Redeeming Usopp and Sanji in One Piece Season 2

Character Development in One Piece Season 1

Netflix's One Piece did exceptionally well due to the depiction of the beloved anime, pacing, and acting performances, but it still failed two of the series' most popular Straw Hat Pirates. With One Piece season 2 in the works, Netflix may address season 1's greatest flaw when it comes to character development. Whereas most live-action anime adaptations aren't particularly good, One Piece excels in remaining as faithful to its source material as possible. It had innovative ways to retell the classic anime's story by playing with the source material's timeline and avoiding the typical tropes that negatively impact live-action anime adaptations.

Mackenyu as Zoro, Jacob Gibson as Usopp, Inaki Godoy as Luffy, and Taz Skylar as Sanji walk through Coco village in Netflix's live-action One Piece

While there's no official word regarding when Netflix plans to release One Piece season 2, the creators responsible for its acclaimed first season have plenty of time to further develop the protagonists and the antagonists. Among the many things that make One Piece's anime and manga versions so popular among anime aficionados is the dynamics between the series' uniquely drawn and complexly written characters. While the live-action adaptation only had eight episodes to get the ball moving, One Piece does a fairly exceptional job recreating the source material's dynamics. However, there are still two Straw Hat Pirates who could benefit from stronger characterizations in One Piece season 2.

Sanji and Usopp look surprised in a scene from One Piece.

Usopp & Sanji's Weak Characterizations

Usopp and Sanji's characterizations were weaker than the rest of the crew's. Although Netflix's live-action adaptation of One Piece handles Luffy, Zoro, and Nami exceptionally well, the show leaves much to be desired regarding the Straw Hat Pirates' sniper and chef, Usopp and Sanji. The show captures Luffy's perpetual optimism, Zoro's commitment to his role as a swordsman, and the complexity of Nami's aloof attitude, but it doesn't give Usopp or Sanji similar treatment. One Piece succeeds in depicting Usopp's cowardice and Sanji's charisma, but it merely scratches the surface regarding both characters' wants and needs. As a result, Usopp is depicted as nothing more than a coward for the most part, and Sanji barely interacts with the crew.

Usopp smiles as he tells his old crew about his newfound success with the Straw Hat Pirates.

In the source material, Usopp is the leader of Usopp's Pirates, and in it, he asserts to his friends/crewmates Ninjin, Piiman, and Tamanegi that his dream is to conquer his cowardice and become the bravest pirate who ever lived. In Sanji's case, he's the son of a royal yet ruthless family known as the Vinsmoke family, and he distances himself from them because of their cruel ways. Neither of these aspects of their lives are depicted, thus leaving Usopp and Sanji with little to do in season 1. While these elements of their backstories may be addressed in season 2, that still complicates things for both characters.

Usopp's old friends, Ninjin, Piiman, and Tamanegi smile after hearing about his success with the Straw Hat Pirates.

Redeeming Usopp and Sanji in Season 2

Since Usopp and Sanji don't undergo any significant character development in the Arabasta Saga, which is what One Piece season 2 will likely cover, it's doubtful that either Usopp or Sanji's live-action counterparts will fare much better in season 2 than they did in season 1 if the show adapts things faithfully. However, the show could take liberties with the source material via an earlier time skip in season 2, thus resulting in Usopp and Sanji reaching more of their potential much sooner. However, that presents another issue, since the timeskip also sees the Straw Hat Pirates' strength increase significantly, which would speed things up too quickly.

Sanji smirks in an episode of One Piece.

Netflix's best bet to strengthen Usopp and Sanji's characterizations is to display more of their internal struggles via well-timed flashbacks in place of them loudly proclaiming things about their past in brief scenes. Since Usopp's cowardice is often the source of many of his struggles, the second season can depict this more via flashbacks to the 'Usopp pirates', thus giving audiences a greater sense of what he needs to work on. Sanji's checkered past with his family should be mentioned more frequently, as well as Sanji's refusal to subscribe to their beliefs, thus making him a much more well-rounded and engaging character.

Zeff frowns in an episode of One Piece.

Conclusion

With Tony Tony Chopper and Nico Robin set to appear in One Piece Season 2, plus RoNetflix will have an even tougher time fleshing out Usopp and Sanji. However, One Piece can handle this by showing Usopp's falling out with Luffy as a result of his insecurities regarding his spineless nature. Since Usopp's dream is to become brave, showing him to fight someone he has no chance of winning is one of the strongest ways to convey that to audiences. Additionally, Usopp apologizing to Luffy and rejoining the Straw Hat Pirates after losing his fight with Luffy perfectly shows the aptitude Usopp has for becoming a brave pirate if he can apply himself in the right ways.

The Straw Hat pirates defiantly take a stand against the ruthless Arlong and his gang of pirates on Coco Village in One Piece.

One Piece can introduce the Vinsmoke family early before gradually making them a more prominent threat for Sanji and the Straw Hat Pirates to combat. Showing Sanji's closeness with Zeff is great because it explains why he's so committed to his culinary duties, but with Sanji's late appearance, that's all viewers get from him. One Piece season 2 can focus more on his rocky relationship with his family, thus providing Sanji with more depth and audiences with more reasons to root for him. While One Piece's first season did well, season 2 can do even better by giving Usopp and Sanji more screen time and highlighting their pasts.

One Piece Manga - Anime One Piece is an incredible adventure-filled series that has captivated its fans for over two decades. It follows the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they search for the ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the King of the Pirates. With its compelling storyline, diverse and lovable characters, epic battles, and themes of friendship and determination, One Piece has created a vast and immersive world that keeps fans eagerly anticipating each new chapter or episode. It is a timeless masterpiece that continues to redefine the boundaries of the shonen genre, making it a must-watch or read for any anime or manga enthusiast.