With the first two sagas of One Piece, East Blue and Alabasta, available on Netflix, there's an opportunity for new viewers to jump on deck for the grand adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates. The sprawling pirate epic is filled with a vast sea of characters and creatures; so many, in fact, that it can feel overwhelming to keep track of them all.

But not every person Monkey D. Luffy and his crew encounter are significant to the wider narrative. Here are few of the most important ones from East Blue and Alabasta to watch out for as the story progresses.

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COBY

Coby is driven by moral justice and dreams of becoming a Marine admiral. He first appears as an enslaved cabin boy for the Alvida Pirates and becomes the first person Luffy befriends. Coby's encounter with Luffy gives him the courage to join the Marines under Vice-Admiral Garp.

Coby undergoes massive development over the course of the series, both in character and design, and is no longer the timid boy at the beginning but a burgeoning Marine prodigy. With a heart of gold, we hope to see Coby become a leader that changes the Marines to fight more for justice rather than power.

BUGGY THE CLOWN

Buggy The Clown laughing

A scallywag pirate, Buggy is obsessed with treasure and will use any nefarious method to obtain it. He is the user of the Chop-Chop Devil Fruit, which lets him separate his body into numerous parts, making him memorable as Luffy’s first Devil Fruit opponent. Although he appears more as comedic relief, he is one of the most recurring characters in the series.

He also has a deeper history with the Pirate King as he was an apprentice on board Gol D. Roger’s ship along with Shanks. If he didn’t have a fever, he would’ve been lucky enough to witness the treasure One Piece at Laugh Tale with the rest of Roger’s crew.

Related: One Piece: The Genius of the Arlong Park Arc

HATCHAN

Hachi Ready To Fight In Arlong Park

Hatchan is a dopey but kind octopus Fish-man who was once part of the Arlong Pirates, an anti-human group who terrorized Nami’s home village for nearly a decade. Although introduced as a villain, Hatchan is good-natured by heart as he eventually feels deep remorse for his actions and wishes to make amends.

As the series progresses, we learn how Hatchan’s past is intertwined with a complicated history between humans and Fish-men. From an early age, he knew he would be discriminated against by humans and that mistrust only grew when his captain, Fisher Tiger of the Sun Pirates, was betrayed by humans and killed. Despite being surrounded by such negativity, Hatchan has found a way to accomplish his childhood dream of running a takoyaki stand and make peace with the people around him.

MONKEY D. DRAGON

Monkey D. Dragon smiling on Island Of Baltigo in One Piece.

Dragon first appears in Loguetown when he saves Luffy from Smoker. He remained an enigmatic figure for years until his true identity as Luffy’s father was revealed at the end of the Water 7 Saga.

Recognized as the “World’s Worst Criminal” and leader of the revolutionary army, Dragon is one of the strongest characters around. Some fans even speculate that he has a Devil Fruit ability to control the weather. While there is still much about Dragon we don’t know, he and his team continue to move in the shadows and dismantle oppression around the world.

Related: One Piece: Why Vivi Should Have Stayed on the Straw Hats’ Crew

VIVI NEFERTARI

Vivi reads Luffy's message in the One Piece anime.

Like many first appearances, Vivi is not who she appears to be. Introduced as the villain Ms. Wednesday, Vivi's true identity is the princess of Alabasta. When she was 14-years-old, she infiltrated the criminal organization Baroque Works to uncover who was destabilizing her country. Once her cover is blown, she convinces the Straw Hats to escort her to Alabasta and help liberate her country from Crocodile’s schemes.

Vivi possesses an unwavering heart full of loyalty and compassion. Her love for her country is as strong as Luffy’s dream of becoming Pirate King. Although Vivi ended her partnership with the crew when Crocodile was defeated, she follows the Straw Hats' journey in the news and hopes to one day join their adventures again. Although her arc ended, Vivi’s role is far from over in One Piece as she is the latest target of the true leader of the World Government.

DORRY AND BROGY

Broggy and Dorry Fighting during One Piece's Little Garden Arc.

Former captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates, Dorry and Brogy share a deep friendship and rivalry. After a petty argument about who caught the bigger Sea King, Dorry and Brogy have dueled on the island of Little Garden for over a century with no end in sight. Amidst their fighting, they still found time to befriend the Straw Hats and encouraged Usopp to visit the Giant’s country of Elbaf.

Though they do not appear after the Little Garden arc, their influence over other giants cannot go unnoticed. The Straw Hats’ encounter with Dorry and Brogy would help them during their future adventures at Water 7 and make them realize how interconnected their world is during the Whole Cake Island Arc.

Related: One Piece: The REAL One Piece Is the Friends Made Along the Way

BON CLAY

One Piece Bon Clay Crying

An eccentric and energetic former officer agent of Baroque Works, Bon Clay was one of the primary antagonists in the Alabasta Saga. His Devil Fruit ability, the Copy-Copy fruit, allows him to replicate the face and physique of any person he touches with his left hand. This ability allowed him to impersonate Vivi's father and cause discord in Alabasta on behalf of Crocodile's orders.

By the end of the saga, however, he becomes a quick comrade to Luffy. Bon Clay goes as far as hiding the Going Merry from the Marines and stalling them long enough for the Straw Hats to escape simply because he considers them to be friends. He is later captured and sent to Impel Down Prison, where he would reunite with Luffy to save Ace. A master of Okama Kenpo, a form of martial arts and ballet, Bon Clay manages to help Luffy escape prison, survive his fight with Impel Down’s warden, and become the new queen of Newkama Land at Level 5.5.

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