February 12, 2024
One Piece: Netflix Live Action | The Pirates Are Coming (Episode 4) | Summary, Recap, & Review
After last episode's cliffhanger, what is in store for our beloved Straw Hats! Find out what happens in our summary and review of episode 4: The Pirates Are Coming!
8.8
Fantastic
With slick action, humor, and heartstrings tugged just right, this adaptation understands what makes One Piece so special.
Pros
Zoro's backstory with Kuina was retooled slightly to great effect.
Excellent performances from all the Straw Hats.
Moving the fight from the village to inside the mansion heightens the tension.
Cons
Several fan favorite characters were cut
>Buy: One Piece Products & Merchandise
Buy: One Piece Products & Merchandise
We’re back with another episode of the live-action that has the world setting sail into adventure! We are, of course, talking about the One Piece live-action adaptation. The last episode left us on a cliffhanger. The villainous former pirate, Captain Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates, has deceived kind-hearted Kaya, plotting to steal the maiden's fortune with the aid of his cronies Sham and Buchi. Our hero Luffy naively falls prey to Buchi's poisoned soup trap, leaving Usopp as Kaya's only hope.
Zoro springs into action after revisiting painful memories of his childhood oath to become the world's strongest swordsman. Together, the Straw Hats must defend Syrup Village and defeat Kuro's nefarious schemes through courage, teamwork, and Luffy's rubbery tenacity!
Bonds are forged, sacred promises kept, and the adventure continues as new friends join Luffy's quest for the Grand Line. Brace yourselves for a thrilling adventure as the live-action One Piece saga sails on and the Straw Hats adventures continue to new horizons. Let’s begin by checking out a summary of the events in this episode and we’ll see how they compare with the original manga and anime, as well as how well they fare on their own.
The Pirates Are Coming (Episode 4) | Summary & Recap
Poisoned Pirates | Plans Set In Motion
The stage is set as Luffy snoozes in the kitchen, having fallen prey to Buchi's poisoned soup. Little does he know the nefarious Kuro and his crew, Sham and Buchi, are lurking, ready to pounce.
Meanwhile, the steadfast Usopp rallies Koby and Helmeppo, the Marines, to confront the suspicious Klahadore (Kuro) at Kaya's mansion. Without proof of the butler's pirating past, Koby's hands are tied. However, a clue emerges as Klahadore produces the comatose Luffy. The clock strikes midnight and the murderous scheme unfolds as Kuro orders his goons to assassinate the newly-adult Kaya.
Boldly, Usopp bursts into Kaya's room to warn her, but she dismisses his claims. Nami arrives just in time to back up his story, but it's too late. Kuro has locked down the mansion for the kill. His claws flash as he slices towards Kaya's room, intent on spilling blood.
Zoro’s History | Luffy’s Battle
Elsewhere, Zoro awakens at the bottom of the well, memories of his childhood training flowing back. We see his tireless efforts to best the dojo master's daughter Kuina, culminating in a solemn oath between rivals to be the one that becomes the greatest swordsman after a final defeat. But fate intervenes, and Kuina tragically passes away.At her funeral, Zoro is bequeathed her treasured sword, Wado Ichimonji, bonding him to their dream.
In the present, Zoro dramatically bursts forth from the well to help Luffy get away from Koby and Helmeppo. The two race back to the besieged mansion, where Zoro crosses swords with Sham and Buchi in an epic confrontation where the swordsman puts his abilities to test.
Meanwhile, Luffy confronts Kuro head-on. Kuro's stealthy barrage overwhelms the Straw Hat captain. The Black Cat pirate is fast and very smart. He knows how to hide in the shadows with lethal intent, until Luffy finally finds the pattern in the attacks. One massive blow later, Kuro crashes out the window in defeat.
Kaya’s Gift | Family Revealed
With Kaya saved, she gifts the Straw Hats the ship of Luffy's dreams. The young captain names the ship the Going Merry and Usopp officially joins the crew. Even though he hesitated to make the choice, Kaya makes up his mind for him with a romantic kiss goodbye.
As they set off on new adventures, Marine Vice Admiral Garp suddenly attacks. Luffy recognizes the punishing fists as… his grandfather's!
The Straw Hat crew is in shock at finding out about their captain’s family. The stage is set for the next leg of the journey!
The Pirates Are Coming (Episode 4) | Analysis and Review
A Darker Kuro
It really is hard to say that this is just an adaptation as we’ve already seen how much of an original take on the story this provides. Several of the characters from the original manga and anime are missing here, but that does give us more time to spend with Luffy and the rest of the crew. It also gave this episode more room to develop the villains which, after that cliffhanger last episode, made it all the more interesting.
Not only are there differences when it comes to characters, but also settings, events, and developments that take place throughout the arc. While staying true to the spirit of the original Syrup Village arc, the One Piece live-action adaptation makes some judicious changes to condense the story for the screen. Here are some of the notable differences from the manga source material:
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Luffy is poisoned and knocked out early on, raising the stakes against him.
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Zoro is imprisoned in a well, allowing for his childhood flashback.
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Most of the Black Cat crew are omitted, keeping the focus on Kuro, Sham, and Buchi. Unfortunately, this means we don’t get to see our favorite hypnotist, Jango.
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Kuro's signature attack is skipped in favor of his stealthy claw attacks.
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Zoro and Kuina are aged up which adds weight to their rivalry.
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The backstory streamlines details around Kuina's death and the sword's inheritance to shift the focus to Zoro's oath.
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The climactic battle occurs inside the mansion instead of the village, ramping up the claustrophobic tension.
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Luffy names their new ship the Going Merry himself, taking ownership as captain.
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Usopp joins the crew immediately rather than planning to go solo.
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The crew learning that Garp is Luffy’s grandpa is revealed much earlier.
By condensing plot points and tweaking key scenes, the adaptation aims to translate the essence of the beloved Syrup Village arc into live-action in an impactful way for both new and longtime fans.
Overall Score: 8.8/10
As a lifelong One Piece fan, I entered this live-action adaptation of the Syrup Village arc with excitement and wariness. This pivotal early story marks the entrance of some fan-favorite characters like Usopp and the Going Merry into Luffy's journey. Could the show capture the emotional aspect of Zoro's promise to Kuina? Would condensing an expansive manga tale into a live-action format retain the richness and spirit?
In short, yes. Through smart writing and production choices, the essence of One Piece shines through. Shifting the climax to the mansion raises the tension tenfold. Zoro’s imprisonment in the well allows his flashback to breathe with emotional resonance, literally climbing over his past trauma. Villains are sharpened to a dangerous edge. The spirit of adventure, camaraderie, and dreams stays well preserved.
Once again, it's hard to think of a better fit for the role of Luffy in someone else than Iñaki Godoy, but that doesn't mean the rest of the crew isn't shining as bright. Mackenyu especially had a chance here to give Roronoa Zoro a deeper performance, not to mention his action scenes. The casting for the younger Zoro is spot on. Emily Rudd keeps getting better at the role of Nami and the new addition to the crew, Jacob Gibson as Usopp, just fits so well with the rest of the crew that it feels like they've been doing this for many years.
Of course, purists may grumble about omitted material. The cuts feel purposeful rather than reckless. To be completely honest, a big portion of the viewers of this live-action are first-timers to the franchise and the showrunners most likely knew this was going to be the case. Newcomers won’t really notice or care if anything was cut. From Luffy naming the Going Merry to Usopp's seamless joining of the crew, the changes made here work perfectly well.
With slick action, humor, and heartstrings tugged just right, this adaptation understands what makes One Piece so special. It balances nostalgia and newcomer accessibility deftly. The storytelling spirit feels inherently Oda-esque despite the live-action makeover.
In the end, my nostalgia and connection to these characters remain preserved. The story continues to voyage purposefully. I eagerly await the next adventure with this crew I love. The future looks bright on the Grand Line’s horizon.
Buy: One Piece - Action Figures & Statues
Buy:One Piece - Action Figures & Statues
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the fourth episode of the Netflix One Piece adaptation cover?
+What are the main differences in the Syrup Village arc between the live-action series and the manga/anime?
+Who are the main villains of this episode?
+What happened in Zoro's childhood?
+Do I need to watch the anime to understand the live-action?
+Are all of the episodes of the One Piece live-action series available?
+How can fans watch the One Piece live-action series?
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