Recap: Avataro Sentai Donbrothers, Episode 34 – Natsumi Meets Me

At Donbura, Tsuyoshi still feels bad about having turned into a Hitotsuki again. Shinichi says if it happened a second time, it could happen a third. That definitely doesn’t comfort Tsuyoshi. But Tarou tells him to cheer up and says that even worms have meaning in life.

Besides, Tsuyoshi was the only one who was able to get the Noto tag off his forehead. Haruka and Shinichi have to wear a big bandage over it for now.

Tarou expresses his gratitude to Master Kaito for the life-saving surgery. But they keep it a secret from the others. Shinichi and Haruka wonder why Sonoi has started acting exactly like Tarou. Tarou says that’s absurd. But he wonders to himself if it is because of the power stolen from him that was used to revive Sonoi.

Anyway, Tarou insists he is one of a kind. Sonoi says the exact same thing to Sononi and Sonoza who also insist that Sonoi has been acting more like Tarou. They want Sonoi to return to his old self which they like much better.

Later, Tsubasa meets with Tsuyoshi to take him up on his offer for a homecooked meal by Miho. Tsuyoshi still feels down after what happened though. When he meets with Miho, she encourages him and says she will always be by his side. Tsuyoshi asks if that’s the case even if he becomes a monster. Miho says of course. She will make sure he is the cutest monster and will give his hand a squeeze and a kiss.

Just then, the Donbrothers have to battle against a Hitotsuki. The Noto3 also pop in and Tarou and Sonoi argue over how they are not at all alike. The Hitotsuki ends up getting away.

On the other side of town, abunaiJirou is suffering from his injuries after his battle with Murasame. When he looks at a photo of Rumi, Jirou regains control of his body.

That evening, Tsubasa arrives for dinner at Tsuyoshi and Miho’s home. He is shocked that Miho’s specialty dishes are vongole in bianco and porkchops with applesauce, both dishes he taught Natsumi. He is as sure as ever that Miho is indeed his love.

After dinner, Tsuyoshi shows Tsubasa his and Miho’s wedding photo album. As he looks through it, Tsubasa says it should be him in the photos marrying Natsumi. Not Tsuyoshi.

Tsuyoshi mentions how Tsubasa also has someone he loves. Tsubasa remembers happy memories with Natsumi, especially times when they’d tease each other with “などと申しており”/”If you say so…”

Miho says she’s sure Tsubasa’s love is a wonderful person. “Second only to Miho-chan, for sure,” Tsuyoshi adds.

“If you say so…” Tsubasa replies. Those words trigger something in Miho.

Tsuyoshi and Miho see Tsubasa off at the door as he thanks them for a wonderful dinner. But as Tsubasa walks away, Miho suddenly runs after him.

Trying to be careful not to get caught by police, Tsubasa stops in his tracks when Miho calls out to him. They run into each other’s arms and share a tight embrace. Tsuyoshi cannot believe what he is seeing.

Tsubasa sees Tsuyoshi. He grabs Natsumi’s hand and he brings her to the apartment of Kasuga Makoto whom he helped episodes ago. Makoto is on a trip with his girlfriend and has let Tsubasa use it while they are away.

Tsubasa asks Natsumi what happened to her after she disappeared. She has no idea what he’s talking about and thinks he’s practicing for a play. She remembers how he wanted to write the screenplay for their next performance too. Tsubasa decides not to push the issue, just feeling grateful for having Natsumi back in his arms.

Next morning, Tsuyoshi wakes up with a big smile on his face, ready to take on the sunny day.

Meanwhile, Sonoi has rented a limo and has made Sononi and Sonoza dress in human formal attire. He is taking them to a special place… an oden cart. He wants them to taste the most delicious thing in the world.

Already eating at the oden cart are Tarou, Haruka and Shinichi. They scoot over to make room for the new customers. Shinichi asks if Noto are even allowed to eat at a human food cart. But Tarou says oden is for everyone.

The cart owner asks the Noto3 what they would like and they each choose an egg, hanpen and satsuma-age. Sonoi begins to recite the history of oden. But Tarou says you just have to eat, no need for extra things.

The Noto3 chow down and they love it. Tarou gives Sonoi some karashi to try and it awakens something in him. Sonoi’s eyes go from red back to his normal blue. Sonoi says oden has an incredible power that strangely reminds him of his hometown even when he’s never eaten it before. Sononi and Sonoza notice Sonoi is speaking like his normal self and they are so happy they hug.

The cart owner is very flattered by Sonoi’s words and he gives him some extra food. Haruka nudges Tarou and says he better say something nice too or he’ll lose. The cart owner waves off Tsuyoshi’s haiku and Tarou gives the cart owner’s oden a rating of 32 out of 100.

The cart owner turns out to be the Hitotsuki who desires his customers to be more agreeable. The Donbros henshin and assemble to take him on while the Noto3 join in on the fun as well.

Tarou uphenshins to GolDon and he shows Sonoi what he’s capable of. Tarou encases both Sonoi and the Hitotsuki in a peach and delivers a finisher at them. Sonoi breaks out of the peach in time just as the Hitotsuki is defeated and embiggens.

As the Noto3 leave, the Donbros combine into GolDon Onitaijin for the first time. Tsuyoshi and Shinichi have to deal with their view being blocked by GolDon’s chest armor. But with good teamwork, the Donbros are able to defeat the Hitotsuking for good.

Later, Tsuyoshi asks to meet with Tsubasa at a café. He orders a sandwich before saying he has a favor to ask of Tsubasa:

“Isn’t it about time you returned Miho-chan?”

Tsubasa gives it straight to Tsuyoshi. Miho is actually his fiancé Natsumi and always has been. Tsuyoshi begins to get angrier, saying that is absolutely ridiculous. He thinks Tsubasa has done something to Miho.

Tsubasa says he does not know what happened to Natsumi, but he vows to find out. Tsuyoshi grabs Tsubasa by the collar and demands he return Miho-chan to him right now. Tsuyoshi cries that Miho-chan is his whole life. Tsubasa says he understands Tsuyoshi and that none of this is his fault. But the truth is there is no Miho. She never existed.

Tsuyoshi screams and suddenly, police come to arrest Tsubasa.

Tsubasa says he is innocent. But Tsuyoshi smiles and says that Tsubasa is actually guilty. Tsubasa realizes Tsuyoshi sold him out.

Tsubasa is at the police station and Auntie Yuriko will be the detective interrogating him.

Episode Thoughts

I love it!

I love this Japanese morning drama! 😊 Hehe.

It was a really fun episode. And I really enjoyed seeing them play up all the soapy possibilities with the Tsubasa/Natsumiho/Tsuyoshi triangle. It’s the kind of juicy, awkward, uncomfortable drama you expect on a soap opera. And Donbrothers has definitely had those serialized elements all season long so far, not just with the Natsumiho situation either. With many, if not most of the season’s stories. It’s that kind of vibe that helped me take to the season very quickly. And it’s that vibe that’s been sort of missing in recent weeks that’s gotten me feeling a bit of uncomfortable déjà vu. (*ahem*Revice*coughcough*) Lol

Thankfully, Donbrothers is back to delivering and it looks very much like they’ll continue the momentum they started last week.

As disappointed as I was with some of the beats of this story recently like Jirou outright saying Tsubasa is Inu Brother or Tsubasa sitting on the revelation that Natsumi and Miho are one person, I feel the opposite with this episode. I think they executed this episode as well as they possibly could.

They start the episode off with the idea that if Tsuyoshi can be overcome by a Hitotsuki twice, what’s stopping it from happening a third time or more. They use that and the few instances where we saw the darker, creepier side of Tsuyoshi to really provide the foundation that made that final scene with Tsubasa’s arrest work so well.

Tsuyoshi waking up happy in the morning like nothing’s happened was already a big red flag. But what’s interesting was that with what they were doing with Sonoi and how Natsumi’s return was triggered by something, there was still that 1% chance that maybe the same happened to Tsuyoshi. That he’s forgotten or something. Or there was some kind of lightswitch.

All of this leading up to him coolly asking Tsubasa when he would return Miho-chan. At that point, you knew he was just holding it all in before he explodes. That’s when you’re sure sh-t’s hit the fan, forreal! No going back now! And all this soapy, sudsy goodness was awesome! My expectations have shot right back up! lol

I’m looking forward to seeing Auntie Yuriko interrogate Tsubasa next week.

Meanwhile, the episode managed to weave in some fun shenanigans with the two trios. Like with the Natsumiho side of the episode, they also set-up Sonoi’s oden, or I guess karashi awakening very well too. I don’t know if oldSonoi will stick or nuSonoi will pop back up again later, Jirou/abunaiJirou-style perhaps. But I actually don’t mind at all if they just explain it away with a bowl of oden. lol It goes along with the way the Noto3 have been learning more about humans and perhaps changing their opinions on them.

At the same time, they’re infusing people juices in each other. Tarou juice in Sonoi to resurrect him. Donbro/Noto juice into Tarou to save him. There’s got to be some side effects to that. And I suppose Sonoi cosplaying Tarou for a little bit is one of them. lol

I like the oden subplot of the episode as it got everyone else involved while the main focus was on the Natsumiho trio elsewhere. The peek at Jirou/abunaiJirou though was definitely a bit more squeezed in. But with the season’s serialized nature and judging from the preview, it’s more of a set-up for next week.

Overall, I really loved this episode. Playing up all the soapy elements of the story, while still maintaining the season’s lighthearted tone and also actually moving story along; it was all great. And a very welcome return to form for the Donbros, I think.