REVIEW: ‘Fire Force’ Season 3 Episode 15 — “Birth”

Fire Force Season 3 Episode 15, “Birth,” sees Sho (Maaya Sakamoto, Arknughts: Rise from Embers) search for information about his family before the Great Cataclysm arrives. With Arrow (Yumi Uchiyama, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation) by his side, he visits several official offices looking for records before he makes a startling discovery. 

The nature of the Great Cataclysms continues to come to light in Fire Force Season 3 Episode 15. How the event merges reality with perception becomes clearer here as those present for the last episode’s big battle explore its meanings. The idea that humanity’s imagination will be made manifest through the cataclysm is an interesting concept. Though the intrigue of the concept dies when Princess Hibana ( Lynn, Oshi No Ko) has the stark realization that all human imaginings end with death. 

This revelation makes the coming Apocalypse seem all but certain. Since there seems to be no way to prevent the final pillar from appearing, isn’t the world doomed? As luck would have it, that is not the case. For unto you in Fire Force Season 3 Episode 15, a savior is born!

A myth arises in Fire Force Season 3 Episode 15 that may be familiar to some viewers.

After its opening tangle with the greater mysteries of the Cataclysm, Fire Force Season 3 Episode 15 jumps to Sho and Arrow. Dressed in civilian garb, the pair searches for information concerning Sho’s family. After visiting the hospital where he and his brother were born, Sho made a startling discovery: neither of them had a father listed. What’s more, their mother was tested for a “virgin birth.” 

It is then revealed that the post-Cataclysm world has a myth similar in makeup to the legends surrounding Christ. That a child would be born of a virgin, and that he would save the world. This similarity isn’t a coincidence. As mentioned earlier, humanity’s imaginings and dreams are melded with reality during a cataclysm. So, one of humanity’s most well-known ones has endured. 

Adding validity to this news is the fact that the White Clad acted to suppress the information. Though their knowledge about the situation and their apparent belief that this birth heralded something special call their follow-up choices into question.

The introduction of two potential saviors offers more confusion and questions than clarity.

If they knew Shinra and Sho were both born through such miraculous means, why wouldn’t they make it a point to grab both of them after the fire? Even if they believed Sho was the important one, why leave it to chance? They clearly have more than enough influence to get their hands on a lone orphan boy. Fire Force Season 3 Episode 15 brings no answers to these obvious questions. 

The other glaringly obvious problem about this explanation is how Shinra makes any sense as someone whose existence is inspired by the classic concepts of Christ? Beyond wanting to help others, the two have nothing in common. 

Regardless of the twist’s success, it gives Sho something to focus on.

All of these elements of this twist make it feel like a plot twist for its own sake. As if it were chosen because no one would ever see it coming. And to be fair, they are probably right about that. But that doesn’t make it a good twist. Good twists and surprise reveals are good when you look back at previous elements with a new context and go, “Of course!” Not just scratch your head and say, “Sure.” 

Whatever the eventual outcome of this reveal, or what its questionable merits are, Fire Force Season 3 Episode 15 uses the new knowledge to galvanize Sho’s resolve, driving him to a new goal. He will act as his brother’s angel and protect him until Shinra can save humanity from destruction. And it looks like he’d better hurry. As the episode draws to a close, we see the Fire Fighters of Station 8 preparing to launch their next operation: to recapture the Tokyo Empire. 

Fire Force Season 3 Episode 15 delivers a bizarre revelation that will hopefully get better as events play out. However, as far as this entry goes, the twist it is built on falls flat, leaving it sorely lacking.

Fire Force Season 3 Episode 15 is streaming now on Crunchyroll. 

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