Long-Nosed Elegy
Summary
Jiro: A fierce new foe suddenly appeared, named Don Murasame.
Who could he really be...?
Who could he really be...?
When Jiro's friend Rumi intends to pay him a visit, he states to the team that he wants to be the leader of the Donbrothers to prove himself to his town. Taro leaves the team as he doesn't think he'd be able to maintain the ruse, allowing Jiro to take over as leader. Rebranding as "Avajiro Sentai Dragon Fires", Jiro puts the team through a rigorous training regimen, but he gradually gets carried away...
Tropes
- 10-Minute Retirement: When Jiro asks to lead the Donbrothers in order to impress Rumi, Taro decides to let him do so, but quits the team in the process because he cannot make himself a mere companion. Subverted in that he was helping the team in their rescue efforts all along, and even fought Gosei-ki alone while his team was busy playing hero.
- Acquired Situational Narcissism: Jiro's decision to pivot the team towards using their powers for personal gain leads to the point where they reject the Call to Adventure, and as Kaito warns, they do indeed grow Pinocchio noses that signify their turn towards selfishness. It takes him pointing out that Taro did all the heavy lifting to get them out of it.
- Aesop Amnesia: As described in the entry above, the team is consumed by the fame and prestige that comes from publicizing their powers. Tsuyoshi being on-board with all this stands out, as he isn't a stranger to letting good fortune go to his head.
- All for Nothing: Rumi decides against going to Tokyo to visit Jiro in the end, feeling it's too much of a hassle.
- Berserk Button: Jiro had his buttons pushed when he learns that Taro had been saving the Dragon Fires from the shadows all along, believing the latter has him Overshadowed by Awesome and wanting to hog the glory for their exploits. This reawakens his Dangerous Jiro personality for Disproportionate Revenge.
- Brick Joke: Kaito tells Taro his motto after helping him out as Zenkaizer Black. Kaito later repeats it during the awards ceremony for the Dragon Fires.
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Broken Aesop: Parodied. Kaito's impassioned speech to the team about their selfishness getting the best of them doesn't stop him from accepting the award in their place and publishing an entire photobook themed around it right after. - Call-Back: We had actually met Rumi on the same episode we met Jiro. We saw him saying goodbye to her as he was heading to the city, and mentioning her name so we know it’s her.
- The Cameo: Shigeki Ito, Don Doragoku/Torabolt's suit actor, appears as Gosei-Ki's host.
- Contrived Coincidence: Tsubasa comes across and briefly joins the "Dragon Fires" on their training regimen, with the team unaware that he is legitimately their actual last member.
- Foreshadowing: While discussing Don Murasame's appearance in the human world, Sonoi and Sononi get scouted by a film producer, which leads into the events of The Movie.
- Heroic BSoD: The Donbrothers take to the discovery that Taro was helping them out rather well, acknowledging their selfishness and going off to help him. Jiro does not take it well and loses himself to shock; allowing his Tiger personality to take over and attack Taro in a murderous rage.
- Hypocritical Humor: Kaito warns the team that abusing their powers for personal gain will cause them to grow Pinocchio noses, which they eventually do when they were about to receive an award for their heroic exploits after becoming famous. Their Jerkass Realization after learning Taro had been assisting them behind the scenes causes them to drop receiving the award to fight Gosei-Ki, leaving Kaito to receive the award in their place as their representative "commander", growing his own pinocchio nose as a result.
- It Amused Me: Shinichi points out that while he may not be as motivated by personal gain as the others, he's still on board with Jiro's proposal to publicize the team's exploits because it intrigued him, and he wasn't that loyal to Taro to begin with.
- Once More, with Clarity: When Kaito calls out the Dragon Fires pointing out that Taro was doing the hard work, we see flashbacks to the latter using Don Momotaro Alter to stop the runaway truck and rescuing Saru Brother and a fallen worker from a burning building, both of which went unexplained when first shown in the episode.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Kaito gives a mean one to the Donbrothers right before their meant to receive their award, aghast at their willingness to ignore Taro when he needs help. The others realize their selfishness and immediately go to atone. Jiro however is rendered comatose from the shock, allowing his Split Personality to take over and run rampant.
- The Reveal: Don Murasame is an artificial life-form created by the Noto. Mother awakening him from stasis was unplanned, making both of them rogue agents acting against Noto interests.
- Stealing the Credit: Kaito ends up getting awarded for the Dragon Fires' heroic exploits as their "commander", being helmed as a hero and releasing a photobook for it.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: The Donbrothers' suits are mainly designed for battle, not for other Mundane Utility such as emergency rescue services. Jiro forcing the team to rescue civilians from a fire ultimately knocks out Shinichi as his fur suit could not take the heat and he was unable to breathe.
- Tempting Fate: During their training, Haruka mentions to Shinichi that she's worried about Jiro's Split Personality re-emerging. Later on, Kaito reveals Taro was helping them out during their stint as the "Dragon Fires." Guess what happens?
- What You Are in the Dark: In spite of quitting the team, Taro still decides to help his teammates from behind the scenes, in contrast to Jiro pushing the team's heroics for personal gain.
- Wild Card: Don Torabolt is basically this. While he's mostly there to battle Taro, he is at least willing to defeat Gosei-Ki. He's also apathetic to harming his "allies" in pursuit of this, nearly swiping them with his axe as he fights. He even tries to attack Momotaro while he summons Don Onitaijin!
