Recap: Avataro Sentai Donbrothers, Episode 20 – High Nose Elegy

Jirou is moaning as he swipes through photos of his dear Rumi-chan whom he misses so much. Coincidentally, she suddenly calls him saying that she is planning on coming to Tokyo to visit him.

Next day, Jirou has a favor to ask of his Donbros. He tells them how he and Rumi have been in an on again-off again relationship since they were kids. Jirou has apparently left to be a hero a few times before. So in order to impress Rumi and let everyone back home know that he’s achieved his dream to become a superhero, he asks if he can lead the Donbros for a while.

Tarou thinks is a very interesting teaching moment opportunity for all of them. So since he cannot lie, he will step down as leader of the Donbros and relinquish the duties to Jirou.

Haruka says this is absurd and asks why Tarou can’t just wait until Rumi arrives. Tarou says a thrown-together dynamic will be more suspicious, so they must start working together as soon as possible.

Jirou excitedly announces that they will be known as the Dragonfires from now on. He has them come out in the rain to begin training. Though Tarou didn’t seem particularly interested, Jirou wants them all to be in top shape. They start jogging up the stairs.

In another part of the park, Tsubasa comes across the gazebo he and Natsumi used to spend time at. He remembers a moment when Natsumi asked him what he would like to be reincarnated as next. Tsubasa answered that he would like to be himself so that he could meet her again.

Tsubasa then asked Natsumi who replied that she wasn’t going to die. Instead, she’ll live on forever by his side.

Tsubasa does not understand why he has still not been able to see her even when he kept the secret for a year. As he turns to leave, he sees the Dragonfires making their way up the hill.

Tsuyoshi notices him and waves hello. Tsubasa points out that it’s raining, but Tsuyoshi invites him to join them. Shinichi remarks that this would be too much for an amateur like Tsubasa.

Tsubasa scoffs at being belittled like this considering he’s a Donbro warrior (unbeknownst to them yet of course). So Tsubasa joins in the training. Unfortunately, he realizes he actually is out of shape so he pretends a cop has arrived to chase him away.

During a stretch break, Haruka and Shinichi talk about worrying if and when abunaiJirou might pop up again.

Just then, Jirou gets an emergency call and it’s time for the Dragonfires to leap into action. They hurry over to the scene of a truck driver having a heart attack. Shinichi and Tsuyoshi try to get in front of the truck to stop it, but they instead get hit by the truck and hurled into the sky. Jirou pushes Haruka to try and stop the truck which manages to stop. Though Haruka doesn’t think she really did anything.

Jirou checks on the driver and introduces him and his team as the humble Dragonfires.

Master Kaito watches from a rooftop.

Back at Donburi, Jirou announces that they will be performing rescues as well as fighting enemies. All this in order to have the public get to know the Dragonfires better and eventually make them famous. When Tsuyoshi points out that superheroes tend to hide their identities and protect the people in secret, Jirou says that’s old-fashioned thinking. Haruka agrees and thinks about how this can help her retirement plan. Shinichi isn’t interested in fame or fortune, but doesn’t mind trying something different from Tarou’s ways.

A concerned Master Kaito watches them from the bar.

As a Hitotsuki seeking powerful opponents emerges downtown, the Dragonfires hurry over to the scene of a fire. Shinichi, however, collapses as he tries to save a factory worker after inhaling too much smoke. He awakens to find himself and the worker outside on the street, unsure how he got here.

Master Kaito watches them at every scene as the Dragonfires gain more notoriety and popularity with every emergency rescue.

On the other side of town, Sonoi informs Sononi about Murasame having escaped. She does not understand since Murasame is an AI and wonders if it has gained sentience. Sonoi does not know the answer, but believes it is related to the arrival of the Juto.

Nearby, Sonoza excitedly reads through each volume of Hatsukoi Hero. Suddenly, a mysterious woman invites the Noto to star in the movie Shin Hatsukoi Hero.

Over at Donburi, Jirou congratulates his comrades and announces that upon launch of the new Dragonfire website, they’ve gotten a flood of requests for coverage, autographs and even photobooks. They are all excited, but Master Kaito warns that they must not get carried away.

Kaito points out that the more they stick their noses in the air, that inflated ego could prove to be their weakness. His words, however, fall on deaf ears.

Meanwhile, Tarou faces off against the Hitotsuki. Master Kaito joins in as Zenkaizer and they are able to drive the Hitotsuki away.

After dehenshining, Tarou asks Kaito who he actually is. Kaito says he was born to be a hero, he fights as a hero and will always be a hero. Tarou remarks that it sounds like a lot of work.

Anyway, Tarou asks what his otomotachi are up to now. Kaito says they are learning about life, as Tarou had suggested.

The Dragonfires are at a fancy hotel, preparing to accept the Minister’s Honor Award. They are all dressed up, excited to be praised and celebrated in this way. Their DonBlasters and Ryukonogeki pop in, requesting their presence. But all four of them reject the Change.

Master Kaito walks into the room and says it is just as he had warned them. Their noses, which have actually grown long, really did reach into the sky. Kaito clues them in to the fact that it was Tarou who was helping them this entire time. That includes stopping the truck and saving Shinichi from the fire and pretty much every other instance of Dragonfire heroics.

Kaito tells them that Tarou is right now fighting a Hitotsuki on his own. Their long noses fall off and Haruka, Shinichi and Tsuyoshi hurry out to help their Tarou.

Jirou, however, falls to his knees as darkness falls and abunaiJirou emerges. He screams.

The Donbros, including Tsubasa, arrive at the scene and join Tarou in battling the Hitotsuki. Mother, however, sends Don Murasame in as well to fight. Sonoi pops in to take Murasame on himself. Sonoi recognizes that the Council has created a strong weapon in Murasame. But Sononi pops in to call Sonoi back to the movie set.

abunaiJirou arrives on a rooftop, upset that Tarou has gotten in the way once again. A new Gear appears in Jirou’s hand and he henshins to Don Torabolt. He jumps down to challenge Tarou who says now is not the time. Jirou turns his attention then to the Hitotsuki so Tarou can make time.

abunaiJirou rages at the Hitotsuki and finishes it off by himself. He turns his attention to Tarou, but the Hitotsuki embiggens and the Donbros hop into Don Onitaijin to take care of it.

Back in the countryside, Rumi decides it was too much work to even start planning a trip to Tokyo.

Kaito, meanwhile, accepts the Minister’s Honor Award as the commander of the Dragonfires. With his own long nose, Kaito repeats that he was born to be a hero, he fights as a hero and he will always be a hero.

Haruka is at a bookstore and is shocked to see Kaito’s photobook now on sale.

Episode Thoughts

Another week, another great episode. It was a refreshing way to sneak in the lesson of the week while still being fun and a little random and wacky. But also mixing in some good, though-mini plot development. And then the shoehorned movie set-up too lol

When the Dragonfires were starting their training, I was a little sad that Tsubasa was going to be left out once again. But I definitely loved the way they slipped him in, even if just for a moment. It was a clever way to do it and a fun moment character moment for him as well.

Aside from the lesson of the week about keeping your ego in check, this episode was a great way to provide another example of abunaiJirou’s truly scary nature. The scene in the waiting room when you literally watch Jirou go to the dark side was frightening! And I loved it! It’s a very interesting twist to the character and adds a great dynamic to the story.

I will admit, I thought it was Kaito helping out the Dragonfires. So it was a nice twist to have it actually be Tarou. Now in other seasons, all this Red-worship might get annoying. But considering what this season is inspired by and who Tarou is inspired by, it makes sense. And unlike other seasons, the rest of the team is not sidelined or diminished by the Red-focus here. All the Donbros have gotten good character development and depth so far. And they are as much a factor in Tarou’s own character development and depth as he is himself. And vice versa of course.

I do enjoy the continuing mystery with Kaito though. I think having Zenkaiger in the back of your mind adds another dimension to it. But even without last season to draw your perceptions about him from, there’s still a very mysterious and almost shadowy aspect to this version of Kaito that definitely keeps things interesting.

I now realize this is the first episode where every single one of our main cast was present, yes? All the Donbros, Kaito and the Noto3. Even NatsuMiho. But actually, no Papa Jin though. Almost!

Anyway, it was another fun and very enjoyable episode of Donbrothers. Such a great treat to have every week.

Non-CGI Donbro of the Week

None. 😢