Episode
Lupin the 3rd: Play a Joke on the Variation
Overview
After narrowly escaping Zenigata, Lupin is both physically and mentally exhausted. However, he jumps at the chance to help Fujiko. Together, they attend a party of rich women located in an old castle, intent on stealing all their jewelry. Things take a turn for the worse when the castle tower they are in turns out to be a rocket ship that carries them all to an island nation at war. Zenigata is then called in to collect funds for the ransom of all the women as well as capture Lupin. When he gets there, he finds Lupin hanging from a cross, seconds away from being shot to death by Fujiko. It is all part of the plot designed by the mysterious Madam Razor.
Details
- Series
- Lupin the 3rd
- Season
- Season 3
- Episode
- Episode 13
- Air date
- 1984-10-20
- Runtime
- 25 min
Episode context
Play a Joke on the Variation is Episode 13 in Part III of Lupin the 3rd. It aired on 1984-10-20. The runtime is 25 min.
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Episode 12: The Prisoner of a Valtan Palace
After much labor, Lupin successfully steals a painting of Lupin the First's beloved. He is less than thrilled to discover that it is in fact a fake. Fujiko enters the scene and explains that it is actually a Valtan forgery. Valtan has the artist and his daughter Sofia captive in his palace; he forces him at gunpoint to recreate his own paintings. Lupin heads off to Valtan's palace to rescue an old friend of his grandfather's and maybe keep a few paintings for himself.
Episode 14: Let's Play the Abduction
In Central Park, Zenigata waits outside an armored car to ambush Lupin. Not to protect the money, but because Lupin is the prime suspect in the kidnapping of Madam Fiona. Lupin steals the money, eludes Zenigata, and delivers it to another party. It would seem he had been hypnotized by Fujiko to perform the task and is quickly knocked out with a monkey wrench. Zenigata arrests Lupin; and shortly afterward, Madam Fiona is set free claiming Lupin to be her kidnapper. Fujiko arrives at Madam Fiona's mansion expecting her cut of the profits only to find that Madam Fiona insists that she marry her bratty son, Roger. With the help of Goemon and Jigen, Lupin escapes prison.
More episodes from this season
Episode 11: The Ruby Sheds Bloody Tears
In Chicago, a sniper kills a man under the orders of the mysterious "Mother". Even more strange, Fujiko seems to be under her spell. Lupin sneaks into Mother's mansion and manages to steal the Dracula Heart ruby. Once every century, this ruby bleeds, and whoever drinks its blood is granted youth for another 100 years. Mother has used the blood to maintain life for the past 300 years and will not be denied. She wants the ruby back, and Fujiko will do anything to reclaim it for her.
Episode 15: The Killer Comes Along Quietly
In an abandoned baseball stadium, Jigen and a mysterious woman are shooting it out. She soon bests Jigen and proceeds to take on Goemon in a sword fight. She manages to strike him down as well. Lupin shows up and congratulates her on the success of her training with him. The woman's name is Glory, and Lupin needs her in order to access an ancient treasure. Only a girl who is pure of heart can ride atop a camel that will lead them to the treasure. Lupin and Glory head off to Jordan leaving Jigen and Goemon behind. They find out quickly that Lupin is in danger. Bruce the Robot-Man, one of the world's greatest assassins, is after Lupin and his $100,000 reward. Will Glory's training save her when the Robot-Man strikes? And is she all that she seems to be?
Episode 10: Lay a Plot with the Treasure
A message appears in the morning paper reading "Lupin Is an Idiot". Lupin says it is a secret code from his late grandfather telling him it's time to reclaim Lupin the First's prized diamond. But the gem is locked away in police headquarters, encased in a globe of liquid. Should a single vibration touch the liquid, the entire facility will explode. To make matters worse, Lupin is tricked into accepting a challenge from the police chief. If he does not steal the diamond within one week, he will spend the rest of his life in prison
Episode 16: The Golden Apple has Poison
Lupin and Jigen sneak aboard a yacht narrowly avoiding Zenigata; aboard that yacht is the precious golden apple being sent to New York for exhibition. Zenigata catches on to Lupin's plans to steal the apple and keeps his eyes open. Meanwhile, Fujiko is trying to get her hands on it as well, but she is stuck with the owner of the apple, the annoying Prince Oji. When the attempt on the yacht does not work out, Lupin has plans for the New York Marathon. Will Lupin or Fujiko ever get their hands on the apple? What tricks does Zenigata have up his sleeve? And what secret does the golden apple hold?
Episode 9: The Copy-Man Comes Expensive
Lupin visits a doctor to seek treatment for one of the worst cases of athlete's foot in the world. The Doctor takes a skin sample and informs him that the only way to make a cure is with powder from an ancient seed locked away in a museum. Unable to withstand the horrible itching, Lupin sets off immediately to steal the seed. Unfortunately for him, he was set up, and Zenigata arrests him with haste. To make matters worse, the Doctor has plans for the skin sample that he took from Lupin.
Episode 17: Are You Really Getting Married?
It is Fujiko's birthday, and this year she wants the "Golden Puppet" worth ten million dollars. If Lupin can get her the Golden Puppet, Fujiko claims she will marry him. Lupin goes to the bank vault and escapes with all the gold nuggets. Now, they must get married, but Fujiko gives Lupin a sleeping potion and escapes with the Golden Puppet. Lupin manages to find her, and they both get arrested by Zenigata. In jail, Lupin pleads for a wedding in the biggest church, and Zenigata allows it. Will they really get married? Where did Goemon and Jigen run off to?
Episode 8: Virgin Mary's Getaway Strategy
Deep within the frozen Alaskan wilderness, a mysterious cult chants before a sold gold Virgin Mary idol. The high priest prophesizes the coming of the great demon who will steal their sacred artifact. Elsewhere, Lupin and Fujiko are escaping a fleet of police officers. Without warning, a team of hooded cult members appears and quickly abducts Fujiko right from their getaway car. Lupin gathers his teammates and heads off to Alaska to save Fujiko before she is burned at the stake. All is not as it seems, however. What is the true identity of the high priest and his cult? And does somebody else have eyes for the Virgin Mary statue?
Episode 18: Show Time Is Death Feeling
Lupin and Jigen are after the party presents of "the boss of the underworld". While checking out the future scene of the crime, Lupin finds a dancer named Jenny. Jenny is being stalked by two thugs, but Lupin saves her. Lupin hangs out with this Jenny so he can get some valuable information on the premises. Will Lupin succeed in his mission, and what secrets does Jenny hold?
Episode 7: The Man Is Called The Death Garb
Back in her younger days, Fujiko performed a heist with the man known as Death Garb. Greedily, she left him to die so she could have the money for herself. Now, Death Garb is back and has the ability to effortlessly dodge bullets. Lupin dedicates himself to Fujiko's survival, but Fujiko seems more interested in using him as a shield. After first avoiding a round from Jigen's magnum and then the best strikes Goemon can offer, all hope seems lost. How did Death Garb obtain his new power, and can Lupin devise a way to kill him?
Episode 19: An Act of Betrayal
Lupin breaks into a prison and frees a strange looking man he knows from previous heists. When the strange man questions what Lupin plans on doing with him, Lupin begins to talk about a hidden "safe trunk" containing millions. Lupin proposes an offer to split it 50-50 if he helps him get the trunk, an offer the man readily agrees to. But Zenigata is on Lupin's tail. Who is this man, and will he really agree to help Lupin? Will Jigen and company come to help? Will Zenigata finally catch Lupin?