Netflix’s 2-Part Fantasy Series Officially Beats Stranger Things At Its Own Game

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While Stranger Things first demonstrated how crucial a strong cast is for a hit show, another fantasy series on Netflix has since surpassed it in this area. For years, Netflix has been looking for a show to follow in Stranger Things‘ footsteps, but it’s been difficult for viewers to find anything that matches the original’s special combination of small-town intrigue, compelling characters, and thrilling sci-fi horror.

Surprisingly, the shows that have best filled the void left by Stranger Things aren’t the ones with similar storylines or themes. Series like HBO Max’s It: Welcome to Derry and Netflix’s I Am Not Okay With This haven’t quite hit the mark. Instead, it’s been larger-scale, generally family-friendly shows that have achieved comparable success on Netflix. Wednesday, Tim Burton’s take on The Addams Family, is a prime example, as is another popular fantasy series that clearly draws inspiration from Stranger Things.

Premiering in 2023, One Piece is a live-action series that blends fantasy, comedy, adventure, and even a bit of horror. It’s based on the popular manga and anime created by Eiichiro Oda. While the story mainly follows the fun and chaotic journeys of the Straw Hat Pirates, led by Monkey D. Luffy, One Piece features a vast and sprawling cast of characters – almost as large as the one in Stranger Things. This large cast is a major draw for viewers, but One Piece goes a step further in a key aspect.

One Piece Borrowed Its Ensemble Cast Approach From Stranger Things

Both Stranger Things and One Piece feature incredibly well-chosen actors, which is remarkable considering each show has a large cast of main characters – more than a dozen! What makes the casting in One Piece especially impressive is that these characters are already beloved by fans who have followed them in manga and anime for over two decades.

Honestly, I was worried about whether Netflix could really pull off adapting One Piece! The source material is just so huge – it’s got way more characters than even Game of Thrones, and that cast keeps getting bigger all the time. It’s a legendary series; the manga actually holds a Guinness World Record for being the most published comic book series by a single author, and it’s still going strong after all these years! It would have been easy to mess it up, but so far I’m impressed.

Netflix’s Stranger Things Franchise Struggled Thanks To Its Ensemble Cast

Because One Piece has such a rich and extensive story, its large group of characters works really well with the show’s format. However, even though people enjoyed all the main characters in Stranger Things, having so many ultimately hurt the series. Ultimately, Stranger Things was a horror show, and while not as intense as Netflix’s Fear Street films, it needed to feel like there were real risks for the characters.

The show’s ending received some criticism because every major character – including Mike, Dustin, Will, Max, Lucas, Nancy, Steve, Jonathan, Robin, Holly, Joyce, Hopper, and Murray – survived. Even what happened to Eleven was left unclear. Plus, the first Stranger Things spin-off, Tales from ’85, was criticized for completely replacing the original actors with new ones.

Both Stranger Things and One Piece have large ensembles, but Stranger Things feels stuck with its original characters because it doesn’t have a pre-existing storyline to draw from. This makes the future of the show feel somewhat limited, as it can’t easily expand beyond its central heroes. One Piece, however, benefits from a vast and detailed world, allowing Netflix to utilize its huge cast more effectively – something Stranger Things struggles with.

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2026-06-18 04:19