After Netflix unleashed a live-action Cowboy Bebop that failed to meet the expectations of fans, all eyes laid on the new One Piece, and although it sits at #1 on Netflix’s top 10, fans also seem to like it.
It’s easy to say One Piece is possibly the most popular anime series of all time. With over 1,000 episodes and counting, the series is showing no signs of slowing down, which points all eyes towards Netflix and their live-action adaptation. Following the poor fan reception of Netflix’s live-action Cowboy Bebop and its subsequent cancellation after topping Netflix’s top 10 list after week one, anything can happen regarding the future of the new live-action series, but this week’s reports are encouraging.
The One Piece adaptation is currently projected to surpass every other original show on the Netflix slate if it continues momentum, as the show has remained in the #1 spot for an entire week since its release. From August 28 to September 3, the show amassed 18.5 million views and over 140 million hours views over that span. This is notably more views than the record-breaking Stranger Things Season Four opening week. It’s also worth noting the legendary series creator, Eiichiro Oda served as an Executive Producer and even had a hand in casting Iñaki Godoy as the protagonist Monkey D. Luffy.
Fans have also fallen behind the flag of the Straw Hat Pirates, with the series garnering a favourable 77% on Metacritic from users, with a more mixed reception coming from critics. CGMagazine’s review of One Piece says, “It is still too early to say, but at the very least, the show does a good enough job of introducing new audiences to Eiichiro Oda’s masterclass manga in a show that seems to genuinely care about its source material.”
All in all, it seems One Piece has been a success, but judging from how the Cowboy Bebop adaptation also did well enough and got cancelled after a week at #1, it remains uncertain whether fans will see a second season of the Shounen live-action or not. Fans can also swing over to the Tudum One Piece breakdown prior to watching the series if they haven’t yet.
