A Critique of One Piece from a Viewer that's at the End of Whole Cake Island (me), so that’s settles the “How far did you get?” Question.
One Piece is a decent show. Its long journey that evokes nostalgia for the earlier parts, especially after spending so much time with the crew. The world-building for the journey, in my opinion, is the show’s only saving grace—and it’s undeniably good. However, there are other shows with far less screen time that achieve similar levels of immersive world-building, such as Made in Abyss, Tower of God, and No Game No Life.
It’s okay to like One Piece and even
...
have it as your favorite, but it’s not okay to belittle other people’s favorites just because you believe One Piece is superior or flawless. Unfortunately, that’s what much of the One Piece fanbase seems to do, which is why I’m writing this review. To be clear, I’m not here to trash One Piece as a series. I think it’s a solid 6/10 show, one I enjoy putting on when I don’t have anything else to watch. It’s always there for you because it’s a never-ending show. But I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, neither would I be mad if someone decided to quit it 20 episodes in because in my eyes one piece does not get better if it stays the same, almost never horrible, almost never amazing. One Piece is far from perfect, and I’d like to discuss its flaws.
The Problems with One Piece
1. Pacing: A Death Sentence
Let’s address the obvious: the pacing is abysmal. It’s not just a problem; it’s a death sentence. There are filler episodes that you can’t skip because they’re integrated into the plot. As a result, I’d estimate that 99% of One Piece episodes are 80% filler and 20% actual plot. Here are some examples:
In Fishman Island, it takes four episodes of swimming and chasing before it's been revealed that Hordy told 4 episodes ago to the first son of Neptune that he killed his mother.
In Amazon Lily, there are three entire episodes where the Amazons just shoot arrows at Luffy.
In Dressrosa, it takes 20 episodes just to stop walking through the city, with Zoro being lost and Sanji hanging out with Violet. The only one from the straw hats who intentionally did something useful in those episodes (as usual) is Robin.
The problem is compounded by the repetitive, trope-heavy humor. Characters like Zoro being perpetually lost or Sanji’s nosebleeds post-timeskip were amusing at first but grow tiresome when overused. Sanji, for instance, used to be a compelling character—a good cook who cared deeply about feeding the hungry and had some of the best filler episodes in the series. Now, he’s been reduced to a walking gag.
By the time you reach the conclusion of a long arc and the so-called "hype" moments happen, you’re too exhausted to care. You just want to move on. For me, One Piece doesn’t have a pacing problem; it has a pacing catastrophe. It’s similar to Pokémon in that way: I like it, but I won’t call it the greatest anime ever when it’s essentially a drawn-out series designed for kids (and nostalgic adults).
2. Fights: Lackluster and Overhyped
In Marineford, the buildup was intense. We were told dozens of times how powerful the Seven Warlords and the Three Admirals were. Naturally, I got hyped. But what did we get? Fifty episodes of Luffy running, barely fighting anyone. When major battles did happen, they often boiled down to characters throwing one punch each before the camera cut away. For example:
Vista and Mihawk exchanged a couple blows before their fight was sidelined.
Boa and Smoker had a brief clash that similarly went nowhere.
Aokiji vs Ace...
Marco vs Kizaru...
The only fight that felt truly finished is Whitebeard's final fight.
The fights in One Piece (at least up to where I’ve watched) are almost never thrilling. They’re bogged down by excessive talking, frequent cutaways, and lackluster choreography. The Katakuri vs. Luffy fight was a notable improvement because the pacing was better and the fight was given room to breathe. However, it still didn’t fully hype me up like fights in other shonen anime.
The constant switching between perspectives during fights also ruins the flow. While it’s important to show multiple points of view, there’s a time and place for it. Cutting away every two seconds diminishes the impact of battles and makes them feel disjointed.
3. Plot Armor: Too Obvious to Ignore
Yes, plot armor is a staple of shonen anime, but in One Piece, it’s painfully obvious. The characters are essentially indestructible, constantly surviving situations where they logically shouldn’t. A few examples:
Enel headshots the crew in Skypiea, and everyone survives.
The crew fights Gecko Moria without Luffy and somehow prevails.
Pell in Alabasta survives a freaking nuke.
Even weaker characters like Usopp and Nami repeatedly escape scenarios that should be fatal, and it is done by making villain characters who should be stronger, fight with no effort. When a character gets a "fatal" wound, you just know they’ll be wrapped in bandages in the next scene, perfectly fine. This completely removes any tension from fights. There’s a difference between knowing the main cast will likely survive and actively feeling that invincibility in every scene.
Controversial Takes
Luffy: The Worst Shonen MC?
I’ll admit it: I hate Luffy. He’s the worst shonen protagonist I’ve ever seen. Replace him with anyone else, and I think the show would be better.
I get that he’s supposed to embody freedom in a world ruled by a corrupt government, but there’s a difference between being free and being dumb. Goku is also a "dumb" protagonist, but he fits the Dragon Ball universe, where all that matters is fighting and getting stronger. Luffy, on the other hand, constantly needs his crew to explain even the simplest things to him and often charges into danger without a plan.
This recklessness puts the weaker crew members in unnecessary danger. For example:
In Skypiea and Thriller Bark, Luffy wanders aimlessly while his crew struggles with major threats.
In Dressrosa, he refuses a fleet of thousands of loyal fighters, a move that could have elevated him to Yonko-level strength. His decision—while thematic—still feels frustrating.
I don't say his personality doesn't fit the story, I just say I don't like it
Ace’s Death: Uncharacteristic and Frustrating
Ace’s death is one of the most emotional moments in One Piece, but I found it uncharacteristic. It felt like his sole purpose was to give Luffy emotional baggage.
Ace was known for being reckless, which is what landed him in Marineford in the first place. However, he delivers a heartfelt speech about wanting to live after seeing how much his life means to others. That speech felt like a turning point—a personality-changing moment. But then, seconds later, Ace throws all of that away because of a single insult to Whitebeard. It’s maddening.
I understand the argument that Ace is a tragic hero who succumbs to his flaws, but I don’t buy it. A speech that significant should reflect a true change in character. Ace deserved better.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve read this far, first of all, thank you, I know it's long. Also, you might think this type of show just isn’t for me—and you’re right. And that shows One Piece isn't perfect. Its flaws—particularly the pacing, lackluster fights, and plot armor—are very real and can contradict personal tastes. But what’s trash to one person might be gold to another.
So before you criticize someone else’s favorite series, remember that everyone’s preferences are valid.
Jan 1, 2025
A Critique of One Piece from a Viewer that's at the End of Whole Cake Island (me), so that’s settles the “How far did you get?” Question.
One Piece is a decent show. Its long journey that evokes nostalgia for the earlier parts, especially after spending so much time with the crew. The world-building for the journey, in my opinion, is the show’s only saving grace—and it’s undeniably good. However, there are other shows with far less screen time that achieve similar levels of immersive world-building, such as Made in Abyss, Tower of God, and No Game No Life. It’s okay to like One Piece and even ... 
Mar 30, 2024
Kami no Tou
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To me it's really a masterpiece in terms of what you can achieve in the span of 13 episodes.
This mysterious Tower set the setting in an mysterious in a beautiful way that I've never seen before way and it could seem as though the Tower is an infinite amount of floors (I didn't read the manhwa). The tests are complex, unique, different from each other and unlike any test I've ever seen before in anime, this is not your regular shonen action. The tests are also a way to deepen the plot, and the plot is not only amazing. It also managed to get you pretty ... |
