Recap: Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger, Episode 8 – Runaway and Divide

MadRex is upset by their failures on Earth and feels embarrassed to face their big boss Waruido Spindo. MadRex vows to hand the planet over to him. And seething at BunRed being a thrown in his side so far, MadRex orders his three generals to bring BunRed to him.

Mira, Genba and Officer Jou are in their Cars racing each other on the highway. But this is actually a test for a new prototype that can actually clone Cars. When Taiya gives it a try, it overwhelms him and his spins out.
The Boonbooms oare on the highway racing each other.

Back at the manse, BunBun helps Taiya with his body aches by slapping some Salonpas onto his back and offering to cook some curry.

The others are down in the base. Shashiro says Boonboom racing’s power is off the charts and even when henshined, it takes a toll on your body. That’s why they are testing out the new Car which can temporarily create a clone. The prototype was created using parts supplied by Genba.

Mira asks where he gets his supplies from. But he says it is a secret.

Investigatior Shirabe comes in and asks why Genba became a Boonboom. Genba says he just had a change of heart. Shashiro says Taiya approved of it and asks if she has a problem with it. Investigator Shirabe says they should leave it that then.

She asks where BunBun is. Mira says he’s out for now. But Investigator Shirabe had wanted to personally hand him a gift.

In the meantime, she suggests they talk about their plans to take care of the Hashiryans. Genba, however, mentions that he thought the Boonbooms were created for the BBG or the Big Bang Grand Prix.

He explains to Mira and Jou that it is a race open to the whole universe. Officer Jou says he thought the Boonbooms were heroes fighting to protect Earth and the Cars were mecha used in that fight. Shashiro says the Boonboom Cars were created to be entered in the BBG and fighting Hashiryans is secondary.

Investigator Shirabe says that means Boonboomger is just a hobby for Taiya.
And everyone here is being used for that hobby. Mira refuses to believe it.

Taiya comes in and says that is one way to look at it. Mira asks why he didn’t tell them about the race. Officer Jou asks what Boonboomger is to him.

Before Taiya can say anything, they get an alert to the rampaging downtown. Taiya says they will talk about this later and they hurry over to the scene.

However, this is all just a trap by the General3. They lure the Boonbooms to an abandoned warehouse and trap Shashiro, Mira, Jou and Genba in cages. Unfortunately, Dekotorade and Ittasha also get trapped along with them. Officer Jou suggests they henshin, but when they do, they all get zapped by the cage.

Taiya tells them to stay put for now as he faces off against MadRex. Taiya henshins and they battle.

MadRex asks Taiya if he wants to join forces. He believes Taiya is also looking for someone to get him revved up. And driving around the universe with him would be more fun than hanging out with the idiots in the cages. Dekotorade and Ittasha are a bit surprised, wondering if MadRex is also referring to them.

MadRex says boss would love having Taiya. Taiya asks if this boss is stronger than him and MadRex says yes, he is the greatest in the universe.

Taiya challenges MadRex. If MadRex can beat him, then he will allow him to get behind his wheel.

Jou and Mira cannot believe that he is saying. Taiya says his dreams will appear after he defeats MadRex. Shashiro tells them to believe in Taiya, but Mira says she does not.

Taiya is able to deliver a finisher at MadRex, angering him. If Taiya will not join him, he will drive him off the road. He calls on Yaruka and squeezes the gassholin out of him, much to Dekotorade and Ittasha’s shock. He sucks the gassholin up and embiggens, blowing them all out of their cages and the warehouse.

BunBun quickly launches the Cars. Dekotorade and Ittasha hurry over to make sure Yaruka is okay.

BunBun tells the Boonbooms to use Robo Police. Shashiro, Mira, Jou and Genba quickly henshin and hop into their Cars. But Boonboom Robo Police takes major hits from MadRex. They call on Shovel and Dozer to shift to Robo Builder. But it is still not enough. They end up in base Boonboomger Robo and Mira and Officer get ejected. They are forced to dehenshin once they hit the ground.

Taiya calls on Boonboom Classic. But MadRex still overwhelms them.

Mira and Officer Jou watch in horror. Mira pleads Taiya for them to retreat. Shashiro asks if they should regroup. But Taiya pulls out Off-Road Ghost. Shashiro and Genba remind him it is still a prototype. Taiya says it passed the test though and he activates it. It clones Boonboom Off-Road and Shashiro and Genba get ejected and also forced to dehenshin.

Taiya and BunBun try to deliver a finisher, but both they and MadRex get a punch in each other’s face. Both are sent flying.

MadRex is knocked down to size and says BunRed has won this battle for now. He leaves.

BunBun is helping Taiya walk as the others hurry over to meet them. Taiya assures them these are just scratches.

Mira ask why he is so reckless as to risk his life for them like it’s nothing.

Taiya steps forward. But before he can say anything, he collapses.

Episode Thoughts

A very good episode this week as we start to get a bit more insight on Taiya and his mysterious background. I think the episode did a great job in easing into learning more about him while also touching upon the dynamics of the Boonbooms.

It is of course still early in their relationship and as a team. So it was great to see Mira and Officer Jou’s reactions. They were all in on both the adventure and the seemingly noble cause of Taiya’s Boonboomgers. Their confusion and conflicted feelings after learning that the Taiya they had immediately gravitated toward might not be who they originally thought he was perfectly depicted how quick that bond formed.

Though we know he is going to be much more than just this, Taiya being the typical thrill-seeking rich guy throwing his money around is a valid worry for both Mira and Jou. And that immediate concern helped to make the closing sequence and Taiya risking his life for them all the more impactful. Both for the episode and for the characters within the story as well.

This episode was great in showing this bit of conflict and uncertainty. Especially with how fun and seemingly smooth sailing the first couple of episodes were. So it helps in developing the bond the Boonbooms have with each other while also slowly peeling back the layers of Taiya’s story and in turn the season’s overall story as well.

We’ve driven past the introduction stages and are starting to drive through the early stages of the season arc. And that’s definitely very exciting.

Aside from the Boonbooms, the episode gave great tidbits for the other characters as well. Emphasizing BunBun’s support of Taiya and the team. Investigator Shirabe’s softer side, but also her position on the outside of the Boonboom team. MadRex’s pedal to the metal attitude.

And most especially, the bond the General3 seem to have with each other too. From Dekotorade and Ittasha trapping themselves with the Boonbooms in the cages to being surprised by MadRex throwing them shade to them being worried for Yaruka when MadRex wrung him out for gassholin; every one of their scenes was so great for them as characters.

Overall, this was another strong episode for the Boonbooms. Exciting and fun, but some welcome steps forward in story and for the characters, especially Taiya.