Lupin III: A Woman Named Fujiko Mine Episode 05 Review

Episode 05, "Blood-Soaked Triangle"

 
*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Fujiko tells Lupin how he could obtain her: by stealing a treasure from an a new pyramid in Egypt. Also in Egypt is Jigen, who is all out of money, so he too is looking for the treasure. The two cross paths, and as they struggle as rivals against each other, they fall into traps, but end up cooperating with each other. Because of another trap, the two fall into a giant whirlpool of sand and find that Fujiko is there to reap the benefit of their work. However, they manage to escape the trap and join Fujiko, who finds the treasure. Suddenly the crypts start falling apart and the treasure needs to be sacrificed to open the way out.
 

 

Comments:
 
Fujiko's back in form putting other people in trouble so she can reap the rewards in this episode. It's one thing to send Lupin off to find a treasure for her. It's another to just sit by while he's in a deathtrap so his blood will unlock access to said treasure. On top of that, she's also willing to let Jigen die as well. She's not really endearing herself to our favorite bearded gunman. What's worse, she even makes fun of his penis side as he's caught in the deathtrap. That is some cold-blooded shit, Fuji-cakes. She's entirely unapologetic about it, too, even after they escape from the trap. Her eye was on the prize. But as often happens in an episode of Lupin III, the treasure had to be sacrificed for everyone's safe escape. She got over it pretty quickly, though. 
 
Lupin meets Jigen for the first time in this episode, as they're competing for the prize. Lupin just wants to find a way to obtain Fujiko, and doesn't mind a little danger, or even a lot of it. The guy likes to keep things interesting. But Jigen seems to be in a more desperate situation, with just his wits and his Magnum at his side. He seems to be having trouble acclimating to a lifestyle outside of bodyguard/assassin. Strapped for cash after being robbed, he seeks out the treasure, out of necessity. He's not really a treasure hunter the way Fujiko and Lupin are. But seeing Lupin and Jigen at odds but working towards the same goal was interesting, and they play well off each other. While Jigen is very cynical about the world, Lupin shows that he's self-aware but not jaded, a guy who likes a challenge. I like that he switched Jigen's rounds with explosive ones. 
 
We get these little bits of character philosophy in this episode. Jigen's wariness and bleakness, Fujiko's cutthroat survival of the fittest, and Lupin's desire to entertain himself in life. Lupin says, "There's no harm in wishing for a little fun." He knows that he's a man of sin, but he daringly seeks a way to continue so with still prospering. Fujiko says, "Take a woman's secrets away and there'll be nothing left." Perhaps that's a rationalization, but more likely Fujiko is another character looking to outrun her past. 
 
The episode gives out a little bit of education, too. Looking up "alexandrite" yields that such a material really exists, a type of Chrysoberyl, which can change color in different lights, and is actually used to make certain kinds of lasers. I also looked up what Lupin meant when he referred to the sand whirlpool as an "antlion trap", as those insects make little sand pit traps. Of course, that one was significantly larger. 
 
When I first watched this episode, in raw Japanese, I didn't think it was that great, and found some of the imagery, angles and the like confusing. But now that I've seen it subtitled, it's probably my favorite episode thus far. 
 
Next time it might just be a solo Fujiko story!
 

Overall Score:

 

 

4.5 out of 5

 

 

 

 


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