LUPIN the Third ～峰不二子という女～
LUPIN the Third – MINE Fujiko to Iu Onna Episode 08
Lupin III: A Woman Called MINE Fujiko – 08

Fujiko is in New York and kills to guards at a warehouse holding noted death day fortune teller Shitoto Chandler’s large lithograph, which he uses in his predictions, and steals it. Elsewhere, Zenigata puts Oscar on the case after Oscar discovers that all of Shitoto’s clients had been previously robbed by Lupin. Someplace else in New York, Jigen is hired by a man to take revenge on Shitoto, then that man dies in front of Jigen. Jigen finds Shitoto at the warehouse, where the lithograph has supposedly been burned. Oscar is there with a large police force, but Jigen manages to shoot his way clear for a while, only to be nailed a short time later.

Convinced Jigen isn’t Lupin in disguise, Jigen is taken in a police van with police car escort when a Monkey Delivery Service truck passes the convoy, causing a wreck that throws Jigen and a cop into the waiting truck basket, where they are safely brought into the cargo area. Jigen knocks the cop and and joins Lupin in the front, where Lupin takes him to his hideout and prepares a meal for him. They discuss the Shitoto situation, where Lupin reveals his interest in the fact that Shitoto’s clients are all victims of Lupins, as well as Fujiko’s involvement.  As such, Lupin arranges to be in Shitoto’s car as he travels to repurchase his lithograph, where he has a frank discussion with Shitoto, revealing that he knows Shitoto is actually killing his clients on certain days.

At the rendezvous point, Shitoto meets with Fujiko to repurchase the lithograph she stole. However, Fujiko knows it is Lupin in disguise. With the jig up, Lupin opens the trunk to reveal the real Shitoto, who upon getting out, shows his trump card — Oscar and a large number of cops. A shootout occurs with the cops having the advantage until Jigen takes out some with a sniper rifle on a nearby roof. Lupin and Fujiko part company, with Shitoto following Fujiko. He then has a revelation about Fujiko’s death day and mentions the name Count Luis Yew Armeid, which causes Fujiko to have a flashback to her youth before she shoots a live wire on the ground, which ends up electrocuting and setting alight, Shitoto. Shitoto dead, Zenigata expresses his disappointment about Oscar’s performance with Lupin, Fujiko, and Jigen ponder things.

A pretty good episode with a shocking low amount of Fujiko nudity, though being an exploitation series, every episode has to have at least one scene featuring Fujiko’s naked breasts.

This series has had very little of the traditional Lupin III humor from past incarnations. However, this episode managed to sneak in a funny moment when Lupin told Fujiko not to die since he hadn’t banged her yet, and she told him to ask Zenigata about what sex with her is like. That did make me laugh as Lupin can’t believe Zenigata has already scored a piece of what Lupin wants.

For me, the best part of the episode were the Jigen and Lupin stuff.  Lupin performs one of his trademark road heists, only this time to save Jigen. I loved the idea of Lupin cooking a meal for Jigen, and helping to establish a foundation for a good friendship and partnership. The fact that Jigen returns Lupin’s favor by being a sniper for him further’s that foundation. I really hope that from here on, Lupin and Jigen are working together, even if they haven’t officially become a gang. We just need to get Goemon worked in there.

As an aside, I’m going to assume the “Monkey Delivery Service” name is a nod to manga-ka Monkey Punch.

The surreal stuff continued with the owl and butterfly motifs. Clearly, the one owl person is this mysterious Count Luis Yew Armeid.  Further to that, the episode implies that he raped Fujiko when she was a child. That’s messed up to be sure, but as I’ve said before, Fujiko is a tragic character here.

Speaking of this Count, for some reason, I thought of Pycal, who was a villain in the original manga, and in the second episode of the first Lupin III anime series.  He would then return in an OVA special.  Pycal was a mage in the TV series who was shown to use tricks for his magic. However, his return to life in the OVA, as well as other things suggested that Pycal really may have been a mage.  To be honest, I think it would be cool if Pycal was this Count, but I rather doubt that happens despite the supernatural elements of this episode.

One wonders why Zenigata puts Oscar in charge of anything. I get the feeling that since Oscar is a new character, he’ll die before the series ends.  Heck, he’ll probably be Fujiko’s lost brother, or someone else who was raped by the Count.

So, as I said earlier, a pretty good episode here.