It’s been a little over two months since Stranger Things came to an epic conclusion on Netflix that left a massive hole in our hearts in more ways than one. However, the show’s biggest replacement in terms of sheer production value is back for another season to help fill the void, and while it might be a global hit on streaming, it’s struggling in a way to repeat the success of Season 1. When the live-action adaptation of One Piece hit Netflix in 2023, it was an immediate hit both overseas and in the United States. It soared to the number one position on the Top 10, and rightfully so. It came with a built-in audience thanks to the hugely popular manga it was based on, as well as the anime version that has been running since 1999. Fans couldn’t get enough of the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates as they sought out the legendary hidden treasure known as the “One Piece.” Not only did the series draw massive numbers for Netflix, but it was a critical hit that earned a Certified Fresh score of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. Perhaps the best thing of all is that One Piece managed to draw in a huge crop of new fans who weren’t familiar with the source material. It’s one of those shows where you don’t have to read the manga or watch the anime to know what’s going on. You can just jump right in and enjoy Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) and his crew sailing the Grand Line. As such, loyal viewers were eager for the series to return for its sophomore season, but since it came back on Mar. 10, there’s been a noticeable difference in the way it’s being received by Netflix’s audience compared to Season 1.
‘One Piece’ Season 2 Is Struggling to Replicate the Success of Season 1

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As mentioned, One Piece Season 2 hit Netflix earlier this week, dropping all eight episodes at once. It’s already a critical smash, earning a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from pundits, and a 96% score from fans. By all accounts, it should be the number one show all over the place, but in the United States, it’s struggling to replicate the success of Season 1. At the time of this writing, One Piece Season 2 is currently the fourth most popular TV show on Netflix in the United States, trailing behind Love Is Blind: The Reunion in first, Virgin River in second, and Age of Attraction in third. That’s a bit disconcerting when you consider it just came out, and usually a show of its caliber would immediately take the top spot. That’s not to say that One Piece Season 2 is a failure by any means. Perish the thought. It’s just curious that it has yet to reach the heights of Season 1 in terms of rankings. One reason could be the two and a half year gap between seasons. Those who were casual viewers of Season 1 in 2023 that tuned in to see what all the hype was about might have lost interest over time, and can’t be bothered returning to the Blue Planet to see what happens next. Another is the stiff competition One Piece faces from the likes of Bridgerton, The Night Agent, and Steven Spielberg’s new docuseries, The Dinosaurs — all of which also take up space in the Top 10.

In any case, One Piece is still a hit either way you look at it. Despite only being fourth in the United States, it’s in first place on the worldwide chart (per Flix Patrol), which only highlights its global reach. Even if the U.S. isn’t its strongest market, its international success can’t be ignored.
Will There Be a Season 3 of ‘One Piece’?

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For those who can’t get enough of One Piece, you’re in luck. The series has already been renewed for a third season, which is currently in production. The goal is to get it out quicker, so there isn’t such a large gap like there was between Seasons 1 and 2. No release date has been set, but we expect it to premiere at some point in 2027.

Release Date

August 31, 2023

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Matt Owens, Steven Maeda, Joe Tracz

Directors

Tim Southam, Marc Jobst, Josef Kubota Wladyka

Writers

Tiffany Greshler, Diego Gutierrez, Allison Weintraub, Lindsay Gelfand

Iñaki Godoy

Monkey D. Luffy