For over 20 years, One Piece has given fans multiple arcs that are filled with unforgettable adventures. While not every story lands perfectly, it’s more than worthwhile when a saga like Water 7 comes together. However, several of One Piece’s arcs aren’t beloved by fans.
There are some arcs that are controversial with fans, whether it was due to character choices, designs, or overall pacing. One Piece‘s tendency to off-screen information further worsened those sentiments. Even Marineford had its controversies, and fans consider it to be one of the best arcs in One Piece.
10 Levely Didn’t Amount To Much
The Levely Arc let fans see the consequences of the Straw Hat’s adventure through Dressrosa and Whole Cake Island. Several One Piece characters hadn’t appeared in years, so this arc rewarded fans with a few welcomed appearances.
However, there were two issues: the Revolutionary Army’s raid happened off-screen, and the arc was mostly filler. This frustrated fans as Levely didn’t explain anything and fans had to wait two years to see the outcome. Seeing Sabo’s fight with Fujitora and Green Bull could’ve made up for the wait.
9 Return To Sabaody Had Questionable New Looks
After two long years, Return to Sabaody reunited the Straw Hats. With all of Luffy’s escapades, it was about time. Fans exhausted years speculating how each member would become stronger and whether they’d adopt a new look. While the Straw Hats did show improvements, some of their appearances shocked fans.
Out of all those fan theories, none ever expected that Franky would look like a cybernetic Hulk. It was incredibly jarring, especially considering he used to look like Ace Ventura. Some fans also disapproved of Nami and Robin’s exaggerated hourglass figures as they felt it overly sexualized and demeaned the characters.
8 Dressrosa Had Too Much Going On
Donquixote Doflamingo’s saga was nearly a decade in the making. Doflamingo was enigmatic and always seemed one step ahead of everyone. While everyone expected him to be a villain, few fans expected him to be an evil, tyrannical monster. Nevertheless, Doflamingo won fans over with his unrepentant ways.
Dressrosa was the longest arc in One Piece, and it sure felt that way to fans. Even though Dressrosa was setting up the end, it was trying to cover information that could’ve spanned multiple arcs, like Luffy’s Grand Fleet and Sabo’s survival. It didn’t help that nearly every side character had a B-plot.
7 Whole Cake Island Made Big Mom A Joke
The Whole Cake Island Saga had some of One Piece’s greatest moments. Sanji’s biological family was revealed and explained many of his quirks. Sanji also grew as a character and became more three-dimensional until Pudding wiped his memory. Brook was the unsung MVP for fighting Big Mom and stealing her Road Ponteglyph.
Big Mom was the first Yonko fans saw at full strength, but she was underwhelming. Big Mom was considered a natural disaster who wiped out islands indiscriminately but floundered when she fought Capone Bege. Whole Cake Island also continued the trend of splitting the crew up.
6 Marineford Proved The Navy Was Incompetent
Marineford dramatically concluded the first half of One Piece and reaffirmed that Luffy wasn’t ready for the New World. It also showed why the World Government was terrified of the Yonko and demonstrated how the Admirals were the Navy’s last line of defense.
Ironically, the Admirals didn’t do enough during Marineford. They let Luffy save Ace and spent half the arc making stern faces. Marineford was devastated by Whitebeard’s last attack and Blackbeard’s ongoing fight with Sengoku. However, the most controversial moment was Ace dying. After all that effort to save him, Ace died because he couldn’t control his temper.
5 Punk Hazard Crushed Hopes Of A Smoker Rivalry
Punk Hazard was the first New World island the Straw Hats visited and it teased the beginning of the end for the Emperors Kaido and Big Mom. Fans were thrilled that Smoker, Tashigi, and Trafalgar Law returned to the story. Expectations were high since fans had anticipated that Smoker would show off new powers and feats.
While there was controversy with the body-swapping segment due to the over-sexualization of Nami and Tashigi, it paled in comparison to the disappointment fans had over Smoker and Tashigi’s portrayals. It seemed like every antagonist knocked Smoker around, and Tashigi became a damsel in distress.
4 Wano Country’s Teases Went Nowhere
Wano Country wrapped up the decade-long Four Emperors Saga and brought One Piece several steps closer to the end. Some highlight moments were Kaido’s defeat, Oden’s connection to the Ponteglyphs, and Gol D. Roger’s duel with Whitebeard. Unfortunately, fans felt that Wano was unresolved.
Wano teased Zoro’s connection to Wano and Yamato’s desire to join Luffy’s crew. However, none of them carried any weight. Yamato changed her mind last minute, and Zoro’s past was left unexplained. However, Luffy unlocking Gear 5 was the biggest controversy. Some fans were against Luffy gaining another form and were especially bothered that his powers were fatefully destined by a mythical Zoan devil fruit.
3 Thriller Bark’s Villain Was A Dud
Thriller Bark is an oddity for One Piece. Despite the dark implications involving the Void Century and the World Government’s atrocities, the horror theme seemed out-of-place compared to the cheery atmospheres of previous islands. However, Brook’s past made many fans teary-eyed, especially due to his connection with Laboon.
Unfortunately, compared to previous villains, Gecko Moria was disappointing as his lack of ambition and general apathy bored fans, and his bowling pin design didn’t help either. Even though Moira was a foil for Luffy and a warning about the inevitable loss pirates face in the New World, it wasn’t enough to fix his personality.
2 Skypiea Was A Slow Burn
Skypiea is a slow-burning arc with a lot of world-building. While there are more questions than answers, Skypiea was a glimpse into the larger world of One Piece, especially with its allusions to Haki and the Tontatta. Nevertheless, it’s the first arc where fans believe the story slows down.
The battle royale between the Skypieans and Enel takes a while to conclude, and Luffy’s backtracking didn’t help pick up the pace. Enel was the biggest controversy in the arc. He was simultaneously overpowered and underpowered; he could read thoughts and strike from miles away, yet his attacks were barely an inconvenience for his victims.
1 Long Ring Long Land Was Too Long
Long Ring Long Land is the most controversial arc in One Piece, which is largely thanks to Toei. Long Ring Long Island was a breather arc to set up Water 7 by introducing Aokiji, who alludes to Nico Robin’s past. The arc was supposed to be a relaxing, comedic wind-down.
As humorous as the Foxy Pirates were, One Piece made everything feel incredibly tedious and unnecessary. Their antics and games were much briefer in the manga. While filler is an expected aspect of anime, this arc really stretched it. Additionally, the anime took it too far by making Luffy even more naive.
