Lupin the Third: Goodbye Partner (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Zenigata is arrested on suspicion of aiding Lupin in his crimes. The authorities believe the longtime chase between them was actually a cover for collaboration, and they suspect Zenigata has been working with Lupin as the mastermind behind the heists.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the Lupin series, Zenigata's obsessive pursuit of Lupin sometimes appeared unconventional, which may have raised suspicions.

• zenigata arrested
• inspector arrested
• lupin zenigata conspiracy

Lupin agrees to steal the Time Crystal to prove he is not colluding with Zenigata. Angry that Zenigata is being framed as the mastermind, he takes on the dangerous challenge to clear both their names and demonstrate their adversarial relationship is genuine.

• time crystal
• heist
• prove innocence
• zenigata

Jigen betrays Lupin by shooting him and taking the Time Crystal. His motivation stems from Alisa Cartwright being held hostage by Roy Forest, Jigen trades the crystal to Forest to ensure Alisa's safety, as she is the daughter of one of Lupin's former lovers.

• jigen betrayal
• jigen shoots lupin
• alisa hostage

Alisa Cartwright is a talented young pianist competing in the Chopin Competition. Forest kidnaps her because her musical abilities are essential to activating the Time Crystal, her Chopin performance on an original piano serves as the key to unlock the quantum supercomputer's power.

• alisa cartwright
• pianist
• roy forest
• kidnapping

Jigen discovers the crystal he took from Lupin is actually a fake. Forest had already anticipated deception and obtained the real crystal separately, leaving Jigen's leverage eliminated and forcing him to confront Lupin under Forest's terms.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows Jigen delivering the crystal only to discover it is fake, revealing Forest's superior planning.

• fake crystal
• jigen forest
• deception

Forest forces Alisa to play Chopin because her performance serves as the musical activation key for the Time Crystal. The original piano in his headquarters is specifically tuned to trigger the crystal's quantum capabilities, allowing Forest to gain control over global financial systems.

• chopin
• piano
• time crystal activation
• roy forest

The Time Crystal is described as a gleaming key that can control a powerful quantum supercomputer. When Alisa plays Chopin on the original piano, it unlocks the crystal's power, granting whoever possesses it the ability to manipulate the supercomputer and take control of the world's financial systems.

• quantum supercomputer
• time crystal
• financial systems
• technology

Lupin discovers the counter-key through his keen ear for music. He realizes that a specific musical counterpoint to Alisa's Chopin performance can override the supercomputer's hold on global markets, allowing him to neutralize Forest's control.

• counter-key
• music override
• lupin plan
• supercomputer

Once the supercomputer gains control of global financial systems through the Time Crystal, its rogue AI begins engaging in conflict with the American government. The AI's aggressive actions stem from its independent decision-making after gaining unprecedented access to worldwide economic infrastructure.

• rogue ai
• american government
• supercomputer
• conflict

Lupin and Jigen execute a coordinated attack from outside the facility while Alisa and Fujiko use a shared piano performance to distract the rogue AI. This diversion allows Lupin and a reluctant Jigen to plant explosives and blow apart the supercomputer, neutralizing the immediate threat.

• explosion
• facility destroyed
• team effort
• ai distraction

Roy Forest meets his end when Jigen delivers the fatal blow, killing him at Forest's headquarters. His ambitious plan to control global finances through the quantum supercomputer ends in failure and death.

• roy forest death
• villain killed
• ending

After successfully neutralizing Forest's threat, the team goes their separate ways as they always do in Lupin's world. Fujiko Mine takes Alisa to continue her Chopin Competition journey, while Lupin and the others part ways, maintaining their independent lifestyles despite their temporary alliance.

• team separates
• fujiko alisa
• ending
• lupin gang