#but there were scenes of the crew actually sailing the boat which we don't get a lot of in the original series

[flimflamfranky]

i think what i'm most excited about with the live action series is how different it's gonna be.

like, obviously, it's live action, so there's limits on what they can do in terms of the crazier stunts, places, and people. the actors will have their own mannerisms and quirks they'll add to the characters that will make them distinct. it looks like it's gonna be a bit more grounded and less cartoon-y. but most of all, it's just so so so much shorter.

season one looks like it's gonna cover all the way up to loguetown, which was original a little over 100 chapters and 50 episodes, in about ten episodes. that's a lot to cover, and while they're gonna have to cut a lot of stuff, i'm so curious how they'll condense and change the story.

(it makes me wonder, with oda working with them, if it'll resemble oda's original plan for the story, which was gonna be much shorter than it ended up being. though, we won't know that unless oda says something).

it's just going to be so different than the original one piece, and that makes me really excited, cuz it'll kind of be like watching one piece for the first time again.

needless to say, i'll be ready to burst into tears

[dafukdidiwatch]

One Piece - Episode One

Yo Ho Ho yall (fuck that's cheesy lol) Well the Live Action One Piece came out a few weeks ago and I've only just started to watch it. I love One Piece. I 100% believe that One Piece is Classical Literature and Classical Story Telling. Like it will stand the test of time it is that good. And since I'm in love with the anime and watching the new series, I've decided to give like a mini review of each episode I watch.

Major Spoilers Ahead: I haven't caught up with the anime (like holy shit no I haven't) but I have rewatched the beginning seasons/arcs many many times. So this is honestly might be more of a comparison between the adaptation and the original source material. So I'm going to go over a lot of plot points of, well, everything.

Here we go!

Overview: Episode One follows Monkey D. Luffy on the start of his journey to become the King Of The Pirates on the open ocean. He faces against The Alvida Pirates and takes rescues the Cabin Boy Koby from her iron clutches. There they travel together to a nearby Marine Base to take find a map of the Grand Line, and we get the introduction of Zoro the Pirate Bounty Hunter and Nami the Thief and Catburgler. Shenanigans force the group together where they face off against Marine Captain Axe-Hand Morgan and retrieve the map together. Leaving Koby behind to follow his own dream, the trio sets off on a stolen boat and sails onto the next episode.

Initial Thoughts: I feel like I have to break up my review into so many categories because My God, they cram packed SO many things into this episode. Every minute there's anyone easter egg, another name drop, another scene where I go "Oh! It's That Part from the Anime!" I don't think it's going to be possible for me to look at it strictly on it's own merit, because a lot of what I like about it is going to be colored by the anime. Specifically what they kept, changed, and adapted to fit a live action setting. Because honestly, I'm blown away. They did an insanely good job with this series.

Plot:

I have to start with some of the plot here. Not just the overview I mean like a Deep Dive into how this is a lot of people's first introduction to One Piece.

I like how they have the first scene be the Gol D. Rodgers backstory. His death and final words, as stated in every episode, "drove countless souls to the sea." His legacy is the driving point for the show, so having it at the beginning is a great way to set up the exposition and expectation for the series. This is Pirates. Government vs Pirates. The King Of Pirates Treasure created more Pirates.

I also like how at every Pirate's Introduction we see a wanted poster fly by and cover his face. The bounties are used as a "power level" marker in a way. Higher Bounty = More Dangerous. It's a nice visual cue to show they are key players.

They also kept a lot of the iconic scenes and moments from the anime too. Nami drifting in the boat. Shanks getting beer smashed onto him by the bandits. They actually kept in some manga only moments too: Luffy stabbing himself in the eye for example and the reveal of his Gum Gum Powers. Not shown in the anime. So the Live Action series is faithful to both anime and manga.

Then the show even expands on some moments that were sort of glanced over. It actually shows Zoro being recruited for Baroque Works instead of Zoro mentioning it one that happened off screen. Which was a really cool badass visual to show rather than tell why Zoro is epic. Leave the myth/legacy/stories for Gol D. Rodgers. If the guy is on our crew, we gotta see why he's cool enough to be on the crew.

They also added in a lot of new mashups in here too. It makes since, Episode One covers about the first 5ish episodes of the anime. So you have to smash what you can when you can. Nami never interacted with Luffy or Zoro until the next island. They never were all together in a bar/tavern (which, ha, classic bar meet up). And there were new combinations of how other characters interact with each other. Morgan and Zoro never met prior to Luffy's bullshit. But damn, that was a pretty interesting interaction to just flex on their characters.

Speaking of...

Characters:

I'll get into main cast specifics afterwards, but I have to say that the show is perfect with capturing the essence of each character. No matter what actions they take or how the story changed, the show stayed true to the core of the characters. Luffy's childlike wonder went everywhere he went asking questions about everything. Zoro's sassy to everyone and honorable in battle. Nami self-reliant and sneaky and can handle her own. Morgan's self importance was shown with self-portraits. And this is for Everyone. Even the background mooks and randos. The crowd immediately going to sea as soon as Rodgers gives his Pirate Blessing for his treasure. Nothing is missed. Everything is well, exactly how and why we love these characters.

Luffy, well, I wasn't sure if I could like at first. It's the voice. I have a thing where if I know a character for a while, sometimes I can't vibe with another iteration because I am too invested in the first version. The voice was still high pitch and casual, but it just felt different. Between that and just how calm he was acting I wasn't sure if I liked Luffy. But the more I saw him the more perfect he was. He is happy, go-lucky, a gentle airy voice with a tinge of excitement. Terrible liar, a little bit more clever perhaps but still a well rounded dumbass. He's really the perfect Luffy.

Zoro was a bit of the same way too. I don't know if it was just the monotone but he was a bit like the same with Luffy. But then he opened his mouth and was just as so flipping sassy and snarky. Then we see him fight and kill a man on screen which yeah, he does that. And wow he's still super bad ass. I'm just sort of waiting to see more of his flaws in the next episode, and I'm actually surprised that Zoro had embraced the "Pirate Hunter" moniker when he couldn't give less of a shit is still serious and stoic, can't tell if he's more competent or not just yet.

A little surprise that Zoro wasn't on the crew yet. But I think they changed it so it would feel more like Zoro was willing to join rather than a "choose: join up or you'll get killed"

Nami was also as badass as I hoped. We see her on the job. On the clock. Taking one problem at a time. She would give Lupin a run for his money. Like her scoping out marines in the bar to steal the clothes, that was a brilliant move! A lot better to show the lengths she would go than just tricking some rando pirates. And we get her animosity immediately with Luffy. She really is super clever.

Shanks actually feels more parental here. Like a dedicated dad type. He felt easy going, but more in a mature adult way. He still cared for luffy in the anime don't get me wrong. But Anime Shanks absolutely laughed and teased Luffy. For example: Live Action Shanks was concerned and worried when Luffy showed his devil fruit powers for the first time. Anime Shanks was worried and called Luffy a dumbass for doing a stupid thing like eating random fruit. I get why they wanted him to be a more serious parental figure in the live action, just a bit different.

It actually is interesting because there is a distinctive change with Shanks and Buggy. Shanks as noted above went a cool older cousin to a parental figure. Buggy is cloaked in insanity and danger. He is menacing, which is important. He's the first major main antagonist. But his goofiness has been pulled back a bit and turned into crazy. He's still ruthless but it's more like Joker Crazy instead of just wacky clown. Granted he's only just introduced at the end of the show so there was no time to flesh it out. So we might have more silly wackiness coming our way. But it isn't a bad change.

Setting:

I can't believe how accurate the setting is to One Piece. Like, first they kept all of the weirdo gadgets like the Transponder Snails and those goofy looking seagulls. And yeah the CGI isn't like technically the best or detailed, but it feels like it was pulled straight from the manga.

Speaking of being pulled straight from the manga, the costumes are insane. How long did the costume department just stare into the anime and just bring it to life. Everyone's outfits are colorful, iconic, it perfectly fits the character and their designs. Same with the island, the ships, every location it just felt so real. So vibrant. It just breathes life!

And there's Violence! Honest to god Violence! In One Piece! Oh sure we have fights and battles and deaths in the show and manga. And it isn't shied away from at all. But now there's Blood. There's actual Canon Death. Point Blank from the beginning this is the Pirate Era and they are Ruthless by just killing a man off screen and forcing the wimpy boy to clean the mace. The show is not playing around.

Vibes: It's weird to say but overall, the vibes I got from the Live Action One Piece is the same as a Bollywood Movie. Bollywood is Big, Bombastic. It's silly and exaggerated but open and honest with everything. No matter how crazy or ludicrous it is, it's played straight in the movie. There is no lampshading or "jk" moments. The story is earnest in what it's doing.

That vibe 100% fits perfectly with the One Piece World. EVERYONE is a weirdo! That's the point of how the characters are introduced or treated or act. If they were written as weird, then they are more memorable by the audience. Not only that but everything is played straight no matter how goofy it is. Luffy's Rubber Devil Fruit is a useful power to have! He also can stretch his face and dodge like a 1920s cartoon. It's weird but it works. Mr. 7 and Buggy the Clown are dressed like madmen crazy people. But they are still set up as dangerous. Their villainy is still threatening no matter what the getup is. And it works because the show doesn't make fun of them for it. It isn't trying to wink at the camera and go "Take a look at this clown boy am I right?". We aren't taken out of that immersion of the world to mock the characters regardless of how ridiculous they are.

But importantly, it captures the central themes of One Piece: Adventure, Freedom, Dreams. The show doesn't try to tone down these things, it embellishes it. It is honest with the determination of the cast, their dreams and plans. I keep coming back to the word earnest because it fits so well with One Piece and Bollywood. No matter what happens, they both keep the sincerity of these themes and that's why it works. It is faithful not just in storytelling and plot points, but in spirit too.

Overall I really need to stop gushing over this one episode lol. Because it was just ONE Episode. I still have 7 more to go! What the Shit! This show is just already amazing. It's faithful to the source material. Faithful to the characters, the plot, the story. It puts in future plot points for the live action audience to pick up on that doesn't feel rushed or forced. It's just, a wholesome adventure story when it comes down to it. 100% 10/10 will watch everything

[ohallows]

how is our flag means death? I see everyone talking about it and it looks great but I'm a bit uncomfortable with RPF and I'm worried it will feel awkward since Stede Bonnet and Edward Teach were real people :/

so, as someone who is also wildly uncomfortable with RPF - its basically a similar level of 'rpf' as something like black sails or hamilton, you know? so if those made you wildly uncomfy for rpf-specific reasons as opposed to content (or fandom....) reasons, you might have the same reaction to ofmd. hamilton i think is a bit worse - it sticks pretty closely to the historical side of historical fiction, whereas black sails (based on my limited knowledge of piracy in the 1700s) and our flag means death definitely hew closer to the fictional side of historical fiction, if that makes sense. which is great for kinda.. tempering the issues i have with rpf.

genuinely, my main discomfort with stuff focusing on real people has to do with people who are alive now, or who were alive more recently. like, if there was a show in progress about [spins wheel] obama and [pulls a card] harry styles falling in love, i would be SO uncomfortable with it (and, i think, rightly so). but there's a certain level of disconnect with watching a show about a real person from the 1700s, where historical records can only do so much, that makes it feel MUCH less weird, and i was able to get through black sails and ofmd with zero discomfort whatsoever related to rpf stuff!

with ofmd as well, i think both ed and stede (and izzy, i suppose) are very much so... vague allusions to who they were in real life. based on what i do know about him, i dont think the irl stede bonnet was a dandy fancyboy who just wanted to be kind all the time and used a 'people positive management style' with his crew, and blackbeard was definitely not a polynesian jewish man w heart eyes who decided to give it all up for an aristocrat he met on the high seas who, frankly, sucked shit irl.

(israel hands may have been a horny little freak irl, but i don't want to know. thats his business.)

there's also a specific level of handwaving in ofmd that makes it feel more baked in fiction than anything real - the characters are able to row across entire oceans (i guess????) in fucking canoes, there seems to be fast travel implemented based on how quickly they move around, and it very much so is 'oh this is convenient for the plot but doesnt make sense at all? put it in' which i actually found really enjoyable. (genuinely, there's a scene in which stede sails IN A DINGHY on THE OPEN OCEAN to a remote island with ZERO knowledge as to where the island is OR why he should be going there. but he shows up in a day. the show truly said we dont care and i love that for them.)

also, when i was watching ofmd (and black sails, which i know you didn't ask about but i WILL plug anyway), it was very easy to sort of... forget that they were real people and just enjoy the characters and the story! i think david jenkins (+ the other writers) do a really good job of sort of. taking the people's names and making them into characters of their own.

sorry this got long im rambly. yes ofmd is basically rpf, but the show itself feels so removed from the real blackbeard and stede bonnet that it's very easy to ignore that stuff.

honestly, give it a try! the show is an absolute delight and might genuinely be one of my faves of the year (yes its only march i am still confident in this). the discomfort about rpf is incredibly valid and i'm in the same boat as you (pirates, boat, get it), but our flag means death didn't kick up any of that for me, and i've watched the show three times now bc i am mentally ill. i would really recommend you give it a chance, and then if it does feel uncomfortable, you can always stop watching or just enjoy the supporting cast, which are basically all ocs there to be gay and cause problems.

[izzy-b-hands]

A scene from a fic I have no idea if I'll finish because I can't seem to finish anything today, but I loved this bit.

Quick overall background/plot: Stede's two kids pull a Stede and row away in their own stolen dinghy to come find him, because they don't want to wait until he's sailed closer to them to see him again. Hijinks and cute shit ensue, starting with Izzy rescuing them from the water before the Revenge accidentally hits their dinghy (I mean to be fair they're kids, and I bet steering a boat is hard. Lucky that Izzy is alert on watch to a probably slightly unhealthy in stress level degree!)

---

"Okay, but all we did was what you did," Alma scoffed. "We thought you'd be pleased we came to visit!"

Stede's heart broke. "I am, I promise! I'm only worried that Mum will panic, not knowing where you are."

"We literally left a note."

Ed nodded. "That's not so bad."

"Ed," Stede sighed. "Please."

"Sorry, I know I'm not helping. But I am really proud of them, even I hadn't done anything like this at their age!"

He held out a hand for high fives, which Alma and Louis happily gave him.

"We'll write and let her know they're safe here," Lucius said. "It'll be fine. Alma can even write a bit herself, to help show that they're okay."

Alma nodded. "Whoever you are, I like your idea."

"Lucius," Lucius smiled. "And I like your agreeing with me. New favourite crew member, aside from Pete."

"It's four in the morning," Izzy said. "We're all tired. Let's get back to bed, or back to watch for me, and revisit this when we're actually awake."

Alma nodded again. "I'm not just saying this cause Izzy saved us before your ship crunched our boat-"

"What?!" Stede, Ed, and Lucius asked in one horrified voice.

"It's fine; we stole that boat anyway so it isn't like we could bring it back to them," Alma said nonchalantly. "Anyway, I like his idea too. We've barely slept because we didn't want to crash if we slept too long."

Ed held out a hand to Louis, who took it with a smile. "Right then. Should we find you and your sister somewhere to sleep?"

"A hammock on deck, like a real pirate!"

No one could hide a giggle at that.

"One could be arranged," Lucius said. "Everyone else emptied out the jam room to use as a shared bedroom, so it is quiet out there now. But Izzy would be out there too, on watch."

Louis seemed to be considering it, and looked to Izzy. "You'll be out there too?"

"Until the sun comes up, then Buttons comes out to take over," Izzy said. "I think you'll like Mr. Buttons. He's friends with the gulls, you know."

"Like, they listen to him?" Louis asked eagerly.

"That and more. What do you think, still want the hammock out there?"

Louis nodded. "It's a little scary, but I want to do it. I mean, we're real pirates now. I can handle the dark."

"I'm sure, but if you need, just call," Izzy said, and turned to head back out.

Louis dropped Ed's hand and rushed over to take Izzy's instead.

He chuckled. "Want to be on watch until that hammock is ready?"

An eager nod, and then they were out to the deck, with Lucius already pondering how high the hammock should be put, so Louis could safely get in and out without help.

"Are you crying?" Alma asked Stede.

He was, a bit. It wasn't the whole thing of them wanting a taste of pirating, though he was also proud of that, even if Mary would rightfully be frustrated and then some by it. It was that they'd missed him enough to do something that was stupid and dangerous enough that even barely thinking about it again made him feel panicked. But it was loving and sweet at the same time and now Louis, who was still so young, wanted to show himself as grown up and brave, even if he still needed a hand to hold along the way.

"Think Dad's just really happy you two are safe and here now," Ed said softly, kneeling down to her level. "Now, do you want a hammock too, or one of the couches in our quarters?"

Alma winced. "Am I still a pirate if I take the couch?"

"Absolutely!" Ed smiled. "I still end up sleeping on those now and again. Very comfy for napping."

He looked up to Stede. "Shall I take her there, let her settle in?"

Stede nodded, and wiped away a tear, though it was instantly replaced with another. "Of course, we all need more sleep! You sleep well, alright? I'll be in shortly, but in the meantime if you need anything ask-"

"Ask Stepdad Ed," Alma finished, and looked to Ed as he stood. "I know you said we don't have to call you that, and I don't know if I will all the time. Can I try it though, and see if I like it?"

It was Ed's turn to have his emotions hit him like a truck, but he recovered with only a waver to his voice. "Of course! I'd be honoured even if you never use it again! Now, we don't have clean stuff your size, but I'll step out after we pull some things from your dad's wardrobe, and you can put on something out of that. Might be oversized, but it'll be dry and it won't smell like the salt water at least!"

He listened to them talk as they walked towards their quarters, until they weren't audible anymore. Alma was telling Ed how maybe Stede hadn't been the best dad, but then there was him playing pirates with them, had Ed's dad ever done that, because it was really fun, even if sometimes the sea monsters that got made up were scary. One time when she'd been stomach sick, Stede had ended up putting her in one of his extra long night shirts because literally all her nightclothes had gotten dirty, so it would be okay for her to wear one again for the night, not to worry, Stepdad Ed.

He left the galley, and gave himself a moment on the deck. Izzy and Louis were on the far end, with Izzy knelt down and pointing to something in the distance above them.

Maybe stars, Stede figured. Louis had always liked looking at the stars. Even as a newborn, he could be calmed by a walk out of the house, to stand under the night sky. With either one parent or both, and truly, it had been nice with both of them. Sitting on a bench they'd had moved to be closer for such walks, with Mary eventually falling asleep against his shoulder.

And Louis, little eyes fluttering to try and stay open, looking up to the stars.

He'd write the letter to Mary tonight, and would make sure they got on course right away to bring the kids back.

But until they were back, maybe he could make up at least a tiny bit for the previous less than great dadding. He was certainly going to try his best.