“Lupin” from Netflix is a new attempt to bring one of the most popular literary characters to life on screen. But how successful is it?

Stories about Arsène Lupin, the gentleman thief, have been stirring the minds of filmmakers and viewers around the world for decades. This character rivals Sherlock Holmes himself in popularity (and they even crossed paths in literary worlds), so it's no surprise that adaptations of this witty hero's adventures continue to be released to this day.

The creators of the series “Lupin”, which debuted on Netflix on January 8, once again attempted to breathe life into Arsène Lupin and his adventures. Read our review to find out how well Omar Sy handled the role of the gentleman thief and how the show's authors managed to modernize the books of Maurice Leblanc.

Following the Path of BBC’s “Sherlock”

Assane Diop (Omar Sy) is an enterprising young man who gets a job at the Louvre and then devises a daring heist plan to steal Queen Marie Antoinette’s necklace. But he wants to do this not only for enrichment, but also to take revenge on the wealthy family that ruined his father 25 years ago.

We mentioned Sherlock at the beginning for a reason. Just like in the British hit with Benedict Cumberbatch, the action in the French show from Netflix was moved to our present-day reality, complete with cameras and other gadgets that significantly affect the story and, in particular, any heist plan.

Though not in as unexpected and elegant a form as in “Sherlock,” the creators of “Lupin” managed to organically weave Leblanc’s plots into the setting of modern France. They didn’t make Omar Sy’s character into Arsène Lupin himself, but instead came up with a story about a guy who, inspired by the adventures of the gentleman thief, solves his own problems with no less grace and resourcefulness.

A Light, Dynamic, and Captivating Adventure

“Lupin” features a high narrative pace, so you don’t even have time to blink before the first five available episodes of the debut season fly by. The series includes elements of adventure cinema and carries an inevitable social subtext with a dramatic slant relevant to modern realities, along with organic humor and a cat-and-mouse game between the criminal and law enforcement.

This variety provides a wealth of emotions while watching, so even superficially written characters and some frankly silly plot twists don’t spoil the overall impression too much. And that’s without even mentioning the charisma of Omar Sy, who has finally landed a decent role!

One of the show’s creators is George Kay, who worked on series such as “Criminal,” “Killing Eve,” and “The Hour.” Given this track record, some viewers may have questions about certain plot points and common sense (sometimes characters move through time and space no worse than superheroes). At the same time, it serves as a guarantee of engaging storytelling. Well, nobody’s perfect, right?

Is the Series “Lupin” Worth Watching?

“Lupin” is an entertaining and purely recreational spectacle. If you don’t expect any revelations from it, there’s a chance to get a lot of enjoyment from Omar Sy’s performance, the main character’s unexpected tricks, and the overall engaging story.

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