Netflix's New One Piece Episodes Introduce Your Next Favorite Straw Hat

Published Oct 19, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT

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Every One Piece fan has a favorite character, but some Straw Hats get significantly more attention than others. While the likes of Luffy, Nami, Zoro, Sanji, Robin, and Chopper all have devoted followings within the wider community, Usopp feels remarkably uncelebrated. The Going Merry’s resident storyteller rarely receives the same admiration as its strongest fighters, despite being central to many of One Piece’s best moments and greatest story arcs.

Thankfully, Netflix is helping change that perception. Its live-action One Piece gives Usopp (played by Jacob Romero Gibson) an appealing warmth, making his bravado and vulnerability endearing rather than the borderline-annoying comic relief many perceive his presence in the manga and anime to be. However, the streamer’s most unexpected contribution to his reputation comes not from the live-action series, but from LEGO One Piece, the two-part animated retelling of the mainline Netflix show’s first two seasons.

Released in September 2026, LEGO One Piece puts Usopp’s personality at the center thanks to this version of the story being him recounting the Straw Hat’s exploits to newcomer Chopper, transforming familiar adventures into a distinctly unreliable history lesson. Suddenly, the traits that can make him frustrating become precisely what makes this version so entertaining. For Usopp’s dedicated admirers, LEGO One Piece provides overdue recognition of how essential this anxious, imaginative pirate is to the story’s unique charm.

After Netflix's LEGO One Piece, Usopp Will Be Your New Favorite Straw Hat

Making Usopp the narrator is LEGO One Piece’s smartest decision. His exaggerations and self-promoting perspective shape the on-screen adventure, allowing his imagination to influence how familiar events unfold. Rather than waiting for an opportunity to contribute between someone else’s spectacular battles, he recounts events to Chopper as though he were the true hero, and his desperation to impress contributes just as much to the hilarity of the LEGO version of One Piece just as much as the slapstick animated comedy.

A clear example comes when Usopp tells Chopper that he had already liberated his village from the Black Cat Pirates before his future crewmates arrived. Anyone familiar with One Piece knows how generously he is rewriting his contribution to how things unfolded. The joke works so well not just because it’s a lie, but because this specifics of the deceit are unmistakably Usopp. It’s the tall tales of frightened young man giving himself the heroic reputation he’d give anything to have.

That perspective doesn’t just make LEGO One Piece incredibly funny, but it also reveals why Usopp is so relatable. The majority of people would struggle to match their friends’ confidence while sailing into increasingly dangerous encounters if said friends had Devil Fruit powers or could wield three swords at the same time. Usopp’s instinct to panic, then present a considerably more flattering account afterward, is relatable. His insecurity gives the absurdity of LEGO One Piece a refreshing and necessary human foundation.

The manga, anime, and live-action One Piece all have moments that showcase Usopp, but the enormous ensemble of larger-than-life characters almost always overshadows him (even to the point that some consider him a distraction). In LEGO One Piece, however, Usopp’s personality drives the entertainment. His boasting becomes creative storytelling, his nervousness sharpens the comedy, and his hunger for recognition makes him endearing. The two-part special giving him the narrative spotlight quickly proved he contributes much, much more to the tone and atmosphere of One Piece than many give him credit for.

Usopp Is One Piece's Most Underrated Hero (And Not Just In Live-Action)

LEGO One Piece giving Usopp his moment was hugely cathartic for fans of the character, since it proved that he’s judged by the WIDER fandom against the wrong standard. Yes, Usopp is never going to be as useful as Zoro or Luffy in a fight, but combat ability isn’t the be-all and end-all of how important a character is. What Usopp lacks in contribution to overcoming enemies he more than makes up for in delivering an important sense of perspective.

Usopp’s hesitation and fear can look like inadequacy, but they’re actually essential to establishing the true danger of the foes the Straw Hats come up against. If every character had the fearlessness of Luffy, no enemy would feel threatening. Usopp’s fear is what gives the journey of One Piece emotional substance. What’s more, his ambition to become a brave warrior is all the more admirable because bravery does not come easily to him.

The moments of courage Usopp has in One Piece carry more weight because he understands how vulnerable he is. He can’t approach confrontations with the confidence of a master swordsman or rubber-fleshed pirate captain. He has to rely on marksmanship, invention, deception, and whatever advantage his surroundings provide. His personality may prevent him from becoming a polished hero, but it also means his occasional achievements feel much more earned.

Essentially, Usopp brings the perspective of someone who feels painfully ordinary among extraordinary friends, despite possessing some remarkable talents of his own. That makes LEGO One Piece a particularly satisfying addition to the franchise. Its comic premise recognizes that Usopp’s imagination deserves attention in its own right. The Netflix special does not need to make him fearless or transform him into the strongest Straw Hat to justify his importance. It simply lets his voice lead the adventure, revealing why this frequently underestimated One Piece character has always deserved to be more celebrated.