Summary
Fans ofFire Forceare finally getting their just desserts after a long waiting period for season three of the series, but it kicks off to a rocky start. While reporting on the actions birthed by the unity of the Fire Force, Akitaru Obi is wrongfully placed under arrest.
To free their captain,Company 8 has branded themselves outlaws, deciding to oppose anyone who stands in the way of their rescue mission. With enemies closing in left and right, the unity and resolve of Company 8 inFire Forceare tested like never before, and their captain’s arrest might not be the only issue they have to deal with.
Captain Obi’s Arrest
A Spark That Ignites Rebellion
In an organization primarily focused onusing pyrokinetic powers to battlethe threats against humanity, the non-pyrokinetic Akitaru Obi stands out. Known to be a man of incredible strength, honorable heart, and unwavering principle, he is why Company 8 is what it is today: a team willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of one another. To see such a valuable fighter arrested came as a shock to everyone. The media claims that he is a suspect in the abduction of Shinra, but it is a facade.
The influence of the Evangelist has sunk deeper into the Tokyo Empire, and Obi’s arrest is just a step in their grand scheme of eliminating all forms of resistance. That step alone was enough to spur the 8th into action.
That’s because the 8th is a family.- Takehisa Hinawa
Upon realizing their captain’s situation, the 8th willingly chose to rebel against the Fire Force, the Tokyo Empire, and anything else in their way, as nothing is of greater importance than his safety.
Company 8 On The Run
Allies Turned Fugitives
With their decision in Obi’s absence, Company 8 became ostracized by their allies,the other companies in theFireForce. The Tokyo Imperial Army is also searching for them, so they have to rely on stealth and rogue tactics to survive and save their captain. Acting on their own is not a new tactic for the 8th, as most of the other companies have always held some form of resentment towards them since their inception.
However, being on the run and continuously avoiding capture is a movement they are not used to, save for their science officer, Viktor Licht. To aid the 8th, Licht brings in one more person,a character that shocked both fansof the series and the 8th themselves.
Their Alliance With Joker
Although Joker has aided the Fire Force from the shadows, he is not exactly on good terms with the 8th, and rightfully so. Joker once brought down their roof and alsointerfered in the Rookie’s Fire Soldier Games, severely injuring Shinra. He sees himself as an anti-hero who mischievously and manipulatively uses other people to achieve his desired outcome. While his methods do not align with the ideals of the 8th, he is currently their only option. Joker also has his reasons.
When a person who has lived a long time in deep darkness takes a look, they know without even trying… what a real light is.– Joker
Joker believes that the Empire needs Obi to survive, and he can not afford to die just yet. He views Obi as one of the lights who will stop at nothing to help people and wants to save him. With Joker as an ally, all hell is about to break loose in Fuchu Penitentiary, where Obi is held captive.
Uncovering The Conspiracy
The Evangelist’s Grip Tightens
From the onset, the Evangelist, through the White-Clad, has been trying to turn the world into a sun, sacrificing everyone in it. To achieve this, they would spread their influence into the nooks and crannies of the Fire Force, using some of the companies to their advantage, and now they have finally reached the heart of the empire. Howthe White-Clad managed to influencethe Imperial King of Tokyo, Raffles III, remains a complete mystery. An even greater mystery is the conversion of Leonard Burns to their side.
The Evangelist continues to remove anyone who stands in her way by either neutralizing them or converting them. Obi’s imprisonment is nothing but a ploy to lure Shinra and make him a part of them, showing how far they are willing to go. With few allies left and powerful enemies hot on their tails, the 8th risk everything to rescue their captain, even if it means going against everyone else.
Bonds Forged In Fire
Trust, Sacrifice, And Brotherhood
One of the most portrayed themes inFire Forceis the importance of family, and so far, nowhere is it as evident as in Obi’s rescue arc. Their decision to rescue Obi was not out of duty but out of compassion and loyalty. Every member of the 8th was ready to lay their lives on the line for their captain, although Tamaki’s declaration was a bit shaky. Even their decision to ally themselves with Joker was solely because of their captain, as Hinawa was willing to go along with him despite Shinra’s reservations. Their loyalty to Obi is a reminder that real strength does not lie in power alone, but in unity and conviction. It is clear that no matter what happens in the series, Company 8 will always stick together and burn for each other, even if they have to go against the world.
Fire Force
David Production’s Fire Force is an action fantasy anime based on Atsushi Ohkubo’s manga, which ran from 2015 to 2022. Set in an alternate version of Earth where spontaneous human combustion is a regular tragedy, the story follows Special Fire Force Company 8 as they take on cases and investigate the cause behind these transformations.
