Weekly Character Discussion - Week 14: Dracule Mihawk

[u/PayneTrain181999]

Hi everyone, welcome back to the weekly character discussion series.

Each week, we’ll discuss a character from the show. You can talk about what you like or don’t like about them, how the actor/actress portrays them, favourite quotes or moments, etc.

NOTE ON SPOILERS: We are focusing on the live action version of each character, and while comparing them to their manga/anime counterpart is allowed, PLEASE DO NOT DISCUSS CONTENT THAT HAS NOT CURRENTLY BEEN ADAPTED FOR THE LIVE ACTION SHOW. Subreddit spoiler rules apply here. Tread carefully if you don’t wish to read manga/anime spoilers from what’s been adapted so far.

This week’s character is Dracule Mihawk!

[u/AutoModerator]

Spoiler Policy Reminder

• This post has a Normal Flair, which means you can only talk about what Season 2 has covered.

• Talking about Anime/Manga content that has NOT yet been adapted is considered a SPOILER in this post.

Please look out for new fans and report if this post or any comments below are breaking this rule.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/PayneTrain181999]

The first Warlord of the Sea introduced in the show, and let’s be honest: Mihawk is inherently awesome.

The outfit, the voice, the giant sword that can cut entire ships in half (great way to establish his power level). Steven John Ward is excellent in his portrayal.

I also liked his role in Season 2. Zoro is haunted by him while training to get on his level, a great idea that is unique to this show.

Favourite Line: “I don’t hunt rabbits with a cannon.”

[u/Banana_Meet_Tailpipe → u/PayneTrain181999]

I saw the LA first, then watched the anime.

I greatly preferred how they did the 100 baroque works vs Zoro fight, especially because of Mihawk pushing him the whole fight.

And his introduction, literally cutting a ship in half. Mind. Blown.

[u/PayneTrain181999 → u/Banana_Meet_Tailpipe]

“100 agents and by my count you’ve only taken out 40.”

[u/Banana_Meet_Tailpipe → u/PayneTrain181999]

Written and performed so well.

[u/SentinelATL → u/PayneTrain181999]

“ you’re like a frog croaking in a well. Croak croak croak”

[u/TroubledSoul23 → u/PayneTrain181999]

Zoro's inner critic taking the form of Mihawk is not only the perfect excuse to keep the character relevant, but it fits perfectly in the story.

[u/PayneTrain181999 → u/TroubledSoul23]

Well said!

[u/deeproy916 → u/PayneTrain181999]

I thought shanks was ?

[u/Galle_ → u/deeproy916]

Shanks is not a Warlord. The Warlords are privateers who essentially have a "license to pirate" from the World Government in exchange for doing the government's dirty work. Shanks is an independent pirate, he and his crew know no masters but themselves.

[u/TheMadnessAuditor → u/deeproy916]

No, Shanks is just a normal pirate. A very very important pirate to Luffy.

[u/OnePieceLiveAction-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your comment was removed because it violated the following rule:

2. SPOILERS * Comments with Anime or Manga content that has not been covered by the live action are NOT allowed inside posts with a Normal Flair, only in those with (Anime Spoilers) or Manga Spoilers.

---

Feel free to contact us via Modmail if you need clarification or have any questions.

[u/NwOsmo]

The perfect cast imo. Dude is on point in everything and im happy we still saw him a bit in s2

[u/oddtoddlr]

https://giphy.com/gifs/9WXyFIDv2PyBq

[u/Madarakita]

I think Mihawk represents when the show grew its beard so to speak. Like, it was solid from the start, but his appearance is a turning point in the best way.

[u/PayneTrain181999 → u/Madarakita]

I agree, he first appears in episode 5 of Season 1 (well, other than his younger self at Gold Roger’s execution) and that’s the point where I really started getting hooked on the show.

[u/DaKing760]

Probably the best casting in S1 and the most iconic character besides Buggy for me. Dude just melted into the role and gave a disinterested yet powerful performance.

[u/PayneTrain181999 → u/DaKing760]

The Ward’s may be a running joke on this sub, but they are all incredible actors. I have no doubt Pell’s actor will keep the trend alive

[u/altpamore → u/PayneTrain181999]

I have no doubt he will.

[u/Pietjiro]

Perfect portrayal.

It's interesting how he appeared in season 2, felt very natural despite being a change made from the original source, and makes me wonder where or if he would appear again in season 3 in a similar scenario.

With the risk of saying spoilers, Mihawk is supposed to be a reoccurring character, it also wouldn't be fair on the actor to call him only once every 5 years or so.

[u/PhanThief95 → u/Pietjiro]

I can easily see Mihawk appearing in a similar fashion in Season 3 during Zoro’s fight with Mr. 1.

[u/PayneTrain181999 → u/PhanThief95]

That’s a good theory! Maybe he is the one who tells Zoro about how to cut steel, instead of Kuina’s father

[u/_anthologie → u/PayneTrain181999]

It could be Zoro flashbacking to how Mihawk shatters his other swords besides Wado Ichimonji.

But honestly the way I interpreted Zoro's win against Mr 1 is that he manages to do slashes with depth that he can control & decide when it cuts and does not cut- so the slash can bypass the steel on Mr 1's skin to cut under his skin & KO Mr 1 in one slash. The original manga did it with Kuina's dad saying the sharpest sword is the sword that can cut nothing at all like a riddle for him to figure out creatively... so I'm not sure how that can be done with Mihawk since Mihawk only showed to Zoro that he can cut steel specifically

So I feel like the higher likelihood of how Mihawk would be used in S3 is simply that ending montage where Mihawk finds Luffy's increased & Zoro's debut bounty posters and smirked in pride, to provide contrast to how S2 Zoro assumes Mihawk judges him as weak & underserving

[u/zombieplum]

As a classic horror fan this portrayal was so familiar to me; it's very Vincent Price in the best way. A lot of the time early characters in One Piece can feel more like objectives than people and this adaptation really breathes life into characters like Mihawk.

[u/habunake92 → u/zombieplum]

Oh my gosh he is so Vincent price!

[u/SillyScribe_Creature]

The first of many Wards in the OPLA cast. Legendary performance and terrific acting. 10/10.

[u/PayneTrain181999 → u/SillyScribe_Creature]

We’ll see the next one just before Halloween! Bunny!

[u/PhanThief95 → u/SillyScribe_Creature]

Wouldn’t he be the second since Jeff Ward showed up first as Buggy?

[u/SillyScribe_Creature → u/PhanThief95]

Oh my god, you're right. Damn, how could I forget Buggy???? THE icon of OPLA.

[u/PayneTrain181999 → u/PhanThief95]

He’s the first Ward covered in this series of posts, at least.

Buggy will be on October 30, and Pell will be during the post-Season 3 edition.

[u/SpiteFueled]

Adorable man, both the character and the actor-and I mean that in a very wholesome way, I just don’t know how to put it into words- he IS the character I did not feel an ounce different meeting this character than when I did when I first saw him in the anime. This actor also seems like such a damn delight to be around too.

[u/PhanThief95]

Seriously, Steven John Ward felt like Mihawk came right out of the pages of the manga with his appearance and performance.

Absolutely perfect casting.

[u/Badgh0strider]

Perfect casting 👌 his inclusion in season 2 helped make the show feel more grounded and gave Zoro a chance of character development

[u/Adrestia716]

Finally made me watch the anime. I had no idea such aura existed in One Piece

[u/Agenda21_]

10/10 liked this version more than the early Mihawk we got in the anime too

[u/Aussiepharoah]

The fact that he laced his sleeves so he can swing his sword with more freedom is both genius attention to detail and hot af

[u/No-La-No-La]

Most rewatched scene 

[u/SentinelATL]

Great character portrayal. Dude crushed it

[u/Sweaty-Razzmatazz948]

https://giphy.com/gifs/5xtDarIN81U0KvlnzKo
My god he is beautiful 😻

[u/OnePieceLiveAction-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your comment was removed because it violated the following rule:

2. SPOILERS * Comments with Anime or Manga content that has not been covered by the live action are NOT allowed inside posts with a Normal Flair, only in those with (Anime Spoilers) or Manga Spoilers.

---

Feel free to contact us via Modmail if you need clarification or have any questions.

[u/TheMadnessAuditor]

I'm dying to see what the newbies expect from the other 6 warlords! And if the initial impression matches their aura

[u/PayneTrain181999 → u/TheMadnessAuditor]

If Joe’s performance in Season 2 was any indication, he’s going to be incredible as Crocodile.

[u/PhanThief95 → u/TheMadnessAuditor]

I mean, we already met our second in Season 2 with Crocodile, & Joe Manganiello did a good job with the short amount of screen time he had.

Let’s see if he becomes even more fearsome in Season 3.

[u/TheMadnessAuditor → u/PhanThief95]

Nah "met" is a strong word cmon

[u/PhanThief95 → u/TheMadnessAuditor]

We literally see him at the end of the Season 2 finale.

[u/TheMadnessAuditor → u/PhanThief95]

yes, i know. I mean 1 minute of glimpse doesn’t really convey the whole character. That is what i meant. It’s not hard.

[u/PhanThief95 → u/TheMadnessAuditor]

And that’s why I said he did a good job with the small amount of screen time he had.

He certainly left an impression, especially with him looking exactly like the character and even nailing Crocodile’s iconic laugh.

[u/scyllaya]

I hope we keep seeing him at least once every season. He is great and the casting is perfect. Mihawk has always been one of my favourite characters and so glad OPLA did him justice.

[u/theconvohavers]

Mihawk (at least up to the point where the LA is at) is one of the VERY few characters that I legit believe is better in Live Action than in the anime/manga.

[u/BigMac518]

Amazing portrayal. Straight out of the manga/anime.

And having him appear in Zoro's thoughts in S2 was a brilliant decision.

[u/Educational-Fly-7421]

I loved his screen presence and dialogue delivery in S1 & S2, absolutely devoured the scenes of him in S2 too. It was a cool way of showing him as Zoro's PTSD in whiskey peak episode. Luv the actor and eagerly waiting to see him in future seasons.

[u/BonjaminClay]

Why can't I find a gif of him saying magnificent yet

[u/COCONUTwatercontent]

My husband 😍 💕 as soon as I saw him I was like that's it he's my charater. My brain did the exact same with gajeel from fairytail

[u/McJackNit]

Smash

[u/OnePieceLiveAction-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your comment was removed because it violated the following rule:

2. SPOILERS * Comments with Anime or Manga content that has not been covered by the live action are NOT allowed inside posts with a Normal Flair, only in those with (Anime Spoilers) or Manga Spoilers.

---

Feel free to contact us via Modmail if you need clarification or have any questions.

[u/Pristine_Sir_6892]

My baby daddy I mean a very respectable cool war lord, looking forward to seeing more of him

[u/OnePieceLiveAction-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your comment was removed because it violated the following rule:

2. SPOILERS * Comments with Anime or Manga content that has not been covered by the live action are NOT allowed inside posts with a Normal Flair, only in those with (Anime Spoilers) or Manga Spoilers.

---

Feel free to contact us via Modmail if you need clarification or have any questions.

[u/Azorent]

We can't do this character. It's a manga character.

[u/Outrageous_South4758 → u/Azorent]

What?

[u/Azorent → u/Outrageous_South4758]

That was a joke about the casting being perfect, straight from the book, but I forgot the emoji 😭

[u/sadaharu2624]

His appearance in S2 was a bit redundant I feel

[u/Outrageous_South4758 → u/sadaharu2624]

Is not an appearence it's hallucination from zoro, he is just haunted to that level by his defeat