Duke Togo goes to London.
This is the best episode of the show so far. We have the exotic location. We have some real world politics (the Alexander Litvinenko poisoning is referenced). And we have Golgo’s skills used for something other than killing a man.
Moreso than the other episodes so far, this story isn’t Golgo’s, it’s the story of virtuoso violinist Thomas Simpson, who during an encore with the London Symphony Orchestra has a crisis of confidence. And so he does what any man would do to get over this, hire Golgo 13 to restore his reputation by means of an impossible gun shot.
The key scene is the one with Simpson and Golgo in the London Eye, where Simpson mistakenly compares himself to Golgo, saying they are both professionals, when in fact the very act of hiring Golgo to carry out his plan shows him to be unprofessional. Another great touch is how Simpson’s face becomes distorted with hate and desperation as the episode progresses, turning him from the relaxed musician we see before the credits to the contorted gargoyle we see waiting in a concert hall for Golgo to make the shot.
Also: Dave, Golgo’s gunsmith appears to be everywhere. Or Golgo knows a lot of gunsmiths who all look alike. Anyway I like the plot convenience of the character being in any country Golgo needs him.