In Season 1, Episode 3 of the Netflix series One Piece, titled “Tell No Tales,” the narrative continues the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy), Nami (Emily Rudd), and Roronoa Zoro (Mackenyu). The trio heads to Syrup Village in the Gecko Islands to get a new ship because the small boat they were using is slowly sinking. Since Syrup Village is well-known for its shipbuilding business, the port has a large shipyard where the trio looks for a new ship. Nami suggests stealing a ship because buying one is expensive, and they don’t have the money. Luffy refuses, insisting on obtaining one the right way. The self-proclaimed Straw-Hat pirate captain walks across the shipyard and finds the ship that will become the Going Merry. It is where Luffy meets Usopp (Jacob Romero Gibson), a shipwright. However, Usopp is too inexperienced to build or fix a ship.

Nami and Zoro join the conversation in which Usopp explains he could help them get the Going Merry because his friend, Kaya (Celeste Loots), owns the shipyard business. Kaya’s parents led Syrup Village’s shipyard business until they passed away. Usopp takes the trio to her mansion, where they are confronted by Kaya’s maid and cook, Sham (Bianca Oosthuizen), and Buchi (Albert Pretorius). Sham and Buchi attempt to kick Usopp out due to his “annoying” personality until Kaya, accompanied by her butler Klahadore (Alexander Maniatis), intervenes. Kaya invites them to dinner and opens her large closet to Usopp and the trio so they can find something “formal” to wear. Merry (Brett Williams), another of Kaya’s butlers and her finance manager, joins the group for dinner.

In Garp’s ship, Vice-Admiral Garp (Vincent Regan) brings Koby (Morgan Davies) to his quarters to play a strategic board game called “Go.” Garp plays the game with Koby to teach the young cadet war strategies, boost his confidence, and test his loyalty to the Marines. Soon, Helmeppo enters Garp’s quarters to show the Vice-Admiral a Straw-Hat pirate flag they found on an empty boat. Koby adds they are close to the Gecko Islands, making Garp realize Luffy and his friends are at Syrup Village. The conversation ends with Garp ordering Koby and Helmeppo to prepare a landing party to hunt down Luffy and his fellow “pirates.”

Unknown to Kaya and the group, the butler Klahadore is Captain Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates, with Sham and Buchi as his crew members. Kuro plans to poison Kaya to inherit her family fortune and use it to escape his life of piracy, taking over the shipyard business. The dinner goes well until Luffy unknowingly prevents Kaya from being poisoned. With his plans ruined, “Klahadore” calls Merry to the cellar and kills him. Kuro plans to kill Kaya but more directly.

Later, Nami attempts to rob Kaya until she accidentally runs into the latter in her bedroom. Nami abandons her thievery when she bonds with Kaya over their past losses and grievances. Luffy also befriends Usopp when it turns out Yasopp, the Red-Hair Pirate Luffy befriended, is Usopp’s father. While trying to find more alcohol, Zoro and later Usopp run into Kuro, and Zoro duels the Captain of the Black Cat Pirates. Sham and Buchi knock out Zoro during the duel and take the unconscious Zoro and the dead Merry to the well to hide their bodies. Usopp escapes the mansion and heads to Syrup Village to ask the villagers for help, but they ignore him due to Usopp’s “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” incidents. In the past, Usopp made false alarms of pirate invasions to cope with the fact that Yasopp left Usopp and his sick and dying mother, Banchina (Chanté Grainge), to become a great pirate. Sad that his past actions caused no one to trust him, Koby, Helmeppo, and the Marines meet Usopp to help him.

Back at Orange Town, Buggy returns to his circus tent to find his missing limbs in the chests. Kuroobi (Patrick Seitz), an officer of the Arlong Pirates, confronts Buggy, stating that Arlong (McKinley Belcher III) wants a word with him. Buggy refuses and attacks Kuroobi, but the fish-man knocks the clown captain out with fishman karate. Buggy wakes up being confronted by Arlong, the most dangerous pirate in East Blue, who wants the clown to pay tribute for being a pirate in East Blue. Buggy refuses, and before Arlong tries to kill the clown, Buggy informs the fish-man about Luffy and his desire to find the One Piece and that he has the Grand Line map.

Captain Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates

In One Piece Season 1, Episode 3, Director Emma Sullivan, Writers Matt Owens & Damani Johnson, and the legendary Eiichiro Oda provided another intriguing episode. The episode navigates through the Syrup Village arc, bringing the manga’s captivating storyline to life while introducing some deviations, notably in the fate of Merry. In the original One Piece storyline, both in the manga and the anime, Merry remains alive to continue aiding Kaya and managing her family’s shipyard business. However, the live-action adaptation takes a different turn by having Kuro kill Merry. This alteration introduces a unique twist to the narrative, creating a more dramatic and intense moment in the live-action series. 

The Syrup Village arc is a significant part of the One Piece series, serving as a foundation for the crew’s camaraderie and commitment to obtaining a ship the honorable way. The episode skillfully captures the essence of the manga’s storyline, maintaining the core elements of Luffy’s determination, showing Nami’s cunning mind, and introducing new characters like Usopp. The live-action adaptation successfully brings these characters to life, with the actors portraying Monkey D. Luffy, Nami, Roronoa Zoro, and Usopp delivering compelling performances. 

The strategic board game scene between Vice-Admiral Garp and Koby adds depth to the episode, illustrating the Marines’ training methods and emphasizing Garp’s mentorship towards the young cadet. The introduction of Arlong and his demand for tribute from Buggy creates an intriguing connection between different arcs, hinting at the challenges ahead for the Straw Hat Pirates.

Overall, Season 1, Episode 3 effectively captures the spirit of Eiichiro Oda’s work, blending action, humor, and character development. The live-action adaptation showcases the creative decisions made by the production team, balancing faithfulness to the source material with the need for adaptation to a new medium. It is appreciative how familiar elements from the manga and anime and the unique twists introduced in the live-action series make it a promising addition to the One Piece universe.

Rating: 9/10