Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger #36 tests bonds as Mira’s friend deals with envy, causing her to steal BunPink’s Changer. The 48th Sentai series starts the final lap with a new plan from the Sanseaters, just as Aki experiences a detour in her life.
The latest Boonboomger focuses on Mira’s best friend, as the latest fight causes Aki to grow envious beyond control. Dealing with shocking betrayal, events unfold that see Aki try to become BunPink as she struggles to overcome her direction for the future. The episode also features a growing momentum as the Sanseaters enact a two-for-one plan for more Gyahsoline and ISA asks more questions from Sakito and Genba.
Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger enters its final lap after defeating the last captain, Disrace, in the Lap 3 finale. The boss for the Hashiriyan has finally made his debut in the 48th Sentai series, revealed to be Waruido Spindo. Bundorio was revealed to be connected to the origins of the Hashiriyan, including faking his death to escape. A teaser poster for the final lap also teased the return of another Sentai crossover, with the flag of Kaizou Sentai Gokaiger featured in the background for the latest preview.
Aki Envious Impulse Tackles Boonboom Lore as Chaos Erupts
The 36th instalment of the 48th Sentai features a returning Sentai star as the guest of the latest episode. Hinami Mori (Flint Goldtsuiker, Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger) plays Mira’s best friend, Aki Nogi, as her envy erupts into an opportunity to become BunPink. Chaos is also thrown into the mix as the Sanseaters decide to continue working in their best interests, with a new plan to gather a lot of Gyahsoline. However, other events take place in the episode that suggest momentum continues to carry into upcoming releases.
Aki Enacts Desire as Envy Pushes Buttons
The audience is introduced to Aki Nogi, established just as the Boonboomger defeat another giant Kurumajyu. Toys R Us makes a surprising appearance as Aki and Mira work together at the product placed store. The contrast between Mira and Aki is quickly highlighted, showcasing the hardship Aki experiences to enhance her envy further. It was great to see how each was treated and Mori’s emotive performance made the character easy for viewers to empathise with.
Before kicking off the drama between the two friends, their connection was also established well in such a short duration. This includes outlining Aki’s dream of acting in her troupe, which Mira recalls and supports. The nickname also cemented the long lasting friendship, with Bundorio also thinking Aki’s nickname, Mirapi, was a pun to her role of BunPink. The trust and betrayal also take place early on as Aki asks to hold Mira’s Boonboom Changer while she works.
Seeing Miu Suzuki’s nonstop energy collide with Aki’s emotionally driven scheming played out brilliantly, causing great tension from the very beginning. The story does a great job of mixing in the long term confidence between the characters with an identifiable feeling of desiring what others have. The steps leading up to Aki taking the Changer also added to the situation as the close friend acts selfishly for her own sake. It was great to see the mounted push towards Aki sneak off, just as she is introduced to Taiga and Jou.
Adding Sanseater Rush and Suspicious Animosity
Two instances were centred around the drama between Aki and Mira as the Sanseaters and ISA feature. Despite their loss, it was great to see that Itasha, Yeiyei and Decotrade haven’t lost their villainous drive to continue providing results. It was also great to see a plan created by Yeiyei with a dual debut return for Reizoko Grumer and Vacuum Cleaner Grumer. The ice and heat combo managed to deliver a lot of Gyahsoline so it was great to see their undeterred efforts pay off to create a bit more anticipation.
The episode also featured Sakito, Byun D and Genba questioned by the ISA, with Shirabe Saibu and Eiichiro Tokoyari. It was great to see the goal of Spindo established to be power and immortality. It was also brilliant of Byun D to point out that Bundorio would have been a better person to ask while creating anticipation for the revealed information. Ishiro listening in also highlighted the mistrust, since it creates more unease toward Tokoyari becoming a potential foe.
The Shocking Witness and the Heartfelt Chat
The episode added a great level of commonality as the Kurumajyu attack is televised, with Aki responding to it. The main feature was Mira and Taiga witnessing the moment that Aki tries to transform into BunPink. The wheel spin mechanic is also a genius detail that Aki misses, leading to her surprise at the lack of transformation after just pushing the buttons three times. It was brilliant for the series to tackle the expectations and weaknesses of the concept, creating a sense of what people may miss just by watching.
The level of shock and disappointment from Taiga and Mira is felt in full impact, leading to Aki almost hit. Sakito is the perfect character to save her since he also points out their lack of action with such an awakening tone. The chat between Aki and Mira was also less hostile than expected as Aki finally explained her situation. It was also fantastic how Miu Suzuki still managed to retain Mira’s sweet nature while dealing with a serious tone.
However, the near miss was the perfect way to remove the shock and reconnect the pair. The delightful care between the friends was great to see but it was also astounding to see Mira explain what Aki missed and offered her another chance to try. This was such a lovely occurrence that was so unexpected, highlighting just how close the two were despite the recent breach of trust. The episode also perfectly highlights how important it is to confide in friends, which is a touching detail that made this episode burn brightly.
Action and Robo Combat Wrapping Up the Tale
The fight also carried this momentum from the reconciliation, but not before hosting a great fight that split the team in the beginning. Seeing Mira and Aki targeted was a brilliant use of open opportunity that seemed to be a theme of the episode. However, BunPink took the emotional drive of her friend to great effect. The resolved and recovered friendship also featured a seamlessly spectacular transformation, which gave the scene an emotional thrust to the one and only, BunPink.
It was unexpected that Aki never transformed but it was brilliant that it was done in spirit via the Patrol Car #2 customise used to create two BunPinks to fight. This was certainly a Mira heavy episode and even her performing the finisher solidified her for a memorable moment in the series. The fight was overall given great pacing at high speed, creating a visually satisfying win against the two Kurumajyu.
The robo fight also kept the hype going by using the Boonboomger Champion Robo. The two Kurumajyu combining was a nice surprise but the ferocity of BunPink with the Patrol Car #2 use fell perfectly within the sequence of events. The finisher kept the high speed excitement before toning down with Aki’s departure. It was brilliant for the episode to then stage the tease of Waruido Spindo coming to Earth. After such an emotional episode, the intensity of his prison like home driving on added a combination of surprise and suspense to conclude the instalment.
For an emotionally impactful and identifiable story with the Boonboom lore, we give Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger Episode 36 a total score of 8 out of 10.
Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger will air episode 37 on November 17th, 2024, exclusively in Japan. The 48th Sentai will feature two spies as Ishiro meets an old friend, which leads to discord within the team.
For more Boonboomger, keep an eye out for the next Sentai Summary review. For more Super Sentai, keep an eye on social media and keep following The Toku Source for more news and announcements.
