The second season of One Piece surprises fans by introducing the character Bartolomeo (voiced by Nahum Hughes) much earlier than he appears in the original story. Bartolomeo is a devoted and enthusiastic fan of the Straw Hat pirates, a detail explored later in Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece manga and anime. His backstory begins in the first episode of the season, now available on Netflix.
In the anime and manga One Piece, Bartolomeo simply saw Luffy get struck by lightning and saved during the Loguetown arc. The live-action adaptation changes this significantly, making the event much more impactful for Bartolomeo and strengthening his later obsession with Luffy. This is a bold move that gives more depth to a fan-favorite minor character. While some viewers might not like this alteration, it’s a strong choice that ultimately works well and adds to the story.
In the original One Piece story, Bartolomeo doesn’t appear until about two years after the events in Loguetown. When he first meets the Straw Hats during the Dressrosa arc, he reveals that he’s a huge fan of Luffy. He explains that Luffy’s incredible escape—laughing in the face of danger and surviving—inspired him to leave his life of crime in the East Blue. That moment was the reason Bartolomeo decided to become a pirate and follow in Luffy’s footsteps, and it’s also why he’s so loyal, ultimately stepping in to help Luffy and his crew during future gladiator tournaments in the series.
Netflix’s live-action One Piece series gives Bartolomeo a luckier introduction to the famous scene of Gold Roger’s execution in Loguetown. Instead of just being present, he’s now the one who unintentionally guides Luffy toward Buggy the Clown (Jeff Ward) and Captain Alvida (Ilia Isorelýs Paulino)—the villains of One Piece season one who are seeking revenge. Don’t worry, longtime fans! This change to the story is done well and fits with Bartolomeo’s character as seen in other versions of the series, while staying true to who he is at his core.
In the second season of the live-action One Piece series, Bartolomeo encounters Nami (Emily Rudd) in Loguetown. He tries to steal from her while the Straw Hat crew is collecting supplies at a trading post in East Blue – a place that’s also a major base for the Marines. This doesn’t go well, as Nami quickly realizes he’s an inexperienced pickpocket and advises him to target someone easier, perhaps someone distracted. Instead of successfully stealing from Zoro (who actually gets lost), Bartolomeo bumps into Luffy. Luffy, the future pirate king, had wandered off from grocery shopping with Sanji to find the location where Gold Roger was executed. Bartolomeo immediately recognizes Luffy from his wanted poster and imagines a huge reward for capturing him.
The heartwarming first meeting between Bartolomeo and Luffy in One Piece season two cleverly expands on the backstory of this fan-created pirate, giving him a meaningful link to Luffy’s journey. What initially seemed like a character designed to playfully poke fun at fans is now portrayed as someone who embodies how fans genuinely connect with Luffy’s inspiring story. Bartolomeo, a small-time thief, is surprised when someone immediately believes in and trusts him, and this moment clearly affects him. His brief time with the Straw Hat crew also strengthens his determination to achieve his goals, as Nami offers him advice and Luffy asks about his dreams.
It’s especially painful when Buggy steals Luffy away from Bartolomeo and makes him watch how true villains operate. Buggy and Alvida team up to destroy Luffy’s dream and rebuild their own reputations. Although inspired by Luffy and the Straw Hats, they quickly abandon him – unsurprisingly, there’s no loyalty among criminals. They’re so focused on revenge for being defeated that they’ll do anything to eliminate Luffy. The way they dismiss Bartolomeo, despite Luffy’s kindness and trust in him, highlights their shared ruthlessness.
Now it’s Bartolomeo’s turn to have his backstory revealed, and it’s become incredibly important. Buggy believes that stories are the most powerful force, so they chain Luffy up to be executed in the same place where his hero, Gold Roger, died – a harsh lesson meant to crush his belief in following his dreams.
Just like in the manga and anime, Luffy doesn’t show any fear when Buggy leads him to the gallows. Instead, he’s thrilled to be standing where his hero, the Pirate King, took his last breaths. With a wide smile, he happily declares his own dream of becoming Pirate King, even facing death in front of his friends. Buggy, frustrated that he can’t break Luffy with his sword, swings it down—but suddenly, lightning strikes the tower, causing it to collapse.
Similar to the anime and manga, Bartolomeo witnesses Luffy’s amazing escape. However, the situation is different now: Bartolomeo discovered Luffy and led him to the point where he faced a seemingly unavoidable fate, which Luffy then overcame. Bartolomeo was deeply affected by Luffy’s spirit, giving his backstory much greater meaning. Luffy’s unwavering belief and joyful attitude inspire Bartolomeo to change his life. This isn’t just because fate intervened to remove the obstacle blocking Luffy’s path, but because Luffy, on the execution platform, and Bartolomeo, watching from a distance, now share a personal bond.
The moment Bartolomeo reverently picks up Luffy’s straw hat really resonated with us. It’s a scene every One Piece fan – whether they’ve been following the story for years or just discovered it – can connect with, reminding them of when they first fell in love with the series. While Bartolomeo might seem like an unexpected character to represent the fans, it perfectly captures the heart of One Piece: that heroes can come from anywhere, no matter how unlikely.
Bartolomeo remains a dedicated and enthusiastic follower, now embarking on a journey to become a pirate. His story is genuinely touching and relatable. We’re excited to see him champion the Straw Hats and eagerly await his opportunity to support Luffy again in the future of the One Piece live-action series.
One Piece season two is now streaming on Netflix. You can read our full review of the season here.
Read More
- Building 3D Worlds from Words: Is Reinforcement Learning the Key?
- Securing the Agent Ecosystem: Detecting Malicious Workflow Patterns
- The Best Directors of 2025
- Gold Rate Forecast
- 2025 Crypto Wallets: Secure, Smart, and Surprisingly Simple!
- Mel Gibson, 69, and Rosalind Ross, 35, Call It Quits After Nearly a Decade: “It’s Sad To End This Chapter in our Lives”
- TV Shows Where Asian Representation Felt Like Stereotype Checklists
- 20 Best TV Shows Featuring All-White Casts You Should See
- Umamusume: Gold Ship build guide
- Most Famous Richards in the World
2026-03-10 23:05