English Dub Review: Lupin the Third: Part V “Let’s Talk About First Loves”

 

 

Overview (Spoilers Below)

Disguised as Princess Dolma and Snake Plissken, Ami and Lupin sneak back into the traditional side of Padar. Despite the country’s complete internet blackout, Ami managed to hack the feed from ShakeHanz’s circling airships and downed one of them to create a diversion. With Ami’s clutch assist, Lupin is able to flee from the gunmen that had him cornered, and save Fujiko in the process. Afterward, however, Fujicakes goes her own way to assist—or possibly distract—Inspector Zenigata who was in no way prepared to enter a war zone.

Meanwhile, ShakeHanz restores the internet and airs an address from the king, urging his subjects to cease the fighting between them. With a majority of the public siding with the king, the old, revolutionary monk takes the princess and her CIA handler through a secret door that requires a retinal scan—so the old hypocrite does believe in technology. He still wants to force the king to abdicate by having the princess perform a traditional “rite of passage” ritual. However, he wants to conduct the ceremony with a fake Bloody Teardrop necklace. This appalls the princess, causing her to sever ties with the resistance.

Outnumbered by the monk’s devote followers, Mr. CIA and Dolma find themselves in peril. Luckily, Ami was able to hack through the retinal scan barrier with Lupin’s electronic monocle—which looks much better on her. They’re still outnumbered, but two of the monk’s followers turn out to be Jigen and Goemon in disguise. With blades and bullets, the two soldiers make quick work of the devotees and detain the beaten monk.

Desperate to cling onto his power, the monk attempts to bribe Lupin with riches, natural resources, and women. He goes against all his supposed beliefs and even vows to sell out his own country if Lupin and his crew agree to let him keep up the charade. Of course, Ami was filming and live-streaming the entire exchange with the monocle, exposing the monk’s lies to the entire country, in stereo.

His confessions reveal the king as a puppet, ruining ShakeHanz’s plans to rule the country by proxy. It also prompts the CIA to pull out their troops and no longer support the coup. Unfortunately, Padar troops fear the princess is also a puppet who betrayed her country. To protect her, Mr. CIA grabs her and pretends to have been manipulating her the entire time. His plan works and the princess is redeemed, but it costs him his life.

After her protector is shot dead by her troops, Dolma broadcasts through Ami’s monocle and blames the CIA for everything. Acting as a harsh, villainous ruler, she unites her people through a shared hatred of America. Sadly, she is left to cry on the inside over her brave friend who was a refugee before he became a spook.

With Padar once again in safe hands, Lupin, the boys, and Ami prepare for departure. Before she goes, Ami speaks with her only friend. Dolma admits that her poor, fallen CIA protector was also her first love. Ami, emboldened by her friend’s honesty, admits that she is in love with Lupin. And she vows that as soon as she becomes a better woman than Fujiko Mine, she expects Lupin to decide between the two of them. Lupin is intrigued.

 

Our Take

This concludes this season’s third arc. This was by far the finest arc, and deserves praise from both traditional monks and monks who use smartphones and Roombas. The sweet caring relationship between Lupin and Ami is interesting to explore, even when it ventures into uncomfortable places. Lupin is not a lech, so here’s hoping the season ends accordingly. Also, let’s hope that there are comical misunderstandings and close calls that embarrass the characters and audience alike.

It’s funny how casual Lupin is about stealing the Bloody Teardrop. He’s obviously gotten close to both Ami and Dolma, but instead of doing the “right” thing by returning her necklace, he emboldens her in a different, more practical way. Dolma is such a complex character. She’s innocent and fragile on the surface, but weathered and ruthless at her core. With such a unique makeup, she’ll be a great leader of Padar in its current state, while remaining diplomatic enough to change her country for the better in the future.

I’m one thousand percent sure that we’ll see Ami again, so I won’t waste any time getting all teary eyed over her storyline ending. Compared to the “Lupin Game” arc, Ami played more of a supportive role this time around. We won’t see her truly shine until she has her own story. However, with only eight episodes left, that scenario is going to happen sooner rather than later. So, see you soon, Emmy!