Netflix’s One Piece changes Luffy’s relationship to Koby, which is great

It’s apparent early on in Netflix’s live action One Piece that it isn’t a clean adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s manga series or the anime. Although it follows many of the steps in the manga series or anime, some details have been altered. One PieceThe new series will offer a completely different viewing experience for readers. Koby is the most notable change, as he’s the shy teen that wants to join the Navy. The live-action series makes it very clear Koby is just as much Luffy’s foil as he is his friend.

In the manga, Koby’s role expands with time, as does his importance in the overall plot. Koby first appeared in One Piece’s introductory “Romance Dawn” arc as someone that ends up meeting Luffy and, like most people who get in contact with the dude in the Straw Hat, becomes inspired by him. Koby’s former captors are able to stand up for themselves after he gets a boost of confidence from Luffy. He then decides to join the Navy. (Albeit after Luffy roughs him up a little bit to show Koby’s future employers he’s not close with any pirates. It’s sort of a justifiable beatdown.)

From then on, Koby’s role in Luffy’s life (or even in the proximity of Luffy) is sparse until later in the story. Koby, who is eventually apprenticed by Vice Admiral Garp in the Navy while Luffy sails the East Blue into the Grand Line, trains for the Navy. Luffy easily defeats Koby when they finally meet again. Koby, however, still views Luffy as a symbol of aspiration. Koby’s constant reminder to pursue his own goals will come from Luffy.

Image: Netflix

Koby, however, is immediately promoted to the role of a support character in the live-action series. He’s damn near promoted to co-lead status. Of course, this coincides with the increased prominence of the Navy in the Netflix adaptation, and the transition of Garp from Koby’s mysterious mentor to season-long pseudo antagonist. They’re both hot on the heels of the Straw Hat Crew constantly, giving us much more time to watch Koby grow and become accustomed to the Navy’s strong-arm tactics.

The Navy is also reframed differently when Koby becomes the focus. Early on, the Navy was framed differently. One Piece manga, they’re a powerful, but often very corruptible force (as we see with “Axe-Hand” Morgan’s intense vanity and greed, and the captain who later takes bribes from the vengeful Arlong.) Within this framing, Koby is a nice kid in an organization that’s prone to being flawed. Koby becoming the Navy’s clear “next generation” of sorts in the Netflix show gives a definitively more optimistic outlook, one that matches Luffy’s dreams of finding the One Piece and being King of the Pirates.

In the live action series, the transformation of the Navy into a group that is receptive to piratery and not just a powerful force has hardly been a subtext. Koby reminds Luffy to be a “good pirate,” while Luffy tells him to be the same in his role, their ambitions oppositional but now ethically correlative. Koby is always on the hunt, so he’s not only a skinny nerd in a world of jacked commandos, but he also has inner turmoil.

Image: Netflix

This personal confusion about whether or not it’s right to be hunting Luffy (a pirate who saves people more often than not) solidifies a friendship that’s not as apparent in the source material. Luffy was happy that Koby stood up and pursued his dream in the manga. Meanwhile, the Netflix series almost bookends itself with Luffy and Koby interactions, signifying a bond that’s more outwardly amicable and less marked by Luffy’s chaotic ways. For instance, Koby doesn’t have to worry about Luffy walloping him or insulting him as much here, whereas manga Koby takes his lumps.

A continuation of the One Piece Netflix series isn’t assured, so we don’t know how much closer we’ll get to the crises of faith Koby experiences in the manga, where he reckons with the horrors of war. We also don’t know if Koby would be just as important a character even in an imaginary season 2. But no matter where he ends up, it won’t be in the exact same place as the manga. Koby’s development into being the closest thing Luffy has to a Navy counterpart has changed the trajectory of both his character and the entire World Government.