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Fire Forceseason 3, episode 5, titledA Chance Meeting with an Archenemy,flips expectations right from the jump. What looked like a tragic cliffhanger in episode 4—Captain Obi turning into an Infernal—turns out to be a setup for one of the funniest and strangest sequences the series has pulled off. Instead of combusting, Obi’s insane workout routine saves his life. His muscles are literally too strong for the bug to burrow into him.
The set-up is classicFire Force:equal parts absurd and brilliant. But laughs don’t last long. A new threat shows up—a strange man that turns out to be the strongest White-Clad yet—and suddenly Company 8 finds itself outmatched. Arthur steps up, determined to play the part of the noble knight.What follows is an epic battle, some key discoveries from Hibana, and a setup that hints at a major shift coming.
Spoiler Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Fire Force episode 5, season 3.
Fire Force Season 3, Episode 5 Has One of the Series' Strongest Power-Ups Yet
Captain Obi’s Muscles Save the Day
The episode picks up right where the last left off:Obi chained to a post, screaming as he transforms into an Infernal. But instead of watching him transform into a fire-spewing monster, something weird happens—it doesn’t work. His body is too tough. Literally. His insane level of muscle mass blocks the insect from digging in.
His muscles are so tough, the Insect can’t penetrate!
Obi starts flexing to keep the thing from succeeding, and the rest of Company 8 starts cheering him on like he’s in a bodybuilding contest. It’s a hilarious break from the usual tension, but also smartly done. There’s still danger—everyone knows he can’t flex forever. The moment adds urgency while letting the show do what it does best: blending comedy and intensity in a way few animes manage to pull off.
Arthur vs Dragon: Knight Meets Monster
Arthur’s Power Rises With His Imagination
Enter Dragon:the strongest White Clad soliderthat Company 8 has ever had to face. He’s massive, terrifying, and not interested in small talk. He blasts most of Company 8 away with ease.
Arthur, of course, sees this as destiny. A knight must fight a dragon. It’s the law—as far as he’s concerned.
His output has increased even more. He’s incredible!
Arthur’s power has always been tied to how deeply he buys into his own delusion. The more he believes he’s a knight, the stronger he gets. He goes all in—sword swinging, monologuing, channeling King Arthur energy.His plasma blade grows larger than ever. By all means, it should be nothing short of epic.
But Dragon barely reacts to Arthur. Each one of his strikes bounce off. Excalibur breaks. He’s thrown to the ground, hurt and shaken. The hype build-up doesn’t quite land because Dragon isn’t interested in showmanship.
Dragon is revealed to be part Infernal, or rather, he has the ability to turn partially Infernal at will, and he retains full control of his mind and body, suggesting he’s some kind of hybrid or advanced form. It’s implied that he was created or engineered that way—possibly through tampering withAdolla energy or experiments by the White-Clad.
Which is why when Arthur shows growth—unlocking a new plasma cloak—it still feels like round one of a much bigger fight.
The Battle That Stole the Show: Shinra vs Burns
Finally, Some Fire
While Arthur and Dragon clash, Shinra and Joker make a move of their own,and together, they attack Captain Burns. The episode saves its best visual punch for this moment. Burns and Shinra crash through a building ina fiery brawl that finally feels worthy of the Fire Forcename. The animation kicks into gear, the stakes rise, and it sets up what’s likely to be the centerpiece of Episode 6.
Burns starts to power up, reaching a new level of ability. Shinra doesn’t flinch. The tension in this fight actually hits, unlike Arthur’s more chaotic clash.
Princess Hibana Gets Closer to the Truth
Doppelganger. Konro said that it’s like a mirror image of you, a Demon Infernal that comes from Adolla. Are the Demon Infernals trying to kill the real people and become them?
Amid all the chaos, Princess Hibana quietly inches toward one of the show’s core mysteries. She uncovers a link between Infernals, doppelgangers, andthe church where she and Iris grew up. It’s a blink-and-you ’ll-miss-it moment, but one with serious weight.
While she hasn’t solved the mystery yet, if anyone’s going to figure out what’s going on behind these human combustion, it’s Hibana. Her theory is that the Infernals from Adolla are trying to impersonate real people, and in true doppelganger fashion, they murder the original in an attempt to take their place.
If I can identify what doppelgangers really are, maybe I’ll also be able to solve the mystery of spontaneous combustion!
The Ending: Setting the Stage for Something Bigger
A Slow Burn That Might Pay Off
Fire Force season 3, episode 5 ends with the show juggling three major threads: Obi flexing for his life, Arthur facing his greatest test yet,and Shinra stepping into his biggest fight. It’s a lot—and not all of it hits. The pacing struggles, especially in the Arthur-Dragon fight, where too much time is spent on setups that don’t fully deliver.
But the pieces are there. Dragon’s reveal as a part-Infernal being, Arthur’s new powers, Hibana’s breakthrough, and Burns vs Shinra—these are big moves. This episode feels like a bridge. Not satisfying on its own, but maybe essential for what’s next.
If episode 6 can cash in on what episode 5 sets up, it could be the turning point season 3 needs.
