One Piece Season 2 Episode 8 Review: “Deer and Loathing in Drum Kingdom” is unequivocal proof that this is one of the best shows on TV. Not only did it bring the signature off the wall action to our screens, it also had so much heart that I want to wrap all of the Straw Hats in a blanket and protect them from the world. But I can’t do that. Because as much as I want to protect them, they have a destiny that is bigger than The Grand Line. And there’s plenty more lives that they’re going to change.
Having loved how Season 1 of One Piece ended I never thought that we would need anyone else joining this crew. And that’s on me and my ignorance because I’ve never watched the anime and I have no plans to read the manga. Nevertheless, the show managed to build ViVi and Chopper in such a manner that looking back, I can’t imagine The Going Merry without them. And we’ve had Vivi for 2.5 seconds and Chopper just boarded. And still, I have fallen in love with them in a way I haven’t experienced on a show in a really long time.
There’s also something to be said about how well all of these characters work together as they take down the big bad king and his cronies in “Deer and Loathing in Drum Kingdom.” You had Luffy getting assistance from Vivi. Because just like everybody else in this crew, you can’t do it alone. So Vivi gladly steps in and shows her own skill. And then there’s the whole fight with Sanji and Big Chopper. They had a little bit more trouble in comparison to Luffy and Vivi when it came to working as a team. But they found a way and came out on top while also solidifying their bond.
Another thing that was solidified in “Deer and Loathing in Drum Kingdom” was how you’re not owed anything. That cowardly king thought he was owed a kingdom because he had some sort of lineage. Because of that, he destroyed his people without hesitation and left them starving and defenseless. And then comes in Luffy with his Straw Gats. All of them are a bunch of dreamers. And they don’t walk through life thinking that they’re owed something because they’re pirates or talented. Instead they use their skills and time to help out others while achieving their own dreams.
What the Straw Hats did for Drum Kingdom allowed them to realize their own strength while leaning into the collective. And they were able to rise up and save the day, not based on some king, but who they were as a community. And you can see the same thing happening with Chopper joining The Going Merry. The Straw Hats confidence in him helped reveal his strength and he ended up leaning on the collective and saving the day. The same thing happened with Vivi too at the end of “Deer and Loathing in Drum Kingdom.” The difference with her is that she didn’t think that the collective would put their quest to the side to help her.
If there were one thing that I would want to know more of, or that I feel was a little lacking, is a bit more definition on the Baroque Works. We’ve now had them for two seasons, and I still don’t know what they’re up to besides chaos. If anything, it feels like the Straw Hats are being lumped in with Baroque Works by those inefficient Marines, making you question the entire system that this world is built on if they think Luffy is anything like The Crocodile and Miss All Sunday.
Nevertheless, I can’t get over how this episode managed to balance out heartbreaking moments like Sanji talking about his mom with Nami, to action-packed monsters that look like they’re straight out of The Lord of the Rings, to the sky opening up and cherry blossoms falling. And that right there proves that One Piece is taking its time to find a balance between the original source material and the live-action while always keeping in mind that it’s a show built on dreams and friendship. If One Piece keeps sticking to that point while slowly unearthing more and more about their characters, I think the only direction they can go is up.
Additional Notes About One Piece “Deer and Loathing in Drum Kingdom”:
- “There is no throne fit for a kind who abandons his people” – Dalton. That hits hard
- Dalton baby. Run
- Miss All Sunday. What is your endgame??? Besides looking amazing
- What in The Lord of the Rings are those soldiers?!
- Awwww Usopp with the tools to save the day
- Sanji not flirting and actually opening up. Hate that it took this long but yeah.
- When he sees Nami all sick, he sees his mom.
- “Every meal I make, I’m making for her.” – Sanji
- Man all I do is cry on this damn show
- “That’s our Vivi” – Sanji. Oh Vivi you adopted.
- “Have fun dying kid.” – Kureha, what you doing?! I know you’re closed off. But that was cruel.
- “You cool with that Vivi?” – Sanji. I told you, Vivi is adopted.
- Man, Dalton. What a fighter!
- Luffy stretching for a fight. Unserious king
- SMACK HIM, VIVI
- OMG SHE DID SOMETHING WORSE. SHE USED HER FATHERS WORDS AGAINST HIM
- Oh shit! She smacked him too!
- Zoro killed a T-Rex. He’ll be ok. But … not if these guys regenerate. Is that what’s happening?
- Still not liking Big Boy Chopper.
- But I just need a little more time
- Luffy being unbothered is making the “King” more bothered. Hehehe
- The wink. Sanji. Be serious.
- Also, take off your shoe, Sanji!
- Static afro devil fruit powers is way cooler than whatever Sanji’s table spin was
- Dalton looks hotter in his monster form. Getting flashbacks of Beauty and the Beast
- Luffy wasn’t afraid of Wapol. But he was afraid of Nami seeing her coat was ruined
- Luffy took a hit to protect Chopper’s flag
- CRYING
- “A symbol of conviction.” – Luffy
- “So that’s a pirate.” – Chopper
- Kureha tries to act like she doesn’t care, but oh she does
- Go with them Chopper!
- Kureha, don’t be cruel because you’re scared
- Usopp. Stop with the good advice. Imma cryyyyy
- Zoro picking up Chopper.
- More tears.
- So Luffy is Gol Rogers son???
- Zoro asking Sanji about the dinosaur. Flirting. I’m telling you.
- Man, Vivi you’re family.
- “You’re one of us, too.”
- Mr. Crocodile. Hot too.
One Piece Season 2 is now available on Netflix.
What did you think about One Piece Season 2 Episode 8 “Deer and Loathing in Drum Kingdom”? 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’
