Review: Part 6 “Episode 23 ~ The Memories of a Beloved Witch”
Welcome to our episode review of Lupin III: Part 6!
Our review is from the perspective of a “hardcore” Lupin III fan, who has seen every episode, film, and special the series has had to offer since its animated inception in 1969. The author's perspective on modern anime however, is lacking. When it comes to anime, we exclusively watch Lupin III, so cannot compare it to other shows on the market. Instead, we can only compare it with Lupin media of the past.
Be aware that there are SPOILERS ahead.
Please only read on if you either have seen the episode already, or do not mind learning about important character interactions and pivotal plot points in advance.
“Episode 23 ~ The Memories of a Beloved Witch” is the penultimate episode of Lupin III: Part 6. It continues the main plot line of the second act, and sees Lupin and Mattea finally facing off, under the watchful, twisted gaze of the manipulating mother figure, Tomoe.
Before we kick things off, it is worth noting that this review is written prior to episode twenty-four, the finale of Part 6, airing. While the episode is considered its own standalone storyline, it fits neatly into a three part structure, between the episode that came before it (My Mother’s Documents) and the finale (What Crooks Love). While I have done my best to review The Memories of a Beloved Witch, I do feel a lot about it hinges on the stories’ conclusion, which we are yet to experience. It comes in thick and fast with revelations about the characters and story of act two, but, rather excitingly, leaves many questions unanswered. I feel that these are likely to be addressed by the concluding episode, and therefore after watching that, my opinion may change slightly.
Still, I feel there is a lot to unpack here, and plenty of great Lupin content to get stuck in to—so I simply could not wait for the final episode before diving in. Let’s get started…
Part 6 is back on form. With a bang. This is incredible.
None of my concerns and irritations presented by episode twenty-two, My Mother’s Documents, were here. We get a unique and captivating story, focussing on Lupin and the gang, that deep dives into our hero’s subconscious and mental well-being (or, lack thereof, as we are about to discover).
The story picks up from where the episode that preceded it left off, and it continues on the same rather dark, grim footing.
Lupin becomes hypnotised under his surrogate mother, Tomoe’s, spell, after hearing the trigger words presented to him by Ari’s recording (which, in case you forgot, Inspector Zenigata is still in possession of and pursuing). These words are part of a poem, that Tomoe had, at one time, recited to her “son” and student. What seems on the surface like a sweet tune about a child’s love for their mother, is actually much darker and twisted. It is a weapon.
The poem they once used to sing together is now used as a way of controlling Lupin, and a tool for Tomoe to call him back to her.
The poem is as follows…
A mothers love, unchanging love, an unshakable spirit, my heart is on fire, I will dedicate everything I have to you, we will be together forever, a return to happiness, true love, eternal love.
(Thanks, to lupinsgang on Twitter, plus Ian and his incredible translation team for doing the leg-work, on this one)!
It turns out that, the various women that Lupin had encountered during the second half of Part 6 had slowly been feeding him lines of this poem. Tomoe had met each of them, at some point in their life, and convinced each to learn at least a line of her spell. These women, perhaps unknowingly, had gently been planting the seeds of the poem in Lupin’s mind across the second half of this season, and now, it has finally awakened the memories of the time he spent with Tomoe.
A loving mother, I am unsure, but a witch—that, I am certain of.
The poem causes Lupin to lose control. He becomes a husk of his former self—quiet, violent, twisted, conflicted.
Lupin’s eyes change, something we had seen previously with Mattea and the older lady from episode twenty-two, and he goes on a rampage. He proclaims that he must meet with his “mother”, even if that means going through his pals - Jigen, Goemon and Inspector Zenigata, to get to her. He opens fires on the boys, and they throw everything they have at him, to keep their buddy under control. Confused and panicked, the trio try to snap Lupin out of his hypnosis, but to no avail.
Suddenly, Mattea appears, and takes Lupin’s side. While her motives are very different to Lupin—she wants to kill Tomoe, taking revenge, not be with her. Mattea allows Lupin to get away, as a means of tracking Tomoe’s location. Mattea is smart and formidable—quite different to the sweet, innocent, flower shop girl we once knew. While Lupin legs it, she keeps Jigen, Goemon and Zenigata at bay, at least for a short while, before taking her leave in a puff of grenade smoke.
Now on the hunt for his mother, Lupin is not quite sound of mind. In the real world, he is speeding around the globe, trekking back to the location in which this all began—the Arsène Lupin family mansion. In his head, however, he is already there. At a time when Tomoe was younger—and looking like how he remembers her as a child. He talks to his tutor, questioning her about his past.
Are you really my mother? How come I cannot remember you, and the things we did? What happened back then—why did you disappear, how are you still alive?
Tomoe, or at least his minds’ version of the woman, successfully answers everything. Lupin was an exceptional child, one like she had never seen before, and one she truly thought was her child. A treasure found within the mansion of Lupin I, told her so, or so she claims.
The rather colourful and twisted imagery on show during these scenes was great, and reminded me of The Woman Called Fujiko Mine. They are a marvel to look at, and provide a nice representation of Lupin exploring his clouded memories, poisoned by Tomoe’s attack. It all has an Alice in Wonderland feeling to it, looking rather like a fever dream (which, is exactly what it is).
If there’s one thing Lupin can count on in time of need, it is his buddies.
Jigen, Goemon and Zenigata got our guys back, and this episode does a fantastic job of showing how much the trio really do care for him.
Jigen and Goemon head back to London, and attempt contact with The Professor, the secret villain of act one. After meeting with Moran, the sniper foe from an earlier episode, the pair are granted an audience with Moriarty. The strange, childish looking twink version of the famous fictional villain spills the beans on Tomoe, and that she is a rather well-known hypnotist throughout the underworld. Her powers of persuasion have been used before, likely for nefarious means. While Moriarty does not know if she is Lupin’s direction relation, he does not want our hero out of the picture, so assists Jigen and Goemon on her likely whereabouts, and her abilities.
Meanwhile, Inspector Zenigata, not one for wasting time, is questioning Mercedes, the villain from episodes one and two of the second act. The female gang leader is imprisoned, and the Inspector wants answers. This is competent, compassionate cop Zenigata at his best. He clearly cares for the wellbeing of both Ari and Lupin, and with a little help from “Yata”, connects all the dots in a stroke of genius, to discover that Tomoe is likely hiding out in the Lupin family home.
You go pops. Save your boyfriend. We are always rooting for you!
Speaking of boyfriends—before he reaches the family home, Lupin encounters Fujiko.
This bittersweet scene is perhaps Part 6’s strongest, and has the pair converse in the rain. Lupin looks exhausted, and is slumped over in an alleyway. The two have a rather frank conversation about their relationship—Fujiko rooting for them both, whilst Lupin, rather unlike himself, bats her away. He mentions all of the times she has betrayed him, and attempts to walk away, but before he can, Fujiko attempts a kiss.
Lupin feels, and does, nothing. He stands there, emotionless. Goodbye, he says—a parting that feels far more permanent than usual. This is in part thanks to the tone and delivery of the incredible Kanichi Kurita (who’s extraordinary ability to play both darker and light-hearted versions of this character continues to leave me in awe).
Defeated, Fujiko heads back to a local hideout, and catches up with Jigen and Goemon. Our heroine is strong, and she clearly has not given up. She refers to Lupin as her “treasure”, and that if someone steals what she wants, she vows to steal it back. Her dialogue and attitude here is superb. While the femme fatale acts tough, she is clearly invested in Lupin more than she likes people to think.
The episode reaches its climax with Lupin arriving at the mansion, and coming face-to-face with Tomoe.
The lonely woman has now aged, and is standing by a window within the complex. The imagery here is nothing new, and eagle eye’d viewers may recognise the design of the house from Part 1 and Part 5, where it showed up previously. Just as the two begin to chat, Mattea shows up, and explains that she seeks revenge on Tomoe. Her hatred stems from everything she claims Tomoe has done to her, using her, manipulating her life, all as a means of returning Lupin III back by her side.
Mattea draws her weapon and shoots—but not Tomoe. Instead, Lupin takes a bullet to the chest, and flies out of the window, in an attempt to protect his “mother”. Of course, he doesn’t go down easily, and is not dead. He returns as quickly as he left, and is back to defend Tomoe, in combat against a furious Mattea.
Unfortunately, we will have to wait until the big finale to find out who wins this battle, and which side Lupin is really on, because just as Lupin and Mattea are about to lock horns, the credits roll.
What an episode. This darker, more twisted tone of Lupin III is what I personally wanted to see from Part 6, and I am sad that it has taken twenty-three episodes to get here. All the “is he a hero or a villain” build-up prior to the show was about this, and I cannot help but think that we deserved to see more of it from the start.
Still, it is better late than never. The interactions between the conflicted Lupin and his friends during this episode made for some of the most memorable moments of the show thus far, and it helped showcase some fantastic character dialogue. The scene with Fujiko, in particular, was a shining moment. I also enjoyed the conflicted conversations between Lupin and Tomoe, taking place within his head. Seeing Jigen’s hat and Goemon’s sword in the background here was a nice touch, too—and tells me that even when under severe mind control / hypnosis, his friends are still taking up a portion of his headspace.
I did feel the poem was a little stupid. I could not help but laugh at the reveal—while the imagery and explanation was top of the class, the twist itself felt like a proper “look at what big brains we have” statement from the writing staff. Not only that, but I cannot believe the young girl who writes mermaid fan-fiction about the gang is revealed to be part of a weapon that infiltrates Lupin’s mind. Ridiculous.
Overall, though, it was good. The staff behind the show are certainly trying their hardest, as we reach the climax. Even the animation looked good. The team felt no need for many poorly rendered 3D vehicles (only one shot, but it looked good). The Merc SSK was given the justice it deserves.
Next week, we will see if it sticks the landing. I hope we do not see any cop-outs—that this was part of Lupin’s plan all along, and that Tomoe is written out as just another psychopathic, one-shot villain. You have come this far—go the extra mile. Dive a bit deeper.
My excitement for this show has reignited, and I am looking forward to seeing where it ends up.
