Recap: Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger, Episode 3 – The Driver Won’t Stop

BunBun checks in with Taiya who is working on modifications on Boonboom Classic. Taiya says they are closer than ever to achieving their dream.

Just then, Mira comes in to say she’s accepted a delivery job and tells Taiya and BunBun the story. Hiroto, the son of her boss at her part-time bakery job handmade a mirror for his grandmother, but it broke. Though Hiroto didn’t think he could give it to her anymore, Mira says it’s always the thought that counts. She knows Grandma will love it since Hiroto worked so hard on it. So she offered to deliver it for him.

BunBun is very touched by Mira’s story and says love for one’s grandmother makes him want to cry. Mira is excited that BunBun feels the same way as she does. Taiya says Mira accepted the job just because she got caught up in the emotion. BunBun does not know what an emotion is.

Mira does not care what Taiya thinks. She asks to take the SuperCar, but Taiya says she will make the delivery without it.

Meanwhile, Dekotorade, Ittasha and Yaruka are speaking with MadRex who is a bit upset that they haven’t gotten enough Ghassolin yet. But he tells them to keep at it so long as they don’t embarrass the Hashiryans. Ittasha inserts a key into an antique wall clock to bring about Tokei Grumer.

Back outside Taiya’s manse, Mira thinks he’s just being a big meanie. But she is determined to find a way to make the delivery herself. She runs into the orange supplier from the other day who introduces himself as Genba. He presents her a bike and helmet which she can use to make the delivery.

He tells her to take care and drive safely before he heads inside. Turns out Taiya had asked Genba to procure the bike and helmet for Mira. He thinks she is a promising rookie and wants her to work her way up.

Just as Genba is about to leave, Shashiro calls Taiya and he hurries out. Genba smiles that it must be important.

The Kumaju is already rampaging downtown. Taiya and Shashiro arrive as Mira passes by the Kumaju. They shoot at him so she can safely be on her way for the delivery.

As the Kumaju wants to target an airplane flying in the sky, Taiya and Shashiro realize he targets anything that moves. They pretend to freeze. But Officer Jou arrives and is ready to spring into action. The Kumaju slices his bike in half.

When Mira comes riding by again, Taiya thinks she’s going to jump in and help. But she says she knows they’ve got this and bikes away, trying to find the right direction.

Officer Jou shoots at the Kumaju, but it blocks the bullet and sends an attack right back at him. Taiya knocks Officer Jou out of the way and the Kumaju is able to disappear.

BunBun says he will check where it went as Taiya is sure that it is chasing after Mira. Shashiro asks why he thinks that and Taiya says he believes Mira is luring the Kumaju away. Shashiro doesn’t think she is clever enough to think that fast. But Taiya says she is using her intuition and that is part of what makes her a promising rookie.

Taiya wishes Mira enjoy her ride today. Shashiro is amused.

BunBun calls to confirm that the Kumaju is on Mira’s tail. Shashiro says he doesn’t completely trust Mira yet, but he trusts Taiya’s faith in her. The two hop into the SuperCar and hurry over.

The Kumaju shoots huge explosions at Mira and she gets knocked off her bike. Before the Kumaju is able to slice Mira in half, Taiya and Shashiro manage to catch up.

Taiya tells Mira that he knows she was acting as the decoy. But she has no idea what he’s talking about. She merely thought that she was to leave the Kumaju to them so she could focus on her delivery job. Taiya had told her to deliver the package herself since she accepted the job on her own. And so she thought that’s all she had to do.

Taiya begins to laugh and says he believes Mira’s ability to be straightforward and simple allows you to take turns you don’t expect. And that’s what makes Mira great. Mira still has no idea what they’re talking about, but Taiya says he’s just happy she’s on their team.

Taiya, Shashiro and Mira henshin and battle the Kumaju. After they deliver a finisher, Yaruka comes flying in to gobble up the Ghassolin and zoom into the Highway. BunBun sends the Cars over and the Boonbooms hop on. They engage Yaruka on the Highway and are able to pop him back out. That releases the embiggened Kumaju.

The Boonbooms combine into BoonBoomger Robo. Taiya asks BunBun to unscrew the bolts on the Kumaju, but they are too rusty. Taiya decides to call on BoonBoom Classic. And thanks to his modifications earlier, it is able to transform into a sword.

The Boonbooms are able to deliver a finisher to take care of the Kumaju for good.

Later, Mira is able to make her delivery to Hiroto’s grandmother. Grandma is so excited to see her grandson’s gift and thanks Mira by inviting her to stay for some tea.

Taiya and Shashiro watch and are happy that Mira has been able to complete her job for the day.

Meanwhile, Officer Jou gets back to the koban, lamenting how he has to write up another report on the strange tire people again. A mysterious woman is waiting inside the police station and says those tire people are Boonboomgers and she has some questions for Officer Jou about them.

Episode Thoughts

Honestly, Gotchard–Boonboomger has to be the most fun and enjoyment I’ve had from a nitiasa pair since Zero-One–Kiramager. Similar vibes between the seasons too I think. And even though it is only Episode 3, there’s just so much positive vibes from this season for me that I can’t help but just love it and enjoy already.

This was a familiar episode where the team is still getting to know and appreciate each other. A Mira-focus, for sure. But it was wonderful seeing the moment where the three of them just smile and laugh to themselves that yes, they might actually be a pretty good team.

Not to mention this moment:

Why might this be my favorite eight seconds of Sentai that I've seen in years? 😂#Boonboomger #ブンブンジャー pic.twitter.com/01HdkQeqDS

— DryedMangoez (@dryedmangoez) March 17, 2024

It’s just amusing to me. And reminded me of this funny moment from Attack on Titan:

Just two friends. Sasha and Connie. Sitting in a rail car. Realizing they're two lovable idiots. #AoTSeason4NHK #AOTASoundArgument pic.twitter.com/xYTQCsZytW

— DryedMangoez (@dryedmangoez) February 14, 2021

But this episode allowed us to see more of Mira’s personality. She might be a bit aloof and too happy-go-lucky. But we can see she has a good heart. We saw how determined she was to make the little boy’s delivery. And in the first two episodes, we already so how eager and willing she is to be a hero as well. So that’s the great thing about being part of a team who will help her grow into the true hero she’s meant to be of course. And definitely do her part to teach Taiya and Shashiro some new things too. Definitely a wonderful and familiar Sentai story.

We also got to see more of Taiya and Shashiro’s dynamic. Ishiro trusts Taiya and his belief in others. I think that already shows Taiya’s effect on Ishiro too. But we definitely hope to see more about their backstory together in the future.

We got a little more with BunBun and the moment where he feels emotion, but has no idea what it is. Definitely planting those seeds for his backstory exploration and learning more about the Hashiryans too.

The season has done a good job of sort of teasing Officer Jou and Genba enough before they officially go Boonboom. It made that final scene with the mysterious woman a perfect cliffhanger as we wonder what part Officer Jou will play there. And of course, we still wonder about Genba’s relationship with Taiya. Is that a bit of jealousy in the air when Taiya hurried out and ran to his Shashiro? Hehehehehe

Again, fun to have our generals be a bit more goofy too as they continue to try and get all that Ghassolin. Which, we can’t blame them for that since gas really is too expensive these days lol

Overall, another great and fun episode. It’s hard not to smile while watching Boonboomger so far. Lots of fun and amusing moments. But not at the expense of actually good characters and good story. And that’s of course a great, feel-good feeling to have when enjoying a show.