Lupin remains one of the most addictive thrill-rides on TV. This surprise hit portrays the adventures of self-styled “gentleman thief” Assane Diop (Omar Sy) in contemporary Paris. The Senegalese immigrant was inspired in boyhood by Maurice Leblanc’s beloved stories about top-hatted, cape-clad, monocle-wearing detective Arsène Lupin. He now follows in the debonair criminal’s footsteps, pulling off heists with panache and plenty of references to his well-read paperbacks.

We last saw our hero framed for murder. As we return for part trois, he’s the most wanted fugitive in France. To make amends with his ex-wife, Claire (Ellie Goulding lookalike Ludivine Sagnier), and son Raoul (Etan Simon), he hatches a typically audacious plan to emerge from the shadows and pull off one last high-stakes job – “the job”, as he puts it – before spiriting his family away to start a new life overseas.Of course, things don’t quite go entirely smoothly.

Lupin

Across seven propulsive episodes, Diop steals a priceless black pearl, Manet’s painting, and an antique bracelet. He runs rings around police and settles scores with enemies. There are plentiful plot twists which we won’t spoil. The escapist drama uses Sherlock-style gimmickry and Bond-sequel stunts to keep the pace rattling along. Time-hops and slo-mo filming explain how Diop pulls off his tricks, executed with swagger by the charismaticSy. He’s always dapper in flapping coats, flat caps and rare-edition sneakers. Suspension of disbelief, however, is often required. Diop’s sleight-of-hand is supernatural, while his “master of disguise” schtick doesn’t always convince.

However Lupin is a criminal you can’t help rooting for. He’s explicitly compared to Robin Hood. Rather than robbing from therich to give to the poor, he represents the revenge of the underdog and gives voice to the people. This series sees him ascend to folk hero status, which he naturally uses to his advantage. His adorable dog, the brilliantly named J’Accuse, proves a scruffy scene-stealer. The show is an avenue to live out adventure vicariously, one which our dashing hero pulls off with huge charm, plenty of heart and a hefty dose of adrenaline. Rollicking, old-fashioned fun. As his followers keep reminding us: “Lupin never dies.”

Boluwatife Adesina
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Boluwatife Adesina is a media writer and the helmer of the Downtown Review page. He’s probably in a cinema near you.