Be aware that this isn't necessarily a "review", or at least not one in the most basic definition. It's more of my collected thoughts on this show than a full-fledged encomium that analyzes the show right down to the little things. I am by no means a professional reviewer. So with that in mind, my review for Lupin III (2015) or Lupin III: Part IV.
Lupin III: Part IV sees the Lupin III and friends Jigen, Goemon, and Fujiko returning to TV with a whole series after three whole decades (at the time it was released). Almost all of their escapades are now set in Italy and San Marino with new characters. The most prominent of them being Rebecca Rossellini, who has married Lupin III, although it was just a sham to get another treasure. I'll admit Rebecca wasn't my favorite character in the show. I didn't care for her at first, as she just seemed overly cocky and smug. But as the show progressed, I started to grow with her more. She's not perfect, but she isn't too bad either.
Though a new character than I did like more than I thought I would was Nyx, an agent for the MI6. I didn't care for him either but as learned more about him, the more interesting he seemed. Though unfortunately, he wasn't as developed as Rebecca. Which is a shame since he had a lot of untapped potential, I believe. I wish there was some sort of side story OVA that explains his relationship with the MI6 and his abilities, but alas.
Speaking of the characters, all of the main characters were great in this. Lupin, Jigen, Goemon, Fujiko, and Zenigata were all great. (Their English VAs are great too. The Geneon cast is superb.).Each character has a time to shine with at least one or two episodes centered towards one of them. Though, I think Goemon was thrown under the bus. He doesn't really do much in the show and doesn't appear as much. Aside from that, the main cast were fun to watch.
The series' main baddie is Leonardo Da Vinci, or at least a clone of him. Da Vinci's was no Mamo or Count Cagliostro, but he was still a decent and memorable villain. Though, i think the only reason he is memorable is because he's a clone of friggin Leonardo Da Vinci.
As I watched this series, I picked up a theme of sorts and I didn't realize it until the 17th (or 18th if you watched the Toonami airings) episode, The Murdering Marionette. Lupin and the rest are trapped in a labyrinth by Lord Greco, a man with a god complex and a lot of followers on his side. They are challenged to escape in one piece with all the odds literally betted against them, as Greco is believed to win. There's one more thing. One person in the crew was hypnotized to follow Greco's orders and kill all of them as his marionette. The four immediately start suspecting each other and getting into petty arguments. Fujiko and Lupin go down first and second. Jigen and Goemon kill each other, both of them suspecting the other as the marionette. Greco's marionette was revealed to be Lupin and is ordered by Greco to kill himself last. A brainwashed Lupin points his gun to his head. As all hope fades, it was revealed that...
It's all an act.
Lupin was never hypnotized and everyone is still alive, to Greco's shock. Lupin explains how he did to Greco and the four escape safely. Even when all the odds were betted against them.
So, what was that theme I was talking about? I believe the one of the main themes of this show and the possibly the whole franchise itself is going against the impossible and winning. It happens a lot within this show specifically. Jigen is about to be shot to death by a bunch of cronies surrounding him, but yet he gets away unscathed. A close partner of Goemon's has a bomb in their heart that cannot be removed or deactivated, but yet he is able to stop it. It seems like Fujiko was just burnt alive by a magician, but she makes it out okay. Lupin was just thrown in a maximum security prison in a island with only Zenigata watching over him, but he escapes.
That theme evens plays towards the very end of the series, when Lupin saves Rebecca from Da Vinci, even when Da Vinci says saving her was impossible. Lupin and the rest have the ability to overcome the impossible. Sure there are times when they make a mistake or slip up, but in the end. They win.
I may have made this review more dramatic and pretentious than it ever needed to be. And what I said can apply to a whole lot of other media too. It's just the way I see this anime. I think I've made this review long enough, I'll try to wrap it up.
In short, Lupin III: Part IV is a fun and exciting romp in the Lupin franchise reminiscent of different parts in the series. If you by some chance, want to get into Lupin. It wouldn't hurt to start here. Though, I prefer you'd start with Cagliostro and Part 2. Part IV is just another piece of Lupin goodness worth checking out.