One Piece Season 2: Laboon’s Full Tragic Backstory Explained

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WARNING: SPOILERS FOR ONE PIECE’S THILLER BARK ARC

The second episode of Netflix’s live-action One Piece began setting up a very sad story from the original series, focusing on a talented musician and the whale who adored his performances. However, fans probably won’t see the full story of the crew who left Laboon explored in the live-action adaptation for a while.

The Netflix series of One Piece has currently covered only about 13% of the original manga’s story. While the show has hinted at some exciting future events, the introduction of Laboon and his connection to the Rumbar Pirates stands out. Fans likely won’t see the Straw Hats encounter this crew until much later in the live-action adaptation, probably several seasons down the line.

A Whale, An Afro, and A Promise

When Luffy and his crew enter the Grand Line, they’re immediately swallowed by a massive whale. The second episode of One Piece Live Action explains the story of this whale, Laboon, and why it repeatedly crashes into a mountain. It all stems from a promise made by a pirate the Straw Hat crew will encounter in the future.

The Rumbar Pirates were a group of musicians who sailed the dangerous seas in search of excitement. Once they entered the Grand Line, a lighthouse keeper named Crocus warned them that the waters ahead could be harmful to their young whale companion, Laboon. The pirates then decided to leave Laboon, but promised to come back for him.

Laboon, a whale who hadn’t seen his crew in decades, started repeatedly crashing into the mountain blocking his path to them. Luckily, Luffy befriended Laboon and convinced him to stop, promising to return one day. Although Luffy hasn’t yet kept that promise in the story, he later meets a musician who Laboon particularly loves – a musician with an afro.

What Happened To The Pirates That Left Laboon

The Netflix adaptation of One Piece makes some changes to the original story. In episode 2, Crocus tries to find out what happened to the Rumbar Pirates, believing they abandoned their dreams and returned home without Laboon. While he’s partially right, the full story is actually even more heartbreaking.

After their adventures with Laboon and Princess Vivi, the Straw Hat crew sailed into unusually thick and unsettling fog. While Nami tried to navigate them to safety, a massive, ruined ghost ship appeared – it turned out to be the very ship that once carried the Rumbar Pirates.

The ship, once filled with music, was now eerily silent, save for one survivor: a skeleton named Brook, who still played his instrument and spoke. Despite the dangerous pirate world around them, Brook quickly became friends with the Straw Hat Pirates, and their time together was full of laughter. However, their joy wouldn’t last, as sadness soon followed.

Following their departure from Laboon near Reverse Mountain, the Rumbar pirates gained recognition as they bravely navigated the challenges of the Grand Line. Sadly, their captain and several crew members fell seriously ill, forcing an end to their journey for many. Despite this, Brook and the remaining Rumbar pirates persevered, sailing on for as long as they could.

Why Laboon’s Old Pirate Crew Did Not Come Back

What remained of Brook’s crew was eventually overcome by pirates who used poisonous weapons. Left stranded and near death, they found solace and kept their hopes alive by playing music. In a particularly moving scene in One Piece, the Rumbar Pirates gave their last performance, with each member tragically falling ill during the concert.

It was heartbreaking watching Brook go down, but his Devil Fruit power was incredible – it saved his soul! He ended up drifting around as a spirit, lost in the fog, desperately trying to find his body. When he finally did, it was just a skeleton! Even though he technically avoided death, he was completely alone on the ship for decades, just waiting… until thankfully, the Straw Hats stumbled upon him. It’s such a powerful and tragic backstory, and a testament to his resilience.

Canonically, Brook doesn’t meet Luffy until 50 years after leaving Laboon. Upon hearing that the whale is still waiting for the Rumbar Pirates, the skeletal musician begins to sob, partially knowing that there is still a chance that he can keep his promise. He goes on to play a large role in One Piece‘s story after becoming an official Straw Hat pirate.

Season 2 Already Introduced The Straw Hat’s Musician

Similar to the first season of the live-action One Piece show, season 2 is filled with hidden references and surprise appearances that dedicated fans will enjoy spotting. Many viewers were particularly surprised to see Brook join the cast, as his part in the original manga by Eiichiro Oda wasn’t as significant when the story of Laboon was initially created.

Drawing on years of established story details, the team behind the live-action One Piece series is able to expand on scenes from the original manga in ways that weren’t possible before. Because the series creator has final say over the adaptation (OPLA), he’s ensured these additions enhance the story without changing its core direction.

More People Than Ever Join The Wait For Laboon’s Reunion

The One Piece manga currently has 33 major story arcs, which vary in length. After the Straw Hats meet Laboon, it takes another ten arcs before they finally locate the Rumbar Pirates’ ship. Considering the manga and anime have been telling the One Piece story for over 25 years, it’s reasonable to expect that Netflix’s live-action adaptation will be completed much faster.

The show is filled with hidden references and details, proving it’s made by true fans of One Piece. It perfectly captures the series’ unique blend of exciting adventure and emotional depth, and the reunion of Brook and Laboon is a particularly heartwarming moment that’s sure to move viewers.

It’s unknown whether the show will leave out any story arcs, but the focus on Laboon suggests that storyline will be important later on. If the series doesn’t find a new way to introduce the musician Brook, the characters – including Brook himself – could appear much older when the story reaches Thriller Bark, likely in seasons five or six.

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2026-03-21 22:09