Recap: Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger, Episode 39 – Screaming Planet

Spindor arrives in Earth’s orbit. “I’m here, Bun, my friend,” he says.

Meanwhile, Grantu Risk shows himself to the Sanseaters and they bow when they realize he is the Chief Senior Officer of the Hashiryan. Grantu knows they are Mad Rex’s favorites and says Spindor loves their Don’t give up attitude after all they’ve had to go through so far.

That’s why, starting today, they will be working under him. The Sanseaters excitedly accept the new assignment and are grateful for the opportunity.

Just then, a sponge falls at their knees.

Over at the Garage, Taiya and Mira are enjoying some of BunBun’s curry. She asks where Shashiro has been lately and if he’s on some secret mission.

At the ISA, Shirabe is enjoying lunch and her lock screen photo of BunBun when she is surprised to see her friend Maimi. She says she has just arrived in Japan and has heard about Shirabe supporting the Boonboomgers a lot. Shirabe says it’s just work.

Shirabe tells Maimi about the higher ups acting weird lately. But Maimi says not to worry about things that don’t concern her. At the ISA, they have a duty to protect Earth. So they should just focus on protecting mankind.

After Maimi laves, Shirabe gets a call.

Sponge Guruma has started to wreak slippery havoc, generating lots of Gassholin. Jou is the first to encounter the Kurumaju, but he ends up sliding on the soap as well. Shashiro is able to grab him before he goes far and Sakito arrives and cleans the soap up.

Mira arrives next and says she thought Shashiro was on an important mission. Shashiro says being a Boonboomger comes first. He gives Taiya a look.

Taiya leads them in henshining. The Sanseaters tell Sponge Guruma to take care of them, especially as Spindor is arriving soon. The Boonbooms are shocked to hear this.

BunBun and Byundi are shocked as they listen from the Garage. Shirabe arrives and BunBun asks if she’s gotten any pings on the radar. But she has not.

At ISA, Maimi visits Director Tokoyari to report that information regulation is complete. Tokoyari says the time has come.

Spindor puts on his hat on and disembarks from his ship directly onto a rooftop helipad where he is greeted by suit-wearing Nejiretta. Spindor likes the smell of Gassholin in the air. Grantu Risk officially welcomes him to Earth.

Spindor says Grantu has protected the family so well for so long and that he is the best officer. Grantu is proud to hear that.

Just then, Director Tokoyari arrives with Maimi and welcomes Spindor as well. Tokoyari says he will be in charge of all dealings with Earth from now on. Spindor looks forward to them working on making this world favorable for both of them.

Tokoyari says they have prepared a room for him. But Spindor has some business to attend to first. Grantu Risk has already made arrangements.
Spindor gets in a towncar and is driven away.

Maimi asks Tokoyari if it is wise to let Spindor do as he pleases. He says they should let him have his space for now. He seems tough indeed.

Meanwhile, the Boonbooms are battling Sponge Guruma and they struggle with the slippery soap. Genba arrives with some chains they should be able to use. But they get soapy as well.

Shashiro steps in front of Genba to shield him from the suds. But the Kurumaju covers Shashiro in soap suds and is seemingly washed away. Shashiro is gone, leaving only his suit behind.

Genba henshins and he is also washed away out of the suit. As are Jou, Mira and Sakito. Byundi wants to hurry out. But BunBun tells him to wait.

The Kurumaju throws Taiya back and he is forced to dehenshin. Grantu Risk commends the Kurumaju on wiping out the risks. Getting rid of the other Boonboomgers was always the plan.

Just then, Spindor arrives in the towncar.

As BunBun can’t believe Spindor is here on Earth, Shirabe can’t believe there were no signals on radar. Byundi wonders if someone at ISA is pulling the strings. The Sanseaters are absolutely starstruck by Spindor and they faint.

Spindor thanks Taiya for finding his dear Bun and he asks if he is doing well. Taiya asks why Spindor is on Earth. Spindor thinks Earth is great as it reeks of war and poverty. Both make the best Gassholin.

Spindor tells Taiya to listen carefully and he can also hear the wonderful screams of the planet. Taiya says the fact that Spindor finds pleasure in those screams means he is an enemy of this planet.

Spindor says Taiya does not understand society. He knows they have their eyes on the Big Bang Grand Prix. Taiya and BunBun are shocked that Spindor would know that. But Shirabe remembers telling Director Tokoyari all about it.

Spindor says of course he knows about that since it’s his dear Bun. But he will take responsibility for that now. The screams from wins and losses make for great Gassholin. And whether you win or lose is at the mercy of the Hashiryan.

Taiya asks if he is setting up a fixed race. But Spindor says he will destroy all he holds dear and that will bring about the finest Gassholin. Spindor adds that Taiya and everyone else’s dreams should be considered bought by him.

Taiya defiantly says their dreams are no laughing matter. He whips out his Changer, but it gets shot out of his hand, destroyed. Grantu slaps Taiya to the ground.

BunBun grabs a fresh Changer and is about to run out. But Byundi stops BunBun, reminding him that he is who they want.

Shirabe grabs the Changer and runs out instead.

Taiya does his best fighting against Grantu Risk, but he gets beat down. Spindor leaves in the towncar. Grantu tells the Kurumaju to squeeze Gasholin from Taiya.

Just then, Shirabe comes in, riding a Boonboom Car and grabs the Kurumaju, squeezing the others out of the sponge before it slips into the sky. But the Boonbooms are only wearing helmets, looking like real tire people.

Shirabe comes tumbling out of the Boonboom Car and toward them. Driving a Boonboom car without a suit is reckless, Shashiro says. Why would Shirabe go that far. She gives Taiya the new Changer, telling him “I have a delivery.”

Shirabe collapses in Taiya’s arms. Taiya thanks Shirabe as it is very bakuage.

As Sponge Kurumaju falls back down to the ground, Sakito carries Shirabe to safety. The Boonbooms henshin and go Champion.

The Kurumaju tries soaping them up again, but the Boonboomgers quickly deliver a Champion Drive finisher.

The Sanseaters wakeup. Yaruka embiggens the Kurumaju.

BunBun says he is fighting too, he will not run and hide. They form Boonboomger Robo Champion Leo Rescue Custom and they are able to wash the soap away. And that allows them to deliver a Champion Road finisher, finishing the Kurumaju for good.

“You see that, I am right here,” BunBun says to Spindor.

Back at the Garage, Shirabe says the ISA might have to undergo big investigations, especially on the director. BunBun thanks her. Jou says he is scared. Byundi says there have been signs already.

Mira says Shashiro could investigate. But Taiya says Shasiro is back to work.
Sakito says Hashiryan get deep anywhere they go. He warns Shirabe to be careful, but she replies that she will be fine. Especially as she has someone who she trusts.

Speaking of, Maimi is in a fancy room where Mr. Naito arrives to meetwith Spindor and Director Tokoyari.

Episode Thoughts

Wowowow!

One of my new favorite moments from this entire season so far is Shirabe coming to the Boonbooms’ rescue. Her telling Taiya that she has a delivery for him really got me going. MaGMCM? Absolutely! What an awesome moment.

It’s been great to watch Shirabe-san go from the icy ISA investigator to now a true member of the team. Of the family, really! And of course be the biggest BunBun fangirl in the middle.

This is definitely one of my new favorite Boonboomger scenes so far this season! Fun humor and a sincerely emotional moment. Shirabe saying "I have a delivery" and Taiya thanking her as she collapses… #MaGMCM right there. 🥲 I love this Bakuage team!#ブンブンジャー pic.twitter.com/6XuRlhMoGg

— DryedMangoez (@dryedmangoez) December 1, 2024

What a magical moment having someone be so badass and heartwarming at the same time. This is the kind of climactic moment that can only work if most everything else has gone right leading up to it. With the characters themselves, their relationships with each other and with the well-paced escalation of the narrative; Boonboomger has been quite good with all of this. And we are now really seeing the fruits of those seeds that have been planted throughout these previous 38 episodes.

Sometimes, the arrival of the Final Boss can feel underwhelming or haphazardly done. Like, that final foe can feel so forced and out of nowhere. And even feel like a simple MOTW for our heroes. But Spindor, though not necessarily mentioned a lot this season, still feels like a culmination of what we’ve gotten from the General3/RT3/Sanseaters, MadRex, Disrace and all we’ve learned about BunBun’s experience.

Pair that with the Boonboomgers’ own development, both as their own character and their dynamic as a team, and you’ve got a perfect recipe for satisfying moments like that one with Shirabe and satisfying episodes like this one.

Speaking of badass, Taiya fighting alone against Grantu was amazing as well. And you know a season is good when it can seamlessly balance the heavier, dramatic moments with fun and amusing moments. And have it work so well.

I mean, not many other seasons of either Toei toku can have funny moments like newly-laundered suits lying on the ground next to moments of the Sentai Red getting beaten to a pulp or a civilian collapsing from piloting a mecha by herself and have it all work perfectly in an episode.

Though I must say, the shots of the empty suits on the ground was actually quite unsettling. Lolol Though the Boonbooms in their civilian clothes, but still wearing a helmet was great! I hope it were the real actors in those helmets for those scenes. That would be very fun!

Meanwhile, Spindor definitely seems to be channeling Michael Jackson. Even my dad, who knows nothing about the show, literally pointed at Spindor as he was walking toward Taiya and said “Oh! Michael Jackson!” lolol And it was a scene where Spindor didn’t make those Michael Jackson “Hehe” sounds or anything lol

We’ll see what he can be truly like now that he has arrived. And especially as he deals with the director and Mr. Naito. Also, do we trust Maimi? I’m not sure I do, even though Shirabe seems to. She seems quite sketchy!

Elsewhere, I wish I kept track of the unique inserts into the opening credits all season. Like this one of Shirabe:

They have been great and many times very cool to see.

Finally, I’m excited for the Jou-focus next week it seems!

Overall, this was an excellent episode. It was one that really felt like we’re in the final stretch. And with around 10+ episodes left, I anticipate a lot of big stuff in these final three months!

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