It was a great episode, with the perfect blend of humour, action, and great characterization. I thought the voices were pretty good in this one (except for Fujiko). I thought the Lupin, Jigen and Zenigata voices were good, and given time they could probably grow on me, although I don't think they had as much of a unique flavour as the Geneon ones. I thought that Bob Bergen's Lupin was as good as Tony Oliver's, at least for this episode. My problem with Streamline's voices was that since Aloha Lupin was my first exposure to the Streamline cast, I didn't know what the characters were normally supposed to sound like, and so I wasn't sure when it was supposed to be the real Lupin and Zenigata in that episode, and when it was a fake (or in Zenigata's case, Lupin himself). Being familiar with the Streamline cast would've helped a lot, although I did eventually figure it out. I really didn't like that episode much either, just as you said. It didn't feel very 'final', and overall it just wasn't a very satisfying episode to me. It felt pretty short, too, while Albatross felt longer than a normal episode (in a good way). I'd probably give AWOD a 9/10 and Aloha Lupin a 3/10 (might have been one or two points higher if it wasn't supposed to be this big wonderful final send-off for the series).
Streamline cast was good, but glad that you like Tony Oliver too! ^__^ I agree with you, that it didn't feel like a final episode. Oo Or at least, it ended on a low. I preferred the ending to the 3rd series, the one with the Ivanov.
Tutankhamen's 3000-year curse/Cursed Case Scenario (subtitled version) - Maybe it's just the Lupin-shipping fangrrl in me, but seeing Lupin visibly suffering from the curse, even with the way-simple art of this early episode of the 2nd series, really creeps me out.
Honestly, it that episode was very well done. I thought that part when he puts on the head and starts laughing and starts laghing maniacal was very creepy. I guess because I could see myself sticking my head into something stupid and acting stupid and then going crazy...
CREEPY!
The most jarring part of that episode was when the mask is taken off and then you see zombie-esque shadows under Lupin's eyes. Then they add the extra monologue during the halfway point of the episode and it's really disturbing to watch it at night. oO
The last episode I watched was Morocco Horror Picture Show. (Pioneer Disc 6) It really highlights Lupin and Zenigata's special bond, underneath all the threats and insults. When it comes down to life or death, and even when it doesn't come to life or death (The Yam is Mighter than the Sword: Lupin locks Zenigata in the cell but leaves the keys within view, and Tokyo Crisis, where Lupin throws Zenigata a wire so that he can escape from jail) they save each other's skin. The most touching moment in the episode is where Lupin comes back on the train car to save Zenigata from the revolutionaries. I also love the scene when Lupin is imagining himself on the guillotine, bringing up the rare moments when Lupin becomes aware of his own mortality, as resourceful and invincible he comes off to be. Then he feigns that he wants to die in order to avoid it. Choosing his battles, he deceives, dissimulates, then runs like hell, and thus lives another day.
Here's some memorable lines from this episode---I love the anachronisms, though in this particular episode there weren't many.
Lupin: "I've never felt so helpless since the last time I went to Disneyland."
Villager: "They are of the highest quality."
Zenigata: "Well, so are MINE!"
Zenigata: "They'll have water!"
Lupin: "And girls and stuff!"
Lupin, after he and Zenigata evade the villager: "I want a divorce.."
Leader of revolutionaries/foreign legion: "The revolution is a serpent with many heads. Sooner or later it bites you in the ass."
Leader of revolutionaries/foreign legion, meeting Lupin and Zenigata in disguise: "What would I have to pay for her?"
Lupin: "Trust me, ya don't want her."
Leader: "Why not?"
Lupin: "Oh, it's just...that I love her so much!!"
And then Jake Martin makes the most hilarious girly sounds. The Pioneer/Geneon dub cast is top-notch. ^__^