Netflix’s One Piece makes a crucial character change from the manga for the better

polygon.com:

It’s apparent early on in Netflix’s live actionOne Piece that it isn’t a clean adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s manga series or the anime. While following many of the same steps, certain details are altered to the extent that One Piece readers will still have a different experience when they watch the new series. And perhaps the greatest change to be found here is in Koby, the sheepish teen who wishes to become a part of the Navy. The live-action series makes it very clear Koby is just as much Luffy’s foil as he is his friend.

In the manga, Koby’s role expands with time, as does his importance in the overall plot. He first appears in One Piece’s introductory “Romance Dawn” arc as someone that ends up meeting Luffy and, like most people who get in contact with the dude in the Straw Hat, becomes inspired by him. Thanks to a confidence boost from the pirate, Koby stands up to his former captors and then joins the Navy. (Albeit after Luffy roughs him up a little bit to show Koby’s future employers he’s not close with any pirates. It’s sort of a justifiable beatdown.)

From then on, Koby’s role in Luffy’s life (or even in the proximity of Luffy) is sparse until later in the story. Koby trains with the Navy under the eventual apprenticeship of Vice Admiral Garp while Luffy sails through the East Blue and into the Grand Line. When they meet up again, Luffy defeats him easily, but Koby still looks up to Luffy as an aspirational symbol. Luffy doing exactly what he wants to do will always be a reminder for Koby to follow his own dreams, even if those dreams lead to Luffy punching him in the face from time to time.

In the live action series, though, Koby goes from being a side character to a supporting one immediately. He’s damn near