The penultimate episode of One Piece’s live-action adaptation gives one of the most important Straw Hats’ backgrounds. The story of Nami’s history, from her childhood to now is one of the most tragic One Piece offers, and the live-action rendition pulls it all off fantastically. So, let’s see just how The Girl With the Sawfish Tattoo explores the tragic history of Nami, and how Arlong plays into the overall world of One Piece.
Fair warning! This article contains spoilers for the episode and season up to this point. The series is available to binge on Netflix right now, so catch up then come back!
Who is The Girl with the Sawfish Tattoo?
A ton of credit to the costuming department for the show, as they pull off multiple iconic Nami outfits while never exposing this. Her tattoo of the Arlong Pirates sigil is one of the biggest reveals of the original story, and was pulled off fantastically. Nami has been working with Arlong’s crew from the start, stealing the map to the Grand Line from Morgans’ base to bring back to them. Arlong wants to have maps of the entire world so he can bring the Fishmen to supremacy. This is an essential thread through the story of One Piece, as the Fishmen are a race historically subjugated and taken as slaves.
Now, Nami works for them drawing maps of the seas. When she was a child Arlong had her chained to a table for drawing new navigation maps, only releasing her as a twelfth birthday present. He’s really just an evil bastard, with no care for the lives of others besides his own. The flashbacks of his first appearance at the village give even more insight into just how awful and abusive he is.
Coco Village
When Luffy and the others arrive at Coco Village, it’s right when Nami is there to collect their monthly tribute. They see her callousness to them, and a woman with blue hair that seems to have a personal fight with her. Nami turns them away once more, telling them that she was never part of their crew. Luffy of course doesn’t accept that, but learns from the people of Coco Village about the horror that befell them years ago. They speak to Nojiko, Nami’s sister, to figure out exactly what happens as Sanji cooks them dinner.
When Nami is just a small child, she and Nojiko meet a Marine by the name of Bellemere. These kids were just orphans on the battlefield, and Bellemere saw them as a reason to keep living. They come to Coco Village, where she raises the girls as her own in the middle of their tangerine grove. They don’t have much, but they’re happy. One day Bellemere finds that Nami has stolen a book from the village store. Upset with her daughter, she makes her bring it back to Genzo, the village leader.
The Arlong Pirates
While Genzo is relatively chill, telling Nami he can find her jobs around town, the town immediately goes to hell. The Arlong Pirates arrive, letting the people know that they’re in charge now, with tribute payments due immediately. They demand one hundred thousand Berry per adult and fifty thousand per child, with no exceptions. Bellemere and Nami make it back to their home in the tangerine grove. Bellemere ushers them both in, where she hides her daughters under the floor. Arlong shows up, and despite his initial belief that Bellemere is alone notices the three places set at the table.
Bellemere, when asked if she has any children, insists that she does have two daughters. The girls rush to her, and she tells them she loves them one more time. She insists the money is for them, and that she can’t pay for herself. Arlong immediately shoots her in the head, killing her instantly as her children hold onto her. It’s one of the cruelest acts of piracy so far, and Nami still goes to him to request a job.
Nami’s Agreement
She doesn’t want to, but Nami makes a deal with Arlong to buy back Coco Village from him. For one hundred million Berry, Arlong promises to leave the village alone and not bother them again. No more tribute, no more threats, no more death for just a hundred million Berry. That doesn’t seem so bad considering everything the Arlong Pirates have done to them. Nami finally has that massive amount of money, and is going to take it to Arlong for freedom. She digs as she tells Nojiko about everything that she’s done for them over the years. All the money is buried beside Bellemere’s grave, but as soon as Nami digs it up her plans are thrown in her face.
Why does Arlong Betray Nami?
In short, Arlong betrays Nami because he’s an absolute bastard. Arlong has been paying off the Navy’s Captain Nezumi, a literal and figurative rat, to ignore his crimes. Nezumi is pressing for more money from the Fishman, despite his already hefty cost. So Arlong, instead of paying from his own pocket, gives him a tip. The Fishman captain knows he can’t lose Nami yet, as there’s more he needs for his Fishman power trip. So he directs Nezumi in Nami’s direction, where the rat bastard shows up to take all the Berry from Nami.
“Luffy, Help me”
This was the moment that was make or break for One Piece’s live-action adaptation. A pivotal moment that makes Nami a Straw Hat Pirate, and the most emotional moment of the East Blue saga. There was a lot to deliver on, and holy shit does every single person involved in this scene deliver. Inaki Godoy’s rage as Luffy when Emily Rudd’s Nami collapses, begging him for help. Putting his hat on Nami before marching off to take on Arlong, with the other Straw Hats walking alongside, was just perfect.
The emotional weight of the scene when Luffy stops Nami from stabbing her tattoo even more is just profound. Such a great bit that shows how Luffy truly cares for those he considers friends, no matter what they may have done to him in the past. Luffy’s greatest strength is his understanding, as he knows that everyone is a product of what they’ve gone through in life. It’s one of the most important moments for the Straw Hats, and live-action pulls it off just as well as animated.
The Girl With the Sawfish Tattoo comes to an end as the Straw Hat Pirates march off to fight the Arlong Pirates. There’s one more episode left in the season, and this has given all the momentum needed to jump right in. The Marines are on their way too, coming closer and closer as the Straw Hats face down Arlong. A showdown between Garp and Luffy is imminent, but first comes Arlong and tearing down the prison Nami’s been trapped in. One Piece’s live-action faces its season finale, and everything is on the line!
