Netflix's 2-Part Pirate Franchise Is So Good, It Needs At Least 10 More Seasons

Stories of swashbuckling adventure have been popular in literature and movies for decades, yet there are remarkably few modern pirate TV shows. There are plenty of small-screen memorable fantasy epics and historical dramas, but the streaming era has largely overlooked tales of piracy on the high seas. Outside a few notable exceptions, such as Black Sails and Our Flag Means Death, prestige pirate television has been almost nonexistent. It’s a surprising oversight given how naturally the genre lends itself to the kinds of spectacular action and high-stakes adventures audiences crave.

There is, however, one notable exception. Arriving in 2023, Netflix's live-action One Piece may take place in a fantastical world rather than the real-world Age of Sail, but it has already established itself as the definitive pirate TV show of the era. With two seasons already under its belt and a third on the way, the live-action One Piece has successfully combined the scale of prestige fantasy TV with the limitless freedom and nautical adventure that define the best pirate stories.

Based on Eiichiro Oda's hugely popular manga, Netflix's One Piece follows Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) and his growing crew of ragtag pirates, the Straw Hats, as they sail the Grand Line in search of the legendary One Piece treasure. What's more, those subscribers who may have avoided the show because they have no interest in manga or anime shouldn't be put off. No prior knowledge is required, and the live-action One Piece remains the best pirate saga to grace screens in years.

Netflix’s One Piece Is The Ultimate TV Pirate Adventure

There are plenty of spectacular fantasy elements in One Piece, and Netflix has brought Eiichiro Oda's wildly imaginative world to life with no expenses spared. Strange creatures, colorful locations, and visually jaw-dropping Devil Fruit abilities bring an inventive spectacle that fantasy fans are eagerly devouring. However, live-action fantasy is already well represented in the streaming era. Pirate television, however, remains remarkably underserved. That makes One Piece particularly valuable, because beneath its fantastical mythology is an exceptional swashbuckling adventure that understands why pirate stories have endured for so long.

Just like the manga and anime before it, Netflix’s One Piece is full of treasure hunts, naval battles, rival crews, dangerous islands, nautical legends, eccentric captains with equally bombastic crews, and a constant sense of exploration. In other words, everything that makes pirate stories great. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates are driven by the kind of freedom and ambition that have always been central to the genre, too. Their journey feels like an authentic pirate saga despite the world around them being an incredibly unique fantasy setting.

Inarguably the best live-action pirate franchise since Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Netflix’s live-action One Piece is essential viewing for anyone who enjoys swashbuckling adventure. It caters to fans of pirate TV shows and movies with just as much care as it does devotees of Eiichiro Oda’s manga. It’s a swashbuckling epic that feels both familiar and completely distinctive, and is made just as much with enjoyers of high-seas piracy in mind as it is One Piece manga/anime fans.

The Live-Action One Piece Could Go On Forever

Netflix's live-action One Piece has so far produced two seasons, with the third due to arrive in 2027. One Piece season 3 is set to move into the manga's Alabasta Saga, meaning the adventure of Iñaki Godoy’s live-action Luffy still has a lot of ground to cover before he catches up to his on-page counterpart. Eiichiro Oda's original manga has already surpassed 1,150 chapters, and the story is still ongoing.

That makes the potential lifespan of Netflix's adaptation absurdly long. Even if the live-action series continues adapting the source material at a faster pace than the manga's original publication, One Piece would require 10 to 20 more seasons to reach the story's current endpoint. A hypothetical adaptation covering the entire One Piece manga could easily require well over a decade depending on how many chapters each season adapts.

Realistically, adapting every remaining chapter of One Piece into live-action is unlikely to be straightforward. The manga is still being published, production costs are substantial, and the cast and creative team would need to remain committed for years. The Netflix show will likely find its own way to end the One Piece story when a suitable narrative off-ramp emerges. However, it's undeniable how much potential longevity Netflix’s One Piece possesses.

If audience interest remains strong, Netflix could continue the live-action One Piece for an exceptionally long time. The franchise has enough source material to support at least 10 more seasons, with plenty of room for the adaptation to develop into one of streaming's defining long-form fantasy adventures. Whether it will or not remains to be seen, but seasons one and two are already the best modern pirate story available to stream.