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Season three ofFire Forcehas beensetting things up for a major clashbetween two powers. With tensions continuing to rise, the weekly wait for new episodes has been agonizing for viewers. This week’s installment is finally here, and with the second episode’s cliffhanger leaving things as they were, it couldn’t have come soon enough. A new, unexpected alliance has been made, and plans are going into action. With Company 8 finally on the move, will their captain be able to escape the imminent danger he’s facing? With the clock ticking, it’s hard forFire Forcefans not to worry about the team’s leader and father-figure.
Last week’s episode was filled with revelationsfor the 8th. Through an Adolla Link, Shinra discovered that Obi, who had been arrested under false pretense, was going to be administered an insect that would turn him into an infernal. Since the team all agreed that they were willing to be branded as traitors in order to save him, Licht decided it was time to introduce them to his secret accomplice, Joker. The pair took them to their secret base, from which they departed on theirmission to save their captain. Meanwhile, Obi, who was passing his time incarcerated with exercise, was approached by an unfamiliar White-Clad named Gold. She’s toting an infernal insect, presumably with Akitaru’s name on it. Now that Company 1 and its captain, Leonard Burns, have converted to the side of the Evangelist, Company 8 will certainly have their work cut out for them once they finally arrive at the scene.
An Inevitable Clash With the White Lion
A Radical New Form of Worship
After a brief refresher, Shinra and Obi arrive to find Burns barring their path, a White-Clad at his side. The first’s captain informs the pair that Obi will be rewarded for devoting his heart and mind to Sol by being returned to flame. When Shinra questions his actions, Burns tells him that though he devoted his life to god, his experience through the Adolla Link caused him to question those beliefs. Through the Evangelist, he senseda god that he could notdoubt. Shinra tries to get him to see reason, telling Burns that the White-Clad seek to destroy the world with a second Great Cataclysm. Burns brushes off the warning, stating that what follows destruction is regeneration.
When reminded of the human lives he’s putting in danger, Leonard argues that all actions come with sacrifice. He then signals for Obi, who’s been chained up, to be raised from below. Seeing his captain’s life being taken so lightly, Shinra flies into a rage, attacking Burns, who doesn’t so much as flinch before sending the younger man flying. Joker immediately tags in. The duo attack Burns from both sides, but the captain quicklyhumbles them with a Voltage Novaattack. After recovering, Joker informs Shinra that the longer the battle drags on, the hotter Burn’s flames will become. With the threat of Leonard becoming even more frighteningly powerful, Shinra’s apprehension is clear. Kusakabe can’t even fathom how a manwho had always seemed so fatherlycould choose such a destructive path.
All the Cogs Are in Motion
Cut to Haumea and Charon, who are in the courtyard below. Haumea thinks back to an earlier conversation with Burns, who had predicted the arrival of the 8th, and had resolved to take his stand during the encounter. He insisted that he be given space during the conflict, a request Haumea granted with no resistance. After spotting the signs of the fight, she and Charon head below. Haumea shows signs of fatigue, brushing off Charon’s concern with irritation.
We then see Karim Flam and Huo Yan Li seated in opposite directions outside, discussing the current motivations of their captain. Flam is absolutely incensed, comparing the goals ofthe Evangelist to those of a cult. Huo Yan is more sympathetic, attributing Burn’s faith to what he must have seen during his Adolla Link. Karim remains unconvinced.
Don’t hold back!
We’re going out there to raze the Fuchu Penitentiary to the ground!
Demolish the prison!
-Takehisa Hinawa
The rest of Company 8 is en route to Fuchu, still traveling through the Nether.Hinawa is fired up, citing his fall to the status of rebel as an excuse to act out. He reminds his team that the plan is to demolish the prison, razing it to the ground. The girls seem apprehensive about the lieutenant’s attitude, but he rallies them with the chant of “Demolish the prison!”
The Plot Thickens Even Further
Dubious Doppelgängers
Gold and two other White-Cladwatch the ensuing battle from a window, commenting on Burns and his importance to their plans. She informs the others that Haumea intends to link the captain to a doppelgänger. Their role in the conflict is to intercept the remaining members of the 8th who are presumably on the way. When the masked White-Clad ask after the whereabouts of Haumea, Gold informs them that she’s in the Nether sanctum, gathering the collective unconscious.
In the sanctum, Haumea is wailing in agony while Charon waits, visibly distressed. Yona appears in a writhing, unfamiliar form. He observes Haumea’s struggle, casually commenting on how her collection seems to be going well. Yona tells Charon that they are in the age of deciphering pi. The camera pans up from a suffering Haumea to a sun, and thenthe grinning moon from episode one.
At Company 5,Conehead is looking for Hibana, who has been shut up in the research lab. She’s going over all the information gathered thus far, trying to connect the pieces. It seems the tragic event at the convent of her childhood may be tied to some sort of experimentation. Hibana seems certain that the fire that day was arson, anddoppelgängers were somehow involved. She’s not too pleased to make this discovery.
Launching a Counterattack
Gold and her two White-Clad companions go out to meet the 8th. While they’re unsure of the company’s route of infiltration, they expect them to strike whileBurns is occupied with Shinra and Joker. Before they can finish organizing, Hinawa blasts through a wall with his subordinates by his side. He gives his team orders, putting Vulcan and Licht on backup, while Arthur takes the lead Unfortunately, it looks like Boyle is nowhere to be seen. Resolving to put himself or Maki on point, Tamaki steps up to fill the roll. Kotatsu charges in with Hinawa and Maki acting as support. Gold sends their attacks right back at them, keeping them on their toes. Having had the foresight to bring Obi’s fire shield, Hinawa uses it to block the repelled rounds. Gold seems less than concerned.
Shinra and Joker are continuing their boutwith Burns on the roof. The captain has entered stage two, his powers continuing to increase. Joker worries that his strength may have already increased too much for them to handle. Licht and Maki are suspicious of Gold’s right arm, but have yet to determine how her powers work. The former and Vulcan continue their analysis, determined to figure out the way forward. Gold is confident that she will prevail, but so are the members of 8th.
Things Finally Start Heating Up
Once again, this week’s episode was bursting with new information. It seems many of the events leading up to this confrontation have been connected from the beginning. It seems dopplegangers will be playing a more prominent role in the future, and the prospect of Burns being involved somehow is a chilling one, indeed. Yona’s new form comes with its own unanswered questions as well.Company 8 is in for a heated battleif they want to save their captain. Will Arthur make an appearance, or is it going to remain in Tamaki’s hands to hold point in the struggle against Gold? Let’s not forget the very real danger Shinra and Joker face while going up against the unbelievably tough Captain Burns. It looks likeFire Forcefans are going to have a long week ahead of them. The next episode is certain to be an explosive one.
