Spoilers for Lupin Parts 1, 3 and 4
Four years after Assane Diop’s decision to turn himself in, Lupin has returned with a new chapter that brings its original family conflict back into focus. The connection hasn’t gone unnoticed by viewers. In the week of October 26 to November 1, Lupin Part 4 climbed to No. 1 on Netflix’s global non-English TV chart with 10.8 million views. All three previous parts also returned to the Top 10, led by Part 1 with 5.2 million views.
The renewed interest is fitting, considering how closely Part 4 connects to the series’ beginnings.
The conflict that started with Babakar
The story originally started with Hubert Pellegrini, the wealthy businessman who framed Assane’s father, Babakar, for stealing Marie Antoinette’s necklace. Babakar’s death set Assane on a path of revenge, eventually bringing Pellegrini’s crimes to light.
However, their conflict wasn’t over. Part 3 ended with Assane receiving an envelope from a neighbouring prison cell containing a photograph of his younger self holding The Cagliostro’s Revenge, a Maurice Leblanc novel. The sender was Pellegrini, who had found a way to remind Assane that he could still reach him.
Pellegrini’s return and Raoul’s involvement
Part 4 follows through on that warning. Assane and Pellegrini initially appear to have developed an understanding in prison, but Assane’s apparent plan to send Pellegrini to Malaysia proves to be only a temporary solution. Pellegrini escapes and returns with a new ally: Assane’s own son, Raoul.
Feeling abandoned by his father, Raoul is already struggling with Assane’s absence. His resentment deepens as Assane grows closer to his newly discovered daughter, Adèle. Pellegrini exploits that emotional distance, turning their original rivalry into a deeply personal family conflict.
A family conflict comes full circle
This is where the new season makes its strongest connection to the beginning. Assane once fought to restore his father’s name after Pellegrini destroyed their family. Now, he must confront the damage to his own relationship with his son.
Discover the Literary Origins of Lupin
Before Assane Diop brought the gentleman thief back into the spotlight, Arsène Lupin was already a literary legend. Created in 1905 by French writer Maurice Leblanc, the character inspired generations of mystery and adventure stories.Curious about the original gentleman burglar? Start with The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsène Lupin – Gentleman Burglar, the first collection in Leblanc’s celebrated series.
Explore Arsène Lupin – Gentleman Burglar
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With its original antagonist back and the family conflict taking a new turn, Lupin Part 4 does more than revisit familiar territory. It brings Assane’s journey back to the very thing that started it all: family.
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