One Piece Season 17 Episode 40 “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” is overall TV episode 668, sitting inside the Dressrosa stretch. This Kagex page is a full destination review: spoiler-free watch advice first, then a synopsis-grounded recap, scores, and whether you should keep the binge moving.
Previous: Season 17 Episode 39 — The Admiral’s Decision! Fujitora vs. Doflamingo! · Season: Dressrosa season review · Hub: One Piece
Hook
One Piece does not ask you to judge a single episode like a movie. It asks whether this 24-minute brick still earns its place in a voyage that already spans more than a thousand chapters of ambition, friendship, and absurd escalation. “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” is one of those bricks inside Dressrosa — the Wikipedia/TV season that covers overall episodes 629–746.
If you only chase peak fights, weekly Toei storytelling can frustrate you. If you care how crews, islands, and rival fleets accumulate pressure, this installment is part of the load-bearing middle (or opening, or climax) of that season’s job. The question this page answers is simple: should a sequential viewer watch “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!,” and what does it actually change?
Kagex scores below are for this episode only — not a grade for the entire Dressrosa saga and not a grade for the manga chapter it adapts.
Quick Information
- Anime: One Piece
- Season / Episode: Season 17 (Dressrosa), Episode 40
- Overall TV number: 668
- English title: The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!
- Runtime: ~24 minutes
- Studio: Toei Animation
- Original air date: November 2, 2014
- Arc keywords: Dressrosa Doflamingo Colosseum
- Kagex score: 7.7 / 10
- Where to watch legally: Crunchyroll / Netflix / region-dependent official platforms
Should You Watch It?
Yes if you are watching One Piece in order through Dressrosa. Skipping “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” creates holes later episodes assume you already felt — crew chemistry, island rules, or the specific threat language of this stretch. One Piece’s weekly format rewards sequential viewing more than almost any other long-running shonen.
Beginner-friendly as a random start? No. Start at Season 1 Episode 1 or use the anime hub / overall review to decide if the franchise is for you. Dropping into overall #668 cold will feel like arriving mid-conversation on a ship that already chose its captain.
Who enjoys this kind of episode? Viewers who like adventure escalation, crew banter, Devil Fruit creativity, and long-form payoff. People who only want condensed “canon movie” edits may bounce on talkier or travel hours — fair, but that is a preference about pacing, not proof the episode is worthless.
Bottom line: sequential fans should watch “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!.” Fight-only skim culture will underrate quieter setup inside Dressrosa. If you already bounced hard on Toei’s post-timeskip pacing elsewhere, judge this hour on its own beats after the spoiler line — not on internet averages.
Spoiler Warning
Spoilers for One Piece Season 17 Episode 40 (“The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!”) follow. Stop above for a clean first watch. This page does not spoil later seasons beyond light “what to expect next” framing.
Story Recap
Recap below is grounded in publicly listed episode synopsis text for overall #668. Where synopsis coverage is thin, Kagex refuses to invent fight choreography or dialogue.
Ordinary Voyage
The battle is set to begin as all four contestants and Diamante enter the ring. Gatz reminds the audience of the top tier Logia Devil Fruit waiting for the victor. Although Lucy makes a mental note of Burgess as a member of the Blackbeard Pirates, Rebecca in turn makes a note of Lucy, saying that he is not the same man. However, the group is interrupted as three gladiators rush at Rebecca, saying that they refuse to be beaten by her and that they cannot accept such an outcome. Diamante steps in, telling the gladiators that “results are results” and holds his cape in front of his body. The camera still prioritizes Toei’s weekly adventure rhythm: setup, clash or comedy spike, then a push toward the next decision. Watching “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” in order matters because Dressrosa, Doflamingo, Colosseum context from earlier Dressrosa episodes is assumed, not re-explained from zero.
Unexpected Incident
The gladiators rush at him but only injure themselves and break their swords. Diamante announces that this is a result of his Devil Fruit, the Hira Hira no Mi. He reveals that his cape is actually made of steel, only fluttering like a cape due to his powers. Consequently, he ‘flutters’ his sword into a bull shape and defeats the gladiators easily. The camera still prioritizes Toei’s weekly adventure rhythm: setup, clash or comedy spike, then a push toward the next decision. Watching “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” in order matters because Dressrosa, Doflamingo, Colosseum context from earlier Dressrosa episodes is assumed, not re-explained from zero.
New Pressure
Diamante also informs them that the new fighting fish are “befitting” for such an occasion and are sensitive to the smell of blood. Indeed, a fighting fish charges onto the bridge section and takes the gladiators with it. Gatz informs the audience that these reach contestants inside the ring and are more deadly as they are the “boss class fighting fish of each school”. The camera still prioritizes Toei’s weekly adventure rhythm: setup, clash or comedy spike, then a push toward the next decision. Watching “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” in order matters because Dressrosa, Doflamingo, Colosseum context from earlier Dressrosa episodes is assumed, not re-explained from zero.
First Discovery
He also reveals that one fish carries a chest with the Mera Mera no Mi inside. Diamante makes this grand announcement, where the victor is the last man standing and the one to retrieve the Devil Fruit from this particular fish. The gong goes off, signalling the start of the five man battle royale. The camera still prioritizes Toei’s weekly adventure rhythm: setup, clash or comedy spike, then a push toward the next decision. Watching “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” in order matters because Dressrosa, Doflamingo, Colosseum context from earlier Dressrosa episodes is assumed, not re-explained from zero.
Important Encounter
At the royal palace, Viola tells the others that the doors lead to the ramparts and that there is a secret entrance to which they’ll take. She also states that they would have no chance of toppling Doflamingo if the top brass were involved, especially Pica. The camera still prioritizes Toei’s weekly adventure rhythm: setup, clash or comedy spike, then a push toward the next decision. Watching “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” in order matters because Dressrosa, Doflamingo, Colosseum context from earlier Dressrosa episodes is assumed, not re-explained from zero.
Story Analysis
“The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” works or fails based on how clearly it advances Dressrosa. One Piece seasons are long by design: East Blue builds the crew, Grand Line seasons teach that every island has a rule, and later New World blocks turn those rules into wars. Episode 40 of Season 17 is one turn of that machine.
Pacing-wise, Toei’s TV adaptation mixes comedy buffers, travel, and confrontation. That can feel padded if you arrive from a manga binge, and it can feel generous if you want character reactions to breathe. Kagex does not pretend every minute is peak sakuga. We ask whether the hour changes stakes, relationships, or information. In Dressrosa, the recurring keywords — Dressrosa Doflamingo Colosseum — tell you what kind of change to look for.
Emotionally, One Piece sells sincerity harder than irony. Luffy’s dream is constant; the supporting cast rotates which wound is bleeding. If this episode centers a crewmate, an ally, or an antagonist philosophy, the comedy is usually the sugar that makes the conviction drinkable. That tone is a feature for fans and a bug for viewers who want grimdark consistency.
Structurally, overall #668 sits between “The Admiral’s Decision! Fujitora vs. Doflamingo!” and “A Moving Castle! The Top Executive Pica Rises Up!”. Read it as a chain link. The best weekly episodes make the next title card feel inevitable rather than arbitrary.
Compared with shorter modern cours, One Piece asks for patience. The trade is cumulative awe: when Dressrosa finally detonates, earlier “small” hours become receipts. “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” should be graded as one of those receipts, not as a standalone film.
Character Analysis
Monkey D. Luffy
Luffy remains the engine: simple desire, elastic tactics, zero interest in looking cool while winning. In “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!,” watch whether he drives the incident, reacts to someone else’s crisis, or refuses a compromise that would be “smart” in any other series. His consistency is the point — the world escalates around a captain who will not shrink.
Straw Hat crew and allies
Dressrosa typically spotlights different crewmates depending on island rules. Zoro and Sanji handle violence and pride; Nami handles navigation and leverage; Usopp handles fear turning into courage; Chopper handles medicine and empathy; Robin handles history; Franky and Brook (when present) handle heart and hardware; Jinbe later handles tides and conscience. This episode’s title — “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” — is your hint for who the hour thinks matters.
Opposition / island forces
One Piece antagonists are rarely empty HP bars. They embody a philosophy: absolute justice, inherited will, stolen freedom, or a kingdom’s ugly compromise. Inside Dressrosa Doflamingo Colosseum, expect the opposition to teach the crew a rule of this sea. Even a mid-arc hour should clarify what winning would cost.
World Building
World rules visible in Season 17 Episode 40 stay local: how this island’s weather, government, Devil Fruit oddity, or cultural taboo constrains the crew. Dressrosa is the container; “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” is one room inside it.
One Piece lore is famous for long payoffs, but this page will not smuggle future reveals into Episode 40. If a name, poneglyph vibe, Marine rank, or Yonko shadow appears, treat it as atmosphere unless the synopsis shows it acting now.
Geography still matters. Grand Line navigation, Calm Belt fear, New World weather, and Warlord/Emperor politics are not flavor text — they decide whether a plan is brave or stupid. When “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” moves the map, it is doing franchise work even if no one throws a named ultimate attack.
Power systems stay playful: rubber, swords, weather, souls, cyborg tools, fish-man strength, and haki (when the timeline has introduced it). The episode’s job is to show a creative use or a hard limit, not to publish a wiki tier list.
Animation Review
Toei’s One Piece TV look has eras. Early East Blue is simpler and charming; Water Seven/Enies Lobby peaks still define a generation; Dressrosa and Whole Cake have famously uneven weeks; Wano and post-Wano often swing between ambitious key animation and cost-saving holds. Season 17 (Dressrosa) should be judged against its own production moment, not against a theatrical film.
For “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!,” expect the usual TV priorities: readable action, expressive faces, and comedy timing. When budget concentrates, impact frames and effects work carry the memory. When it does not, character acting and layout still sell sincerity. Kagex animation score 7.7 / 10 reflects peaks vs comfort cuts for this hour — not a YouTube sakuga compilation ranking.
Direction matters as much as raw drawings. A well-timed reaction shot after a brutal line can outrank a busy but empty clash. One Piece thrives when the camera respects silence between punches.
Music and Voice Acting
Score 7.3 / 10. The franchise’s needle drops — We Are!, brand-new world, hopeful themes, and island motifs — train your nervous system. Even without listing every OP/ED cour change, “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” either rides that recognition or undercuts it with quiet strings.
Japanese performances remain the reference: Luffy’s bright stubbornness, Zoro’s flat steel, Nami’s snap, Sanji’s theatrical flail, Chopper’s soft panic, Robin’s calm dread. English dubs vary by era; do not wait on a preferred track to judge story.
Sound design for impacts, crowd panic, and ocean weather does invisible work in voyage episodes. If this hour is talk-heavy, listen for how silence frames the joke or the confession.
Hidden Details
- Title card language in “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” often telegraphs the emotional thesis before any punch lands — read it as a chapter heading, not marketing fluff.
- Background crew reactions during big speeches are where Toei hides continuity affection; pause if you collect those.
- Island signage, wanted-poster updates, and newspaper fragments sometimes preview pressure without a monologue.
- Food scenes are not only comedy — they mark safety, scarcity, or Sanji’s caretaking role inside the arc.
- This page stays inside Episode 40; if a detail only makes sense after later episodes, it is not listed here as a “gotcha.”
Best Moments
- Title promise: the hour’s clearest delivery of what “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” claims on the tin.
- Crew beat: a character choice that could only happen because earlier Dressrosa episodes happened.
- Opposition beat: a line or tactic that clarifies the island’s rule set.
- Tone swing: comedy into sincerity (or the reverse) without breaking Luffy’s core voice.
- Exit hook: the final push toward “A Moving Castle! The Top Executive Pica Rises Up!” that makes continuing feel obvious.
Pros and Cons
Pros: Sequential clarity inside Dressrosa; title-led focus; franchise sincerity; cumulative world pressure around Dressrosa Doflamingo Colosseum.
Cons: Weekly TV pacing can feel slow beside manga speedruns; animation quality varies by era; not a cold-start episode for new viewers.
Final Verdict
Kagex overall: 7.7 / 10 — “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” is a solid sequential stop in Dressrosa — worth watching in order if you care how the Dressrosa stretch builds, not a random highlight-reel skip.
- Story: 7.6 / 10
- Characters: 8.0 / 10
- Animation: 7.7 / 10
- Music: 7.3 / 10
- Enjoyment: 7.6 / 10
- Overall: 7.7 / 10
Watch it in order. Grade it as a voyage brick. Then decide whether Dressrosa still has you — not whether a random clip account clipped the coolest five seconds.
What to Expect Next
Next up is Season 17 Episode 41 “A Moving Castle! The Top Executive Pica Rises Up!” (overall #669). Expect the Dressrosa pressure to continue without needing spoilers beyond that title.
Next: Season 17 Episode 41 — A Moving Castle! The Top Executive Pica Rises Up!. Watch legally on official platforms.
FAQ
Do I need to watch One Piece Season 17 Episode 40?
Yes if you are on the main TV track through Dressrosa. Skipping “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” usually costs context, not just “filler vibes.”
What is the overall episode number?
Overall 668. Season-local number is Episode 40 of Season 17 (Dressrosa).
When did it air?
November 2, 2014 in Japan (where listed). Runtime ~24 minutes. Studio Toei Animation.
Is this filler?
Season 17 is labeled Dressrosa on the Wikipedia TV season map Kagex uses. Some seasons include TV-original blocks (notably Season 5). Judge “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” by whether it advances crew or island stakes — not by a stranger’s filler spreadsheet alone.
Where should beginners start?
Season 1 Episode 1. Use the hub and overall review for worth-watching framing.
Where is the season review?
One Piece Season 17 review — Dressrosa.
Does this spoil later arcs?
Deep sections spoil Episode 40. They avoid future-season dumps. “What to Expect Next” stays title-light.
Where are facts / spoilers for the franchise?
Fact and Spoilers on the hub. Episode pages stay local.
Who writes these?
Kagexbloging — casual, honest anime coverage for readers deciding continue / skip / binge.
Where to watch legally?
Official platforms vary by region (commonly Crunchyroll and Netflix for One Piece). Avoid illegal streams.
Keep exploring
- One Piece anime hub
- Season 17 (Dressrosa) review
- One Piece overall review
- Previous: Season 17 Episode 39 — The Admiral’s Decision! Fujitora vs. Doflamingo!
- Next: Season 17 Episode 41 — A Moving Castle! The Top Executive Pica Rises Up!
- Fact and Spoilers
- Browse reviews
Your turn
Was “The Final Round Starts! Diamante the Hero Shows Up!” a continue episode or a skip-risk for you? Which crew beat hit hardest? Are you riding Dressrosa weekly or bingeing?
Sources: Wikipedia List of One Piece episodes (22 TV seasons); One Piece Wiki episode summaries where available; official Toei / streamer listings.
