‘Lupin’ Part II Review
Lupin has returned! Finally, the second part of the adaptation of the famous character of Arsène Lupin, the gentleman burglar continues where the story of Assane Diop in the modern day left off. Now with his enemy’s grip tightening around him and with his family in danger, Lupin must find a way to defeat the men that framed his father, and kidnapped his son before he himself is caught and framed.
Omar Sy is back as the wonderfully charming Lupin and steals the show any time he is in frame with his sly smile and incognito stride as he empties the wallets of the rich and powerful with disguise and guile. Unfortunately, that centerpiece is exactly what this second part is slightly lacking. Initially what drew me, and I am sure many others to the show, was that reveal, not unlike the end of a good heist film. These riveting and intricate spectacles, being done episode to episode gave you the thrill of him almost being caught red-handed, and yet knowing in the back of your mind that was never going to happen. As the plot itself this season gets overwrought with storylines and characters we care little about, this initial style fades and the show leans more into a game of cat and mouse in a much more serious and downright dour direction. With higher stakes instead of the fun that was had in the first part. The first half of this season is a bit of a slog to get through and pacing is an issue overall episode to episode. Despite this, the story's eventual conclusion is satisfying if not a little cliche, though this is not the point. For me, the goal of this show was to update and reimagine this beloved French character and introduce a modern take on his best stories. Yet the secret sauce still works its magic; the ingredients that make it all come together are the heist and escape set pieces, with corny disguises (that actually work), fun camera trickery, and an unfolding narrative that keeps you engaged and guessing. The cartoonish villains worked for me, but the one note side characters like Lupin’s family and his sidekick and best friend Ben didn't really connect for me as much as they probably should by the end of ten episodes in what was otherwise a stellar conclusion to this arc.
The performance from the lead Omar Sy is the absolute standout, I did also love the performance of the main villain Pellegrini. Hervé Pierre’s solid portrayal of a greedy corporate businessman doing terrible things to heighten his pile of ill gotten gains was great, and you love how much you hate him by the conclusion. The rest of the cast are serviceable if not forgettable and don’t exactly bring any sort of intensity to the more serious moments, but are not by any means bad enough to pull you out of the narrative. The main spectacles and hijinks hatched by the characters are done in a compelling and incredibly engaging way with the escape through the Crypts of Paris being the highlight of the season for me, and the many callbacks to the classic adventures are fun even if they are mostly used as gags.
The conclusion sets us up for a much more fun series of adventures free of his familial constraints, and hints at possibly a journey around the world. I would certainly love to see something more on that scale, with the sticky fingers of Lupin at full display again in Part 3, which has already been confirmed. While this season was disappointing in a few ways compared to the first part, it is still an incredibly enjoyable watch with Omar Sy’s signature smirk making me smile every time. Lupin is filled with daring escapes, cops fooled, and pockets being picked and it is definitely worth your attention..
