“One Piece” can imply many issues, even to One Piece followers: There’s the anime, the manga, and now the new live-action present on Netflix. But it surely’s additionally the treasure the place the anime (or manga or Netflix present) will get its identify — the “One Piece” that pirate Gol D. Roger left behind and that everybody on the planet of the manga (or Netflix present or anime) is searching for for themselves.

In no matter kind you discover it, there’s one factor that One Piece has to be about, and that’s Monkey D. Luffy. He’s greater than only a hero or the middle of the story; he’s the glue that holds the universe collectively, a happy-go-lucky goof who believes and conjures up to mammoth levels. So it was very important that Netflix discovered the precise man to guide its adaptation. And God bless ’em, showrunners Matt Owens and Steven Maeda discovered Iñaki Godoy, Luffy incarnate.

Luffy is a deceptively troublesome position to play: He must be kinda dim whereas nonetheless being endearing, the form of chap for whom every little thing goes proper finally, due to some alchemic mixture of preventing and luck. Even when that may frustrate — both a viewer, reader, and even one among Luffy’s Straw Hat crew — it ought to nonetheless really feel like he’s at all times getting what he deserves (every little thing on the planet??). And all of the whereas, he has to anchor the entire story and embody that trademark shonen huff and foolhardiness. Luffy is the form of position that, when completed properly, you may not even take into consideration what a tightrope act it’s to play.

Picture: Casey Crafford/Netflix

In Godoy’s palms, you don’t should: He’s tailored for Luffy. Within the live-action One Piece, the 20-year-old Mexican actor is incandescent, an incorrigible goober who delights in every little thing (be it candy or bitter) that comes his approach. It may be exhausting to translate the convenience of a carefree comedian character, notably when that comedian volleys between epic fights, grounded emotion, and outsized comedy. However Godoy is totally comfy. With a single line studying he can promote a world through which everyone seems to be in search of a treasure referred to as the One Piece that nobody absolutely believes exists, and definitely to not the extent that Luffy does as he retains telling folks he’ll pay them with it as soon as he finds it. However you need to imagine.

Think about the scene through which Luffy meets Sanji (Taz Skylar) at Baratie. He’s at first suckered in by his second best ardour (meals), however earlier than too lengthy, his discussions with Sanji run the gamut of caring for these round you to tips on how to greatest be a pirate. That arc places Luffy via his paces as he struggles to grasp his place as a pacesetter. Godoy is absolutely able to all of them, and gamely conveys Luffy’s distinctive mix of coronary heart, love, combat, and starvation.

And in the end, One Piece can’t fairly make room for all Godoy’s Luffy will be. Positive, Luffy is there, overseeing and captaining (no matter meaning for Luffy at this stage) the affairs of his crew. He’s the one who will get the massive showdown with Arlong, and who steps in to again up his associates the place he can. However the sheer job of adapting One Piece means the writers pivot across the extra clearly laid conflicts, like Nami (Emily Rudd) or Zoro (Mackenyu) struggling to honor their pasts. Luffy will get sidelined in a narrative he needs to be on the middle of, as a result of their issues appear simpler to grasp.

However just like the character he performs, Godoy stretched past what appeared doable, and made it look straightforward and enjoyable the entire time. Realizing they’ve such an ace within the gap hopefully units the showrunners up for extra Luffy-centric tales in season 2. In spite of everything, he’s a global treasure One Piece.