REVIEW: ‘Fire Force’ Season 3 Episode 1 — “Indomitable Resolve”

Fire Force Season 3 Episode 1, “Indomitable Resolve,” from David Production (Cells at Work), follows the individuals of Fire Station 8 as they prepare for their efforts to defeat the White Clad and solve the mystery of spontaneous human combustion. But they aren’t the only ones preparing, as the White Clad begin their next moves and seek to turn a foe into a loyal friend.

The first third of this episode dedicates itself to re-establishing who everyone is and what’s going on. Given that it’s been roughly four years since the last episode aired, this is smart. The episode uses Captain Akitaru Obi’s (Kazuya Nakai, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising) report to his superiors, outlining his station’s recent work as a convenient way to recap the last season. Shots from the relevant events are showcased in a montage fashion to further refresh memories.

Interspersed with these shots from the past, Fire Force Season 3 Episode 1 reintroduces its core cast as we see the members of Station 8 participating in some training. Shinra (Gakuto Kajiwara, Romantic Killer), Arthur (Yûsuke Kobayashi, My Love Story with Yamadada-Kun at Lv999!), Maki (Saeko Kamijo), and Tamaki (Aoi Yûki, NieR Automata ver.1.1a) are all showcased in fighting form as the episode takes a moment to introduce its core team.

While the training session doesn’t see any of its characters go all out, David Productions shows that they haven’t lost their touch with the show’s fiery imagery. The animation in this brief sparring session does as strong of job bringing the visual language of the protagonists’ powers back as the narrative does the plot.

Fire Force Season 3 Episode 1 showcases the might of Station 8. 

This sequence showcases the fighting styles and powers of the station’s heavy hitters and delivers a hasty return of all the series’ most well-worn gags. Arthur and Shinra continue to be at each other’s throats, and Tamaki cannot get through the training sequence without her Lucky Lechery Lure triggering and other gags playing out.

While fans expect to see these within the episode, they feel a bit forced here. The series has always been more than willing to mix its humor with all other elements of its narrative, though, so its presence here isn’t overly surprising. Time will tell if the season keeps the balance in check as the action and story heat up.

The remainder of Fire Force Season 3 Episode 1 looks to the future as the White Clads’ next move begins to take shape. The plays the villainous group makes create an interesting and dangerous opening scenario for the season. The organization remains sharp in its tactics, even if many of its members are a bit unhinged. The moves made here showcase the level of threat the antagonists pose. Not just in raw power but also in their planning and ability to manipulate others, creating a well-rounded sense of danger.

Unfortunately, one of the key scenes in Fire Force Season 3 Episode 1 will prove troublesome for many Western viewers to fully appreciate. As Haumea (Rie Kugimiya, Banished from the Hero’s Party) seeks to convert a powerful enemy into an ally, she uses her telepathy to read the emotions of the room, allowing her to manipulate the conversation.

The series sets new high stakes. 

As the dialogue plays out, the emotions sensed flash on the screen, requiring them to be read. As expected, these flashes are not timed to synch with the dialogue, making full interpretation difficult. If you are a slow reader, you may want a remote handy to see everything happening. And it’s well worth the effort.

The way the episode presents Haumea during this conversion sequence is unsettling. The power of her presence and convictions is played up incredibly well. Emotive voice work, skillful camera placement, and fluid animation combine to deliver the character’s big moment. How she manages to dominate the room, despite who her verbal opponents are, creates a commanding place for her to shine.

As the episode closes, the team at Station 8 finds itself in a tight spot. Thanks to the mechanization of the White Clads, their subsequent actions will force the team to be at odds not only with their traditional foes but likely with the Japanese Empire. This sets the stakes as high as it can, promising the final season to be as big as fans could hope for.

Fire Force Season 3 Episode 1 spends its time wisely. While the opening recap is a bit lengthy due to the extended time between series, the presentation does its best with the necessary set up it faces. Once past the required history lesson, the episode sets its new stakes and situation up excellently, leaving its heroes with a mountainous challenge.

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