Lupin III/Recap/S2/E100

Shin Lupin III: "The Famous Painting Theft Ultra Operation"

The President of France makes an emergency call to the head curator of the Louvre one evening: to cover his expensive dining bill, he orders the curator to sell some of the art in storage. The curator discovers a lost, dusty painting in the storeroom; it's simple and child-like, but more important is the artist: Lupin I.

Lupin III is infuriated by the plans to auction off his grandfather's painting, believing it should remain in the hands of the Lupin family. As he and several other crooks eager to get their hands on the work watch, the painting is bought for a ridiculous amount of money by Nai Baba, the oil tycoon and millionaire chieftain of an Arabian village. Inspector Zenigata, having received word that Lupin is going to attempt to steal the painting, is also present, and is asked by Nai Baba to help him get the painting back home.

As soon as Nai Baba and the painting leave the auction house, they are set upon by several crooks who want the painting as well as Lupin. Zenigata grabs the painting from Baba and tosses it from the car window; Lupin catches it, only to find it is a fake; however, the crooks spot Lupin holding it and go after him instead, enabling the real thing to get away. Lupin dispenses with the crooks, admiring Pops' cleverness and decides to come up with a new plan.

Baba and his entourage eventually arrive in the home country safely, although Zenigata is quickly becoming uncomfortable with Baba's advances and compliments of his "fine butt." At the port, he meets up with Baba's sixteen grown sons, who will accompany their father and his newly purchased treasure by railway to the village. Lupin makes an attempt to board the final car in the train, but Zenigata thwarts him by uncoupling it as the train takes off. Lupin still looks pleased as the train departs without him.

As the train travels through the desert, it is further accosted by independent attempts to board it by Fujiko, Goemon, and Jigen, respectively. Each attempt is thwarted, but afterward, each thief reports that the "checkpoint" has been met. After Jigen's attempt, Lupin fills a large truck with desert sand, travels ahead of the train to the village, and begins burying the station in the sand...

Meanwhile, Baba and his sons have found alcohol on the train and proceed to get smashingly drunk, against the advice of Zenigata; the detective is placated by promises of fame and glory in Baba's village, and still off-put by Baba's admiration of his behind. As the train finally pulls into the station, the drunken Baba jumps out, dropping the painting, and rushing over to give Zenigata a congratulatory hug and possibly cop a feel. The two do not see Lupin's hand pick up the painting, and they are taken by surprise when the station begins transforming and walls close around them, revealing the station to be Lupin's truck from earlier. Lupin pulls a short distance away before reopening the trap as a demonstration; he buried the real station and placed the fake one just outside the village where no one could see or help their chief. In addition, each of his gang's earlier attempts to board the train were not to steal the painting, but to throw more alcohol aboard, allowing his sons to get loaded and pass out so they could not help either.

Lupin then dumps Zenigata and Baba off of the truck before departing in triumph with his ancestor's painting. Zenigata is furious his rival has once again gotten the better of him, but Baba states it's not a total loss, as he found someone to love and begins chasing Zenigata around.

This episode features examples of:

 * Alcohol-Induced Idiocy: After arriving "home", Baba's so eager to thank Zenigata (and...well, other things) that he just drops the expensive painting on the ground.
 * Anything That Moves: Baba has twelve wives. That doesn't stop him from crushing out on Zenigata.
 * Breaking the Fourth Wall: Lupin openly thanks his "supporter" for giving him the idea for the caper after he beats Zenigata and Baba. After Lupin blows his supporter a kiss, Zenigata points out that this particular idea was from a guy, not a girl. Baba quickly states there's nothing wrong with that.
 * Caltrops: Used by Lupin to get rid of the other crooks pursing Baba.
 * Drinking on Duty: Averted by Zenigata, who constantly points out to Baba that he nor his sons should be drinking while they're trying to protect the painting.
 * Every Car Is a Pinto: Every single crook car that Lupin brings down explodes.
 * Harem Seeker: Baba. He has twelve wives. However, he doesn't want to add wives...he wants Zenigata!
 * Male Gaze: In an inversion, it's Baba focusing on Zenigata's nice butt.
 * Official Fan Submitted Content: To celebrate Shin Lupin III reaching one hundred episodes, fans were urged to send in ideas for episodes; if chosen, the fan's name was listed on the episode as a "story consultant". This is the first of four total episodes that were essentially fan-created.
 * Outside Ride: Fujiko does this when she grabs on to the train. Zenigata gets rid of her by smacking her fingers with a flyswatter before spraying her with mace.
 * Stealth Pun: Nai Baba is a pun on the main character from Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. "Ali (Ari)" translates in Japanese as "to have". "Nai" translates as "to not have". Nai Baba therefore lives up to his name.
 * Work Off the Debt: In spite of his promise to pay his bill, the President of France still has to wash dishes at the restaurant until he's bailed out.
 * Wouldn't Hit a Girl: Baba orders his sons to stop firing when he finds out he's being chased by Fujiko; he won't shoot at a woman.