Netflix’s Once Piece Is The Best Fantasy Show On TV

Netflix has managed to combine the complex lore of The Lord of the Rings with the misfit dynamic of Stranger Things, and the result is one of the best fantasy projects on TV. This is, of course, no small achievement, since the fantasy genre has been dominating mainstream media for several years now. TV shows that fall under this umbrella are a dime a dozen, but resonant success is much harder to find. Netflix itself has fallen flat with fantasy TV shows, but by looking to what has worked with previous hits, the platform found a way forward.

Though Stranger Things‘ ending was divisive, the series is still undeniably one of Netflix’s best. There was just something about this thrilling story and the dynamic of its misfit band of characters that resonated with viewers, and Stranger Things ultimately grew into a cultural phenomenon. There’s a lot to learn here about successful television formulas. Thrills and chills, combined with scrappy characters and a healthy dose of suspenseful comedy, make for a winning combination.

Then there’s Lord of the Rings, which, naturally, couldn’t be any more different from Stranger Things. Still, it’s another cultural phenomenon. J.R.R. Tolkien is the grandfather of high fantasy, and he essentially invented the idea of deep, complex lore. His legendarium demonstrated that with a strong foundation, a great story never really has to end. Take this extended fantasy format and combine it with the underdog found-family dynamic of Stranger Things, and you get Netflix’s One Piece.

How Netflix Set One Piece Apart From Other Fantasy TV Shows

Netflix’s One Piece is based on the manga and anime of the same name, and they could hardly fit in many of the same categories as The Lord of the Rings or Stranger Things. However, while Netflix’s live-action remake had every reason to fail (after all, Netflix didn’t have the best track record of anime adaptations), it became something spectacular. The reason why comes right back to that extensive lore and the fantastic dynamic between One Piece‘s characters.

The world of One Piece is absolutely massive, putting even Tolkien’s legendarium to shame. There are currently over 1,000 episodes in the anime, and it’s still ongoing. This might have been overwhelming to adapt, but Netflix seemed to recognize the value of carrying a story with this sort of worldbuilding into a new medium. Live-action remakes often fall to pieces, but One Piece‘s iron-clad foundation meant it could easily survive the process.

The cherry on top of this fantasy TV show is its characters. The scrappy, rag-tag pirate crew of One Piece builds beautifully upon that strong foundation, creating magnetic relationship dynamics and personal arcs that weave together flawlessly. The protagonists and even the villains they face off against are absolutely ridiculous, but the Netflix show embraces that wholly, never trying to shy away from the sort of campiness that made Stranger Things so appealing. Said and done, the combination makes One Piece unlike any other live-action fantasy show on TV.

The Proof Is In The Pudding With One Piece’s Success

Whether you’ve ever seen the original One Piece or not, Netflix’s live-action adaptation is completely worth watching—and Rotten Tomatoes proves it. The series’ overall critic score of 93% is already pretty impressive, but it actually managed to get better with season 2, which currently holds a perfect 100% score. This sort of reception is rare across the board, but in the world of live-action adaptations, it’s almost unheard of. Improving on an already great series while avoiding a sophomore slump is a significant achievement worth noting as well.

Overall, there are very few TV shows and franchises that can brag about perfection. Even Lord of the Rings and Stranger Things have had their low moments. So far, things are looking pretty great for One Piece, and given its winning formula, we have every reason to think this fantasy TV show will stay on the up-and-up. So, if you haven’t yet jumped on board, there’s no better day than today.

Release Date

August 31, 2023

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Matt Owens, Steven Maeda, Joe Tracz

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  Iñaki Godoy

  Monkey D. Luffy

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