The second part of One Piece’s live-action Baratie adaptation, The Chef and the Chore Boy may also be the best episode yet. Capturing perfectly the moments that truly make One Piece special, it gives a fantastic rendition of Sanji’s backstory. That’s not the only place the sixth episode of One Piece’s live-action excels, and there’s plenty to discuss in this review of The Chef and the Chore Boy.
Fair warning! This will contain full spoilers for Netflix’s One Piece live-action adaptation. The series is available to stream on Netflix right now, so get on it before reading!
Can Zeff Save Zoro?
The Straw Hats face one of their first real brushes with death, as Zoro lies bleeding in Nami’s bed on the Going Merry. Luffy runs into Baratie to beg for help, and manages to interrupt an argument between Zeff and Sanji. Despite Zeff’s initial unwillingness to help, Sanji’s insistence eventually moves him and he disinfects Zoro’s wounds before stitching them. Though he’s no longer bleeding, he’s lost enough blood that he may not make it through. Zeff suggests that they stay by his side, speak to him, and keep him with a lifeline to this world as he recovers. This actually leads to a really cool easter egg where Nami reads him the story of Noland the Liar! He’s an essential character in the lore of One Piece, and gets more exposition later on.
Despite all this, Luffy is the one who doesn’t know what to say. He struggles with how he feels, with the knowledge that without Zoro he may not be able to make it to the Grand Line. Usopp is of course telling tall tales in the meanwhile, but it’s mostly Nami who’s keeping the unconscious swordsman company.
Who are the Chef and the Chore Boy?
The title of the episode of course refers to Zeff and Sanji, with a big chunk of the episode focusing on their history together. A young Sanji serves as an apprentice cook for a charter vessel when it comes under attack by pirates, none other than the Chef Pirates led by Red Shoes Zeff. The chef just so happens to try some food Sanji cooks while the kid hides, but Zeff finds him and actually compliments his cooking! Also shout out to Zeff’s combat belt of spices across his chest, a brilliant silly detail for the character.
The story of Sanji and Zeff washing up on a small, sheer outcropping of rock is beautifully told. Poor Sanji gets his sack of food, told that the bigger sack is Zeff’s portion because he’s so much larger. Sanji lasts a few weeks with a meager amount of food before eventually growing desperate enough to attack Zeff for his, if he’s still alive. Though he cuts the sack open to find Zeff’s food, there’s nothing there but useless treasure. Zeff is now missing a leg though, as he cut it off to cook and eat for survival. Sanji’s realization and Zeff’s confession that he wants the boy to finish his dream of seeing the All Blue is such a pivotal moment in the character’s arc, and it’s beautifully realized here.
Arlong Arrives at Baratie
Just as Nami confesses her true intentions and motivations to Zoro, Arlong shows up at Baratie. The Fishman isn’t happy about Straw Hat Luffy impeding on his turf of the East Blue. Now he’s hunting the fresh pirate, and out for blood. Zeff refuses to give Luffy up though, insisting he hasn’t seen anyone like that, while Luffy is still struggling to find words for keeping Zoro in the living world. After Arlong and his crew, Kuroobi, and Chu destroy half the restaurant, Luffy makes his presence known.
The fight between Luffy and Arlong is great for showing the power gap between them as it stands. So much of One Piece’s fights is Luffy figuring out how to take down the newest villain. It’s always fun to see him not quite get it the first time, with him being beat down by Arlong. It’s a Luffy thing to have some setbacks just to figure out a plan for his next battle. Despite all this, it’s Nami’s betrayal that really sets Luffy on edge before Arlong throws him into the sea. He and Nami depart back for Arlong Park, while Sanji jumps in to save Luffy.
Mihawk Visits Garp
While everything is happening at Baratie, Mihawk arrives to make a personal visit to Garp. Garp isn’t too happy that he doesn’t have Luffy either. Mihawk’s explanation that he’s curious about the crew isn’t a great reason to Garp. Mihawk, as fans will learn, doesn’t care what anyone thinks and leaves of his own accord. The conversation between Koby and Garp shows that even this young cadet knows Luffy better than his family.
This is the moment that sets Garp after Luffy once more, though he frames it as taking them down. Koby worries that he may have unintentionally brought Luffy into more trouble. He doesn’t know the half of it yet, as Garp’s methods of raising Luffy were questionable at best.
Buggy Comes Back!
Something surprising for a lot of longtime fans is the extent to which Buggy plays into various arcs. The reveal that he was able to guide Arlong to the Baratie thanks to an ear he stuck in Luffy’s headband was GENIUS! Then his quip about stereo audio once the ear reattaches is just gold on top of it. Then he gets left behind by Arlong and taken by the Straw Hat Pirates. They use him to find where Arlong Park is, which is also where Buggy’s body currently is. Jeff Ward has just been consistently delightful as Buggy, and his gleeful mockery of the pirates was fantastic. There’s such a joyful madness to the character that’s hard not to love, despite him being an absolute bastard.
As a side note, the popularity of Buggy skyrocketing from this series is so hilariously on brand for the character. Buggy is someone who notoriously fails upward, and the fact that so many people are thirsting for this sad clown is amazing. Welcome to the cult of Buggy D Clown, our lord and savior.
Sanji the Straw Hat Chef
Despite his insistence that Zeff can’t do anything without him, eventually Sanji concedes to join Luffy’s crew. He does just in time too, as Luffy is determined to go after Nami at Arlong Park. Zoro finally wakes up after Luffy tells him how much he needs him to become king of the pirates. There’s a great moment of heart, with Inaki Godoy and Mackenyu really understanding the quiet, close relationship between them.
When Sanji joins it rounds out the Straw Hats, and he takes immediately to the galley of the Going Merry. Taz Skylar is a fantastic fit as Sanji, with his womanizing smooth talking coming through even better than Sanji himself. The guy pulls off that fantastic laid-back charisma, and even makes the hatred of oregano hilarious. His chemistry with the rest of the Straw Hats doesn’t have much chance to shine as of yet. When it comes to smooth talking though, he’s nailing the character so far. The emotional goodbye between Sanji and Zeff is a tearjerker, perfectly portraying the relationship by fate, not blood.
One Piece’s live-action ends possibly the strongest episode yet, and gets a boost from fantastic acting and writing. The emotional moments hit just right, while the subtle moments of humor hit even better. Nami’s betrayal of Luffy was one hell of a way to leave things, and this is no doubt the final thread to draw fans into the end of the season. The Chef and the Chore Boy stands tall as one of One Piece’s best live-action episodes, and the final two are sure to round things out.
