Where season 3 is really going

One of the biggest questions in the minds of One Piece fans after Netflix’s live-action adaptation of the hit franchise launched has always been just how long this can be expected to be around. Netflix’s One Piece goal of adapting the entirety of Eiichiro Oda’s 1,200 chapter-long manga epic could seem unrealistic. Why should someone care about this scene about Gol D. Roger’s secret son when the payoff will only happen three seasons from now? Seeing your favorite series getting canceled is a common fear nowadays, and despite One Piece‘s smashing success on the streamer, there’s no guarantee it will last for another decade (which would put the show close to the halfway point of the manga).

However, judging from One Piece‘s season 2 and its finale, the show doesn’t seem particularly concerned with a curtailed season order. Season 2 adapted the first steps of the Straw Hats into the Grand Line, and it wasn’t in a rush to do so. While some plot developments from the manga were moved around, it didn’t look like the show was trying to compress or skip things. In fact, season 2 ends with the Straw Hats recruiting their newest member, Tony Tony Chopper, and heading for the Alabasta Kingdom, where season 3 will be set.

From the information available, season 3 will likely adapt the entirety of the Alabasta Arc, which ends at chapter 217 of the manga. This means that, whenever the next 10 episodes drop (between 2027 and 2028 seems a safe bet), Netflix’s One Piece will have adapted about a sixth of the manga. Such a humongous difference would justify creative liberties taken to hasten the story. Instead, season 2 dedicated an entire episode to the absolutely skippable Whisky Peak. Many fans were expecting to get at least a taste of Alabasta this season. Instead, One Piece decided to take its time getting there.

But that’s not the only sign that the showrunners aren’t worried about the future. Season 2 has a ridiculous number of cameos and name-drops relating to characters and events that appeared much later in the manga. Sabo and Bartolomeo are obvious examples, but I was shocked to hear Roger call Garp “the hero of God Valley” in episode 1. This important event was only mentioned in chapter 957 of the manga, in 2019, and it took us four more years for Oda to actually illustrate the moment!

Image: Netflix

Admittedly, these could just be examples of fan service, with the live action catering to the manga and anime crowd. Judging from the posts on social media highlighting these moments, it’s working. However, it’s also possible that the show is riding so high on its success right now that there are absolutely no concerns for the future. After all, if One Piece continues pulling such massive viewership for Netflix, there is no reason why it should not continue for 10 or even 20 more seasons. Considering the manga is nearing its conclusion, we could soon live in a future where the live-action show is One Piece.

For now, the show is deliberately keeping a pace that is as close to that of the source material as possible. When season 3 is rolled out, the Straw Hats will begin their long battle against Baroque Works, the shady organization of assassins led by Mr. Crocodile (Joe Manganiello), who was shown in his full glory in the final scene of season 2. If the arc is wrapped up in one season, as I believe it should, then season 4 will see the Straw Hats point the bow of the Going Merry in an unusual direction: the sky.