Overview

• Episode 1136 brought Kuma’s backstory to a close and refocused the series on the Egghead Island conflict against St. Saturn.
• It soared to a 9.9 rating on IMDb, marking the highest score in One Piece history and the top-rated anime episode of 2025.
• The climax reveals that Kuma’s seemingly hostile acts toward the Straw Hat Pirates were in fact protective sacrifices for Luffy’s future.
• Fans and critics hailed director Koyama’s direction and the episode’s soundtrack for delivering powerful emotional impact.
• Reviewers noted persistent pacing issues, arguing the flashback arc felt overextended and would have benefited from tighter editing.