Recap: Avataro Sentai Donbrothers, Episode 6 – King Pheasant for a Day

Tsuyoshi and Miho are all dressed up as they head to a party where she will receive a special award. But as soon as they get to the hotel, Tsuyoshi apologizes and says he cannot join her as he remembers he has work to do. Miho understands, but wishes he could’ve been there for her. Tsuyoshi wishes her luck and she goes inside.

Actually, Tsuyoshi feels it would be embarrassing for such a great woman like Miho to be seen with someone like him. He walks to the café, telling himself that he is just not good enough for her and that she will leave him someday. Tsuyoshi feels like a failure both at work and as a warrior and thinks that if he were more like Tarou, he could be someone Miho is proud of.

Tsuyoshi says he wishes he were a more competent guy out loud and Master Kaito hears it as he serves Tsuyoshi his Americano. Master Kaito says Tsuyoshi can do that if he uses his points. Tsuyoshi says if magic points like that existed, he’d have redeemed by now. Master Kaito tells him to go right on ahead.

Next morning at the café, Haruka and Shinichi ask Tarou all the questions they have about what in the world is going on with regards to who they are fighting and why, who Tarou is and what will even happen to them. Tarou says he doesn’t know all the answers, but just knows what needs to be done. He expects everything to fall into place.

Shinichi says that is a very philosophical answer, but points out that he and Haruka are just normal people unlike Tarou. He adds that Tarou needs to learn how to understand people better.

Just then, Papa Jin summons Haruka and Shinichi to the virtual prison and tells them Tarou does not have the answers because he is the answer. They all just have to learn from him, but perhaps the time is not right yet.

Papa Jin then explains that their enemy are called the Noto who come from a higher plane of existence. People who are possessed with intense desires turn into Hitotsuki and the Noto are tasked with eliminating them. The Noto’s world is partly formed by the emanations of the human brain and any disruption to those emanations can make that world unstable. The thing that disrupts the human brain the most is desire. That is why the Noto rejects all human desire.

Neither Haruka nor Shinichi believe that is right and may agree with the Donbro’s cause. But Shinichi asks what if he does not want to be a warrior. Papa Jin says they can leave the Donbros or be granted any wish they might have as long as they have accumulated enough points. Using those points poorly, however, could potentially lead to misfortune.

They ask more about the points, but Papa Jin says the administrator will explain all of that later.

Meanwhile, the Noto3 are in their virtual art gallery. Sonoi pulls up a couple of new paintings as Sononi asks if they have more info on the Donbros yet. She is particularly interested in the red one.

Sonoi says he’s already spoken to the elders about it, but has not heard back yet.

As they admire the paintings, Sonoza says he is interested in learning about why humans smile while Sononi wonders about why men and women fall in love. Sonoi says it is because humans are primitive and express their imperfection and struggles through art.

Over at the office, Tsuyoshi is congratulated when his proposal is accepted and even called the best of the year. Later, he quickly helps a frustrated coworker finish the graphs on her report with a couple of quick easy taps on the keyboard. When he goes out to do some sales, he henshins to save a van driver from a terrible accident. Tsuyoshi wonders if these good vibes he’s been having lately is from those points the café owner told him about.

Later that night, Tsuyoshi excitedly tells Miho about being promoted to department chief. He feels a bit more confident in his skills lately. Miho says she’ll make him dinner tomorrow to celebrate, but Tsuyoshi says they should go out for a fancy French dinner. Miho says she gets nervous at fancy places, but Tsuyoshi says he’ll be there with her the entire time.

Next day, Chief Tsuyoshi asks to speak with Tarou in his new chauffeured vehicle. Tsuyoshi wants to recruit Tarou to join his new team and believes he’ll be a great asset. Tsuyoshi says Tarou is just wasting his talents at this dead-end delivery job. Tarou disagrees. He believes delivering packages and happiness is a job he should be doing.

Tsuyoshi laughs at Tarou and says perhaps he was wrong about his skills after all. Tsuyoshi kicks Tarou out of his car.

Tarou asks Tsuyoshi if he’s feeling okay as he appears weaker than before. Tsuyoshi says that is absurd and he is actually feeling quite the opposite. He’s never been better.

Sononi has a cup of coffee at a nice café and is approached by a man who is attracted to her and wants to get to know her better. She asks if this is what love is and he assures her that he is sincere. But Sononi replies that this is boring and blows him. A strange virtual door pops up on his forehead and she says it will open soon enough.

Sonoza, meanwhile, approaches a pair of nurses who are laughing and asks them to teach him their ways. The nurses think he is a wacko as he cackles. He blows them and they too get doors on their forehead. Only the door on Nurse Kirita opens and Sonoza is pleasantly surprised to see what’s inside.

Haruka is working her evening shift at the café, but all that’s on her mind is the points thing. Master Kaito watches her as if he can hear her thoughts.

On the other side of town, Tsuyoshi and Miho are about to enjoy their fancy dinner. Miho asks if Tsuyoshi really needed to rent out the entire restaurant, but he continues to be increasingly arrogant and cocky. After he scolds the waiter, Miho points out that he’s been acting differently lately.

Tsuyoshi says he’s just becoming the kind of man she deserves. Before Miho can say what she thinks, she collapses. Tsuyoshi rushes her to the hospital and Nurse Kirita tells him they are still awaiting the results of the tests.

Nurse Kirita is a bit clumsy, but she is determined to save as many patients as she can. Next morning, Nurse Kirita’s Hitotsuki takes over her body and she begins to rampage, looking for more patients to save. She believes everyone should be hospitalized so she can treat them.

Tsuyoshi approaches Tarou and challenges him. He believes that beating Tarou will mean that he will be a more competent man that Miho deserves and thus, she won’t have to faint ever again.

Tarou says they can duel in anything Tsuyoshi wants. Tsuyoshi says he was never good at anything and Tarou says he was good at everything. So neither really have a specialty. Tarou says they are alike in that sense.

Tsuyoshi goes through the possible challenges they could do. But whether it’s sumo wrestling, arm wresting or thumb wrestling, he is sure Tarou would win.

Suddenly, the Hitotsuki comes running into the temple courtyard. Tarou henshins and Tsuyoshi is shocked to learn of his identity. Tsuyoshi also henshins. He says their challenge will be to see who can defeat more monsters.

The other Donbros arrive, but so does Sonoza who wants Tarou to teach him how to laugh. Sonoza goes into his Noto form and they battle.

Tsuyoshi uses his Patranger Gear to uphenshin, but gets overpowered by the Hitotsuki. He calls for help and Tarou leaps over to kick the Hitotsuki down. That gives them enough time to prepare the platform and Tarou delivers a Momotarozan to finish the Hitotsuki off for good

Tarou picks up the purified Zyuohger Gear. But Sonoza is still around. Tarou uses the Gear to althenshin into Don Zyuoh Momotaro and then Zyuoh Alter. With the Zyuohger powers, Tarou is able to drive Sonoza away while laughing.

At the hospital, Miho is awake and says she must have been overworked. She apologizes for worrying Tsuyoshi. But Tsuyoshi apologizes and says he actually gave up the chief position. Miho is happy and relieved and says she actually prefers seeing him imperfect rather than acting like a big shot.

Tarou watches from the hallway and says Tsuyoshi has won this face-off. Tarou admits he could never make a woman smile like this.

At the café, Master Kaito is checking on the Kibi Point totals on his laptop. Tsuyoshi’s points have decreased, but Kaito believes his happiness is now resolved.

Episode Thoughts

An interesting episode this week. After meeting the five Donbros, this episode essentially laid all the basic facts of the plot in a plain way I guess to just get everyone on the same page.

With Papa Jin’s expository visit with Haruka and Shinichi, it is what it is. We got it out of the way. Though of course, we’d prefer less telling and more showing.

This episode was certainly not as impactful as last week’s. And maybe, this episode is even the weakest so far. If only because of all the exposition from Papa Jin and the Noto3 themselves having to battle for screentime with Tsuyoshi’s story.

I feel like the plot with Tsuyoshi’s ego was kind of halfhearted. Like, they kind of sped through it even though I guess it was merely a way to illustrate the idea of human desire (and greed?). Probably to contrast with the nurse’s desire that was then exploited by the Noto to release the Hitotsuki from their forehead door.

Huh?

lol Yeah, I dunno. Just go with it for now I guess.

We know Tsuyoshi is a bit insecure and feels lost as a salaryman. But the most I got from Tsuyoshi’s story is that Miho looks to be sincere. Of course, she could just be playing us and Tsuyoshi still. But I will assume there’s also still some mystery with their relationship as well. Especially with the Tsubasa connection, if there is one. At the same time, Kaito talked about Tsuyoshi’s happiness being settled at the end, so I don’t know.

(Speaking of, Tsubasa not appearing unhenshined this episode at all. Certainly convenient that he’s a fugitive. Lol But I will assume it’s budget concerns too.)

Not everything was exposition of course. Master Kaito is keeping track of some strange points system. But it looks like only four of the Donbros are racking up the Kibi Points. So there’s another mystery to look out for.

Also, Toei seems to love making lots of TTFC content now. So I expect a Donbro-Kiramager crossover with Sonoza and Yodonna teaching each other how to laugh and then going around the city cackling at people. I’d watch it.

In general, the idea of human desire leading to monstrous behavior is a good one. I guess what’s interesting is that the Hitotsuki who emerge from humans is one foe while the Noto3 are also a separate antagonist as well. Just more questions left to be answered as we continue on with the Donbros.

Overall, an okay episode. I wasn’t as excited about it as I have been, especially after last week. But again, the season continues to move along at a nice pace.

Non-CGI Donbro of the Week

See that wonderful pink suit?