Lupine the 3rd: Part 1 22
ルパン三世
Lupine III Episode 22
Summary/SPOILER Summary
Zenigata’s boss asks Mr. Gordon of the FBI to come to Japan to demonstrate the latest crime-fighting computer technology. Zenigata was not impressed. However, they lure Lupine by publicly announcing how the computer will execute him. Lupine takes the bait and announces that he will steal a shipment of cash from an armored train that evening. Mr. Gordon put this information into the computer. Thus, the computer will come up with what Lupine will do. The police commissioner instructs a reluctant Zenigata to follow the plan laid out by the computer.
Lupine, Jigen, and Goemon begin to carry out Lupin’s plan, which goes exactly as the computer predicted. When the train stops, Jigen and Goemon question why Zenigata did not take action, since he is part of the train’s security team. Lupine is not worried. However, hearing noises from the bound guards made them unable to predict the computer. Zenigata takes advantage of this, capturing Goemon and Jigen, although Lupine escapes.
Zenigata is punished for not following the computer script. The computer now predicts how Lupine will come to save his companions. The commissioner orders Zenigata to follow the computer’s instructions exactly. Once again, Lupine follows the computer’s predictions, impersonating Mr. Gordon and ordering Jigen and Goemon to be transferred. Zenigata knows this is Lupine but is not allowed to capture him. Thus, Zenigata did what the fake Mr. Gordon said. However, Lupine decides to act spontaneously, fooling the computer and allowing him to free Jigen and Goemon.
Thinking/Evaluating
I have to say, Lupine the 3rd: Part 1 22 quite interesting to me. I was more interested in seeing Lupine’s arrogant attitude come back and bite him on the back. So, Jigen and Goemon were arrested and thrown into prison. In the end, Lupine’s spontaneous actions caused the computer’s prediction to fail. I really found it interesting that the concept of computers predicting crime was mentioned in this episode. But then, the novel is short Minority Report originally debuted in the 50s. There, of course, the mutants were hooked up to technology to predict crimes ahead of time. Here, it’s just a supercomputer but the result is the same.
The really interesting element is that Zenigata was correct in his assessment. Surely, if Zenigata followed the first scenario, they could easily capture everyone. But in the second scenario, Zenigata learns that the Mr. Gordon he is dealing with is actually Lupin. But his boss refused to let Zenigata take action. After all, computer infallibility is at stake here. And because of this, Lupine defeated the computer and everyone else.
I wish they had allowed Zenigata to be smart enough to realize Lupine was breaking the computer’s prediction. Or rather, let Zenigata use his instincts to better prepare for other outcomes. However, after the previous “beating” he followed his instincts before, I suppose it was natural that he decided to just follow the computer script. But it would be more interesting if Zenigata came close to catching Lupine after Lupine deviated from the computer’s predicted path.
Final thoughts and conclusion
In the ending, I see Lupine the 3rd: Part 1 22 interesting. Not perfect at all but still enjoyable.
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