English Dub Review: Lupin the Third Part IV “0.2 Chance of Survival”

Survival of the fittest.

Spoilers Below

This episode starts off with something usual and another thing that’s unusual for Lupin. Firstly, he is stealing a priceless artifact, a diamond encrusted necklace once worn by Marie Antoinette. His more charismatic partner Jigen is apprehended by the growing-ever-familiar face of MI6. Before losing consciousness from a gun-butt to the head, his last words are “We’re up against way too much”. MI6 really doesn’t play around with their interrogations. They have Jigen crucified on a cross while waterboarding and electrocuting him. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince of England, James, is paying a visit to Rebecca in order to check out the newly re-discovered necklace of Marie Antoinette.

While Jigen is being interrogated, Fujiko outright snitches on Lupin to MI6. The MI6 agent on Lupin’s trail, Nix, is no slouch. He is able to figure out Lupin’s moves before they’re completed. Nix ends up confronting Lupin face to face inside of a church and a shootout ensues. Lupin is able to get away unscathed however and a foot chase ensues. It is then shown over and over that Nix is able to predict Lupin’s next move. Until he doesn’t. Lupin makes a detour in order to free his partner in crime, Jigen. Just as Jigen informs Lupin about Nix and his ability to predict his foes, Nix arrives. After a short scuffle, it appears Lupin has finally met his match, as he is staring down the wrong end of the barrel of Nix’s gun. His last request? A cigarette.

Luckily that cigarette came in handy. Just as Lupin’s time runs out, Nix is called away on a different assignment of utmost urgency. Someone is attacking the Crown Prince! Nix leaves Lupin alive and both Lupin and Jigen are able to escape, along with the diamond necklace. After returning back to safety Lupin phones Rebecca and reveals how he managed to pull off the heist. As it turns out Lupin had set fireworks up to stage an attack on the Crown Prince. Rebecca gets so mad that the hangs up on him… I guess she won’t be signing those divorce papers anytime soon.

This was a pretty exciting episode of Lupin. I’ve watched Lupin a few times before and I can’t remember a time where he was so close to being apprehended, or even killed. Nix and MI6 surely is a tough opponent. As much as I like Lupin I respect Nix’s character, he would make for a great thief if he wasn’t an MI6 agent, and I enjoyed learning about him this episode. For a while there I was actually concerned that Lupin had met his match, but thanks to his foresight, quick thinking, and ability to solve problems on the fly, Lupin was able to make a getaway once again. This episode really showcased how smart Lupin is. Even though Nix was able to figure out Lupin’s every move it seems that Lupin was able to predict Nix’s predictions and was able to manipulate him by doing so. Throughout most of the episode, Nix was 100% sure he was going to foil Lupin’s plans. At the climax of the episode Nix’s percentage went down to 99.8% , and that 0.2% was all Lupin needed. As Lupin himself even said, “You create your own luck” which is exactly what he did. Did Lupin actually have a 100% chance of success the entire time? Hmm… impressive. The only things missing from this episode were Goemon and Inspector Zenigata. This exciting episode had my attention from the opening scene all the way ‘til the credits started to roll. And it looks like things are only going to get more intense as foreshadowed by the final scene of the episode.