Lupin the 3rd: Part III 15
Lupin III Part 3 15
ルパン三世 – Part III Ep. 15

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis

Lupin has Jigen and Goemon train a young woman named Rolly (Lori/Laurie) to assist on a mission. In order to get treasure from a legendary, missing camel named Joudan (Joke), he needs a skilled maiden. Fujiko becomes aware of this and uses a spray to get Lupin to confess. However, Fujiko becomes offended when she learns Lupin chose Rolly due to her purity.

The next morning, Lupin’s hotel room explodes. Goemon and Jigen find Lupin and Rolly have already left. Jigen discovers a clue that someone named Bruce is after Lupin. Meanwhile on a passenger jet, Rolly discovers a bomb on the wing and the plane. The two parachute out, observed by Bruce. Lupin and Rolly get a jeep and get it to an Arab encampment. There, Bruce reveals himself and attacks Lupin.

While Jigen and Goemon try to find Lupin, Rolly kills Bruce during the fight. Lupin and Rolly head to the camel’s grave. That night, Jigen and Goemon discover Bruce’s dead body. Fujiko shows up and informs them there’s another killer after Lupin.

Meanwhile, Lupin discovers the treasure is just water. Rolly reveals that she wants to kill Lupin, collect his bounty, and become famous. She uses a technique taught to her by Goemon and has Fujiko collect the coffin. Rolly heads back to the village, where she discovers Lupin is alive. Lupin, Goemon, and Jigen try to talk her out the assassin life. After knocking her out, Lupin worries about Fujiko, as he had a bomb planted in the coffin.

Thoughts/Review

Lupin the 3rd: Part III 15 is kind of a mess of a story. So Rorry sets up this MASSIVE con game in order to kill Lupin. This plan is so complex and convoluted, it is laughable. I’m not sure how long she trained with Jigen and Goemon, but it was enough to make her pretty good. And yet in order to have an episode, Rorry doesn’t try to kill Lupin. No, she plants this notion of a dead camel with treasure that requires a virgin. 😂

And that brings me to the part where the episode tries to have some kind of supernatural element with the camel, Joudan. That part is never explained. How’d Rorry set up some sort of mystical, dragon thingy to attack them? I would guess it was technological. But it just happens.

Then there’s the moment Lupin supposedly figured out the truth. When the doofus assassin Bruce lumbered about, failing to kill Lupin, apparently Rorry killing him caused Lupin to see what was going on. Ugh. It is just rubbish storytelling.

Finally, because the plot needs Fujiko, Jigen, and Goemon around, it is amazing how they stay on Lupin’s trail with ease. Sure, Lupin gave Fujiko the information, but everything that happened was because the plot demanded it. As I said, rubbish storytelling.

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Let me wrap up my review of Lupin the 3rd: Part III 15 with some final thoughts.

• Rorry gets naked for a lengthy shower scene. So be prepared for that.
• No Zenigata in this episode.
• I did like how Fujiko got offended by Lupin’s belief that she was not a “pure” woman. It implies that Fujiko hasn’t done anything, but frankly, I don’t believe that.
• Speaking of Fujiko, it is hard to believe that she took a disguised bomb on board her car and get blown up. Obviously she’s going to be back. But an event like this should change Fujiko.

In the end, Lupin the 3rd: Part III 15 is just a story who’s plot makes sure everything happens so that it can provide the surprise twist at the end.