REVIEW: ‘Fire Force,’ Season 2 – Episode 11

I have to admit, ever since I began watching this series, I knew this moment was coming. Every anime or JRPG I’ve ever experienced that has an organized religion in it always has the organized religion be corrupt and evil at heart. That’s not to say that everyone who follows them is, just the leadership at its head is. Ever since Final Fantasy X this has been the running theme of my experience. And given how intrinsically linked the main cast is to the Holy Sol Temple, I was curious to see how the revelation will play out. While Fire Force Episode 11 only begins laying the groundwork for what is to come, I’m still extremely interested in where the show will go from here.

While it does lay some good groundwork for future storytelling, the bulk of this episode slows down considerably, mostly coming to focus on Viktor. As Fire Station 8’s freelance researcher, he has no connection to the Sol Temple and seems most pessimistic about what will be done with their findings.

As he ponders his motivations and how best to pursue them, Fire Force Episode 11 slows down significantly. While I appreciated the character moment for one of the more under-explored personalities on the team, I feel like it could’ve been handled better. It just felt like it didn’t say enough for the amount of time the episode spent on him.

The back portion of the episode takes the viewer from Fire Station 8 for a visit with the proto-nationalist Benimaru. It seems someone has come to him with a proposition. What it is I won’t spoil, but it’s opening steps leaves the episode in an unexpected, and exciting position. As Benimaru is another character that holds no connection to the Sol Temple, his presence in the story adds another wildcard to the mix.

The one big visual element that requires commenting on is the Holy Sol Temple itself. Being seen for the first time, this immensely impressive structure looks like the world’s most expensive organ went totally Hollywood. It is surrounded by searchlights which seem to serve no purpose but to make sure no one ever forgets who the center of attention should be. I’ve seen religious orders that felt needy but these guys take the cake.

So, while Fire Force Episode 11 opens up slow and spends a bit of time meandering, it manages to create something interesting near its end that promises the next episode should be back to the smoother flowing pacing I’ve grown accustomed to.

Fire Force Episode 11 is streaming now.