REVIEW: ‘Fire Force’ Season 3 Episode 14 — “With The Sun At His Back”

Fire Force Season 3 Episode 14, “With the Sun at His Back,” sees the arrival of the seventh pillar, forcing Benimaru (Mamaru Miyano, Gamera: Rebirth) to confront a personal challenge. Rather than another giant Infernal, this pillar brings with it his old master, wreathed in flames and wrath. Now, he must show his former mentor what the current Asakusa Hikeshi is capable of. 

It’s weird that an episode can both feel like it delivers a long-deserved moment while, at the same time, feel out of the blue and out of place. Yet, this entry manages to do just that as it delivers a big moment for one of the series’s oldest characters, who also projects a huge presence onto the narrative. 

Focusing completely on Benimaru, Fire Force Season 3 Episode 14 splits time between the past and present of the recurring character as he faces a challenge that rapidly feels less like a battle and more like a rite of passage. After all, Benimaru is Benimaru, and not much can slow him down. 

Fire Force Season 3 Episode 14 is fully focused on Benimaru.

The protagonist’s near-invincible status sucks any sense of threat from the fight very quickly. That’s not to say the battle doesn’t have anything going for it; it’s just that, with the outcome never in doubt, it must grab the audience’s attention through other means. 

Its strongest efforts are its visuals. With waves lapping under the two floating combatants inspired by classical Japanese art styles, the two clash repeatedly, showcasing gorgeous, if brief, animation and visual effects that do draw a few gasps as they play out. Sadly, this is the only aspect that the fight fully delivers on.

There is a clear, concerted effort to harness some measure of emotional payoff for the fight. Drawing on the past, the story tries to impart the foe’s importance in Benimaru’s life and what this battle means to him. It never comes together.

Fire Force Season 3 Episode 14 never fully conjures the emotions it’s aiming for.

Between the lack of preparation for the moment and Benimaru’s stoicism, the emotions the episode tries to conjure never fully form. It provides more than enough for the audience to understand what the battle means, but falls well short of making them feel it. 

Despite the time in the past failing on the emotional front, this side of Fire Force Season 3 Episode 14 does bring some strong elements to the narrative. What we learn about Benimaru’s former boss and his outlook on what they did creates a striking philosophical perspective. His acknowledgment of what they do and the fact that they have no clear right to do it make him stand out from the bulk of characters who see their work as a divine calling. 

The death that caps the flashback sequence is the one moment of emotional storytelling that actually comes across with the level of poignancy it aspires to. The acceptance of the murder that has been done by the one who is being slain leaves a powerful mark on the series, leaving behind it a resounding wish that we could’ve gotten more time with the character. 

Fire Force Season 3 Episode 14 injects a bit of humor between the fiery action.

While most of the episode is filled with fiery action and attempts at drama, it does manage to inject a bit of humor into the proceedings. Watching the battle from the shoreline with a handful of others, Princess Hibana ( Lynn, Oshi No Ko) provides some great moments of visual humor, as she is repeatedly startled and shocked by the manner in which the seventh Fire Station does things. These moments weave well with the other elements of the narrative, bringing a few chuckles to the episode. 

Fire Force Season 3 Episode 14 delivers a good story. While the lack of setup for the central confrontation keeps it from hitting with full emotional force, and the seeming impossibility of Benimaru losing robs it of tension, its beautiful visuals create a gorgeous sequence to watch. Couple it with some strong elements from the other side of the story, and a sprinkling of well-timed humor, and you have a solid overall performance. 

Fire Force Season 3 Episode 14 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

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