Here we are, back again! Paradise has been one hell of a ride, but if you think it’s going to get any easier for our beloved Straw Hats, guess again! From Arlong, to Crocodile, to Spandam and CP-9, our villains just get more villainous. From saving Arabasta, to keeping Tom’s blueprints out of the wrong hands, to rescuing the last Devil of Ohara, our challenges just get more challenging. And from Luffy, to Sanji, to Zoro, our Straw Hats just remain unwavering in the eye of the storm. But with the second half of Paradise in front of them, we really hope they’re locked and loaded because it only gets crazier from here on out! So climb aboard the Thousand Sunny (RIP Going Merry) and let’s dive into the Straw Hat’s most trying adventures yet!
Watch Non-Stop!
Thriller Bark Saga:
Thriller Bark Arc (Episodes 337-381): For those of you who love all things spooky, welcome to Thriller Bark, where Halloween seems to be a year-round thing. Plus, Luffy finally meets the musician of his dreams!
Summit War Saga:
Sabaody Archipelago Arc (Episodes 385-407): Get ready to gear up for the New World! This is the last stop where pirates from all around the world prepare themselves to conquer that final, deadly sea.
Amazon Lily Arc (Episodes 408-421): Yet another Shichibukai! Introducing Boa Hancock, the woman who looks so far down her nose at the world, that she’s actually looking up!
Impel Down Arc (Episodes 422-425): Luffy, the man that can’t be restrained, is choosing to go to the most notorious prison. We can barely keep up, but we do know one thing: when it comes to Luffy, always expect the unexpected.
Impel Down Arc (cont.) (Episodes 430-456): Prison Break! Luffy’s trying to get out of dodge with a strategy (if we can even call it that) that would put the Shawshank Redemption to shame.
Marineford Arc (Episodes 457-489): War, what is it good for? Well, all parties involved can probably make the argument for while Luffy, as per usual, finds himself in the thick of it and for once, he may just have bitten off more than he can chew.
Post-War Arc (Episodes 490-516): Reeling from the devastating losses of the Summit War, we get a glimpse of what the new reality is, not just for the Straw Hats, but for the Worst Generation, the Shichibukai, the Marines, the Four Emperors, and the world’s population.
Fish-Man Island Saga:
Return to Sabaody Archipelago Arc (Episodes 517-522): Back to where things first went upside down, we return to Sabaody and see if the Straw Hats are now truly prepared for their first steps into the New World.
Fish-Man Island Arc (Episodes 523-574): The last island of Paradise and the gate to the legendary sea that only Gol D. Roger has conquered. Luffy and his crew finally are taking the next step toward One Piece (with the usual detours, of course).
Let It Be
Ice-Hunter Arc (Episodes 326-336): Filler set in-between Post-Ennies Lobby and Thriller Bark, the Straw Hats end up in the Florian Triangle after they leave Water 7 and find themselves up against some mysterious formidable foes. Check it out if you have the time!
One Piece Romance Dawn Story: A retelling of the very first One Piece adventure with a twist! Instead of just Luffy, all the Straw Hats are present for this version. Ideal for die-hard fans, watch it if you want a look at Oda’s very first storyline! We must warn you though, there will be an opportunity to revisit this later on in the anime.
Spa Island Arc (Episodes 382-384): Filler set after Thriller Bark for the sake of pacing, we catch the Straw Hats as they attempt to get some rest and recreation (the operative word is attempt) however, as usual, things never go according to plan. Nevertheless, we think you can let this one go if you want to stick with the main storyline.
Sabaody Archipelago Arc (Episodes 406-407): Special episodes that aren’t part of the continuity, here we have another One Piece AU where we go back to Feudal Japan. You can definitely skip it.
Little East Blue Arc (Episodes 426-429): A special anime-only arc, this storyline is meant to lead us into the 10th One Piece film, Strong World. So only bother with this if you intend to watch the movie!
One Piece Film Strong World: Episode 0: A limited release OVA, this expands the 10th film’s narrative, check it out if you’re watching the movie, but don’t bother if you want to stick with the main storyline.
Marineford Arc (Episodes 457-458): Special Re-cap before we gear up for Marineford! Without giving too much away, if you’ve forgotten Luffy’s background use this for a refresher, otherwise carry onward!
[[Infiltrate!! Thousand Sunny]]: Totally irrelevant, it’s a tour of the Thousand Sunny by Brook. You definitely won’t miss this one.
Post-War Arc (Episodes 492,497-499,506): Episode 492 is a crossover between One Piece and Toriko, so you can definitely skip it! Episodes 497-499 are filler in Luffy’s childhood flashback but they flesh out the timeline nicely, so we suggest watching them, and Episode 506, without revealing too much, looks at the Straw Hats in the aftermath of Marineford. While there are more episodes in the main storyline addressing it, we suggest watching this one as well.
ONE PIECE 3D! Trap Coaster: A 12-minute, 3D-animated short where Luffy and the Straw Hats are, once again, pursued by the Marines. You can skip this one for sure!
Fish-Man Island Arc (Episodes 542): The second Toriko crossover, unless you’re into both fandoms and like crossovers, don’t bother with this either. If you’re gonna watch it though, we suggest watching Episode 51 of Toriko since this is technically the part two of that.
Episode of Nami: Tears of a Navigator and the Bonds of Friendship: A TV special that’s an abridged retelling of the Arlong Park Arc, if you feel the nostalgia for East Blue and have forgotten (if that’s even possible) the first super intense arc of One Piece, go for it! Safe to say, though, we doubt you’ll need it.
Final Thoughts
And that’s a wrap on Paradise! Halfway through the Grand Line and the stakes are only getting higher. So, if you haven’t already started One Piece yet, what are you waiting for? Come catch up and join us on the other side of the Red Line! And for those of you who have, stay tuned for the next part of our One Piece Watch Guide because we’re finally dipping our toes into the New World!
So what do you think of One Piece? Which was your favourite part of the saga so far? Do you have any suggestions for our Watch Guide? Let us know in the comments below!
Author: G
