Lupin the third

What, me, reviewing a Lupin III feature? Couldn't be! It's only been about a half hour since the last time I did one. This one, Tokyo Crisis, is kind of complicated, quality-wise. It's got plenty of good elements, but it doesn't quite come together all that well. What I mostly appreciated was the relationship between Inspector Zenigata and Maria. Though I have a hard time defining it. Was it meant to be a romantic relationship or more of a father-daughter like thing? Whatever it was, it led to some great moments. But there's really nothing this feature excels at beyond that.

I'm happy to review my favorite Lupin III TV special, Episode 0: First Contact. Actually, it's one of my favorite Lupin features period, and one of my favorite anime movies. It's got everything I'm looking for in a Lupin feature: a great heist, excellent character balance, spot-on action and comic beats, a living atmosphere, good tone, and enjoyable music. It's a blast from start to finish, hitting all the right emotional notes. Fortunately, Discotek recently had this dubbed into English and put on Blu-Ray. I jumped at the chance to do a video on this.

Episode 23, "The Memories of a Beloved Witch"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Lupin and the gang are confronted by Mattea, who utters a phrase that sends Lupin into a seemingly hypnotized state. He attacks and then flees his allies, having visions of Tomoe speaking a mysterious poem to him. While Zenigata questions Mercedes, Jigen and Goemon are forced to turn to a surprising source of information to find their colleague. Lupin journeys to the mansion he grew up in and finds himself face-to-face with his "mother". It's not a sweet reunion!

Episode 22, "My Mother's Documents"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: A young woman named Finn Clark follows in her mother's footsteps as she travels to a Nordic country, looking for answers about her past. There, she finds recordings that chronicle her mother's lessons from a teacher of a questionable moral character. Converging on Finn's location is both the Lupin gang and Mattea and Inspector Zenigata is on the case. What do these tapes reveal? It's an aurora of mystery!

Episode 21, "Welcome to the Island of Bubbles"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: When the Lupin gang are forced to make a stop at a small town after a heist because the bridge is busted, they get drawn into the imaginary love stories of a girl named Muru. Can Lupin find the famed Mermaid Fish to impress Fujiko? Or is the art of love too illusive? It's an old fisherman's tale.

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Episode 13, "An Invitation From the Past"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: A collection of treasures from around the world are going up for auction, and Lupin is determined to steal them, and in particular, a mysterious red gem that was taken from his childhood home. He arranges a spectacular illusion to distract the patrons of the auction, but the plan is foiled when a group of women thieves make off with the loot before he can. Lupin scrambles to regain what was lost years earlier.

Episode 12, "The Ghosts of Britain"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: The mystery of the Raven is about to be revealed as Holmes looks to root out the killer of Watson while Lupin and other parties converge on the hidden treasure. It all comes to a head when deductions are made, secrets are unmasked, and there are tense confrontations! Who will come out on top, the world's most famous detective or the world's greatest thief? Or will it be somebody else? The game's afoot!

Episode 11, "The Truth and the Raven"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: When a real estate developer is assassinated by the Raven organization, Sherlock Holmes gets a tip that he was last seen with Fujiko Mine, signalling that the Lupin gang are back in London. It seems that the murder victim was targeted by the same killer who took out Lord Faulkner and John Watson. Holmes puts out a bounty on the missing piece of the poster Lupin attempted to steal to keep him busy. All parties- Holmes, Lily Watson, Lupin, and Inspector Zenigata- converge on Faulkner's Black Drawing Room to unveil the hidden treasure!