Lupin III Part 1 has plenty of classic episodes, but which ones are the tops and which ones are the duds? Let's find out as we rank every episode of Lupin's first anime outing!
I love this video and this channel. Keep up the excellent Lupin III content. Lupin III is massively underrated in the west and especially part 1. I like the Osumi episodes the best. I like the episode with Pycal and the first episode. When he dropped the wires into the water I instantly understood the coolness appeal of Lupin’s character.
Good video. Some interesting takes, but they made all since by the way you explained it. "The Man Called the Magician" is a pretty good episode, I like that the episode wanted to take its time to solidify Pycal being a force to be reckoned with with Lupin and Jigen not being able to make a dent no matter how hard they tried to hurt him. I liked the mystery elements about it ‘cause we don’t really get his deal and then his secret is revealed halfway through the episode. it’s also very slowed paced which I can’t say that to most of the later entries in the franchise. I have my problems with it, for starters while Pycal is a pretty good villain and intimidating, he’s not much of a dynamic character and his writing is pretty flat. Also, the episode really tried setting up the octopus as a gag, but I didn’t feel like the “payoff” really justified warranting the amount of setup it got. Plus how Lupin actually figures out Pycal’s secret is a bit too convenient. And one last little nitpick I have is they don’t explain why these two guys at the beginning tried to kill Pycal and what their beef was with him. Overall it’s honestly a good episode, but it’s still not a go-to episode of Part I for me and it’s more so on the lower end of Part I episodes for me even if I don't dislike it. Then there's the fact that Mamoh and Pycal get brought back "The Elusiveness of the Fog" and "Return of Pycal" with one actually enhancing it's returning character and one ruining the returning character, So i'm interested to say that you have to say to that when we get there
I like "which of the third generation will win" the most from season 1. Lupin bringing out his rubber mask trick for a whole crowd against his version of sherlock is hilarious I seriously react to the ending part of this episode like a comedy movie character watching looney toons
While I think the concept is really cool, I've never been able to gel with Beware the Time Machine much at all and as a result it's my least favorite Part 1 episode. The explanations behind stuff seems too messy while also trying to seriously analyze his methods, it just never clicked with me. If it had more Lupin and Fujiko character dynamics in it in that church scene, if it got to delve more into that, I might rank it higher. In contrast I think A Hitman Sings the Blues is an absolute masterful episode. Lupin and Fujiko's dynamics play out beautifully here, seeing how Lupin would respond in a position where Fujiko doesn't have her usual agency. Fujiko, at least in Part 1, doesn't spend much time in damsel positions and is able to have very equal footing with Lupin on most occasions. That's what I love about their rivalry as criminals, as it really does feel like a toss up as to which could win. Fujiko has a sense of pride about her plans to one up Lupin that screws her over at times, while Lupin thinking too much with his other head puts him on similar faulty footing. But their relationship as lovers in comparison to their rivalry is what I yearn for most when seeing this pair given highlights and this episode does that in spades for me, while also having this suave attitude to its action scenes, with a touch of tragedy that I can't help but compare to my favorite dramatic episodes of Cowboy Bebop. Sure, Fujiko is not given much direct agency at all, but it's different and more endearing than most damsel in distress stories end up being for me due to the fact that Fujiko is just as capable as Lupin, just not invincible. As a side note I can't help but watch my favorite Lupin film, Mystery of Mamo, and its Lupin and Fujiko scenes as being a sort of expansion upon how this episode plays with their relationship, only with both trading a hero and damsel role between each other through the film, at least in my eyes.
Question: When you reach Fuma Conspiracy are you going to mention Shin Lupin III Chapter 190? Because I've heard the film continues where that chapter left off, with Lupin dying at the end of it, and being revealed to still be alive in Fuma. You didn't mention this fact in the last video because the chapter has not been translated, nor fanslated either, so few people knew about it, however somebody else mentioned it on your older Fuma video on the old channel. You didn't heart or reply to that comment so I'm not certain if you saw it or not, however, I think you should mention chapter 190 in the updated version, even if it is oretty much just a footnote in the grand scheme of things, I feel it deserves to be mentioned, especially since I can't think of another Lupin film that's connected to a manga chapter this way
I love this video and this channel. Keep up the excellent Lupin III content. Lupin III is massively underrated in the west and especially part 1. I like the Osumi episodes the best. I like the episode with Pycal and the first episode. When he dropped the wires into the water I instantly understood the coolness appeal of Lupin’s character.
Good video. Some interesting takes, but they made all since by the way you explained it.
"The Man Called the Magician" is a pretty good episode, I like that the episode wanted to take its time to solidify Pycal being a force to be reckoned with with Lupin and Jigen not being able to make a dent no matter how hard they tried to hurt him. I liked the mystery elements about it ‘cause we don’t really get his deal and then his secret is revealed halfway through the episode. it’s also very slowed paced which I can’t say that to most of the later entries in the franchise. I have my problems with it, for starters while Pycal is a pretty good villain and intimidating, he’s not much of a dynamic character and his writing is pretty flat. Also, the episode really tried setting up the octopus as a gag, but I didn’t feel like the “payoff” really justified warranting the amount of setup it got. Plus how Lupin actually figures out Pycal’s secret is a bit too convenient. And one last little nitpick I have is they don’t explain why these two guys at the beginning tried to kill Pycal and what their beef was with him. Overall it’s honestly a good episode, but it’s still not a go-to episode of Part I for me and it’s more so on the lower end of Part I episodes for me even if I don't dislike it.
Then there's the fact that Mamoh and Pycal get brought back "The Elusiveness of the Fog" and "Return of Pycal" with one actually enhancing it's returning character and one ruining the returning character, So i'm interested to say that you have to say to that when we get there
I like "which of the third generation will win" the most from season 1. Lupin bringing out his rubber mask trick for a whole crowd against his version of sherlock is hilarious
I seriously react to the ending part of this episode like a comedy movie character watching looney toons
I wish part one got as much love as part two from the fanbase
While I think the concept is really cool, I've never been able to gel with Beware the Time Machine much at all and as a result it's my least favorite Part 1 episode. The explanations behind stuff seems too messy while also trying to seriously analyze his methods, it just never clicked with me. If it had more Lupin and Fujiko character dynamics in it in that church scene, if it got to delve more into that, I might rank it higher.
In contrast I think A Hitman Sings the Blues is an absolute masterful episode. Lupin and Fujiko's dynamics play out beautifully here, seeing how Lupin would respond in a position where Fujiko doesn't have her usual agency. Fujiko, at least in Part 1, doesn't spend much time in damsel positions and is able to have very equal footing with Lupin on most occasions. That's what I love about their rivalry as criminals, as it really does feel like a toss up as to which could win. Fujiko has a sense of pride about her plans to one up Lupin that screws her over at times, while Lupin thinking too much with his other head puts him on similar faulty footing. But their relationship as lovers in comparison to their rivalry is what I yearn for most when seeing this pair given highlights and this episode does that in spades for me, while also having this suave attitude to its action scenes, with a touch of tragedy that I can't help but compare to my favorite dramatic episodes of Cowboy Bebop. Sure, Fujiko is not given much direct agency at all, but it's different and more endearing than most damsel in distress stories end up being for me due to the fact that Fujiko is just as capable as Lupin, just not invincible.
As a side note I can't help but watch my favorite Lupin film, Mystery of Mamo, and its Lupin and Fujiko scenes as being a sort of expansion upon how this episode plays with their relationship, only with both trading a hero and damsel role between each other through the film, at least in my eyes.
the worst ever thing with lupin is still more entertaining than most modern things imho
you lost me immediately with the bottom pick, i love farewell my beloved witch. other than that, decent ranking
Hey numbers 22 and 12 have the same episode number just a heads up
Question: When you reach Fuma Conspiracy are you going to mention Shin Lupin III Chapter 190? Because I've heard the film continues where that chapter left off, with Lupin dying at the end of it, and being revealed to still be alive in Fuma. You didn't mention this fact in the last video because the chapter has not been translated, nor fanslated either, so few people knew about it, however somebody else mentioned it on your older Fuma video on the old channel. You didn't heart or reply to that comment so I'm not certain if you saw it or not, however, I think you should mention chapter 190 in the updated version, even if it is oretty much just a footnote in the grand scheme of things, I feel it deserves to be mentioned, especially since I can't think of another Lupin film that's connected to a manga chapter this way
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reed nelson recorded commentary first cor ep 3 so wrong tier