One Piece Live Action Season 2: Controversy over Alabasta Arc Leaves Fandom Divided

Earlier today, fans of Netflix’s One Piece Live Action season 2 received a message from original manga creator Eiichiro Oda. The message revealed some exciting news, including the confirmation of new castings. In the next few days, fans can expect to learn about the actors chosen to play Tony Tony Chopper, Vivi Nefertari, and Miss All Sunday.

Despite the latest update on One Piece Live Action season 2, there is a division among the fanbase in one crucial aspect. It has been confirmed that the Alabasta arc will not be included, let alone completed. While this news may be disappointing to some who were eagerly anticipating this arc, others believe it to be a wise decision by the series and have valid reasons to support it.

One Piece Live Action: Lessons Learned from Season 1

One of the top requests on every fan’s wishlist for One Piece Live Action season 2 was the complete adaptation of the Alabasta arc. With a ten-episode season 2 that followed the pacing of the first season, this goal could have been easily achieved. However, this would also entail addressing one of the main criticisms of the first season, which was its pacing.

This critique has two main aspects, with the more urgent concern being that even after adapting almost a hundred chapters, certain storylines and moments still had to be cut from the series. This was a result of the show’s decision to incorporate the Monkey D. Garp plotline and reveal Luffy and Garp’s relationship much earlier than in the manga. The second criticism of the pacing is that this plotline received any screen time at all and should have been either removed or shortened.

It is reassuring that Netflix and Tomorrow Studios have taken into account their past mistakes and decided not to include the Alabasta arc in season 2 of One Piece Live Action. This decision will likely lead to a more cohesive and enjoyable viewing experience, as the focus will remain on the main plot without sacrificing it for additional narratives or B-stories.

Fan reaction

The decision has received support from many fans who believe that the series will improve as a result of this strict stance, especially with an eight-episode season. Some are highlighting the potential for more detailed and precise production, while others are simply celebrating the decision itself.

“95 chapters and excluded a lot of Baratie,” pointed out one fan in support of the choice.

“Now it takes longer to adapt everything but they adapting it better with more details in a short period [index pointing up emoji],” noted another netizen.

“Alabasta deserves to be it’s own season,” proclaimed a third.

Despite this, there are others who have expressed disappointment with the selection, citing a multitude of reasons:

“But how are they supposed to adapt the whole story with that pacing?” questioned one X (formerly Twitter) user.

“Jesus Christ, why didn’t Netflix give this season 10 episodes? The series was a huge success. Ending on Drum is so anti-climactic…,” critiqued another.

“There is ZERO chance of making it to timeskip,” worried a third.

Despite differing opinions on the decision to include the Alabasta arc, fans are still eagerly anticipating the second season of One Piece Live Action. This is evident in the numerous criticisms and complaints, which mostly revolve around the longevity and overall quality of the series, particularly in season 2.