The Mind-Blowing Finale of Netflix's One Piece Season 1: Unraveling the Epic Climax!

Warning: spoilers ahead for One Piece season 1.

Summary

One Piece season 2 is set to begin in Loguetown, the location of Gold Roger's execution. Captain Smoker's introduction hints at an assortment of mysteries and fresh challenges that await Straw Hat Luffy.

Luffy receives a bounty from the World Government because they view the Straw Hat Pirates as a threat to peace and order. Additionally, Luffy's defeat of Arlong results in his bounty increasing.

Netflix's One Piece season 1 ending lacks a definitive resolution, leaving numerous mysteries unresolved and further chapters to be adapted. It follows the same format as Eiichiro Oda's iconic anime and manga series, introducing the first five members of the Straw Hat Pirates to the live-action cast through a series of short story arcs. The climax of this initial saga involves a fierce battle against the notorious Arlong pirates in order to secure Nami's freedom. Fueled by rage, Luffy unleashes his most powerful Gum-Gum techniques, ultimately toppling Arlong's water park headquarters. Finally, Nami's village experiences the taste of freedom.

Who The Mystery Man Is In One Piece Season 1's Ending

One Piece's finale then presents Luffy facing his grandfather, Monkey D. Garp, who represents the B-plot. Rather than arresting Luffy for his piracy, Garp's brutal beating was actually a test to ensure the young pirate was prepared for the dangers of the Grand Line. Impressed by Luffy's determination, Garp allows the Straw Hats to continue their journey, solidifying their status as a legitimate pirate crew with a ceremonial barrel kick. However, as the first season of One Piece concludes, it becomes apparent that new threats await Straw Hat Luffy in the upcoming second season.

The first season of One Piece concludes with a captivating scene featuring an enigmatic individual. This mysterious figure effortlessly burns a hole through Monkey D. Luffy's wanted poster while leisurely puffing on a lit cigar. The distinct pale hair and strong affinity for tobacco undoubtedly identify this new character as none other than Captain Smoker in the live-action adaptation. Captain Smoker possesses an extraordinary power derived from the Devil Fruit, enabling him to transform his body into pure smoke. Consequently, Luffy's punches become futile against this formidable opponent. Interestingly, a younger version of Smoker can be glimpsed in an earlier episode of One Piece's inaugural season, observing the execution of Gold Roger in a poignant flashback. In terms of morality, Smoker shares similarities with Garp. Though he harbors a deep disdain for pirates and relentlessly pursues them, he remains untainted by corruption or villainy, distinguishing himself from the treacherous Marine officer, Arlong, who was entangled in corrupt dealings.

Why Garp Laughs When He Lets Luffy Go

The introduction of Smoker implies that Loguetown will be the first setting in season 2 of One Piece. Located in East Blue, this island marks the pivotal point where Gold Roger was executed and serves as the last destination before pirates venture into the Grand Line. As the captain of the local Marine base, Smoker has the authority to shatter numerous crews' aspirations of reaching the legendary ocean before they even lay eyes on it. This explains why, in the finale of One Piece season 1, Smoker is portrayed burning Luffy's wanted poster. Although there exists no personal connection between the two, Smoker finds himself particularly infuriated by Luffy's rapid rise to becoming the most sought-after pirate in East Blue.

In One Piece season 1, Vice-Admiral Garp pursued Luffy as a test of his resilience. However, Garp's laughter upon witnessing Luffy's unwavering desire to become the Pirate King has a deeper significance. In this particular moment, Luffy strongly resembles his grandfather's old friend, Gold Roger, the former Pirate King. It is revealed in the original anime and manga that despite being on opposing sides of the law, Garp and Roger shared a surprising friendship. This connection between Luffy and Roger strikes a chord with Garp, leading to his strange reaction.

When Garp holds Luffy by the neck and his grandson chuckles, reaffirming his desire to discover the One Piece treasure, the vice-admiral is immediately reminded of his deceased pirate friend. This realization connects to Dracule Mihawk's earlier comment to Garp in One Piece season 1, where the Warlord notices the striking resemblance between Luffy and Roger. Those who solely watch the live-action adaptation might mistakenly believe that Roger is Luffy's biological father and hence Garp's son. However, this is not the case; instead, the characters originate from the same ancient clan.

Where Are The Straw Hat Pirates Going Now?

Captain Smoker's introduction hints at Loguetown as the starting point for One Piece season 2. However, the ending of season 1 already indicates the Going Merry's journey to the Grand Line. In the closing scenes, Nami's confusion over a map showing a river flowing up a mountain foreshadows the significant Reverse Mountain. Although Nami dismisses it as a map error, Reverse Mountain will play a crucial role in season 2, marking the moment when Netflix's show transitions from the East Blue to the exclusive realm of the Grand Line.

Why Luffy Gets A Bounty (& Why The Other Straw Hats Don't)

On the other side of Reverse Mountain, Netflix's One Piece has already hinted at the presence of an enigmatic group called Baroque Works. This clandestine organization will serve as the primary antagonists in One Piece season 2, deviating from the show's usual episodic format. Baroque Works will introduce a compelling, overarching narrative that builds up to the emergence of a second Warlord of the Sea. Although Netflix has yet to confirm the renewal of One Piece season 2, the groundwork laid in season 1 sets the stage for exciting future stories.

The World Government determines the bounties for pirates based on their perceived level of threat, and at the end of One Piece season 1, Luffy finds himself with a staggering bounty of 30,000,000 berries on his head, despite primarily targeting criminals and fellow pirates. This exorbitant bounty is a result of the World Government viewing the Straw Hat Pirates as a destabilizing force, rather than a direct threat to regular citizens. By triumphing over Arlong, the former holder of the highest bounty in the East Blue, Luffy automatically inherits an even higher one. Therefore, the bounty system in One Piece serves as a general gauge of pirate strength, although it is not always an entirely accurate measure.

Luffy is the only member of the Straw Hat pirates to have a bounty placed on his head by the World Government. This is simply because the others have not yet reached a level of significance that warrants attention from the government. Being the captain of the crew and the one responsible for defeating Arlong, Luffy is the sole target of the World Government's pursuit. However, as the crew's reputation grows, this will inevitably change, and each of Luffy's nakama will eventually receive their own substantial bounties.

Is Arlong Dead After One Piece Season 1's Ending?

The fate of Arlong is left ambiguous in the ending of One Piece season 1. After being defeated by Luffy, the fish-man pirate is buried under the ruins of his former home, while only Luffy emerges victorious. Vice-Admiral Garp orders his Marines to round up the remaining pirates who fled during the Straw Hats' attack, but there is no explicit mention of Arlong himself during these concluding moments. It should be noted that although Arlong has not physically reappeared in the One Piece manga since his defeat, Eiichiro Oda's original material has confirmed that the villain survived Luffy's intense Gum Gum Battleaxe.

The same is probably true for Netflix's One Piece TV show, although given the somewhat darker tone and more mature approach, it also wouldn't be bizarre to assume that Arlong met his demise. In either case, the antagonist is highly unlikely to make a comeback in One Piece season 2. With a plethora of new adversaries to introduce and no precedent for his return in the source material, Arlong's tale seems to have reached its conclusion in One Piece.

What Nami's New Tattoo Means

Upon joining the Arlong Pirates in season 1 of One Piece, Nami was coerced into having the crew's symbol permanently inked on her arm. However, following the defeat of Arlong, Nami's tattoo undergoes a transformation, with the offensive flag being replaced by a less controversial design. This new tattoo not only represents Nami's liberation from Arlong's control but also holds a deeper significance through its depiction of a pinwheel and an orange. In the original manga, the pinwheel was a cherished toy gifted to Nami during her childhood by the village chief, Genzo, while the orange symbolized the specialty crop cultivated by Nami's adoptive mother, Bell-mère. In the Netflix adaptation, the tattoo serves as a more generalized homage to Nami's hometown.

How Mihawk & Shanks Know Each Other

In one final scene of celebration,

Are Buggy & Alvida Teaming Up?

showcases Red-Haired Shanks and his crew of pirates joyfully toasting to Monkey D. Luffy's initial bounty, marking the end of season 1 of One Piece. Interestingly, they are joined by the World Government's official Warlord of the Sea, Dracule Mihawk, in a rather unexpected camaraderie. Given their reputations, it is unexpected that Mihawk would partake in such conviviality with a pirate like Shanks. Nevertheless, their conversation hints at a longstanding and amiable rivalry that has spanned over the years. The true nature of their relationship, beyond occasional conflicts at sea, remains a mystery even in the One Piece manga.

At the conclusion of One Piece season 1, we witness a range of reactions from both friends and foes to Luffy's newly unveiled wanted poster. Among the less pleased individuals is Buggy the Clown, who has recently ended his brief alliance with the Straw Hat Pirates. Lamenting his rubbery arch-nemesis, Buggy discovers a kindred spirit in Alvida - the former captain of Koby and the pirate who Luffy sent flying into the ocean in the show's very first episode. This particular scene strongly implies the formation of an alliance between these two lesser-known adversaries in One Piece season 2. This theory gains further support from both the original anime and manga, where Buggy and Alvida also feature prominently in One Piece's Loguetown story arc, alongside the formidable Captain Smoker.

The team-up between Buggy and Alvida in One Piece has far-reaching consequences that go beyond season 2. Even in the latest manga chapters, Buggy remains a significant character and Alvida continues to be part of his crew, albeit not in a prominent role. It remains to be seen if Netflix's version will follow this path, but the ending of One Piece season 1 sets up exciting storylines for the future. You can currently stream One Piece on Netflix.