Recap: Avataro Sentai Donbrothers, Episode 47 – DonNo Conference

Donbura has turned into the DonNo Conference Hall for the big Donbros and Noto3 summit. Sonoi stands first to express his gratitude that the Donbros would even consider their proposal for an alliance. Tarou leads the applause for Sonoi’s sincere gesture.

Before they continue, Master Kaito would like to take their orders. Sonoza wants to know who the hell he is first. Sonoi likes that Sonoza has asked the question they’ve all been wondering about as he believes Kaito is no ordinary man. “I am… not your average person,” Kaito replies, much to everyone’s shock.

Anyway, Haruka orders a chocolate parfait, Shinichi gets a green tea, Tsubasa orders a cappuccino, Tsuyoshi wants tokoroten with lots of mustard. Sonoza gets coffee, Sononi gets iced tea and Sonoi has lemon tea. Tarou orders some kibidango.

As they enjoy their treats, Tarou thanks Sonoi for helping to bring Tsuyoshi back. Shinichi points out that this is Tsuyoshi’s third time and Haruka teases him about setting a new record. Tsuyoshi says he doesn’t care if they mock him, all he cares about is finding Miho-chan.

Tarou tells Tsuyoshi to thank Sonoi. But Tsuyoshi says he didn’t ask anyone to save him. He is willing to become a Hitotsuki over and over until his Miho-chan comes back. Tsubasa repeats that Miho is a Juto and both Sononi and Tarou back him up. Tsuyoshi yells at Tarou, saying even he would lie to him. But Shinichi reminds Tsuyoshi that Tarou cannot lie.

The realization that he had married a Juto causes Tsuyoshi to fall to his knees and Haruka, Sononi and Sonoza giggle at his fate.

Tarou asks Sonoi how he was able to get into the Juto Forest. To answer that, Papa Jin suddenly appears.

Meanwhile, the Noto456 are enjoying their new hangout spot, but also wondering what’s the deal with the Noto3 and the Donbros. They laugh at the Noto3’s fall from grace.

The Noto456 head into town to wreak havoc in order to draw the Donbros and Noto3 out. Sonoshi uses his homemade extinguisher to spout off smoke that forces people to collapse and allows Anoni to take them captive. Sonogo, meanwhile, attacks men who don’t immediately call her the most beautiful women evah.

Back at Donbura, Papa Jin explains that since the Juto situation is settled, he can be out and about. As for Sonoi, he had approached Papa Jin about needing to get to the Juto forest for the Ring of Forgiveness. Both acknowledge that what they’re about to do are big crimes for them. But they understand the consequences. Papa Jin says he likes Sonoi.

Papa Jin takes a button out of his pocket and Sonoi falls into the floor and into the forest once pressed.

Sonoi thanks Papa Jin for his help.

When Kaito serves him his pu’er tea, Papa Jin is absolutely floored to see “True Hero” and him actually working in a coffee shop. Kaito says it’s alright, he is very happy with his current job.

Tarou takes his father’s cup and puts several cubes of sugar in it, much to the shock of everyone.

Haruka asks where Jirou is and Tarou says he’s dealing with a lot right now.
Jirou sits alone in Kakamura.

Anyway, Sonoi asks what the Donbrothers think of their proposal. Shinichi acknowledges their sincerity, but feels it’s not too easy to trust them considering they were just fighting each other the other day. Tarou thinks that’s fun. Haruka initially has no opinion, but is a Yes once her editor Sonoza drills into her determination.

Tsuyoshi stands and says he is against them joining. Actually, he is against everything at the moment. He buries his head on the table and cries.

Tarou asks Tsubasa for his vote and Tsubasa says he abstains since he is still new around here.

Papa Jin raises his hand to speak. He points out that the Donbros have an Oni in the team when the Oni is actually the enemy in the tale of Momotaro. Haruka immediately thinks that means she is the Final Boss. But actually, Papa Jin says that perhaps this is a message from the Don Family that it doesn’t matter whether you’re an enemy or ally in order to work together.

Shinichi begs his pardon and says Papa Jin shouldn’t be meddling in their problems. Papa Jin apologizes and bows to Kaito before leaving.

Kaito asks Tsubasa if everything’s been okay since then. The others ask what Kaito means by that and he explains that Tsubasa used his Kibi Points to bring Sononi back to life.

Kaito explains that Sononi had died. But Kaito told Tsubasa about the Kibi Points. And even with the risk of misfortune in using the Points to revive the dead, Tsubasa still cashed them in for Sononi.

Kaito says reviving the dead is a serious thing and Tsubasa shouldn’t take the consequences lightly.

A grateful Sononi is so touched by what Tsubasa did for her. To the shock of the others, she sends Thank You heart balloons to Tsubasa who coldly refuses to receive them by ignoring her. An embarrassed Sononi turns to face the wall saying that she now knows the most painful feeling is being ignored by the one you love.

Tsuyoshi yells that this is no place for their love problems.

Just then, a young woman walks in and asks if they’re open. Kaito welcomes her and she orders a strawberry parfait.

Meanwhile, Shinichi says the Noto3 can be Donbros, but will be their backups for now. The Noto3 are offended by the idea. Sonoza says they are much stronger than the Donbros and wants to prove it through a fight. Shinichi tells them to bring it. But Sonoi stops them.

Haruka suggests a majority vote and Tarou agrees since he’s bored by this episode already. At this first vote, Tarou, Haruka, Sonoi and Sononi vote yes while Shinichi, Sonoza, Tsubasa and Tsuyoshi vote no. They’re deadlocked.

The young woman’s boyfriend walks in, but as soon he sits down, he looks at Haruka and Sononi and thinks they’re pretty hot. Too bad for him, his girlfriend can read his mind. She throws her drink at his face and runs out. He runs after her.

Tsuyoshi yells at them to keep their love problems out of here.

Tarou is really tired and says his vote is worth 100 so they should just end it here and get it over with. But Sonoi does not appreciate Tarou’s attitude.

Suddenly, the Noto456 arrive. Sonoshi wants to know why they didn’t show up to respond to their rampaging in the city. To settle the vote once and for all, the Noto456 add their three votes to make it 7 and the proposal is approved.

Meanwhile, the young couple both become Hitotsukis. The Donblasters appear in front of the Donbros and they, along with the six Notos, head out to the scene.

Tsuyoshi is annoyed by the couple’s love quarrel. He kicks the guy to the ground. But the girl decides to suck Tsuyoshi in.

Tarou is amused and takes on both Hitotsukis. But he too gets sucked in.

Episode Thoughts

Phew! I was afraid at first that this would be a clip show. But no, it was definitely much better that a clip show ever could have been. I loved this episode. No, it won’t be one of my favorites of the season. But I loved the episode as it really was a good example of what Donbrothers has done differently all season.

They really just don’t give a f-. lol And it’s very refreshing. I don’t know, but I remember when Go-Busters was very revolutionary for tweaking the Sentai formula a bit with mecha battles happening alongside ground battles and treating the toy commercial parts of the episode as afterthoughts. (I think a Yasuko Kobayashi skill hehe) But Donbrothers has really thrown a wrench at the typical Sentai episode formula.

There have been times when you saw no action in an episode until 2/3 of the way through. You would have episodes with more talk and less action. For some that might be completely repelling. For me, I have found it quite refreshing. It’s one reason why I’ve taken Donbrothers as a slice of life-type story and appreciated the randomness, almost everyday shenanigans of the season without needing to look for a grander narrative or overarching plot.

This episode really exemplified that feeling very well. Just our main characters, all of whom have fostered so much goodwill all season and endeared themselves to us all year, sitting down and literally just talking. With all the different dynamics between the characters (something that I’ve pointed out before), really laying everything out on the table in this way was a lot of fun. And also kind of tied up some loose ends that honestly could not have been tied up any other way with the time we have left.

Am I annoyed that Tsuyoshi having married a Juto and has some kind of mental issue is just brushed off as a joke? Yes! Am I annoyed that the Natsumi-Tsubasa-Sononi love triangle was reduced to flying heart balloons? Absolutely! Am I annoyed that we don’t need any explanation about Papa Jin or Kaito or whatever’s going on with them? Of course!

And yet, the show cashes in their KibiMangoez Points once again and I end up perfectly fine with all of it. 🙄😂

They’re throwing out crumbs for all the Tsubasa-Sononi fans out there. I wanted more soapy drama with them. And of all the moments this episode, I kind of loved Kaito revealing Tsubasa’s cashing in his points for Sononi the most. The shock on everyone’s faces was hilarious. And it feeds our delusions that Tsubasa actually does have lingering feelings for Sononi. Tsubasa is tsundere for Sononi. I’ll begrudgingly take it. lol

With the whole Donbroto superteam stuff, as much as I enjoyed watching their different interactions all year, I would’ve liked to have seen a few more traditional story beats for them. It’s not the first time a Sentai team ends up working together with former rivals/antagonists. But I think it would’ve been nice to see them come together in more traditional ways alongside the goofy nonsense they all experienced together throughout the year.

It’s always about a good balance, you know.

Probably the most annoying thing about this episode though is not having Jirou take part in the fun. I don’t know what it is about this season and having to always isolate a main cast member. I used to think it was COVID precautions or something. But I don’t think so anymore. It would’ve been great to have Jirou be at the DonNo Conference so we FINALLY get everyone together in one room. But I also wish we somehow got a more immediate aftermath to his life shattering revelation last week.

Anyway, this was just a fun episode. Probably one of the best examples of what Donbrothers has set out to be and has, for the most part, successfully accomplished this year. It’s just random, character-focused fun. Definitely different from the usual, but uniquely enjoyable nonetheless.

Non-CGI Donbro of the Week