Everyone’s favourite gentleman thief is back for another round, after Lupin‘s first season became Netflix’s biggest international show. But is the second serving as irresistible as the first?
This series takes its inspiration from France’s extremely popular fictional character, Arsène Lupin, a master of disguise and gentleman thief, who first appeared in a story by Maurice Leblanc in 1905. But there’s no time travelling for us today, as Lupin has had a very twenty-first century makeover in this Netflix original.
The series follows the story of Assane Diop, a man looking to avenge his father who was falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit when Assane was just a teen. Played by Omar Sy, Diop is charming and extremely watchable, venturing about Paris and using the wit and wisdom of the fictional Lupin to get his revenge on the rich and powerful family that wronged his own. Admittedly, a few of the plot lines are a bit clichéd, but there are so many twists and turns you’ll be kept on your toes regardless. Plus, the emotional weight behind Diop’s mission makes it a thrilling watch.
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And though the French weren’t so convinced, us Anglophones loved this series, taking it straight into Netflix’s top ten upon release – Daniel D’Addario in Variety calls it “a propulsive and cleverly made piece of work about one great heist and its ongoing aftermath,” and gives a special mention to the series’ cliff-hanger, which he says “will leave any viewer who’s taken the ride eager for more.” Forbes’ Sheena Scott agrees that it is a “captivating” show, which “emulates Leblanc’s work,” whilst The New York Times’ Margaret Lyons says it’s “zippy” and “a perfect binge, serious but not too miserable, clever in all the fun ways.”
It seems season two is set for the same success too, carrying on from that shocking cliffhanger, with The Guardian’s Ellen E Jones calling it a “thrilling encore,” whilst Helen Brown of The Telegraph says it’s cliches in this “superslick crime caper”are “irresistibly seductive.” And rumour has it a third season is already in the works…
First shown January 2021. You can watch the trailer by pressing play on the show image, or by clicking here:
