Lupin Season 3 Finale Shocker: Assane's Fate Hangs in the Balance!

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Lupin season 3

Summary

Assane's choice to stage his own death and orchestrate a final heist brings about unforeseen outcomes, such as the reappearance of his mother and a formidable foe.

Driven by a desire for retribution, Keller pursues revenge against Assane for framing him, manipulating him, and committing jewelry theft, which eventually drives Assane to turn against his dearest friends and family.

Assane, in order to protect his family from the public eye, surrenders himself, hoping to find peace. However, Hubert Pellegrini's reappearance suggests that Assane's troubles are far from resolved.

In Lupin season 3, Assane Diop makes a comeback after two years, leaving viewers questioning whether the story of the thief had truly reached its conclusion with his imprisonment. The new season picks up a year later, depicting Assane's life in Marseilles. Here, he makes the impulsive decision to fake his own death and undertake one final heist that leads him back to Paris. Unexpectedly, his plans take a drastic turn due to the unexpected return of his mother, Mariama, and the emergence of an old adversary. The culmination of Lupin season 3 sees Assane successfully reuniting with his family, including Mariama, and orchestrating the release of Manon from prison with the assistance of a corrupt French Minister of the Interior.

Assane recounts the entire story to Manon, revealing how Keller manipulated him and Bruno into robbing a jewelry store. After pressuring Bruno into shooting a policeman, Keller intentionally crashes the car, leaving Assane to place the gun in Keller's hand. In the present, Assane sets a clever trap for Keller, resulting in his arrest by the police. Assane then surrenders himself to Guedira, ensuring Ben's release from prison, and arranges for a letter to be sent to Claire and Raoul to explain everything. Manon uses the money obtained from the black pearl to establish a gym. Meanwhile, while Assane is imprisoned, he finds solace in his Lupin books until he receives a message from his neighbor, who is none other than Hubert Pellegrini.

Keller’s Revenge Plot Explained

In Lupin season 3, Assane Diop finds himself up against a new adversary, Keller. This cunning villain, the owner of a gym, preyed on vulnerable children who had nowhere else to turn and were terrified of being placed in the system. Keller initially admired Assane's prowess as a thief and hatched a plan to exploit his skills alongside Bruno in a daring robbery of a prestigious jewelry store, all in the pursuit of huge profits. However, this scheme backfired, leading to Assane and Bruno being sentenced to 25 years in prison. During his incarceration, Keller meticulously plotted his revenge against Assane, firmly believing that he had been framed for shooting a police officer and stealing the valuable jewelry.

Although Assane and Bruno were just children, Keller perceived Assane's actions as the ultimate act of betrayal. Wanting Assane to experience the same pain, Keller devised a plan to turn Assane against Benjamin, who had always been loyal to the thief. Keller aimed to exploit Assane's vulnerabilities, particularly his relationships with family and friends, to manipulate and control him. Additionally, Keller intended to use Assane's thieving skills to generate income. By manipulating Assane and threatening Mariama simultaneously, Keller effectively achieved a two-for-one advantage. It is worth mentioning that Keller likely received assistance in devising this plot from Pellegrini.

Why Assane Finally Turns Himself Into The Police

In the conclusion of season 2 of Lupin, Assane managed to escape from the authorities, but Claire insisted that the only way to rectify the situation was for him to surrender himself. Although Claire eventually changed her mind, Assane's staged death facilitated his escape and the opportunity to start a fresh life. Nevertheless, Assane made a solemn vow to surrender. Moreover, Assane realized that his arrest would finally protect his family from the relentless media scrutiny. With the public now aware of his existence and confinement, Claire and Raoul would be spared from the constant intrusion of journalists seeking a sensational story.

Assane's mind was finally at peace — his long-awaited reunion with his mother had taken place, and his beloved family and closest friend were out of harm's way. He had successfully executed his final act of thievery and confronted a person from his past. Assane no longer felt the need to prove himself or seek vengeance, so he recognized it was time to fulfill his commitment to Detective Guedira. Certainly, Assane had the opportunity to escape effortlessly, but he understood that doing so would result in a never-ending cycle of being on the run for him and his family. Assane simply couldn't allow that fate to befall his loved ones.

Is Mariama Assane’s Real Mother?

Unbeknownst to Mariama at the time, she attended the counterfeit funeral of Assane before she was forcibly held captive by Manon and Keller. In an attempt to extract revenge on Assane, they used Mariama as a pawn. The only way Assane was able to recognize his own mother was through a secret nickname shared exclusively between them and his deceased father, as well as a familiar lullaby. However, in the final moments of Lupin season 3, Mariama's voice is heard reciting excerpts from the book La Cagliostro's Revenge, which implies her cooperation with Pellegrini all along. It suggests that she willingly played the role of Keller's prisoner in order to gain Assane's trust and ultimately deceive him.

Hubert Pellegrini Is Back: What This Means For Assane

: Importantly, Mariama flees from Keller during a critical moment in Lupin season 3. However, the question arises as to why she couldn't escape earlier. Additionally, Mariama appears to have knowledge of conversations that took place in Pellegrini's car, which she wouldn't have had access to. It's also convenient that she arrives in Paris after Assane fakes his death, without informing him beforehand. Even if Mariama is truly Assane's mother, her sudden appearance raises suspicions, and hopefully, the truth behind her mysterious connections will be unveiled in Lupin season 4.

In Lupin season 2, Hubert Pellegrini confessed to framing Assane's father and paid the price for his misdeeds by being imprisoned. However, the third season of Lupin sheds light on the possibility that Pellegrini played a role in Assane's own wrongful incarceration. With Assane now behind bars, he will inevitably come face to face with Pellegrini, who undoubtedly harbors intense animosity towards him. During his time in prison, Pellegrini may have formed alliances, making it highly likely that he will make Assane's life a living nightmare.

The Deeper Significance Of Manon’s Betrayal

Moreover, Assane is well aware of Pellegrini's desire for revenge, causing great concern for the safety of his family. As he counterattacks Pellegrini in his own unique way, Assane remains fully vigilant and prepared. Contrary to his previous belief, the resurgence of the wealthy man implies that Assane is still very much involved in the game. Pellegrini's manipulation of Lupin's books against Assane indicates that if he wants to thwart his arch-nemesis, Assane must elevate his strategies and skills.

For decades, Manon had faithfully stood by Keller's side, just like Bruno and Assane. Keller had always provided her with a home and a sense of belonging. However, Manon remained oblivious to the true extent of Keller's deceit and manipulation. Nevertheless, Assane had come to her rescue, hoping that she would finally recognize the reality and take appropriate action. Despite Manon's strong allegiance, her ultimate betrayal of Keller demonstrated that under the right circumstances and motivation, anyone could be swayed to turn against another person.

How Assane’s Ending Sets Up Lupin Season 4

However, when it came to Benjamin, Assane followed the same path, despite his intention to set him free. Assane's betrayal of a loyal friend was driven by his desperation and ultimate goal, while Manon's motives differed. Nonetheless, the underlying message emerged clear - loyalty could falter under extreme circumstances. Manon recognized the truth concealed within Assane's words, as he, not Keller, was the one who ensured her release from prison. Keller, who endangered the lives of those he professed to love, failed to deliver.

With Assane finding himself behind bars in the conclusion of Lupin season 3, the unexpected reappearance of Pellegrini leaves the door ajar for Assane's mesmerizing tale to forge ahead. This indicates that the series is not yet concluded, as it teases an even more remarkable and expansive grand finale that lies ahead. As Assane's imprisonment is not bound to be eternal, Lupin season 4 may entail our debonair thief executing yet another brilliant heist to make his escape. Nonetheless, Assane will first have to confront the formidable Pellegrini, with the possibility of the latter unveiling a deceptive ploy to manipulate Assane into believing that his mother has been taken hostage.

Assane is expected to spend the entirety of Lupin season 4 attempting to outwit Pellegrini, who has had ample time to plan his revenge while in prison. Pellegrini's reappearance suggests that Assane is being manipulated, indicating that things are not as they seem. This revelation forces Assane to reevaluate his strategies and seek revenge against Pellegrini once again for disrupting his life and exploiting one of his parents. With all the elements in position, the conclusion of Lupin season 3 sets the stage for a full-circle resolution to Assane's story in season 4.