If you’ve been watching One Piece Season 2 on Netflix, you already know that the Little Garden arc has been a wild ride full of giants, dinosaurs, and some of the most frustrating Baroque Works agents yet. But Episode 5, titled “Wax On, Wax Off,” delivers the payoff we’ve all been waiting for—and then immediately throws a new problem at the Straw Hats just as they think they’re in the clear.
Let’s break down exactly how Luffy and the crew finally break free from Mr. 3’s wax prison, the clever strategies that save the day, and that ominous final scene that has fans already worried about what comes next .
The Tricky Situation: Goldenweek’s Colorful Control
When Episode 5 begins, things are not looking great for the Straw Hats. Vivi realizes that both Zoro and Nami have fallen victim to Miss Goldenweek’s Devil Fruit abilities—she can literally paint emotions onto people using her special colors. Nami is snapped out of it thanks to Vivi’s quick thinking, but Zoro remains trapped in a depressive stupor .
Meanwhile, Mr. 3 is preparing his “masterpiece”—a massive wax cake that will eventually turn our heroes into permanent sculptures. He even allows Goldenweek to use Luffy as her personal plaything, leading to one of the more unsettling images of the season: Luffy sitting on the beach, completely defeated, with a blue spiral painted on his face .
Usopp stumbles upon Luffy in this state and tries desperately to snap him out of it. But when Goldenweek approaches, Usopp is forced to retreat, promising his captain he’ll come back. It’s a moment that really highlights Usopp’s growth—he’s scared, but he’s not running away permanently.
Sanji’s Solo Mission and a Shocking Phone Call
While the rest of the crew is in danger, Sanji has been tracking down Mr. 3’s wax house. Unfortunately, he arrives too late—the others have already been captured and moved to the forest where Mr. 3’s giant cake awaits. Miss Valentine and Mr. 5 are there too, flanking Mr. 3 as the candles atop the cake are lit, beginning the slow process of raining wax down on the prisoners .
But here’s where Sanji’s detour becomes crucial. While searching Mr. 3’s desk, he finds files on each Straw Hat member. More importantly, the transponder snail rings. It’s Mr. Zero himself—the mysterious leader of Baroque Works .
Sanji, thinking fast, pretends to be Mr. 3 and confirms that both the Straw Hats and the princess are dead. But his cover is blown when Miss Friday and Mr. 13—Baroque Works’ Unluckies—arrive on the scene. What follows is a tense fight sequence as Sanji takes on a vulture and an otter armed with machine guns. It’s exactly as absurd and awesome as it sounds .
After defeating them, Sanji grabs the transponder snail again and reveals himself with a simple, smug line: “It’s Prince.” The episode doesn’t show us Mr. Zero’s reaction, but you can imagine the fury on the other end .
The Clever Rescue: How Nami Tricks Mr. 3
Back at the wax cake, the situation is growing dire. The wax is slowly consuming the prisoners, and even Zoro—now freed from Goldenweek’s control thanks to Nami’s clever manipulation—can’t cut through it. Mr. 3’s wax is simply too strong for his swords .
Nami’s strategy deserves special mention here. She convinced Mr. 3 to remove the spiral from Zoro’s leg by appealing to his artistic ego, suggesting he’d want Zoro fully aware and suffering during his transformation. It’s a small moment, but it shows how far Nami has come as a strategist .
Usopp, meanwhile, hears the giant Brogy screaming in pain. The giant has been poisoned, and he urges Usopp to help take down Baroque Works for good. This invigorates Usopp, who heads back to save Luffy and stop Goldenweek’s rampage .
Just as the wax sculpture is nearly complete, Luffy shows up. Mr. 3 panics and rushes into the forest, with Luffy in hot pursuit. Usopp confronts Miss Valentine and Mr. 5, taking brutal hit after hit—but his real target is the wax sculpture itself. By directing the attacks toward it, he shatters the structure and frees everyone .
The Final Battles and a Bittersweet Departure
Once the crew is free, the tides turn quickly. Zoro takes out Mr. 5 using his flaming swords (yes, flaming—it’s as cool as it sounds). Nami and Sanji team up to defeat Miss Valentine, and Luffy finally catches up to Mr. 3 for their showdown .
With the Baroque Works agents defeated, the Straw Hats obtain an Eternal Pose—a permanent pointer toward their next destination. They bid farewell to the giants Brogy and Dorry, whose thousand-year fight is paused (at least for now). The giants even help clear their path by taking out a massive sea creature, giving the crew safe passage out of Little Garden .
It’s a warm, satisfying moment. Until it isn’t.
The Cliffhanger: Nami Collapses
Just when everything seems fine, the episode delivers its final gut punch. The Straw Hats are sailing away, celebrating their victory. But as the night settles in, Nami suddenly collapses on the deck of the Going Merry. No warning. No explanation. Just the terrifying sight of their navigator falling ill .
This is where anime fans will immediately recognize what’s coming next. For newcomers, though? It’s a genuinely shocking moment that completely shifts the tone heading into Episode 6 .
Fan Reactions and What Comes Next
Social media has been buzzing about this episode since its release. Fans on Reddit are praising the adaptation choices, particularly how the show handled Goldenweek’s powers. The visual effect of the painted emotions translates surprisingly well to live-action, and many viewers appreciate that the show didn’t shy away from the weirder elements of the source material .
Twitter reactions highlight Sanji’s phone call scene as a standout moment. The combination of tension, humor, and the reveal that Sanji can absolutely hold his own in a crisis has fans calling it one of his best episodes in Season 2 .
According to ranking discussions online, Episode 5 sits comfortably in the middle of the season—not the absolute best, but a solid climax for the Little Garden arc that successfully transitions into the Drum Island storyline.
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Final Thoughts on Episode 5
“Wax On, Wax Off” does exactly what a good penultimate arc episode should do. It wraps up the immediate conflict (Mr. 3 is defeated, the giants are safe, the crew has their Eternal Pose) while setting up the next major challenge (Nami’s mysterious illness). The pacing keeps you engaged, the action sequences deliver, and the character moments—especially from Usopp and Sanji—give us reasons to care beyond just the spectacle .
If you haven’t watched Episode 6 yet, here’s a friendly warning: keep the tissues nearby. The Drum Island arc brings some of the most emotional moments of the entire season, and it all starts with Nami’s collapse.
What did you think of Episode 5? Was the Mr. 3 fight satisfying, or did you want more from the giants? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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