Just a heads up, this is NOT the one that aired on Cartoon Network nearly a decade ago. That show was the second series. This is the original, with Lupin in a green suit.
Created in 1971, this probably one of the oldest shows I've ever watched, but in honor of the new Fujiko series, I've decided to give it a watch-through. As such, here are a few notes:
The artwork is actually quite good. I'm not too judgmental on artwork/animation, but this is definitely quite a few steps above Speed Racer and Astroboy and other shows from a similar era.
This first episode actually kind of serious. I wouldn't say its as serious as the manga, but it definitely doesn't have the slapstick free spirit of Series 2.
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
Episode 1: Lupin is Burning Plot A major corporation is sponsoring a race at the newly completed Hida Raceway. The leader of the corporation, Scorpion, has invited Lupin to participate in the race. What Lupin doesn't know is that the race is a trap designed to kill him. Scorpion is pissed off that Lupin has been working for his rivals (I'm presuming that means some sort of corporate espionage?)
Prior to the race, Fujiko is sent to spy on Scorpion at the Miracle Hotel. However, she is captured and forced to watch the race, so that she can witness the moment Lupin dies. She is tied to some weird table, which weird little hand things pop out of to tickle her and tear at her clothes and such. Scorpion tells her that she'll die after Lupin dies.
Also participating in the race is inspector Zenigata, who believes that Lupin is up to something and intends to arrest him.
However, Lupin does have a plan. At a designated point, at a designated time, Jigen and Lupin switch places. Jigen continues the race in disguise while Lupin infilitrates the Miracle Hotel.
Inside the hotel, Lupin disguises himself as a plumber or repairman and is led to the bathrooms. He then proceeds to break all the toilets, flooding the hotel, including the room where Scorpion and Fujiko are. Lupin then kills everyone except Fujiko by dropping an exposed electrical wire into the water.
After rescuing Fujiko, Lupin quickly returns to the race, switching spots with Jigen again. While passing all of the other cars in the race, he attaches small bombs to the sides of their car. During his victory ceremony, he is handed a trophy, which is actually a bomb itself. At the last second, he tosses the trophy back to the master of ceremonies, hopes back in his race car and takes off. A bunch of thugs jump in the other race cars to chase after him. Zenigata also tries to get back in his racecar, but is blocked by Fujiko, who tells him that if he wants to live, he'll wait here.
Scorpion arrives just in time to see all of the cars explode. He starts laughing histerically, proclaiming that "Lupin is burning" and then he himself dies, due to his earlier electrical burns.
Afterwards, Zenigata attempts to arrest Lupin, but Lupin shrugs it off, saying he has an air tight alibi, since he had been racing the entire time. Fujiko then reveals the plan to Zenigata, and it is revealed that in the back of her truck, Jigen has been bound and gagged. Zenigata reveals that Fujiko has been working with her the entire time, in exchange for any charges against her being dropped. Zenigata slaps on handcuffs to Lupin, while Fujiko runs off. Zenigata then starts dragging Lupin away, and the camera pans out to reveal that Lupin has escaped and attached the handcuffs to a wrecked car.
The scene cuts to Fujiko driving into the sunset. Lupin pops up in the backseat of her car. She asks him if he has "come for revenge against his betrayer". he replies by saying "No, betrayal is just another one of a woman's accessories. If he hated betrayal, he couldn't love women". The episode ends with him tickling her with one of the creepy hands that were attached to the bench she had been strapped on.
Thoughts Pretty good, despite there not really being a caper or crime or some sort. That said, the double dealing at the end was pretty well done. I mean, I should have seen it coming, with Fujiko being Fujiko and all, but I was still surprised. 7/10
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
Episode 2: The Man Who Is Called a Magician Plot Summery The episode begins with some gangsters slamming open a door and shooting a sleeping man. After running out of ammo, they turn on the lights to confirm the kill, then leave. Shortly after, the man gets up, completely unphased.
The scene shifts to Lupin's house. Jigen and him and relaxing one morning when they hear Fujiko singing. Jigen says that she can't be trusted but Lupin just shrugs it off. It's revealed that the night before, they found Fujko in some nearby woods that were on fire.
Lupin goes upstairs to check on Fujiko, but runs downstairs when he hears Jigen screaming in pain. The man from the beginning of the episode is there. He demands that they give him Fujiko, but they refuse. He begins shooting fire out of his index finger and catches Lupin on fire. They begin firing at him, but to no effect. The bullets just bounce off. The man walks upstairs, grabs Fujiko and walks away, while Lupin and Jigen throw everything they have at him.
It appears the man's name is Pycal and he lives above a waterfall. Fujiko tries to seduce him, but fails and he interrogates her over the location of some microfilm. She tells him she hid them in Lupin's car.
At that moment, Jigen and Lupin find the film and just as they begin analyzing it, Pycal shows up again. A chase occurs and at one point, Pycal appears to be levitating. He blows up their car, believing that he has killed them.
But he hasn't. The next morning, Lupin wakes up Jigen and reveals that he figured out Pycal's fire trick. He's using a hidden flame thrower. Furthermore, it is revealed that Pycal's levitation was just him standing on a piece of sheetglass. At that moment, Fujiko arrives and begs Lupin to stop looking into Pycal's secrets, but Lupin says he has to do it. He then jumps out of the window, expecting the sheet glass to be there, but Fujiko has apparently removed it.
He passes out from the fall, and during that time, he figures out Pycal's last secret. The microfilm actually contains a chemical formula. He then heads over towards Pycal's house. However, Fujiko has warned Pycal of Lupin's intentions, via a voice recording. Pycal gets in a plane he has in his backyard and uses it to land on Lupin's car. Once inside the car, he pulls a gun out and shoots Lupin in the back of the head. Lupin survives, but blacks out. The car swerves off the road into the ocean.
However, Jigen manages to rescue Lupin from the wreck. Together, they continue to make their way to Pycal's house. Lupin tells Pycal that he has figured out all of his secrets, and that he knows about the chemical formula. He also tells Pycal he knows that his formula is about to run out, making him susceptible to damage again. The two briefly duel with fire, but Pycal loses and is engulfed in flames. He tries lowering himself into the waterfall below, but succumbs and dies.
Back at Lupin's house, Fujiko tries to seduce Lupin for the chemical formula, but Lupin has forgotten it already, so she leaves. Lupin tries to chase after her, but crashes into an invisible piece of sheetglass. Jigen tosses it aside, calling it troublesome and the episode ends with the two of them lieing in the grass.
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
Thoughts I thought this was better than the first episode. My favorite parts were the sections where Jigen and Lupin are relaxing. You get to see Jigen doing some pretty sweet gun tricks. Also, apparently Lupin is afraid of octopi . I was genuinely interested in how Pycal was able to pull off his tricks, and the whole thing seemed a little Sherlock Holmesish in how Lupin was able to figure out something that was seemingly supernatural and show it was just science. This episode showed a couple of traits you don't usually get to see in Lupin quite in this light very often. Namely that he is prideful, and that affronts to his pride can lead to him becoming obsessive.
7.1/10
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
Hell yeah the original series rules, I've watched it through twice over the years. Episode 2 I've watched at least four times, I'd give it a 10 personally.
Also it hits DVD in America on June 26th, pre-order everybody.
-- One Piece: Pirates with style! -= Metal Gear Solid: Tactical Espionage Action =-
Plot Summary Lupin and Fujiko are out boating. Another boat begins approaching time them. Suspicious, Fujiko fires at the boat, causing it to crash. Lupin jumps out and expects the crash, only to find a mysterious woman named Linda.
Some men on an armored boat are looking for Linda, which they manage to avoid. Jigen shows up and attempts to rescue them. Lupin goes to introduce him to Linda, but she has disappeared.
Jigen and Lupin do some research and figure out she's the assistant to a researcher on an island, which unfortunately is the home base of a criminal organization called Killer in Killers. The two of them sneak onto the island. That next day, they stumble upon a field of flowers, there Lupin finds Linda again. She takes them to the researcher, who reveals the flowers are being used to develop a sort of bomb that the organization wants to use. The researcher also mentions that he had experimented on Linda, and has turned her into a witch who is dependent on the flowers.
Lupin ends up getting captured by the organization. They want to use his connections to sell the flowers and bomb to the highest bidder. However, he manages to escape. He sets fire to all the flowers, which kills Linda. While escaping via aircraft, the researcher is shot. With his dieing breath, he tells Lupin where the missile is under the ocean.
The missile is a sunken submarine. Lupin is about to commandeer the missile, but the leader of Killer in Killers is there. The two struggle but then Fujiko reveals herself and blindsides the leader. The two intend to ride the missile to japan and give it up to the authorities there, but Lupin rationalizes that if both were to ride the missile, it wouldn't make it, so he makes Fujiko wait.
The missile starts to take off, but it doesn't make it very far. Fujiko has stowed away. The episode ends with him, Fujiko and Jigen riding a make shift raft.
Throughts I still don't understand what they meant by Linda being a witch, or that she was dependent on the Flowers. Would have liked them to delve more into that. Solid episode though. It is interesting that apparently Lupin has some shady contacts, though i guess that makes sense giving his profession.
7/10
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
There's definitely some surreal stuff from time to time.
Ha just to nitpick, what's with the rating system? You gave a 7, a 7.1, and a 7. Especially when you're doing decimals like that, and with such very different episodes, seems odd you'd rate them all within 0.1 point of eachother.
But hell yes, Lupin is my fav series, and that first series is some of my fav stuff. Plus you've got a lotta variety. Masaaki Osumi directs episodes 1-7, 9, and 12, these being the more dark and gritty episodes, sometimes have a bit of a melancholy feel. These episodes are amazing, giving us the depth that the Lupin characters are built on.
Then the founders of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, direct episodes 8, 10-11, and 13-23. These are more fun and lighthearted, introducing more heroic elements and whatnot. All in all, lotta great stuff.
-- One Piece: Pirates with style! -= Metal Gear Solid: Tactical Espionage Action =-
It's just kinda funny since the .1 thing is so small, plus it would make it seem that if you're that precise you'd think it'd be rare for eps 1 and 3 to both have 7s. I mean episode 2 clearly should've been at least a 7.5 =P
But yeah, always cool to see Lupin fans on the boards. You dig the TV specials, movies, and whatnot?
-- One Piece: Pirates with style! -= Metal Gear Solid: Tactical Espionage Action =-
I read a large chunk of the manga back like, 10 years ago and thought it was pretty neat (which is one of the reasons I'm digging the new Fujiko show so much, since the art style is pretty reminiscent of the manga). Loved how noirish it was.
As for other Lupin stuff, I have the most experience with Series 2, but I've also watched Castle of Cagliostro, which I consider some of Miyazaki's best work, as well as the recent 2011 special, Blood Seal ~ Eternal Mermaid, which I thought was pretty groovy.
So yeah, I'm like an intermediate. I haven't seen everything, but I've seen enough to be familiar with the characters and situation.
Going off of what I know of the franchise:
Zenigata > Jigen > Lupin > Goemon > Fujiko.
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
Right on, ha it's funny I was gonna ask what your fav characters were, hoping maybe I'd find another Fujiko fan. She's my fav pretty much, tied with Lupin.
The TV specials are some of my favorite stuff going, I think they hit their stride with those around '94 (started in 89) and pretty much they've mostly been cool since then. And the other theatrical movies are fun.
-- One Piece: Pirates with style! -= Metal Gear Solid: Tactical Espionage Action =-
I think that is what is so great about Lupin. All of the characters are pretty much great.
Going back to Cagliostro, I think Fujiko kind of got a bum deal for that movie. Lupin, Jigen, Goemon and Zenigata all felt like they should, but Fujiko in that movie did not feel like Fujiko to me.
As for theatrical films, which do you recommend? I hear the first animated film isn't the greatest. Is it still worth checking out?
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
I dig commando Fujiko, ha but yeah she's not quite doing her usual thing in that movie.
The first movie Mamo, that's a good question, it's definitely a bit bizarre but overall I do recommend it while it's not one of my top favs, ha kinda complex thoughts on that movie. I've got a review of it and a bunch of other Lupin stuff over here:
I meant to review them all but got lazy halfway through, might do the rest sometime. For other theatrical movies to check out, the two 90s ones Nostradamus and Dead or Alive are pretty cool and worth a watch. Though there are TV special movies that I prefer over those, man there's a lotta great specials.
-- One Piece: Pirates with style! -= Metal Gear Solid: Tactical Espionage Action =-
Read up some of your reviews. Pretty good stuff. I definitely agree with your love of the car chase from Cagliostro. It was probably the best car chase ever in anything IMHO.
The thing I've always liked about Fujiko is that while she is always double-dealing, her ways almost always get her into trouble. But, while Lupin occasionally has to save, she usually is resourceful enough to get away on her own. She's never really just some damsel in distress.
I guess I just have her ranked lower because of her constant betrayals >_>. I empathize with Jigen, who knows how dangerous she actually is.
BTW. Since you're a Fujiko fan, I imagine you love the new series. It IS pretty awesome, isn't it? Despite the nudity, it's classy as hell.
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
Hell yes, loving it. Plus since I dig the first series over the second one, this new one feeling a bit more like the oldschool one there is a very cool direction to take. Plus it's ballsy enough that I really have no idea what'll be happening by the end of the series. I do hope we see Lupin and Jigen partner-up before episode 13.
-- One Piece: Pirates with style! -= Metal Gear Solid: Tactical Espionage Action =-
I wonder how well it's being received in Japan. Hopefully well, though I wonder if the Miyazaki-take on Lupin has overtaken the manga view of the characters, that people have forgotten that these characters are first and foremost hard criminals, who are doing some pretty bad things.
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
I hope it does well, yeah, definitely interested to see where the franchise goes next with this new show out there. I wonder if the next TV special will be influenced by it.
-- One Piece: Pirates with style! -= Metal Gear Solid: Tactical Espionage Action =-
Episode 4: Once in a Lifetime Prison Break The episode begins with Lupin, Jigen and Fujiko working together to recover a chest that is sealed underground near what looks like a dam or something, however, Zenigata has laid a trap for them. Jigen and Fujiko manage to escape with the chest, but Lupin is captured.
Once upon is in his cell, he is placed in a straight jacket. He begins shouting that various police officers are the real Lupin. Zenigata initially believes him and has the guards checked out, but the tests show that the guards are not Lupin. This goes on for about a year.
Meanwhile Fujiko is determined to try and rescue Lupin, because she wants the key to the chest they recovered. Each time she attempts, Jigen manages to stop her, saying that Lupin can escape anytime he wants. However, he begins to lose faith as Lupin's execution date draws near, so he disguises himself as a monk coming to the prison to deliver Lupin his last rites. Zenigata has remained at the prison the entire time, believing that Lupin will eventually escape. He is borderline depressed, now.
Once Jigen arrives at Lupin's cell, Lupin immediately sees through his disguise and the two share a brief moment together. Lupin tells Jigen that he;'ll either escape or be executed, and the two share a cigarette. Afterwards, Jigen says that Lupin has to live, or Zenigata will be sad because he has lost his purpose in life.
After Jigen leaves, Lupin gets to work. He cuts through the straight jacket with his fingernails, which haven't been trimmed in 1 year. He then takes captive of one of the guards and the two change clothes. The guard begins shouting that Lupin is about to escape, but no one believes him because Lupin had been shouting that for the whole year. They drag him off to the execution chamber.
It's now just Lupin and Zenigata alone. Lupin, disguised as the guard makes an offhanded comment about Lupin dieing in a gas chamber, and it is then that Zenigata realizes that the two really did make a switch. The prison doesn't have a gas chamber, only an electric chair. He is about to arrest Lupin, but Lupin tells him he better halt the execution, so Zenigata scurries off.
Lupin casually strolls past the front gate, where he meets up with Jigen. Jigen tells Lupin that Fujiko could "no longer wait" for him and the scene cuts to her. She's standing on a beach, holding Lupin's gun. She says that she didn't care about the chest key, she just wanted to rescue someone who was special to her. She tosses Lupin's gun into the ocean, in farewell, believing Lupin is dead.
Meanwhile, Lupin and Jigen are on their way to the place where Jigen had hidden the chest 1 year ago. To their surprise, the site is about to get demolished, as it is being prepped for construction. The chest gets blown apart. The two laugh it off and share a cigarette.
Thoughts Pretty awesome episode, as it revealed quite a bit about each character. For Lupin, it revealed just how long term he can be. He waited an entire year to put his plan in action. Jigen was shown to be truly faithful to Lupin. Fujiko was revelled to actually have feelings for Lupin, and Zenigata of course wsa revealed to essentially be dependent on his ongoing chase with Lupin. I loved Zenigata and Lupin's interactions throughout, and I was genuinely fascinated in seeing how Lupin would get out of this. Definitely my favorite episode so far.
9/10
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
The episode starts off with Goemon meditating in the middle of a forest. Suddenly various traps such as axes and stuff start flying at him. He slices them all up with his sword. Suddenly, Lupin and Jigen start clapping. Goemon tells them this isn't for entertainment, but Lupin says that he's a "connector" and that his client, Jigen, came all the way from America to duel him. Goemon agrees and so Jigen starts firing at him. To Lupin and Jigen's amazement, Goemon deflects all the bullets with his sword.
The three go back to Goemon's house, and Goemon tells him about how his sword was made from three legendary swords. He then tells them that he has to kill one person: Lupin the 3rd. Lupin asks if he knows what Lupin looks like, though Goemon says he doesn't. Just then, Fujiko walks in and Goemon introduces her as his girlfriend. She's about out Lupin, but Lupin manages to shout something that causes Goemon to leave the room. Lupin then tells Fujiko not to tell Goemon who they are, and him and Jigen decide to leave.
To late. Goemon has returned and reveals he knew all along who they were. Lupin kicks up a tatami mat, which blocks Goemon's sword slash and then a chase begins. Once they arrive at the front gate, Lupin throws a jar of fuel on Goemon, which sets him on fire. However, Goemon is not out yet, and before he passes out, he throws a rope at lupin, which engulfs him in flames as well.
At the hospital, Jigen reveals to Lupin that Goemon is the pupil of the greatest assassin who has ever lived.. Many people believed him to have died years before, but this is not the case.
The scene cuts back to Goemon, who is listening to a recording of Fujiko. His mentor stands outside listening, before barging in. The two briefly duel (which Goemon wins. Goemon is then scolded by his mentor for not killing Lupin, and for being so taken in by Fujiko.
Fujiko drives Lupin to Goemon's secret base. As they fight, suddenly Goemon's master starts lobbing bombs at them.
Afterwards, the master pays Fujiko with a precious gem. She asks him why he would turn on his own pupil. He was going to brush her off, but then sensed Goemon (and his sword) underneath him, so he launches into some BS story about a computer and an organization making him doing it. Goemon sees through it though. The master takes Fujiko hostage and flies off in a hot hair balloon, telling Goemon that the difference between the Goemon and Lupin is that Lupin would still have gone for the kill.
Lupin agrees and blows up the balloon by shooting it. Goemon then tells Lupin that they need to settle their score and they engage in a fight in the middle of traffic, causing a huge accident. Fujiko makes money by filming the whole thing.
Thoughts
Pretty great episode. It was surprising how different Goemon was than what I'm used to. Typically, he is portrayed as stoic, and while there was still some of that here, he was also portrayed as somewhat prideful and arrogant. I kind of liked that actually. Definitely gave him more personality. 8/10
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
I have to study for a midterm for tonight, so I might not be able to watch any Lupin. However, I might get an episode or two in later tonight. We'll see!
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
Watched this episode last night before bed. Pretty awesome episode, though frankly it was pretty dark.
Basically, the premise is that it's raining one day. Lupin returns home, and Jigen points out there is a note on his back.. Soon after, a man who's name is Lunch, arrives and says a beautiful woman wants to hire Lupin. Always enticed by women, Lupin agrees.
The woman ends up being Fujiko. She wants him to investigate her client, who has amnesia.
After visiting a doctor, Lupin finds out that the man is a Underworld Crime Boss who's had surgery operated on. While travelling, the crime lord's assistant tries to kill Lupin. The two begin talking afterwards. Apparently the boss initiated his own amnesia, which was to last 6 months. The boss has asked the associate to kill anyone seeking information.
The darkest scene, I thought was after that. Lupin and the assistant team up, along with another fellow. Then Jigen arrives. However, when asked for a password, Jigen refuses to answer. He gets shot multiple times and dies. Turns out Lupin suspsects this Jigen isn't the real one. They take the body to Fujiko and rip off his mask, revealing that it is in fact Lunch. Fujiko then reveals that the body isn't there, that its about to have an autopsy. Zenigata is escorting the corpse enroute.
Lupin and his crew then engage in a plan to get the body. They'll switch vehicles. The plan goes off without a hitch. It turns out that the boss had a one of a kind diamond hidden inside of him. The assistant. then snatches the diamond and gives it to Fujiko. They take off together, but while they're driving off, Jigen shoots and kills the man. Fujiko manages to get away though.
Thoughts Pretty great episode. The mystery was pretty neat, as were the character interactions. The heist itself was a little too short, but hey, they only have so much time. I think this is the first time that Fujiko CLEARLy has outsmarted Lupin.
8/10
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
This episode begins with Lupin training with a Katana. It doesn't go well and the next scene has him wrapped in bandages. Jigen, as per usual, is sitting back on his couch. He says at this rate, he'll end up in the hospital before he'll even have a chance to steal the Secret Manual.
It turns out that Goemon and the person who created his Zantetsuken, have a manual for crafting similar swords. Of course Lupin wants to steal it. Goemon has become a instructor for his style of sword fighting and today he is taking on new pupils. Lupin knocks out one of the candidates and disguises himself as him. At Goemon's complex, 4 others are there, including a woman. Immediately Lupin suspects its Fujiko, but the woman is quick to shut him down. One by one the other candidates fail, only the woman advances.
When its Lupin's turn to show off his skills for Goemon, the woman is drapped around Goemon. This upsets him greatly, and Lupin manages to knock out his opponent just by screaming in sadness. Next Lupin has to take on Goemon. He loses, but manages to place a bug on him during their fight.
That night, Lupin attempts to sneak into the woman's room but is stopped when he steps on some tack things. It turns out the woman WAS Fujiko, and the other candidates were her gang. They knock out Lupin, then wait for a plane to drop a crate containing guns. They make their way through Goemon's complex shooting up everyone they see. However Goemon himself stops them, killing the two men and sparing Fujiko, who he sends away. Meanwhile, Lupin has managed to steal the scroll himself but! It's really dynamite. Lupin tosses the dynamite, which causes a minor cave in, debilitating Goemon.
Lupin makes his way to the swordsmith's room. The swordsmith tells Lupin that 25 years ago, he came up with the idea for the sword when he ran into Lupin the 2nd, who had a steel cutting sword himself. hearing this, Goemon decides that a duel will determine who gets the scroll.
Lupin comes to the duel dressed in armor and carrying a gun. Both are useless. Lupin is then chased by the swordmaster, but Lupin wins when the Swordsmith falls into a pit.
Lupin is about to claim his prize when suddenly the start flying away. Fujiko had tied a rope to them and takes off. At first, Lupin is distraught, but then Goemon hands him the real scrolls, telling him that he will duel him at a later date.
They fight two duels. The first duel ends rather quickly, with Goemon falling into a pit, despite Lupin's warning not to come any further. The second is a bit longer. Lupin and Jigen are driving when suddenly they encounter Goemon. Goemon slices the car in half, but Lupin continues chasing him with his half. Eventually they both begin laughing and Jigen realizes that they have a new addition to their crew.
Thoughts I'm rather liking this depiction of Goemon. Future depictions paint him as a typical stoic samural, but this depiction has a lot more personality. The Swordsmith himself points out that he hasn't yet flushed out his emotions. I loved the ending of the episode, when they finally became friends.
8/10
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
Erugios posted... This episode begins with Lupin training with a Katana. It doesn't go well and the next scene has him wrapped in bandages. Jigen, as per usual, is sitting back on his couch
Ha, hell yeah. That's the greatness of this series in a nutshell right there.
-- One Piece: Pirates with style! -= Metal Gear Solid: Tactical Espionage Action =-
I know Lupin's gonna be back in episode 4, and the next two episodes have pretty Fujiko-centric ideas. I do hope Lupin and Jigen are in the same episode sometime soon, their dynamic is classic.
-- One Piece: Pirates with style! -= Metal Gear Solid: Tactical Espionage Action =-
I believe this is the first episode with everyone together, and frankly I loved it. The intro heist was freaking awesome, though I knew Lupin had changed the time on the big clock outside.
Mr. Gold really brought himself down in all cases. He was the one who openned the safe, allowing Lupin to grab the cards. And his arrogance at commanding the siege on Fujiko and Jigen's safehouse was also his undoing. However, it was still fun watching Lupin manipulate him. I also loved how Lupin manipulated Jigen at the end of the episode.
The ending was also fitting. Probably my favorite episode. 9.5/10
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
The Assassin Sings the Blues I watched this episode with my 4 year old nephew, who made several comments about how "Lupin's girlfriend is cute"
Pretty damn serious episode. Another one of those episodes that really shined because of how great the character interactions, and you actually find out quite a bit about Fujiko. Pun was a pretty interesting character. I actually felt bad for him, especially at the end. Lupin's surgery trick was pretty clever.
I'd say it was my favorite episode, however, the ending does bring it down. Lupin at the disco place was a little weird for me.
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
This episode reminded me heavily of The Castle of Cagliostro, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was intentional. Several facets of the episode had similiarities:
1 - Lupin and Jigen dumping a ton of money out of their vehicle after discovering them to be counterfeits 2 - The counterfeits being created by some European nobility 3 - A mysterious clock tower with a hidden secret.
I do wish they would have spent more time hubbing out the baron. Most of the dynamic seemed to be regarding Lupin's relationship with the old woman and Ivanov.
Otherwise, the the episode was pretty solid! I especially loved the fight between Lupin and Frinch.
8.5/10
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
This episode only had Jigen and Lupin. No sign of Fujiko and Goemon. Because of that, there are plenty of moments in the episode where you get to see their dynamic at its best.
It was funny how much further ahead Lupin and Jigen were thinking compared to the man who was blackmailing them. He thought he was so clever, but Lupin really did outthink him.
My favorite scene was the part where Lupin is riding a plank that is attached via rope to the man's boat. You never really think of it, but Lupin really is a great shot in his own right. It's just a shame he didnt get to hang out with Lisa at the end (who was looking very much like a Miyazaki-styled girl).
9/10
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
Definitely. Another thing I love that's a connection there is how in the flashback in Cagliostro, it shows Lupin doing a bunch of stuff from the series and the intro, like sucking up jewelery with a vacuum, etc.
-- One Piece: Pirates with style! -= Metal Gear Solid: Tactical Espionage Action =-
This was a very strange episode. First off, is it me or was Fujiko drawn differently in this episode? I think it was her hair or something. She had a pretty awesome scene early on with her taking out a bunch of thugs. Pretty bad ass stuff.
The rest of the episode was just kind of "eh", to be honest. I kind of like Hayate though. The main plot was just weird though. What was the connection between the twin statues and the gold mine?
Even the DEM (Fujiko's map to the gold mine) proved to be a red herring, since the old man said he it was a fake. He was pretty funny though.
Definitely my least favorite episode overall, though
6.8/10
--
"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
Lupin III: A Woman Called Fujiko Episode 4 Spoilers
Didn't care for this episode to be honest. There were some good moments, like Lupin's chili blood, but overall it just didn't strike a cord with me like the previous 3 episodes did.
Still, it was nice seeing Zenigata play a large role
--
"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black
This was a very strange episode. First off, is it me or was Fujiko drawn differently in this episode? I think it was her hair or something. She had a pretty awesome scene early on with her taking out a bunch of thugs. Pretty bad ass stuff.
It's been year or two, but I do remember her often having short hair and a more innocent look in some of the Miyazaki episodes. Hell yeah she's badass.
-- One Piece: Pirates with style! -= Metal Gear Solid: Tactical Espionage Action =-
Some great Zenigata moments in this episode. I loved how spastastic his dancing was. Catherine was a great character, and it was fun watching her think she could outsmart Fujiko (long haired) and Lupin. Of course, in the end she couldn't. I knew the cat had the emerald in its eye. And I had a hunch she was on to Fujiko. Not sure what Fujiko was thinking, snatching the emerald while Catherine was looking into a mirror. Duh-doy.
But yeah, a pretty cool episode.
8.5/10
Let's Catch Lupin and Go to Europe Just an all around fun episode. Seemed to ignore the episode where Zenigata legit caught Lupin and had him in prison for up to a year though. But oh well. It was nice seeing Zenigata all fired up over his attempts. And the heist was pretty cool too, especially when it was finally executed. Fujiko had long hair again. Also, it is pretty rare to see the entire gang in action, so that was pretty cool, even if Goemon barely got to do anything. The ending of the episode was fantastic.
9/10
Operation: Jewel Snatch Probably the weakest of the three, but still was great. Fujiko taunting Lupin was pretty interesting, especially since you rarely see Lupin lose his cool. Felt bad for Jigen though, since this pretty much threw off their entire plan. Lupin's escape at the end of the episode was pretty great, and once again, you get to see Zenigata acting like a bad ass.
It's just a shame they lost all the jewels..
8/10
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"One of these days, I'm gonna find a loophole my friend." - Man in Black