The essential episodes of Lupin the 3rd
Watch these 15 in order and you've got Lupin the 3rd — each pick states its reason.
- 01
The Hida Speedway has been completed and Lupin is looking to take top prize at the first race. The race is actually a trap designed by the Scorpion Gang who are intent on killing Lupin and eliminating all criminal competition.
- 02
Lupin and Fujiko successfully pull off a heist; that is, until Zenigata manages to shoot Lupin with a tranquilizer dart. Zenigata hauls Lupin off to jail. Despite Fujiko's best efforts, she cannot break Lupin out of prison, and Jigen provides no help, claiming that Lupin can leave whenever he wants. One year passes, and Lupin's still in jail with his execution date getting closer. Fujiko and the others try to help Lupin get out of jail.
- 03
The place is Egypt. Lupin uses a balloon to boldly steal the deathmask of the boy-king, Tutankhamen. But the instant he puts it on, what appears before his eyes is the world of the pharaohs, 3000 years ago. The only way to break the ominous pharaoh's curse which is possessing Lupin is to put the mask back where it came from. How effective will the plan to return the golden deathmask be?
- 04
An old man Lupin meets by chance turns out to be the grandson of Ukiyoe master Tooshuusai Sharaku. In order to test his own skill he has been switching his own works for Sharaku's originals, but suffered a heart attack just as he was about to make the last switch. At Fujiko's request, and after much trouble, Lupin succeeds in acting as Sharaku III's stand-in. But the old man has already died by that time. Where have the Ukiyoe gone?
- 05
At the invitation of Marcel, a young noble of Paris' jetset, Lupin escorts Fujiko to a party. But this is a trap set by Marcel, who has another face. He takes Fujiko hostage, straps a timebomb belt around Lupin's waist, and tells him to steal a certain criminal list from Scotland Yard before time runs out. There's hardly any time left!
- 06
"If only the wind hadn't blown that time..." Setting his sights on the large medallion on Generalissimo Hatler's chest (containing a 50-carat ruby), Lupin should have been able to take it easily enough, using his special rod-and-reel technique, but ends up exposing the Generalissimo's secret toupee. The infuriated Generalissimo order that Lupin and company be wiped out, and in the face of the attack by his combined armed forces, a wounded Lupin makes his stand in an old castle with Fujiko. Is this their end....?!
- 07
Appearing on a moonlit night, the figure in black who refers to Goemon as "the Thirteenth", calls himself "Nezumi-Koozoo IV." He informs Goemon that their ancestors teamed up in the International Thieves' Championship, but were defeated in competition by the original Lupin, and that they should team up to avenge this dishonor. The objective is top-secret data being kept under guard at Sakurada Police Station. Goemon and Nezumi split up, mounting a two-front offensive against Zenigata, who is reinforcing security. What will be the third-generation's next move?
- 08
An armored robot flying through the skies of 1981 Tokyo raids a jewelry store, demonstrating truly amazing capabilities, and disappearing no one knows where. Lupin's announcement is, what's strange about me using a robot like this? The operator, Oyamada Maki, is cooperating in order to show what a dangerous weapon this robot is, but the truth is, the whole thing is a conspiracy. Thieves love peace!
- 09
Alone, Jigen enters a bar to meet with his old war buddy, Giranko. Back in his army days, Giranko taught Jigen his infamous quickdraw. But his friend seems troubled. Soon, the enemy army invades the city, and Giranko heads off to battle with Jigen not far behind. Meanwhile, Lupin and Goemon search the city for their lost comrade so they can find the lost treasure they came in search for and leave. But Jigen will not go. What is Giranko hiding? And can Lupin withstand the might of an entire army?
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
Lily faints after seeing Lupin, while he and Fujiko escape Zenigata. Holmes vows to catch Lupin and tells Lestrade how Lupin was involved in the death of his partner, John H. Watson, 10 years earlier.
- 15
Blood may be thicker than water, but is it as thick as thieves? Find out as Fujiko, Goemon and Jigen race to bring Lupin back to himself in the finale.
