REVIEW: ‘Lupin Part 4′ Delivers A Thrilling Return To Netflix’s Gentleman Thief

Lupin Part 4 puts master gentleman thief Assane Diop (Omar Sy) at the center of a high-stakes heist and an attempted murder. The only problem is that when the heist goes ahead now, Assane is sitting in a prison cell. Lupin returns to Netflix after three years with a new elaborate game of heists and mysteries that puts the enigmatic gentleman thief, Assane Diop, in a very compromising position.

The Netflix French mystery thriller, starring Omar Sy as the titular character, was created by George Kay and written by François Uzan, and directed by Everardo Gout and Édouard Salier. The supporting cast features Ludivine Sagnier as Claire, Etan Simon as Raoul Diop, Antoine Gouy as Benjamin Férel, Soufiane Guerrab as Youseff Guédire, Hervé Pierre as Hubert Pellegrini, Clotilde Hesme as Julliette Pellegrini, and newcomer Laika Blanc-Francard as Adèle. 

Lupin Part 4 takes place years after Assane, the master gentleman thief, turned himself in to the law. Ready to leave his life of crime and revenge behind, Assane is eager to reunite with his loved ones. Now with a reduced sentence and a few days left before he is free, a copycat “Lupin” appears, announcing a new caper and claiming to be Assane.

A copycat theif prompts the start of the action in Lupin Part 4.

Realizing he is being set up, Assane breaks out of prison to clear his name and gain his freedom. However, what seems like a simple copycat turns out to be just the tip of the iceberg for Assane. His journey to prove his innocence quickly becomes a life-or-death race for a secret treasure buried beneath Paris. 

Lupin Part 4 continues the tradition of drawing inspiration from the narrative adventures of Maurice Leblanc’s Arsène Lupin. While still providing touches of originality and modern storytelling. Lupin Part 4 shatters perceptions for audiences and characters alike, as every episode packs misdirection and shocking reveals that make for an entertaining story and take the series to new heights. 

The use of AI deepfakes, advanced hacking, and other high-tech heist tactics is new to the series and adds an interesting dimension to the heists and adventures in Lupin Part 4. The inclusion of these modern tools feels like a natural addition to the series, as it not only helps modernize the show but also extends the depiction of the gentleman thief’s methods. 

What makes Lupin Part 4 so entertaining is that it understands its audience’s desire to see seemingly impossible heists pulled off. Part 4 does not disappoint in that regard at all. This season returns with elaborate plans, subtle misdirections, and strategically orchestrated set pieces that help make the series the hit mystery thriller that it has become known for.

The opening heist in the first episode, in particular, sets the tone for the first half of the season to focus on a new contest of wits between Assane and his copycat Lupin. This gives the season a strong foundation to build on as it progresses. Additionally, while the copycat uses new tech and tricks that differ slightly from Assane’s playbook, the show still reinforces its appreciation for the mechanics and careful planning that go into a successful heist.  

Overall, Lupin Part 4 introduces new, inventive ways to build a clever, ever-evolving story, with over-the-top schemes that made the series so gripping in the first place. By infusing the story with modern technology, more unpredictable elements, and methodically placed schemes, the season delivers a thrilling heist story from start to finish. 

From the thrilling heists to the season’s overarching mystery, Lupin Part 4 keeps viewers on their toes.

The other fun of Lupin Part 4 lies in watching the pieces of the bigger, overarching mystery fall into place.  Even though some audiences may think they know where Assane’s plans are headed, the show keeps viewers guessing. While it’s always satisfying to see the final reveal come together in a heist story, the process of getting there is just as entertaining.

Lupin does this wonderfully throughout every episode this season. Every new development brings another layer to the overarching plot and depth to its characters. Lupin shines this season as it builds consistent anticipation throughout, interweaving unrelated motives and events that serve a bigger purpose for the story. 

Although Lupin Part 4 excels at keeping its viewers guessing about where the story will go, the season’s twist also creates opportunities to explore certain characters in deeper, more unexpected ways. This season’s story delivers one of the biggest twists involving Assane and one of the people he loved most: his son, Raoul. 

Lupin Part 4 explores the subjects of loyalty and family, showing how even the closest bonds can be strained by competing priorities. This is briefly explored through Benjamin and Claire’s romantic relationship, as the season delves into the tension between their love for each other and their fear of hurting Assane.

Granted, the show takes a refreshing, mature approach to Assane’s reaction to the pair’s new relationship. While there is some initial shock and hurt for Assane, he does not succumb to petty jealousy over his wife and best friend’s love for each other. Instead, he waits for them to tell him about their relationship and is genuinely happy for the pair, reinforcing that he still sees them both as his family. 

The tension, however, affects Benjamin most of all this season, as his love for Claire and loyalty to Assane put him in situations where he must choose one over the other. Meanwhile, Claire is frustrated that Benjamin’s friendship with her ex-husband seems to take priority over their relationship, since Benjamin is always at Assane’s beck and call. Although this conflict feels rushed this season, it does still highlight how being a loyal friend to one person can unintentionally hurt another. 

Raoul’s transformation into a cold, vengeful son adds different stakes to the father-son relationship.

Lupin Season 4 showed that there is more to Raoul’s character than in the previous seasons. In the prior season, Raoul admired his father and had a seemingly naive view of his work in thievery. Now older, Raoul is full of resentment and jealousy towards his father, causing him to shift from a loving son to a cold, calculating foe.

It’s a character evolution that no one could have seen coming. Still, it makes perfect sense for Raoul’s character, given how Assane’s absence from his life and repeated deprioritization of Raoul have left the young man vengeful toward the man he once admired most in the world. Raoul and Assane’s new dynamic also adds a new level of unpredictability to the series. Etan Simon also delivers a marvelous performance that conveys a darker, more manipulative side, making his character’s development all the more satisfying to watch unfold. 

For Assane, his family has always been his weakness and blind spot; it is one of the main reasons he sacrifices his personal desires to be with his son to protect him. Raoul’s transformation into an unsuspecting adversary, whom Assane makes the mistake of underestimating, sets up next season to be a potentially new, even more interesting game of cat-and-mouse. Still, this time it will be between father and son. 

Omar Sy remains a powerhouse and a perfect fit as the series’ master gentleman thief. Sy’s performance not only captures his character’s confidence, wit, and charm but also his more vulnerable, heartfelt moments. As this season brings Assane’s elaborate schemes full circle, they also cause fallout for his loved ones, which leaves irreversible damage to some of the people closest to him.

Sy excels at portraying the tension between his character’s desire to protect his loved ones and his inability to leave his life as a thief behind. Additionally, when it comes to playing various characters through disguises, Sy knows how to lean into every character in his master thief’s arsenal. St’s performance, with some of the more outlandish disguises, brings humor and levity to the mystery thriller series. 

Lupin Part 4 ultimately delivers another exciting return for the gentleman thief, well worth the three-year hiatus. This season brings bigger schemes, more impossible heists, unpredictable developments, and twists no one can see coming. Sy leads the cast with a strong performance, and Simon delivers a surprising performance that matches the leading man. This season’s twists and turns bring new, inventive ways to keep the mystery thriller series gripping from start to finish. 

Lupin Part 4 is now streaming exclusively on Netflix.

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