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It is no secret that One Piece is a weird anime and manga. When your main character is Monkey D. Luffy, a rubber man who may also be the reincarnation of the god of freedom, you can expect things to get weird. However, if One Piece was just about people with wax powers or explosive boogers then it wouldn’t have become the iconic manga we know and love. As one actor in Netflix’s season two cast explained, One Piece is far more human than its outlandish characters would suggest.

Mark Harelik is set to bring Dr. Hiriluk to life in the Netflix adaptation of One Piece. Before he left Cape Town following the filming of season two, he spoke to the show’s social media team about what he learned from Eiichrio Oda’s iconic story. “As outlandish as this can appear on the surface, it has deep, deep human roots. Incredibly moving.”

Fans of the manga and anime already know what he’s referring to and Harelik’s words confirm something we’ve suspected since Oda gave a rundown of which arcs season two of One Piece would cover. Drum Island is set to be the big climax of season two, with Netflix using the realization of Dr. Hiriluk’s dream as the moment we’re all set to ugly cry over a CGI reindeer/human hybrid. It is, in our not-so-humble opinion, the first truly great moment in the One Piece manga and we can’t wait to see it unfold in live action.

One Piece season two is on its way, though we don’t know exactly when Netflix is bringing it out. The good news is that season three is all but confirmed thanks to Zoro’s actor, so we have that to look forward to.

THE ONE PIECE IS REAL...ly important to Popverse! That's why we've put together the key articles to keep your fandom of the manga-turned-anime-turned-live-action-show alive:

• How to watch One Piece One Piece in chronological and release order (All 1,100+ episodes plus the movies!)
• When the next episode of One Piece is coming
• Netflix almost missed casting Superman star Mikaela Hoover as Tony Tony Chopper because the audition materials were too vague
• Netflix enlists a Bridgerton star to show off the first big set piece of One Piece season 2, with a Loguetown that is full of easter eggs from the manga
• Why One Piece's Monkey D. Luffy is the perfect hero for the dark times ahead
• Every difference between the live-action One Piece and the original manga
• One Piece Gear 5 Form: Everything we know about Luffy's latest transformation
• Ranking the One Piece anime's arcs, from best to worst
• Why is One Piece more popular now that the anime is 25 years old? We asked around and found out
• The English cast of One Piece explain what they love about Eiichiro Oda's storytelling - "He's a genius!"