One Piece Season 2 Episode 5 “Wax On, Wax Off” isn’t about fighting with honor. It’s about hope, friendship, and doing the right thing even if you’re afraid. And that was 100% personified by all of the Straw Hats, including our newest addition Vivi. Which, her comments about it being nice to be part of a crew, let’s not play here. You’re not going anywhere. And they’re coming with you. Because you’re already part of the crew.
As a continuation of the previous episode, I was worried that after watching it I would have felt like “Big Trouble in Little Garden” was just filler. But I was wrong. This episode made it very clear that both episodes are good independently but magical together. And that goes all in combination with the amazing character work that we got for Usopp, the world building that we got with the giants, and the other Baroque Works agents.
The world, it’s getting bigger for our favorite pirates. And if they can face dinosaurs, giants, and literally being encased in wax as hard as steel, I think they’re going to be okay.
Usopp Doing It Afraid
Last we left off, Usopp was left alone thanks to the machinations of Baroque Works. And I really liked how when we entered “Wax On, Wax Off,” Usopp still hadn’t found his way. A lot of times when shows take a character like Usopp on a character development journey, they act like it’s an easy switch from terrified to hero. And that just isn’t realistic. But it is a choice, at least in Usopp’s case. And it was when really faced with a terrifying thought of losing his friends, that Usopp really brought it and saved the day by just being himself.
A core part of getting Usopp to where he was by the end of the episode was Brody’s words. Because Usopp has always had this fantastical definition of what a hero is. And it makes sense because he never got the opportunity to go out there and save the day. But when faced with an actual warrior, he saw someone that was bigger than life and that he admired, admitting that they were afraid. And admitting that that fear doesn’t make you any less. It makes you stronger.
This is the part of the review where I try to analyze why Usopp’s story breaks me so much.
The world is a scary place. And when I see Usopp going through these moments, I feel like I see myself. Because he wants to change the world, spend time with his found family, and lead a fulfilling existence while making his dreams come true. But sometimes dreams fall apart when reality appears. And it’s then that we often forget that we still have that strength to do the scary thing.
That’s why I’m so proud of Usopp and how he confronted the Baroque Works agents. He didn’t change who he was or try to pretend to be the Lord of the Destruction he told Brogy about. He was just himself and that was enough. Furthermore, I love how One Piece made it so he leaned into his strength and depended on his friends to not just carry the weight, but seamlessly fit into his actions to the point where he and Zorro now have a move together. This is how Usopp finds his way to being a hero, with his crew.
Witnessing Luffy’s Fear
While Usopp was facing his fears head on, Luffy had all of his hope ripped away by Miss Goldenweek. And out of all the Baroque Works agents, she’s probably the most unhinged and terrifying of them all. Because she doesn’t care for her enemies enough to see them as a challenge. Everyone is a toy that she has complete control of. And she thought that her will was stronger than Luffy’s. And in a way it was, that’s how she was able to trap him and reveal this raw form of him.
But Miss Goldenweek didn’t take into account the essential theme of One Piece, friendship.
Miss Goldenweek has the other agents. But they barely stand her. They might respect her craft and fear her. But they don’t want to be friends with her. But Luffy has friends. More so he has something to fight for. So even though we saw Iñaki Godoy give a fantastic performance where we saw all his characters’ raw edges, worries, and pain, he still had hope because he had his friends. And just having that to fight for, it was enough to keep him going before Usopp came to help free him.
Like I mentioned in a previous review about how seeing Zoro joke around makes him a better character, I think “Wax On, Wax Off” helped flesh out Luffy even more than what we’ve seen so far. Because yes this is a show about hope and we want our heroes to survive. But we also want to relate to them. And being happy go-lucky all the time isn’t relatable. What is relatable is letting those fears shine through and still choosing to fight. That’s what Usopp did this episode and that’s what Luffy did as well.
Nami and Vivi Experiencing Girlhood
When it comes to girlhood, I don’t think that we’ve experienced it until now on One Piece. I also think that maybe Nami and Vivi might have not experienced it until now. For those not in the know, girlhood is a shared experience grounded in being a girl or a woman characterized by community, complex emotions, and understanding of your shared experiences and intense female friendships. And within that is a trust that is hard to form. But once it is formed, you’re never going to be able to break that.
That’s what I think Nami and Vivi have found in each other. Girlhood. Because they’ve encountered other women along the way. But they’ve never taken the time to stop and experience someone else’s life through the other person’s eyes. In that moment of pause, whether it’s Nami hugging Vivi after Igaram died or Nami telling Vivi that it’ll be okay because Luffy’s coming, there’s a trust and confidence that comes natural to both of them.
Truly, the bond between Nami and Vivi is probably the most exciting part of Vivi’s introduction in Season 2. I know there’s a whole uprising on the horizon and whatever is happening with Baroque Works. But I’m a girl. And my experiences are going to be different from Luffy, Usopp, Zoro, and Sanji. That’s especially true for friendships. So seeing Nami and Vivi hang out, worry about each other, and save the day together, it reminds me of the fierce and brave women in my life. And it’s a form of representation that doesn’t make me feel like my experiences are other. My experiences are the norm.
Additional Notes About One Piece “Wax On, Wax Off”:
- The way that Usopp came for Luffy and immediately clocked something was wrong
- But also, you pointed out the paint, wipe it off
- What is up with this wax???
- And yes, Mr. 3’s nails are still disgusting
- Those character drawings look like they’re straight from the anime
- Sanji insulted by not having a folder. Oh don’t you worry…
- Not sanji pretending to be Mr. 3 and still managing to mention Zoro
- ITS A VULTURE AND AN OTTER?!
- UHMMM how is Brogy alive?!
- Any true warrior would be scared. Love this. Means you care.
- Usopp needed to hear this
- Love the thought of Taz Skylar doing all of these stunts while pretending there was an otter attacking him
- Also love how this otter was the thing that hurt Sanji the most in Season 2
- And if Sanji was worried about not having a file…HE WILL SOON
- Zoro was really about to cut those legs. Commitment.
- Also… you dropped Luffy in the ocean where the paint will wash off
- Miss Goldenweek with all that paint on her face. Serves you right.
- Luffy trusting Usopp. Friendship powerssss.
- Usopp came through. By talking. A lot.
- I mean… Mr. 3 ain’t wrong about Luffy running in blindly. It’s why he needs a crew
- “Our friend.” VIVI IS ONE OF US, ONE OF US, ONE OF US.
- Usopp again with his slingshot. Using what you have. Leaning into your own strengths.
- Did Usopp and Zoro just do a power move together?
- The legend of brave warrior Usopp
- IT’S A GIANT GOLDFISH
- “Don’t you worry about me and size.” Sanji. Getting flashbacks to Buck telling Eddie if he wanted to “go for the title” on 9-1-1. That was a choice. So was this.
- Nami is sickkkkk for sure
One Piece Season 2 is now available on Netflix.
What did you think about One Piece Season 2 Episode 5 “Wax On, Wax Off”? Let us know in the comments below!
Make sure to read all our reviews for One Piece Season 2:
- One Piece Season 2 Episode 1 Review: ‘The Beginning and the End’
- One Piece Season 2 Episode 2 Review: ‘Good Whale Hunting’
- One Piece Season 2 Episode 3 Review: ‘Whisky Business’
- One Piece Season 2 Episode 4 Review: ‘Big Trouble in Little Garden’
- One Piece Season 2 Episode 5 Review: ‘Wax On, Wax Off’
- One Piece Season 2 Episode 6 Review: ‘Nami Deerest’
- One Piece Season 2 Episode 7 Review: ‘Reindeer Shames’
- One Piece Season 2 Episode 8 Review: ‘Deer and Loathing in Drum Kingdom’
