Hoodwinking the Republique: LUPIN and the Illusion of French Universalism

A close examination of the new Netflix series LUPIN reveals that, behind this fast moving, action packed, and entertaining mystery is a larger sociocultural commentary on the current state of race relations in France, and on how the state's colorblindness and social cohesion are but an illusion. Through a series of encounters with systemic racism, the protagonist demonstrates his ability to navigate within the limits of an inescapable universalist model, wielding the invisibilization of migrant and descendent communities to his advantage. Via almost magical sleight of hand, artful disguise, and cunning elusion of the authorities, he exposes the French Republic's blind spots and invites a more careful consideration of the deeper social tensions beyond his "Now you see me, now you don't" maneuvers.