TV Review: Lupin Part III (2023)

Lupin Part III (2023) created by George Kay

See my review of Part I here. and Part II here.

After wrapping everything up in the last season, I was worried about a third run of adventures with Assane Diop (Omar Sy), the gentleman thief who models himself on Arsene Lupin, a popular gentleman thief from French literature. The new story starts with Assane's only failure early in his career. He tried to steal the Black Pearl (not Johnny Depp's ship, but an actual pearl that is black) but wound up arrested. His past comes back to haunt him in more ways than one, so he decides to fake his own death. Ghosts don't haunt ghosts, right? After an outrageous and entertaining deception, he is ready to retire to obscurity, but then he gets some information on his long lost mother and has to follow through.

The story gets more over-the-top than previous seasons, but it is clever enough and Sy is charming enough to make it well worth watching. The focus is on his family, both his wife and son and his crime associates (on both sides of the law, no less!). They all play a role in his actions, sometimes as willing and sometimes as unwilling (or even unknowing) allies. Again, things are tied up by the end but a little tag suggests more possible adventures. Sign me up.

Recommended, this is fun escapist fare from France!

This is currently (as of November 2023) only streaming on Netflix.

TV Review: Lupin Part II (2021)

Lupin Part II (2021) created by George Kay

See my review of Part I here.

The show picks up right where Part I left off, so if you haven't seen the first part and don't want to be spoiled for the cliffhanger ending, definitely stop reading here.

A henchman of Pellegrini (he's the bad guy) has captured Assane Diop's son from a seaside town's celebration of fictional gentleman burglar Arsene Lupin. Assane (Omar Sy) steals a car and takes a helpful bystander (who is actually one of the cops from Paris) and chases after the kidnapper. The mom is unconvinced the cops shouldn't be involved so she calls the local police who are perfectly willing to follow procedure--after 24 hours they will send out information to all the authorities. Not really helpful. The chase winds up at an isolated house in the Normandy countryside. The kidnapper has already been instructed to get Assane, not his son, so the kidnapper lays a trap. By this point Assane has figured out the helpful bystander is really a cop and leaves him tied to the car while he goes to save his son. The cat-and-mouse game goes on as Assane hatches plots and counterplots to trap Pellegrini and his henchmen and to clear his own name.

The story moves briskly along, with plenty long and short cons and capers. The finale is nicely dramatic and satisfying. All the loose ends are tied up. They promise a Part III in the future though what the storyline will be is unclear. I guess that gives fans time to catch up on reading the Arsane Lupin stories (or you can hear some of them here).

Recommended, though definitely watch Part I first. You can watch the whole thing through as one season (which maybe they should have done since each part is five episodes of 40-50 minute length).

Currently (Summer 2021) available only streaming on Netflix. 

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.