Netflix has always been a great place for anime. Being able to binge giant shows, sometimes with over a hundred episodes and without commercials, is freeing. That’s why it was no surprise to see Netflix going full force on live-action anime adaptations.
The first show was Cowboy Bebop in 2021, and suffice it to say, it did not perform well with audiences. That’s why show number two, aka One Piece, had a lot of fans worried. Well, the adaptation caught them by surprise for a lot of reasons. The humor stands out as one of the series' best features, too, and with it came an array of hilarious and quotable pieces of dialogue.
8 “A Sh*thead Marine With A Bad Haircut.”
Zoro says this to Helmeppo in the first episode of the show. Helmeppo thinks he is the best Marine in town, but Zoro can see right through him. Beyond his fancy suit and haircut, Zoro knows that this guy is all talk.
This quote is the perfect one to showcase the dry humor that Zoro is known for, although he is a bit more lively and confident in both the anime and manga. Still, the live-action depiction of him is solid, and the actor who plays him, Mackenyu Arata, only further elevates him with his excellent line deliveries.
7 “Not Everything. I Let Them Keep Their Hands.”
When it comes to clowns in media, everyone is trying to put on their best Joker face. The Joker is the iconic villain from the Batman comics, and he is the poster child for evil clowns, including Pennywise from It.
Buggy is a jokester in the One Piece manga and anime, but his vibes in the live-action version feel like they were influenced by the Joker more than ever before. That’s not a bad thing, however, as lines like "I let them keep their hands" still manage to remain funny, all while incorporating a feeling of unease.
6 “I Believe You.”
Usopp’s whole thing as a character in the One Piece series is being a loudmouth. He tells tall tales but is very scared underneath all of his braggings. The live-action version doesn’t spend a lot of time on his vast lies, but it gives enough for newcomers in the audience to understand his character.
At the end of the third episode, Usopp genuinely tries to warn the village of pirates, but he cries wolf too many times; as a result, nobody listens to him. The final shot of the episode sees Koby reach his hand out to Usopp, explaining that he believes him. It’s a sweet but fleeting moment between the two characters that serves to enhance their relationship.
5 “Being A Pirate Is Not About Raiding Villages Or Perfect Plans; It’s About Adventure And Freedom.”
Luffy has a lot of great speeches in the show but this line is pretty poignant on his philosophy. This iconic quote comes from the fourth episode whilst confronting Kuro and his villainous ways.
To Luffy, being a pirate doesn’t mean being a villain. He doesn’t want to follow the rules, but he doesn’t want to hurt people, either. He’s an adventurer who believes in his dream along with the dreams of his crew. It’s a great summation of why people in this world fall in love with Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates.
4 “I Don’t Hunt Rabbits With A Cannon.”
One of the strongest characters in the series is Dracule Mihawk. He is one of the reigning lords of the seas and made a name for himself hunting other pirates. He’s a brilliant swordsman that others, like Zoro, look up to.
That’s why Zoro challenges Mohawk to a duel to the death in the fifth episode. Mihawk obliges the request and pulls out a tiny dagger because he doesn’t believe Zoro is worth his giant blade. To add insult to injury, he also says this line to Zoro about rabbits. Not only is this quote ridiculously funny, but it also serves to highlight how highly Mihawk thinks of himself.
3 “Quitting IS Staying Here!”
One Piece has a lot of good lessons that readers and viewers can apply to real life. Never giving up on one's dream is an underlying theme throughout the series. While the show can get silly at times, it still tries to convey messages that are relevant to real people, as seen through the relationship between Zeff and Sanji.
They both love each other but are too “manly” to admit their feelings. Instead of giving him his blessing to leave, Zeff initially says this line to Sanji to convince him to go. Now, admittedly, the two do tear up in the final goodbye in the sixth episode, but this idea of bottling up feelings happens a lot after the live-action show wraps up. Is it so hard to be honest with people?
2 “Arlong!”
Nami suffers the most out of any character in the first season. She witnessed her mom get murdered right in front of her as a child and then decided to work for the man who killed her, Arlong, because she had a plan. She would create maps for him to get the treasure to then purchase her town back.
In the seventh episode, she’s about to get her treasure together when the Marines confiscate it. She knew right away that Arlong put the Marines up to it. Feeling betrayed, she starts screaming his name while trying to stab the Arlong Pirates tattoo off of her shoulder. That’s when Luffy shows up to get serious.
1 “If You Had Him Then I Wouldn’t Have Got Him.”
This line was said by Sanji to Zoro in the season finale. One of the coolest things about Netflix’s live-action adaptation of One Piece is the action. The best fight scene in season one happens in the eighth episode when the Straw Hat Pirates go up against Arlong’s crew for real.
Zoro and Sanji have a silent competition going on regarding who can defeat the most pirates, and that’s when this line gets thrown out. It’s apparent that they both dislike each other but stick around because of Luffy. This is seen throughout the entire series, although the two eventually come to terms.
One Piece is now available to stream on Netflix.