I don't like how *Lupin the Third* is presented here, with all the shows compiled into one listing; it makes reviewing each show individually difficult. This isn’t my first time seeing this series – I watched it subtitled last April while trying to binge the whole franchise. However, that felt unrealistic because I was already doing a *Scooby-Doo* marathon at the same time, and tackling two simultaneously would have been too much, so I stopped after watching the first few episodes of Part 2. After finishing the *Scooby-Doo* series by New Year’s, I wanted to restart my “Lupin-a-thon.” To change things up on rewatch, I opted for the new dub released last year and found that I actually like the show better this time around. The dub itself is quite good, even if it clashed a bit with the older soundtrack. It was great; I’m surprised by how well it works for me now. The characters are genuinely charming in their own ways. Lupin is an incredibly fun lead and watching his brilliant schemes unfold is always entertaining. Jigen is the weakest of the main five, but he's not a bad character – he has a lot of personality, though his expert marksman skills aren’t used enough throughout Part 1. I like Fujiko quite a bit; her manipulative and seductive nature was enjoyable to watch, as was Lupin constantly falling for her schemes. The show did lean into portraying her in precarious situations where she seemed to exist primarily for her sexual appeal, but thankfully they moved away from that later on, allowing us to appreciate her character more. Goemon is really cool – seeing this initially adversarial figure eventually become an ally of the Lupin Gang and using his incredible skills during heists is a highlight. You could question why a samurai would assist a thief, but it makes sense considering the people he respected in his life—his master and “girlfriend”—didn't treat him well, and Lupin was the first real friend to him. Zenigata is probably the funniest character; I can’t help but be entertained by this Inspector dedicating his entire life to capturing just one man, and it remains hilarious even 50 years later. I want to praise the animation—for 1971 TV standards, it goes above and beyond, especially considering that *Scooby-Doo* had just debuted and Disney Animation was still making films like *Aristocats* and *Robin Hood*. The quality never falters, and I can’t really call any of these episodes bad. However, the show does have issues; its tone is inconsistent. It mixes serious episodes with high stakes and lighthearted heists. Both approaches work on their own, but together they clash, creating a lack of overall consistency. While both tones are effective individually, combining them results in tonal whiplash—a fun heist followed by something extremely serious can be confusing. I enjoyed both types of episodes equally; the more serious ones, especially Episodes 9 and 11, really reveal Lupin's true character. Lupin is a thief, not a murderer; he kills people only when they’re from rival gangs who want him dead, never innocent people or police officers. He puts himself at risk to save Fujiko in a desperate situation because he genuinely cares for her beyond the usual flirtation, as demonstrated particularly in Episode 11, where he's willing to save a random girl's life even though he doesn’t know her, which says a lot about his character. You could argue that he tied up girls in suitcases in Episode 18, but he only did so to frame other criminals and probably wouldn't have done it if he wasn't sure Inspector Zenigata would get involved. He’s a Phantom Thief with a code, not a murderer, and that’s something I can respect. The episodes directed by Studio Ghibli founders Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata are delightful; they lack the depth of Masaaki Ōsumi’s episodes, but they're still very fun, especially Episodes 13, 15, and 23. A problem is the western release’s episode titles, which aren’t accurate translations—that's a fault of the distribution, not the show itself. For example, Episode 21’s title “Rescue the Shrewish Girl” was changed to "Rescue the Tomboy!" or "Rescue of the Stubborn Tomboy!” for English audiences. I don’t think those words mean the same thing; "Tomboy" doesn't describe the girl Lupin rescues, and "Shrewish" fits her perfectly because she isn’t boyish at all. And while the title change might be funny, it was justified when Lupin slapped her in the face since she is a bit annoying and oblivious to an extent. Well, that’s Part 1! I'm glad I rewatched it; it only got better, and with just 23 episodes, it wasn’t even a chore to get through. It definitely has some growing pains and a somewhat muddled tone overall, but it was a really great watch that still holds up 50 years later, and I can't wait to watch more of this enjoyable franchise. Best Episode: Episode 11 "When the Seventh Bridge Falls" Weakest Episode: Episode 16 "Operation: Jewelry Snatch"(but still a good episode)

Source on TMDB