicious.

Two young men smiling and interacting at a market, one wearing a straw hat and a red sleeveless shirt, the other in a light blue shirt.

I’ve only watched it twice straight through and sped through a third time just for screenshots, but every pass made me love it more.

Final thoughts on episode 1

A young man in a straw hat and red vest points excitedly at the camera, with a group of diverse characters in the background, set on a wooden ship deck with the ocean visible behind them.

Eight episodes, five arcs, and Episode 1 already feels like the confident launch the Grand Line deserves. It balances humour, character moments, and long-term foreshadowing without losing the sense of adventure that defines One Piece. Some tiny things (hello, no Pandaman) sting for the super-fans, but nothing that hurts the experience. This is the moment the live-action version stopped playing catch-up and started planting flags for the entire future of the story.

I’m all in.

So tell me in the comments, did Bartolomeo’s proper scenes and Nami outsmarting him surprise you as much as they surprised me? Did Buggy’s courtroom chaos land for you? And be honest: were you also scanning every crowd for Pandaman like a detective?

Whisky Peak is next, and I’m already preparing myself for Robin to cause emotional damage.

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