In Season 1, Episode 7 of the Netflix series One Piece, titled “The Girl with the Sawfish Tattoo,” the narrative continues the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy), Nami (Emily Rudd), Roronoa Zoro (Mackenyu), Usopp (Jacob Romero Gibson), and Sanji (Taz Skylar). However, Nami is no longer with the group because she is, in truth, working for the Arlong Pirates under its captain, Arlong (McKinley Belcher III). Therefore, the episode begins with the group using a bodiless Buggy (Jeff Ward) to track Arlong and Nami to the Conomi Islands.
At the Baratie, Vice Admiral Garp (Vincent Regan) meets with Chef Zeff (Craig Fairbass) for information about his grandson Luffy. Despite tensions during the meeting due to Zeff’s past reputation as a pirate, Zeff manages to soothe Garp’s temper by welcoming him to a free meal with medium-rare T-Bone steaks, much to the Vice Admiral’s excitement due to his love for meat. After eating a lot of meat, Garp continues to question Zeff about Luffy, only for the chef to distract Garp again with a rare vintage from Micqueot and an explanation of how Garp and Zeff are part of an old generation of Marines and pirates. The chef even states how they need to make way for a new generation of Marines and pirates in the future, which applies to pirates like Luffy and Marines like Koby (Morgan Davies) and Helmeppo (Aidan Scott). Garp refuses Zeff’s statement because the Vice Admiral does not want his grandson to be executed like the Pirate King Gold Roger. Even after a long, genuine conversation, Zeff’s distraction and attempt to protect Luffy fail when Koby and Helmeppo pay the Baratie barman for information on Luffy’s whereabouts, which points to him heading to the Conomi Islands, much to Garp’s joy and Zeff’s concern.
In the Conomi Islands, Nami meets with Arlong, who wants her to continue drawing navigational maps. Due to her work, the Arlong Pirates have information on every Marine and pirate base from the Goa Kingdom to the Conomi Islands. However, Arlong demands more because he desires for him, his crew, and Fish-Men to conquer every sea in the world. Nami hands Arlong to Cocoyasi Village to talk with her people there since the Fish-Men captain believes they would prefer to see a human representative of his crew, not a Fish-Man.
Later, Luffy and his group arrive at Cocoyasi Village where the villagers, led by their sheriff Genzo, are gathering money to pay tribute to the Arlong Pirates. The villagers are currently in a horrible state because the village is constantly oppressed by Arlong and his crew. Also, their resources are drained dry because of the pirates’ constant greedy demand for tribute. When Nami arrives in the village, everyone dislikes her due to her affiliation with their oppressors, but she stoically says the villagers need to find and earn more money for tribute before leaving.
Confused about why Nami is hated by the village, Luffy and his friends meet with Nami’s adoptive older sister, Nojiko (Chioma Umeala). Nojiko tells them about how she and Nami were adoptive sisters raised by their adoptive mother Bellemere (Genna Galloway), who was a former Marine who found the two in the aftermath of a battle between Marines and pirates in an East Blue village. To protect the two orphaned girls, Bellemere resigned from the Marines and raised them in her hometown of Cocoyasi Village as tangerine farmers. However, the Arlong Pirates attacked, and Arlong personally killed Bellemere because she could only pay tribute to keep her two adoptive daughters alive, but not herself.
At Arlong Park, the pirates are celebrating a night party until they are met by corrupt Marines led by Captain Nezumi (Rory Acton-Burnell). Nezumi demands Arlong protection money in exchange for not reporting to Marine Headquarters on the state of Conomi Islands under Arlong’s rule. Marines, like Nezumi, are why Nami distrusts the Marines and never likely went to them for help to liberate her village from Arlong’s rule. However, not all Marines are corrupt, with leaders like Garp still dedicated to protecting the innocent and fighting for justice. Nezumi demands more money, but Arlong is infuriated and takes them to his headquarters where he intimidates Nezumi to not demand too much protection money compared to before. During the conversation, the two discuss humanity’s prejudices toward Fish-Men and how the rift is slowly getting fixed by people in the World Government like Jimbei, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, whom Arlong sees as a fool and a traitor. As Nezumi leaves, Nami tells Arlong that she has the hundred million berries ready to offer in exchange for the Arlong Pirates to leave Conomi Islands. Arlong tells Nami to bring the money before sunrise but secretly goes behind Nami’s back by telling Nezumi of Nami’s hidden money cache which the Marine Captain could take as Arlong’s payment for protection from the Marines.
Nami heads to Bellemere’s grave where she hid the money and is confronted by Nojiko, who is surprised that Nami did not betray the village because of her selfless act to collect enough tribute to pay the Arlong Pirates to leave the Conomi Islands. However, the two sisters are ambushed by Nezumi and his corrupt Marines who take the money, to Nami’s horror and sadness, because all her acts of thievery to save the village were for naught. She becomes so angry that she attempts to remove her sawfish tattoo with a knife until Luffy stops her, at which point she asks Luffy for help. The episode concludes with Luffy gathering his friends to fight the Arlong Pirates and liberate the Conomi Islands from their oppression.
Garp and Zeff talk about the Next Generation of Pirates and Marines
In One Piece Season 1, Episode 7, Director Josef Kubota Wladyka and the legendary Eiichiro Oda crafted another great live adaptation narrative of the Arlong Park Arc, focusing on Nami’s backstory, alongside four writers: Tiffany Greshler, Ian Stokes, Allison Weintraub, and Lindsay Gelfand.
This episode delves deep into the emotional core of Nami’s character, aligning closely with Eiichiro Oda’s original manga narrative. The Arlong Park Arc is a pivotal storyline in One Piece, and the live adaptation successfully captures the essence of Nami’s complex history.
The episode begins by addressing Nami’s apparent betrayal of the main group, revealing her affiliation with the Arlong Pirates. This departure from the Straw Hat crew is explained through a meticulous exploration of Nami’s past, a narrative arc that originates in Oda’s manga.
The portrayal of Vice Admiral Garp’s encounter with Chef Zeff at the Baratie retains the tension and depth seen in the manga. The conversation between Garp and Zeff provides insight into Luffy’s background and the complexities of the world of pirates and Marines, staying true to Oda’s original vision.
As the story progresses to the Conomi Islands, the live adaptation maintains the intensity of Nami’s interactions with Arlong. The demand for navigational maps and Arlong’s ambition to conquer the seas echo the manga’s themes, emphasizing the pervasive oppression faced by the villagers.
The live adaptation also effectively portrays the villagers’ plight in Coco Village, underlining the constant struggle against Arlong’s tyranny. Nami’s conflicted relationship with the villagers, rooted in her association with the oppressors, remains faithful to Oda’s narrative.
The episode culminates in a dramatic confrontation at Arlong Park, mirroring the manga’s depiction of corrupt Marines led by Captain Nezumi. This encounter emphasizes Nami’s deep-seated distrust of the Marines and her desperate attempt to free her village from Arlong’s rule, paralleling the manga’s themes of justice and corruption.
The emotional climax unfolds at Bellemere’s grave, where Nami’s tragic past is revealed. The live adaptation captures the heart-wrenching moment when Nami’s selfless act to save her village is thwarted, aligning with Oda’s portrayal of the character’s resilience and determination.
In conclusion, One Piece Season 1, Episode 7, serves as a commendable live adaptation of the Arlong Park Arc, staying true to Eiichiro Oda’s masterful storytelling. The incorporation of Nami’s manga backstory enriches the narrative, providing a compelling exploration of her character and the overarching themes of justice, oppression, and the enduring spirit of the Straw Hat crew.
Rating: 9/10