After nearly three years away, One Piece has finally arrived back on Netflix for a second season reuniting us with the Straw Hats as they continue to search for the “One Piece.” However, it's not just our favorite five on screen this time around, because the series has introduced a bunch of new characters to the show as the Straw Hats travel to new lands, including the cameo of a character that will a have a very important role to play: Brook.
In episode two, “Good Whale Hunting,” there's a flashback scene, which introduces the audience to Brook, played by Martial Batchamen. At around the 28-minute mark of episode two, a man enters the scene holding a violin, and later on in the scene encourages Crocus to let them dock their ship, even though they've brought their whale Laboon along with them.
He only appears in one episode this season, but trust us, he's got a big role to play. And so if you haven't read or watched the original anime One Piece is inspired by, here's what you need to know about the character of Brook.
Who is Brook?
Brook is one of the members of the Straw Hat Pirates and known as the musician of the group. The character is usually seen as a skeleton, but thanks to the flashback in the Netflix series, we get to see the character prior to this.
The flashback mirrors Brook's origin story from the original anime in which he was part of the Rumbar Pirates. The group traveled across the Grand Line but had to leave Laboon behind. After they crossed the line the crew fell victim to an incurable disease, but one that Brook managed to survive after eating the Revive Revive fruit. It turns him into a skeleton and stays on his own on the Grand Line for 50 years.
What role does Brook play in One Piece?
We only see him once in the new season of the Netflix show, but his scene is still pretty poignant, as it also shares a major foreshadowing detail. When he plays the song “Binks’ Brew” that Laboon loves, it contains the lyric: “After all is said and done, you’ll end up a skeleton!” Talk about foreshadowing.
We then hear Brook's song again when Luffy sings it to calm Lapoon down and gets him to release his crew. It's a moving and full circle moment that connects the past with the present and brings us one step closer to Brook being joined with the Straw Hat Pirates.
Right now, it's not clear when we'll next see Brook, but we're hoping for a season three appearance.
One Piece season two is available on Netflix now.
