One Piece Season 2 continues to deliver a thrilling live-action adaptation, interwoven with lore and references to the source material. When the source material is as massive as One Piece, easter eggs are not just fun little nods to the original story; they are also part of the storytelling, worldbuilding, and potential predictions of what is to come.
Season 2 really utilizes the easter eggs, packing every episode with references that range from fun gags to major foreshadowing. Although some easter eggs are a little more obvious than others, some are deep cuts and offer some rewards for longtime fans who are familiar with Eiichiro Oda’s anime and manga series. Although finding the easter eggs this season is fun, they’re not just for fan service. The references also serve a bigger purpose in the adaptation.
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Including these references in the adaptation is not just about recreating One Piece; it is about understanding how to build the world and set up the story for next season. Especially since the likelihood of the live-action adaptation catching up to the anime or manga is still very slim. However, using some easter eggs helps plant seeds for certain characters and storylines that would take much longer to unfold.
Sabo & Dragon
One of the earliest and most surprising easter eggs in One Piece Season 2 was the brief glimpse of Sabo. Sabo is a key member of the Revolutionary Army under Dragon’s command. Dragon also happens to be the father of Monkey D. Luffy and the son of Monkey D. Garp. Although Dragon’s inclusion in Loguetown is accurate to the source material, the live-action adaptation of Luffy does not confirm his familial ties to the Straw Hat Pirate captain yet.
Meanwhile, Sabo’s inclusion this season was a shock, since the character doesn’t make a debut in the source material until Chapter 583 of the manga. Additionally, Sabo is not only a member of the Revolutionary Army but also Luffy’s brother. Introducing Sabo to the story, even for a brief moment, ushers in a vital emotional thread in Luffy’s backstory.
Sun God Nika & Elbaph
One Piece Season 2 also offers glimpses of some of the biggest foreshadowing through direct and indirect storytelling. While at Little Garden, Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) talks to the giant, Dorry, who tells him about his homeland, Elbaph, and mentions the Sun God Nika. During their conversation, Luffy and Vivi (Charithra Chandran) are seen standing next to what appears to be a game board with pieces representing specific characters. One of those characters bears a strong resemblance to the legendary warrior Sun God Nika.
In the source material, Nika is a legendary warrior who is tied to the mythology of the giants of Elbaph. Nika freed enslaved people during ancient times and was known as the “Warrior of Liberation”. Later in the anime and manga, it is revealed that Nika is the true form of Luffy’s Devil Fruit. Years before the series, the World Government tried to conceal the fruit’s true identity by calling it the Gum-Gum Fruit. In actuality, the delivery fruit’s real name is Hito Hito no Mi: Model Nika.
In addition to granting the devil fruit bearers rubber powers, it allows them to embody the characteristics and powers of the Sun God Nika. It is not until his fight with Kaido, where Luffy’s life is pushed to the very brink, that he awakens his hidden Sun God Nika powers.
Pandaman
The live-action One Piece would not be complete without adding at least a few nods to Pandaman. Pandaman is not an integral character or major foreshadowing, but it is a fun nod to the source material. Pandaman sightings appear throughout the second season of One Piece, some more subtle than others. One brief, notable sighting this season occurs in a scene where Mr. 5 is reading a newspaper.
Pandaman is a long-time recurring gag character that Eiichiro Oda often hides in the background of the manga and anime as an easter egg. Pandaman’s origins actually have little to do with One Piece. Instead, the Pandaman was created for a Kinnikuman character contest in 1998.
Pedro
Some One Piece easter eggs are harder to spot than others. But one that did not go unnoticed was a certain wanted poster in Logugtown featuring Pedro. Pedro is a jaguar Mink, a rare race of anthropomorphic, humanoid animals, who live on Zou.
Pedro is first introduced in the Zou Arc during episode 754, and goes on to play a major role in the Whole Cake Island Arc. The subtle mention of Pedro via his wanted poster helps to broaden the world-building and potentially hints at future allies for Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates.
God Valley
One of the most significant namedrops in this season comes from a flashback conversation with Roger (Michael Dorman) and Garp (Vincent Regan). In the scene, the two men are conversing right before Roger is to be escorted to his execution. During their conversation, Roger calls Garp “The Hero of God Valley”. To newcomers, the name may not carry a lot of weight, but God Valley is an extremely significant event in the One Piece series.
God Valley was an incident that revealed the darker side of the World Government and led Garp and Roger to develop a newfound, deeper respect for one another. The mention of God Valley may not mean the live-action will adapt it, but it does show that the Netflix series is not afraid to explore the deeper, darker parts of One Piece lore.
Brook
This season provides one of the most endearing moments between Laboon and the musician pirates. During a flashback in episode two, Luffy learns from Crocus that the ginormous whale, Laboon, desperately tries to break through Reverse Mountain to follow his pirate friends who left many years ago. One of the pirates that Laboon shared a special bond with was the crew’s musician, Brook (Martial T. Batchamen).
In the source material, Crocus tells Laboon’s tragic backstory, but Brook is neither specifically named nor mentioned. It is not until much later in the series that Luffy and his crew happen to meet Brook during the Thriller Bark Arc. At this point in the story, Brook is the only survivor of the Rumbar Pirates, as everyone else had unfortunately died many years ago. Brook, on the other hand, survived thanks to his Devil Fruit powers, but it came at the cost of his becoming a living skeleton.
The decision to include Brook this season plants a deeper emotional thread that could be explored if and when the character returns in later seasons of the live-action series.
Bartolomeo
One Piece Season 2 is a meaningful and surprising addition to the case with the addition of Bartolomeo (Nahum Hughes). Even though Bartolomeo’s introduction in the source material comes much later, the character’s appearance in Loguetown remains accurate, with only a few tweaks for the live-action adaptation. In the anime, it is revealed during the Dressrosa Arc that Bartolomeo was present when Luffy survived getting struck by lightning on the execution platform. After witnessing this event, Bartolomeo became one of Luffy’s biggest fans and supporters.
In contrast, in the live action, Bartolomeo is a small-time thief in Loguetown who purposefully bumps into Luffy in an attempt to pick his pockets. However, things do not go according to plan for Bartolomeo. Instead of robbing what he thought would be an easy mark, he is inspired by Luffy and helps the Straw Hats escape the Marines.
Bartolomeo’s appearance in the series is just another example of how the live-action is taking advantage of, including various characters to help establish lore and character relationships. Additionally, Bartolomeo is. The show highlights how Luffy’s spirit and impact are growing, even at such an early stage of his pirating career.
Crocus & Gol D. Roger
Season 2 deepens certain connections to the former Pirate King through characters like Crocus (Clive Russell). As Crocus watches Luffy and the Straw Hats depart to continue their adventure, he glances over at a picture of himself and Gol D. Roger, the deceased Pirate King.
Unbeknownst to Luffy and the other Straw Hats, Crocus is not just a lighthouse keeper and caretaker for Laboon. Crocus is also a former member of Gol D. Roger’s pirate crew and served as the ship’s doctor.
Crocus was not an original member of the Roger Pirates, but he did accompany the crew for three years and provided them with care. During that time, Crocus was also present to witness Gol D. Roger conquer the Grand Line and is one of the few characters who know where the One Piece is located.
Blackbeard Is Coming
Luffy and his friends faced off against their fair share of formidable foes this season. But bigger and badder foes are on the way and will be sure to stand in the way of Luffy’s dream of finding the One Piece.
Blackbeard, also known as Marshall D. Teach, is one of those foes. Although the notorious pirate isn’t physically seen this season, that does not stop viewers from witnessing the aftermath of Blackbeard and his crew’s might at Drum Island.
When Luffy and his comrades arrive at Drum Island, they initially meet with hostility because the citizens had just survived an attack from Blackbeard. With no support or defense against the pirates’ siege due to King Wapol’s greed and cowardice, the Drum Island inhabitants were forced to fend for themselves against Blackbeard as best they could.
This inclusion is accurate to the source material and plays a significant role in Blackbeard’s master plan that may be revealed later on in the series. Additionally, the mention of Blackbeard helps to set the stage for one of Luffy’s most formidable foes to enter the series.
Gol D. Roger’s Son
Another major reveal that gets hinted at in One Piece Season 2 is the existence of Gol D. Roger’s son. During the flashback scene, Roger entrusts Garp with the secret of his child and begs him to protect them from the World Government.
This season did not reveal the true identity of Roger’s son, leaving it as an overarching mystery in the plot. However, fans familiar with the One Piece series know that Gol D. Roger’s son is none other than Portgas D. Ace, Luffy’s brother. The reference to Roger’s son could be an opportunity to introduce Ace next season.
The Reverie
Vivi’s flashback to the Reverie helps further expand One Piece’s world. The Reverie scene offers a peek into the various rulers and political powers within the world. Although the scene offers some developmental moments for young Vivi’s character, it also serves a dual purpose in further world-building.
During the Reverie, Wapol (Rob Colletti) mentions the Fishman Queen’s assassination and Jinbe. These references are not throwaways. The touch on major political issues, characters, and moments that contribute to the world’s political landscape and the growing tensions its inhabitants face.
The Will of “D”
Although Season 2 does not explain or name the Will of D directly, there are a few hints to the mysterious letter. The show emphasizes the importance of characters like Luffy and Gol D. Roger, who share the same initial.
The most notable exchange that hinted at more meaning behind the initial came from Dr. Kureha and her exchange with Dalton about Gol D. Rogers’ true name. The moment gives audiences a small breadcrumb to a bigger mystery behind the King of the Pirates and Luffy’s shared middle initial.
One Piece Season 2 does not just reward fans with a few fun easter eggs and fan service references. The new season uses subtle background details, introduces certain characters, and makes brief references to major reveals to expand its world-building and lore, while hinting at what else is to come in Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates’ adventures.
Watch One Piece Season 2 exclusively on Netflix.
