I never thought I'd have to write this, but as a journalist I realize how important transparency is to our readers: I'm finally caught up with One Piece.
For years I avoided the pirate anime, which debuted in 1999 when I was an infant, because of its terrifying length. I mean, at this point there are more than 1,100 episodes, and the story still isn't complete. But on Sunday, April 6, the anime returned from a six-month hiatus and — for the first time ever — I watched a new episode as it aired. In honor of that personal milestone, I've compiled a few of the show's most impactful moments that took me from skeptic to superfan.
EPISODE 37: "Luffy, help me"
To be completely honest, One Piece was hard for me to get into. Although the characters are interesting, and the world-building was intricate from the start, I wasn't convinced I was ready for a 1,000-plus-episode commitment.
Then I made it to Cocoyasi Village, the pirate-occupied hometown of the crew's soon-to-be navigator, Nami. As the Straw Hats learn more about Nami's tragic past, she retaliates, saying that they couldn't possibly understand her situation. However, in a moment of utter hopelessness, she finally asks Luffy for help, to which he obliges without hesitation. At the time, I just saw Luffy as another silly protagonist with lofty ambitions, but this kind moment revealed a deeper element of his character that I clung to. He may be a pirate, but he'll also help anyone in need, as long as they ask.
EPISODE 278: "I want to live"
This is the episode I fell in love with One Piece, and was one of the first times the show truly made me bawl.
In the story's world, archaeology is illegal as its practitioners might uncover the secret history that's kept a global government in power for centuries. About 50 episodes ago, ship archaeologist Nico Robin left with government intelligence agents who promised to leave the rest of the crew alone as long as she sacrificed herself.
The Straw Hat crew tries to rescue her a few times, but she tells them to just let her die. They're not deterred, however, and eventually infiltrate a government island where she was taken. After finding her, the crew learns she pushed them away out of fear. In response, Luffy orders his sniper to shoot down the government's flag, affirming that he'll fight anyone for his friends. It's a huge scene itself, yet moments later he yells to Robin, asking her to tell them she wants to continue living. In response, she lets out this guttural cry: "I want to live."
EPISODE 485: "The One Piece is real"
The Summit War saga (episode 385 to 516) was a lot, to put it simply. First the Straw Hat crew are utterly defeated and dispersed across the world. Then Luffy finds himself in the middle of an all-out war with the military as he and the Whitebeard pirates attempt to rescue Luffy's brother Ace from execution.
There are so many great scenes throughout the saga, but there's a moment that's stuck with me toward the end of the war when Whitebeard, then the oldest and strongest pirate in the world, is on the verge of death. Despite sustaining fatal wounds, Whitebeard stands tall and shouts to the entire battlefield that "The One Piece is real," encouraging the younger generation of pirates to keep searching the world for this mysterious treasure. (It's now been more than 600 episodes since this moment, and we still don't know what the One Piece actually is, but hey, we know it exists.)
EPISODE 1,015: "I'm the man who will become king of the pirates"
From the very first episode, Luffy has consistently said his goal is to become king of the pirates. Most times, it's an ambitious statement during a fight or relevant conversation, but sometimes it's more than that.
In this instance, Luffy looks up to two of the strongest living pirates, Big Mom and Kaido, telling them he's going to surpass them to become pirate king. His defiance in the face of danger is energizing to watch, and it's what solidified my love for Luffy and his friends. ♦
