One Piece Season 2 Will Make A Major Upcoming Death Way More Heartbreaking

Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers for the One Piece manga and anime, specifically the Arabasta Arc

Netflix’s One Piece has already demonstrated the ability to give minor characters far more depth and relatability, but the decision to take that approach holds sad implications for an upcoming character death. Judging by One Piece season 2’s positive updates, it is only a matter of time before Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates resume their dangerous yet exciting quest to reach the Grand Line. However, as seen in the One Piece source material, the crew’s journey will be filled with plenty of heartbreak along the way.

Although there are plenty of characters in One Piece season 2 who will steal the show, there are also poignant moments that will shock and surprise audiences. Even with One Piece‘s overall sense of fun and adventure, series creator Eiichiro Oda excels in demonstrating the fragile nature of life, as represented by the various life-threatening situations that the protagonists face. That aspect of the anime and manga has carried over to the show, and based on how season 1 was handled, one season 2 character is destined for a sad fate.

One Piece’s Character Approach Could Give Ace More Screen Time In Season 2

Ace initially joins the Straw Hat Pirates to help Luffy reach the Grand Line.

Although Ace has not been cast in One Piece season 2 yet, he’s certainly going to appear in the upcoming season, considering that his involvement during the Arabasta arc’s earlier moments is crucial to the story. Additionally, the revelation that Ace and Luffy are surrogate brothers not only comes as a surprise to audiences, but it establishes that Luffy and Ace will work together to rid the world of evil and reach the Grand Line together. While Ace doesn’t have a considerable amount of screen time in the source material, his presence and personality allowed him to leave a mark on the One Piece lore.

In season 1, One Piece displayed the ability to make audiences care about minor characters who would otherwise be forgotten. This is evidenced by the show’s handling of Garp, who transcends the standard villain archetype not only because of his relationship with Luffy, but also his growing respect for Koby – something not really seen in the source material. Koby also undergoes a lot of development throughout the first season, which further suggests that the trend will continue in season 2. However, developing Ace further presents a unique challenge.

Expanding Ace’s Storyline Will Make His Death In The Live-Action One Piece Even Sadder

Ace is killed by Admiral Akainu in brutal fashion in One Piece’s source material.

If One Piece fleshes out Ace’s character beyond what the manga and anime did, then it will make his death at the hands of Admiral Akainu even sadder to witness. Despite Ace’s brief presence, he leaves a strong impression on the Straw Hat Pirates and the audience because of his commitment to his word. Even though he barely knows Luffy & Co., he sacrifices his life just so they’ll have a better shot at reaching the Grand Line. Since One Piece will likely show more scenes of Ace and Luffy’s childhood, his inevitable demise will be much harder to stomach.