TV Review: Lupin Part I (2020)

Lupin Part I (2020) created by George Kay

When Assane Diop (Omar Sy) was a child, his single father worked for a wealthy family and was accused of stealing an extremely valuable necklace from the family safe. Despite the dad's innocence, family head Hubert Pellegrini (Herve Pierre) used his influence to get the dad convicted, even though the necklace never turned up and the evidence was fairly weak. Assane's dad commits suicide in jail. As the show starts, it's twenty-five years later and the necklace has resurfaced. Assane decides it is time for revenge. He's grown up reading the Arsene Lupin novels, stories about a gentleman thief who never kills but always gets away. Lupin is a master of disguise and a brilliant schemer; Assane follows in his footsteps, a sure way to stay one step ahead of the law and maybe finally get his heel on Pellegrini's throat. He has a long path to travel.

The show follows fairly familiar ground with its revenge-fueled caper/heist plot. Assane searches for information that will exonerate his father and bring down Pellegrini. He uses disguises and technology in fun, if not always convincing, ways. Sy is up to the challenge of playing the variety of characters Assane becomes in the various schemes. Sy generates sympathy for his character too as he struggles with successes and losses along the way. By the end, Assane is mostly focused on taking down Pellegrini, who has lots of powerful connections, shifting the story more into Count of Monte Cristo territory. The ending leaves the story unfinished. Even more, there is a big cliffhanger. Hopefully the next series will come out soon.

Recommended.

Currently (Spring 2021) available only streaming on Netflix.