Warning! This article contains MAJOR spoilers for One Piece season 2 and beyond, including the original manga.
One Piece season 2 introduces a mysterious character named Dragon, someone that fans of the manga will be all too aware of. The first episode of One Piece season 2 takes Luffy and his crewmates to Loguetown, a location considered the last stop to resupply before entering the Grand Line.
This was teased in One Piece season 1’s ending, given that the Straw Hats were finally ready to actively pursue their various dreams. In Loguetown, several big members of One Piece‘s cast were introduced, either for the current season or future installments. One such character set to appear beyond season 2 is Dragon, a mysterious man who saved Luffy’s life.
Luffy was on the cusp of being defeated by a powerful Marine named Smoker, before Dragon appeared to save Luffy, under the guise of letting a pirate set sail. Later, Dragon is shown watching the Going Merry leave Loguetown. Naturally, the big questions stemming from this scene surround Dragon, including who he is, what he wants, what his connection to Luffy is, and why he saved the young pirate’s life.
Dragon Is Luffy’s Father In One Piece
Firstly, concerning who the character is and how he links to the overall story, Dragon is Luffy’s father in One Piece. One Piece season 2 does not reveal this, but hints at it through Dragon’s actions. Moreover, a conversation in episode 2 between Garp and Smoker includes a reference to Dragon and his actions by the former, before changing the subject.
Netflix’s adaptation likely will not reveal that Dragon is Luffy’s father until season 4, at the very least, unless the story makes a big One Piece manga change by revealing it early. Nonetheless, whether Luffy knows about Dragon’s identity or not doesn’t matter. At this point in the story, Dragon is looking out for Luffy and keeping him safe, explaining their connection and the former’s actions in Logueton.
One Piece’s Revolutionary Army Explained
One thing that is revealed about Dragon in One Piece season 2 is his connection to the Revolutionary Army. The Revolutionary Army is a major faction in One Piece‘s world that was only subtly referenced in season 1. More is revealed about the organization in One Piece season 2, though, thanks to Dragon’s appearance, the fallout from that, and the discussions of the Marines.
In One Piece‘s world, Dragon is the leader of the Revolutionary Army, making him one of the most dangerous and wanted men on the planet. The reason for this is the Revolutionary Army’s ultimate goal: to overthrow the World Government. The World Government is the primary governing force of One Piece that oversees the Marines and many other branches of power.
As revealed in season 2, however, not everyone agrees with the World Government’s rule. Dragon is at the top of this pile, with his Revolutionary Army said to be gaining supporters every day. By introducing Dragon and his faction, One Piece season 2 is setting up a central conflict that will be key to the future of the entire story.
Why Dragon Doesn’t Introduce Himself To Luffy In One Piece Season 2
A final question that is raised about Dragon’s appearance in One Piece season 2 is why he does not tell Luffy who he is. A meta explanation for this is that the writers of Netflix’s One Piece did not want to reveal this information to wider audiences this early on, given its prominence in later storylines.
Concerning the character’s motivations, though, why Dragon kept his identity secret from Luffy is teased in various lines of dialogue. When saving Luffy from Smoker, Dragon asks why the latter has any right to stop another man’s voyage. Later, as Dragon watches Luffy sail away, he says, “A pirate, hey? That’s fine if that’s what you have chosen. Go forth.”
All of this indicates that Dragon simply wants Luffy to live his own life and find his own path, one unrestricted by the constraints of the World Government. This makes sense, given Dragon’s opposition to the governing body. This freedom that Dragon seemingly wants Luffy to have would only be threatened if the latter knew who the former was.
After all, parents have a big impact on their children’s lives. This is even more so the case here, thanks to the fact that Luffy’s father is the leader of the most dangerous rebel faction in One Piece. Therefore, to avoid dragging his son into his war and influencing his dream of freedom and finding the One Piece, Dragon avoids introducing himself to Luffy just yet.
- Release Date
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August 31, 2023
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Matt Owens, Steven Maeda, Joe Tracz
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Iñaki Godoy
Monkey D. Luffy
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