"A Wedding Ring is an Accursed Trap" note Also released in English as "The Wedding Ring is a Cursed Trap". Original air date of October 29, 1979.
A wedding ceremony is taking place... but, wait! The groom is Lupin? The bride is Fujiko? The minister is Zenigata?
Oh wait, Fujiko is just having a dream. A very vivid one; while-half awake, she can't find the massive engagement ring Lupin gave her, containing none other than the Hope Diamond. Eventually, she comes to her senses, but an idea has entered her head. Lupin is delighted when Fujiko tells him she wants to settle down, but is slightly dismayed when she takes him to the Smithsonian to show him the engagement ring she wants. He wonders why the diamond's case is dusty and there is no security around, but if Fujiko wants the Hope Diamond, it will be hers!
Jigen and Goemon are far less thrilled for Lupin, figuring that Fujiko is up to something as always. They warn their friend of the diamond's notorious history and add that a legend tells it is demon possessed. Lupin is intrigued by the curse, and only becomes more determined to take it. That night, he breaks into the room where the diamond rests and is confronted with obstacle after obstacle, thrown out by the demon of the diamond. After struggling time and again, he manages to blow up the case and make off with his treasure in his treasured Mercedes. All four tires promptly flatten, the engine explodes, and the car bursts into flame. An attempt to get away by horse and buggy also ends in flames and a night hanging off a cliff for the master thief until Jigen and Goemon find him to help him up. Lupin crows over his success, but Goemon warns him trouble is afoot; Zantetsuken's blade is now shadowed, indicating danger is imminent.
The wedding proceeds anyway, with an actual minister instead of Zenigata. However, when Lupin lifts Fujiko's veil, he is greeted with a horrific sight; she has aged into an ancient old crone! Lupin flees, horrified at what he has done to Fujiko, and Jigen and Goemon go after him. Fujiko simply chuckles and pulls off her mask so she can gloat over her new prize.
As Lupin moans over Fujiko, Zenigata appears to confront his old foe about stealing the Hope Diamond. The gang flees as usual, but Zenigata, thanks to the diamond's demon, becomes a much better shot and a real threat to them, managing to graze both Lupin and Jigen! The two "wounded" ride on Goemon piggyback to get away. Fujiko, meanwhile, is having her own issues. A would-be thief takes the diamond, but is promptly struck down by the demon, enabling her to get it back. A mischievous crow likewise causes her problems, ending up with her down a sewer and covered in muck. Said crow also ends up taking Zenigata's bullet for Lupin and his gang. The guys steal a car and run, while the mucky Fujiko tracks down the crow's trail and takes the diamond back.
Going into a bathroom to clean herself up, Fujiko takes a look in the mirror and is horrified to see her reflection has become exactly the same as the mask she used to fool Lupin earlier. Realizing that she can't escape the curse, she flings the ring out of the bathroom window; this ends up causing a massive traffic pile-up that happens to involve Lupin and his gang's stolen vehicle. Fujiko turns away from watching the carnage she has caused, only to find the ring placed back on the sink. Screaming, she runs as the demon of the diamond giggles.
The next morning, Fujiko awakens in her apartment, finally relieved to be rid of the Hope Diamond and its curse. Needless to say, she is aghast when she realizes the floor of her bedroom has been totally covered in diamonds. Attempts to flee leave her buried in piles of them. Luckily, Lupin is in a helicopter nearby; in spite of all she put him through, he leaps to her rescue. Goemon dryly observes that the real curse is Lupin's hopeless devotion to Fujiko.
This episode features examples of:
- All Just a Dream: The opening wedding ceremony.
- Almost Kiss: Fujiko tries to kiss the groom. Then she falls out of bed.
- Artistic License: The Hope Diamond was kept in a glass-fronted safe until 1997, not a regular glass display case with no security devices around it. Especially not one with Spikes of Doom around the edge. But then again, the real Hope Diamond probably isn't possessed by a demon spirit.
- Bad Luck Charm: The queen mother of them all, the Hope Diamond. Complete with an adorable little demon of doom!
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Fujiko wants a diamond. She ends up with so many she's buried in them and can't move.
- Clingy MacGuffin: The Hope Diamond reappears, even after Fujiko throws it out the window.
- Close-Call Haircut: Jigen receives a new parting via bullet from Zenigata.
- Chronically Crashed Car: Lupin's Mercedes, thanks to help from the demon.
- Engagement Challenge: If Lupin wants to marry Fujiko, he has to give her one hell of an engagement ring.
- Engrish: The "Smithonian" Museum.
- Freeze-Frame Bonus: The silhouettes of Jigen and Goemon are visible in the background of Fujiko's dream.
- Gonk: Fujiko, after the curse hits her. Subverted at first as it's a mask, and then played with when her reflection in the mirror will only show her with that face.
- Holy Burns Evil: Averted. The demon casually kisses Lupin's cross, causing it to melt.
- Impact Silhouette: Left by Lupin when he runs from the church.
- Rule of Funny: It's never explained exactly where all those gems came from at the end, but it's worth it to see Fujiko terrified of diamonds for a change.
- Sealed Evil in a Can: Until Lupin steals the Hope Diamond from the Smithsonian.
- Spider-Sense: Zantetsuken acquires its shadow of misfortune when exposed to the Hope Diamond.
- What Have I Become?: Causes Fujiko to finally realize how serious the curse of the diamond is.
