Catch up!
Ah gosh, only one episode of the new Lupin TV series remaining. And I've been too busy to do the recap of the episodes I've been watching - but here's a quick run-through!
Ep. 8: 'Death Day'. A.k.a. The One With the Fortune Teller
I'm really digging the voice of the fortune teller guy. Also his design, that's another one of those Monkey Punch-esque designs, lovely. And oooh at Fujiko's outfit this episode!
I'm getting flashbacks to Green Jacket where she had all these fierce outfits. Yesss.
Jigen is still wary around Lupin, I like that. Jigen isn't used to guys who save other guys' lives just because the fancy takes them. And AAAA LUPIN SMOKES GITANES. EXCELLENT. STILL CANON. Meanwhile, Jigen still keeps denying all my headcanons about him, boo.
WE DEMAND TO SEE THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE CHRISTENING PAPERS.
Turns out the show is about Fujiko's amnesia. Why is it always amnesia? The Columbus Files, Farewell to Nostradamus... Every time a story focuses on Fujiko she gets amnesia. Poor gal.
Random joy: Jigen and a sniper rifle. Perfect team-up always.
Ep. 9: 'Steamy Desire' (OH HOHO BECAUSE OF THE HOT SPRING, I SEE), a.k.a. The One With that Poor Tattoed Woman
I dunno, I still feel the writers just handwave the whole "rargh I'mma kill you" setup they had going between Lupin and Jigen in that pyramid episode. I know this is Fujiko's show and Lupin and Jigen are pretty much supporting characters, but so far the show has given us more (comprehensible) information about Lupin and Jigen than they have about Fujiko. I'm all for focusing on Fujiko, and what little snapshots of her mind and memories we see are intriguing, but pretty frustrating in the end.
I'm all for the show introducing the idea that Fujiko is pretty fucked up in her own unique little way though.
All the other main characters in the Lupin franchise have always been fucked up in their highly individual ways, so it's only proper to give Fujiko some issues to live with. I guess that's how I'm making my peace with the things I don't like about this particular iteration: It's really just a background story introducing some mental blocks and issues for Fujiko as well.
That being said, I enjoyed this story a lot! It felt like a silly Red Jacket venture, if you ignore the mental breakdown! A weird "treasure", chase scenes, gun fight, things that would normally kill you not killing you - and some Mine Fujiko to Iu Onna-traits, like dropping subtle hint that the story takes place in the sixties -
(Specifically, Lupin singing a few lines from an odd 1960s Japanese novelty song.)
- and the strangely appealing poses the characters strike.
(I take it sticking your ass out as far as possible improves your aiming.)
Random joy: Jigen booty aside, Fujiko gets to do physical comedy (that doesn't specifically involve her breasts!) Hooray!
Ep. 10: 'Dead City'. A.k.a. The One With Lupin's Acid Trip
Wow. Whoa. Surreal to the limits. I LOVE IT. There's no medium that can compare to animation when it comes to odd surrealism. I just love the dream-like quality this episode has, and with little bits of clues to the story arc stuck here and there.
And man! Finally an explanation for the owls!
But whew, can this show get pretentious at times. Those monologues, ugh.
Random joy: Sexy winter coats (did you see Ocar's fabulous fur trim? The one that was impossible to get a good cap of) and gloves all around.
Lupin's white fur coat is TOTALLY a call-back to the one we see in the pilot episode from the sixties, right? RIGHT?
Ep. 11: 'Feast of Fools', a.k.a. The One With the Bridge and the Bomb
Yes. Yes, okay. I admit it. Admit it: First pure goosebump-inducing episode. It got me.
And I bet you think I'm referring to Oscar, and his life, and his choices, and his death. But I'm not! Wait, okay, no - I did actually surprise myself by being genuinely saddened by the way Oscar died (because I'm a sucker for self-sacrifice in unhappy love stories), but the thing that totally sold me on this episode were those moments where the music and the editing and the animation and the art just managed to be perfect in their own particular ways, simultaneously.
Things like that legitimately makes me tear up if it's done right.
Fuck me this show is gorgeous.
Note to self: Must. Get. Soundtrack.
I mean, I'll bitch about the storytelling and characterization and skeezyness, but throughout this series there have been a lot of really memorable and appealing individual scenes. I don't know how I'll feel about this show until I've seen it all, but I can't deny that the art and music and editing is occasionally phenomenal.
I seem to like these later episodes more than the first ones in the series, and I don't know if that's because of something in the series itself, or if I'm just learning to accept the things I normally disagree with. But episodes like this, I can dig.
Random joy: Whoever had the idea to illustrate the evil plan with beautiful cut-out doll animation needs to be given an award.
Which brings us up to date - the penultimate episode!
The One With the Fun Fair
A casual reminder that, yes, the villains are owl men. And that Lupin wears fabulous beatle boots.
Okay I can tell they're starting to wrap things up, and doing some meta-commentary ("This isn't just the story of Mine Fujiko. It's OUR story."). I admit I don't have much of a clue what's going on in the story at this point (except everything that's happened so far has been intentionally planned by the Big Bad), but um, Oscar's back?? And Goemon's disguised as Fujiko? And I thought we were through with the pedophiliac overtones but I guess not?? But hey, I'm enjoying the ride a lot more now.
So instead of picking the episode apart, let's just DELIGHT in this shot:
Aaaaaa that's the stuff. Oh my God, I love that. Look at that! Just when I think this particular series want to reinvent everything, they casually throw in a shot that's just OLD SCHOOL to the bone. Let's see, apart from Jigen getting his lounging on, I can spot three things that just scream Miyazaki: Lupin's blue stripey boxer shorts, Lupin tinkering with a new gadget, and - you know I love those to bits - an overfilled ash tray!
Ah, it just makes me want to put on 'Albatross: Wings of death' at once.
Still, random joy: Lupin and Jigen are so formal with eachother. Jigen still goes "Lupin Sansei" and Lupin refers to Jigen by his full name. Hah.
So yeah, just one more episode to go - gosh, has it been thirteen weeks already? Sadly I'm not quite sure when I'll find the time to watch it, seeing as I'm pretty busy with moving this week... But man, it better be memorable, that's all I ask.
Ep. 8: 'Death Day'. A.k.a. The One With the Fortune Teller
I'm really digging the voice of the fortune teller guy. Also his design, that's another one of those Monkey Punch-esque designs, lovely. And oooh at Fujiko's outfit this episode!
I'm getting flashbacks to Green Jacket where she had all these fierce outfits. Yesss.
Jigen is still wary around Lupin, I like that. Jigen isn't used to guys who save other guys' lives just because the fancy takes them. And AAAA LUPIN SMOKES GITANES. EXCELLENT. STILL CANON. Meanwhile, Jigen still keeps denying all my headcanons about him, boo.
WE DEMAND TO SEE THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE CHRISTENING PAPERS.
Turns out the show is about Fujiko's amnesia. Why is it always amnesia? The Columbus Files, Farewell to Nostradamus... Every time a story focuses on Fujiko she gets amnesia. Poor gal.
Random joy: Jigen and a sniper rifle. Perfect team-up always.
Ep. 9: 'Steamy Desire' (OH HOHO BECAUSE OF THE HOT SPRING, I SEE), a.k.a. The One With that Poor Tattoed Woman
I dunno, I still feel the writers just handwave the whole "rargh I'mma kill you" setup they had going between Lupin and Jigen in that pyramid episode. I know this is Fujiko's show and Lupin and Jigen are pretty much supporting characters, but so far the show has given us more (comprehensible) information about Lupin and Jigen than they have about Fujiko. I'm all for focusing on Fujiko, and what little snapshots of her mind and memories we see are intriguing, but pretty frustrating in the end.
I'm all for the show introducing the idea that Fujiko is pretty fucked up in her own unique little way though.
All the other main characters in the Lupin franchise have always been fucked up in their highly individual ways, so it's only proper to give Fujiko some issues to live with. I guess that's how I'm making my peace with the things I don't like about this particular iteration: It's really just a background story introducing some mental blocks and issues for Fujiko as well.
That being said, I enjoyed this story a lot! It felt like a silly Red Jacket venture, if you ignore the mental breakdown! A weird "treasure", chase scenes, gun fight, things that would normally kill you not killing you - and some Mine Fujiko to Iu Onna-traits, like dropping subtle hint that the story takes place in the sixties -
(Specifically, Lupin singing a few lines from an odd 1960s Japanese novelty song.)
- and the strangely appealing poses the characters strike.
(I take it sticking your ass out as far as possible improves your aiming.)
Random joy: Jigen booty aside, Fujiko gets to do physical comedy (that doesn't specifically involve her breasts!) Hooray!
Ep. 10: 'Dead City'. A.k.a. The One With Lupin's Acid Trip
Wow. Whoa. Surreal to the limits. I LOVE IT. There's no medium that can compare to animation when it comes to odd surrealism. I just love the dream-like quality this episode has, and with little bits of clues to the story arc stuck here and there.
And man! Finally an explanation for the owls!
But whew, can this show get pretentious at times. Those monologues, ugh.
Random joy: Sexy winter coats (did you see Ocar's fabulous fur trim? The one that was impossible to get a good cap of) and gloves all around.
Lupin's white fur coat is TOTALLY a call-back to the one we see in the pilot episode from the sixties, right? RIGHT?
Ep. 11: 'Feast of Fools', a.k.a. The One With the Bridge and the Bomb
Yes. Yes, okay. I admit it. Admit it: First pure goosebump-inducing episode. It got me.
And I bet you think I'm referring to Oscar, and his life, and his choices, and his death. But I'm not! Wait, okay, no - I did actually surprise myself by being genuinely saddened by the way Oscar died (because I'm a sucker for self-sacrifice in unhappy love stories), but the thing that totally sold me on this episode were those moments where the music and the editing and the animation and the art just managed to be perfect in their own particular ways, simultaneously.
Things like that legitimately makes me tear up if it's done right.
Fuck me this show is gorgeous.
Note to self: Must. Get. Soundtrack.
I mean, I'll bitch about the storytelling and characterization and skeezyness, but throughout this series there have been a lot of really memorable and appealing individual scenes. I don't know how I'll feel about this show until I've seen it all, but I can't deny that the art and music and editing is occasionally phenomenal.
I seem to like these later episodes more than the first ones in the series, and I don't know if that's because of something in the series itself, or if I'm just learning to accept the things I normally disagree with. But episodes like this, I can dig.
Random joy: Whoever had the idea to illustrate the evil plan with beautiful cut-out doll animation needs to be given an award.
Which brings us up to date - the penultimate episode!
The One With the Fun Fair
A casual reminder that, yes, the villains are owl men. And that Lupin wears fabulous beatle boots.
Okay I can tell they're starting to wrap things up, and doing some meta-commentary ("This isn't just the story of Mine Fujiko. It's OUR story."). I admit I don't have much of a clue what's going on in the story at this point (except everything that's happened so far has been intentionally planned by the Big Bad), but um, Oscar's back?? And Goemon's disguised as Fujiko? And I thought we were through with the pedophiliac overtones but I guess not?? But hey, I'm enjoying the ride a lot more now.
So instead of picking the episode apart, let's just DELIGHT in this shot:
Aaaaaa that's the stuff. Oh my God, I love that. Look at that! Just when I think this particular series want to reinvent everything, they casually throw in a shot that's just OLD SCHOOL to the bone. Let's see, apart from Jigen getting his lounging on, I can spot three things that just scream Miyazaki: Lupin's blue stripey boxer shorts, Lupin tinkering with a new gadget, and - you know I love those to bits - an overfilled ash tray!
Ah, it just makes me want to put on 'Albatross: Wings of death' at once.
Still, random joy: Lupin and Jigen are so formal with eachother. Jigen still goes "Lupin Sansei" and Lupin refers to Jigen by his full name. Hah.
So yeah, just one more episode to go - gosh, has it been thirteen weeks already? Sadly I'm not quite sure when I'll find the time to watch it, seeing as I'm pretty busy with moving this week... But man, it better be memorable, that's all I ask.