You don’t have to speak French to get into Netflix‘s latest imported treat. Sure, it would help, but Lupin is almost enjoyable even if you don’t know exactly what’s going on. The French mystery thriller is one of the top shows on Netflix right now—the first French show to land in the top 10 upon launch—and currently sits at 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and if you’ve heard anyone (or everyone) talking about star Omar Sy, this is why. Netflix’s Lupin made its debut on the service Friday January 8, and quickly became the first French series to land on the streamer’s U.S. Top 10 list, even as only half the first season was released. Lupin draws its inspiration from Maurice Leblanc’s novels and the affair of the queen’s necklace, a scandal that tarnished Marie-Antoinette’s reputation in the 18th century.
Lupin is the show that Money Heist fans have been waiting for since the season 4 finale. Netflix says the French thriller’s first five episodes, are on target to reach 70 million viewers, making the series as popular as recent megahits The Queen’s Gambit and Bridgerton.
Luckily, the show’s many fans won’t have to wait long for the next batch. The ten-episode first season has already been filmed in its entirety, meaning that a resolution to the first part’s cliffhanger is on its way, too—phew. Netflix confirmed that the season will conclude in the summer of 2021.
The series
In the series, French actor Omar Sy plays Assane Diop, a modern-day thief who models his life off Maurice Leblanc’s iconic “gentleman burglar,” Arsène Lupin. Found in books written in the early 20th century, think of Lupin as the equivalent to Sherlock Holmes in terms of cultural prominence, if not moral alignment. When new information comes to light about Assane’s father’s death in prison—and how, soon before, he was framed by his powerful employer, Hubert Pellegrini—Assane uses his skills for vengeance. The first season consists of ten episodes and will be released in two parts, per Variety. This should come as a major relief to the show’s new fans. We won’t have to wait for the series’s creators, George Kay and François Uzan, to write and film new episodes—which poses an extra challenge in the era of coronavirus.
Netflix has yet to confirm when, exactly, the final five episodes of Lupin‘s first season will drop—but we do have a season. Mark your calendar for “summer.” No word on whether the show will be renewed for more episodes beyond that point. However, given the show’s international success, we’re optimistic that there will be more.
Whether you’re already a fan or you’re looking for excuses to hit play, here are a few reasons why the show is so hot right now.
Omar Sy
Sy is just simply a star, and he is a big star in France. Before Lupin, he was known for movies like The Intouchables, 2 Alone in Paris and The Wolf’s Call. He also appeared in Jurassic World and X-Men: Days of Future Past. The story requires Assane and therefor Sy to play a variety of roles, and that’s where the real magic of the series lies—Sy can play pretty much anything and is an obvious star, even when you can’t understand a word he says because you don’t speak French. He might be the most likable criminal on TV right now, and you’ll root for him even if you feel a little morally confused afterwards.
An Incredible Setting
While we’re all stuck at home, the show allows for a little adventure through the streets of Paris. There’s no pandemic to be found onscreen, so it’s the perfect way to escape and get a little stressed about something completely unrelated to all the things stressing you out in real life. Allow Assane to take you on a ride through some Parisian crimes while you take a break from just taking trips between your kitchen and your living room.
An Easy Binge
There are only five episodes in part one, and while it’s a quick and satisfying binge, it all ends on a heck of a cliffhanger. Luckily, part two is coming this summer, as promised by Netflix earlier in January. If you’re new to the show, just don’t let the subtitles scare you away, in case you’re afraid you don’t have the time to simply sit and pay attention. We feel you, we understand you, and we are here to tell you that you can do it. If you’re going to ease your way into a subtitled series, this is the one to start with. You’ll get it even if you don’t fully get it.
By Alizé Utteryn 02/03/2021
