Shifting Powers and a Great Betrayal

Fire Force is finally back, and the heat is on. After an agonizing four-year wait, fans finally get to revisit the story of Shinra and his comrades from SFF 8 and beyond. With last season ending with a slew of unanswered questions, the premiere of season three has been eagerly anticipated by enjoyers of this surprisingly dark tale of corruption and intrigue. Those who have abstained from the manga to wait for the season three premiere are dying to know what’s to come in the continued struggles between the Fire Force and the White-Clad, the shadowy group led by the enigmatic Evangelist. Will the training undergone by Shinra and his teammates be enough to withstand their nefarious plot?

A Quick Refresher For Those With Bad Memory

A World on Fire

The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, the stage being set in what is called the Tokyo Empire. After an event dubbed “The Great Cataclysm”, spontaneous combustion began to randomly afflict humans, causing them to burn to death and become infernals. Those who have adapted to the flames are called the second and third generation. These individuals are resistant to fire, as well as being able to control or even ignite flames depending on which category they belong to. Such people often join the Special Fire Force, an organization under The Holy Sol Temple, the prevailing religion of the Tokyo Empire. Using their abilities to save civilians from the ravages of this terrible phenomenon, the heroes of this story constantly put their lives in danger in order to put infernals to rest.

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Chasing the Flames of His Past

The series protagonist, Kusakabe Shinra, lost his mother and younger brother, Sho, to a fire he was blamed for as a child. He has since uncovered the truth about the incident, discovering that his mother was the one who had turned infernal and burned their house to the ground, his third-generation powers being awakened by Sho’s Adola Burst. He even met his brother, who he believed to be dead. Unfortunately, the younger Kusakabe, was whisked away after their contentious reunion, his mind manipulated by Haumea, the Second Pillar. As the team learned about the Evangelist and their White-Clad henchmen, Shinra and Arthur sought to grow stronger in order to compete with their powerful foes.

The second season ended with both young men experiencing the “Press of Death” in their training under Benimaru to achieve “Hysterical Strength.” After a brief look at how far the cast of characters had come, audiences were left with a shot of a grinning moon, reminiscent of the one that hung in the skies in Atsushi Ohkubo’ other popular work, Soul Eater. This scene definitely left fans with questions about possible connections between the two stories in addition to every other mystery presented thus far. Waiting five years after a cliffhanger like that has been quite the trial for many, but with the new season underway, it’s time to suit up and march.

Season 3, Episode 1: Indomitable Resolve

They’re Coming in Hot!

The season three premiere starts off with another shot of the ominous leering moon. Beneath it is a sea of infernals, crying out to a grinning Evangelist. Next, a change of scenery accompanied by the sounds of a pained Haumea echo through abandoned halls while a troubled Charon waits. Haumea brushes off his concern before they depart for a meeting, stating that they will “guide the Empire to its true form.” After a few scenes of the citizens of the Tokyo Empire, the familiar faces of Company 8 finally come on screen. They’re sparring together in a blazing showcase of their improved skills, but an important figure is missing.

Captain Obi, Reporting for Duty

Captain Akitaru Obi is at the Fire Defense Agency, reporting to the Chief. He summarizes the events of the joint investigations the 8th performed with the 2nd, 4th, and Lieutenant Takigi Oze of the Imperial Army. Obi shares how they discovered information regarding the Great Cataclysm near the Spacial Tear, as well as successfully taking out a nest of Demonic Infernals in ruins reminiscent of Amaterasu.

He then tells the chief that Haijima Industries was found not to be collaborating with the White-Clad, going on to explain how Rekka Hoshimiya used an insect to artificially transform the child, Nataku Son, who was taken into custody by Haijima after he was confirmed to possess the Adola Burst. The last event he recounts to the Chief is the investigation of the experimental facilities in the Nether, the result being the discovery of the White-Clad’s plan to destroy the ground under Tokyo. After this concise recap, the Chief praises Obi for his efforts in uniting the empire around the Fire Force. Before the compliment even has time to set in, officers of the Tokyo Imperial Army appear to take Akitaru into custody. Obi insists to the chief that there must be some mistake, but his assurance loses its weight when White-Clad make an appearance.

The Shocking Twist No One Expected

Back to Company 8, Shinra and Arthur seem to have met in a draw. After some brief hijinks, a call comes through, followed by an alarm. Cut to Captain Leonard Burns, Karim Flam, Onyango, and Huo Yan Li, who have been summoned together to The Curia. They meet with Raffles, who tells them how badly the Empire needs to be unified. White-Clad appear, to the shock of the gathered men, and Raffles preaches that their help will lead the Empire to become one. Leonard is less than pleased, appearing ready to strike at any moment. Haumea uses “Talking Head” to read his thoughts as she attempts to convince him that they want the same thing. Citing the captain’s eye as proof that he’s seen the truth, she dismisses Karim’s accusation of the White-Clad’s desire to recreate the Cataclysm. According to her, it is simply the means to their ultimate end, transforming the world into a sun, just as Sol once did. The men are shocked and appalled, but when Haumea demands proof of faith, Leonard kneels obediently.

No Man Left Behind

Cut to the 8th, and the team is learning about the detainment of Captain Obi. With the information they have, it seems likely that the army will soon be coming for Shinra next, due to him possessing the Adola Burst. After shooting down Arthur’s suggestion to trade Kusakabe for Akitaru, Hinawa tells them that he will be attempting to rescue their captain. Knowing that doing so will make him a traitor, he goes on to inform them that he will be doing so as an individual, not their lieutenant, and therefore will not be issuing them any orders. Unsurprisingly, the gang insists on staying to help. Licht states the obvious, reminding them that they will be making themselves enemies of the Empire. Unfazed, Shinra and the rest of Company 8 are ready for whatever comes next.

Coming Back in a Blaze of Glory

There’s a Lot to Take in

This season three debut certainly didn’t disappoint. With so much new information as well as a twist no one was expecting, it’s almost hard to keep track of what’s going on. In a perfect balance of old and new, fans were not only caught up on previous events, but treated to some exciting new developments. No one could have expected that Leonard Burns would kneel before the White-Clad, that’s for certain. Not to mention the capture of the 8th’s beloved Captain. With the world at stake, what will the resourceful members of Company 8 do to not only rescue Obi, but also protect their own skins in the process? Any moves they make now will put them up against not only their established opposition, but the Tokyo Empire itself.

At Least We Don’t Have to Wait 5 More Years

One thing is for certain: things are about to get hot. This new season has started off with a bang, and it can be expected to only burn brighter as the story progresses. The implications of the White-Clad and the Evangelist’s steadily growing influence are clear: Shinra and the others are going to have to get even stronger. The allies they’ve made thus far will be even more important than ever, now that they’re about to make an enemy out of the world. Can they rise to meet these new challenges head-on? Will they be able to save their captain, and then the world? Episode one certainly sets the stage for what can only be an epic struggle between two forces. No matter how it goes down, Fire Force fans are surely in for a treat. Thankfully, the next episode is only a week away!