Fire Force
a review by ZeekyBoogie
a review by ZeekyBoogie
Fire Force, at first glance, is a tad generic conceptually - an anime about firefighters isn't the most enticing capture point at surface value, but when you add a good chunk of humanity having fire powers and attempting to contain those that can't control them - you suddenly have a killer plot to unravel!
And that's why when I say Fire Force is "exponentially charming", I mean that as a source of appraisal - it went from cute and engaging to having me hooked at a rapidly increasing rate over the course of a couple arcs.
Main protagonist Shinra Kusakabe, in particular, went from a mildly cool, perhaps trope-influenced main character to a guy with some dark backstory layers. That's how you establish a good lead protagonist.
And did I mention the exceptional pacing of the storyline?
Fire Force is divided into a smoothly segmented seven arcs, which all possess a very unique premise and demand your memory and attention.
In retrospect, it's maddening to consider how intense matters were as soon as Arc 2 ("VS. Special Fire Force Company 5") - the early conflicts against Hibana were incredible nail-biters that developed emotional investment almost immediately. It was once I saw her backstory with Iris that I knew I was in for not only an action-packed Shonen, but a series of sentiment. And I adore it!
One of Fire Force's strengths is its flashback game - they don't let any character go contextless! It's an easy dynamic to underappreciate, but it's integral to any great story. Not only is it an easy gateway to understanding the adventures and experiences of old, but this show does an outstanding job of tying the past to the mannerisms and triggers of modern characters.
Whether it's Shinra's obsession with "being a hero" or Hinawa's submerged trauma from seeing a fellow soldier Infernalize, there's a reason for every characteristic.
I don't think I ever expected to get subliminal messages from a show of this nature. But the degree to which it silently breaks down the horrors of institution and government is absurd.
It's interesting to consider that Special Fire Force Company 8 are the vagabonds of enforcement in this universe, yet receive the same negative tension many of the series' anti-industrial characters have towards the Fire Force Company as a whole.
Observing the aggression towards the agency from various citizens is reminiscent of real-life anti-government vocalists and police abolitionists, and Fire Force does an excellent job of depicting multiple perspectives of that reality.
Among these are not only the unrest among the inner-city population - which was best highlighted during the chaos of Episode 4 ("The Hero and the Princess") - but also the politics of other districts, which is showcased by Benimaru's skepticism of Company 8 and assumption that they were involved in the Infernal epidemic.
It was the leading cause of the "Asakusa" arc's events, and remained a persistent issue upon the Company's struggles to reason with Vulcan as well. The Fire Force has a dark past - and it haunts their present-day existence, adding another wall of tribulation to their responsibilities.
I also want to quickly point out that Fire Force is outright gorgeous - the animation is crisp and colorful, staying close to warm hues to complement a story of elements.
The character designs are simple yet endearing, and don't get me started on the auditory gratification - as an audio engineer, it speaks to me. The sound work on this show is top-tier and adds to the intensity of its fighting scenes.
I don't want to pack this review with too many words, so I'll merge my final talking point and conclusion - this season ended masterfully. The lasting sense of uncertainty tied to Shinra regarding his familial past leaves me with a strong itch to dive right into the next season, which I will do - with time.
But for now...
...I'm going to spend another week digesting his conflict with Shou and internally cry over how heartbreaking and heartwarming it managed to be at the same time.
I'm still in disbelief over those last few episodes.
But any-hoo...
...Fire Force is a must-watch experience. I can't name many ways it could've better handled its progression over one season's time - it introduced, answered, and didn't answer so many elements of chaos, and I know Season 2 - and the Spring 2025 Season 3 release - will only be that times ten. I am EXCITED.
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