Season 1, Episode 4: the Hero and the Princess
The ashes that Joker used in his fight are analyzed. There main component are Infernal ashes. Shinra hasn’t informed Company 8 of Jokers claim that his brother, Sho, remains alive. Maki sends Arthur and Shinra to rescue a dog out of a tree. We learn that the Fire Force isn’t a replacement for the fire fighters, but they exist in the world together. Apparently, the Fire Force are often mistaken for firefighters. Turns out that the “dog” is the mascot, Mamoru. A group of high school students tossed him up into the tree. Mamoru explains that since the murder spree of serial killer, Miyamoto, the image of the firefighters and Fire Force have taken a “hit.” The result is that they’re sometimes picked on by the public.
The serial killer’s verdict will be announced today, he’s expected to be found insane. Setsuo Miyamoto is found not guilty, he gloats, while the audience is outraged. Then he begins combustion, becoming an Infernal. He tells everyone that he will kill them all. Everyone, except the judge manages to escape. Arthur, Shinra and the rest of Company 8 arrive at the courthouse. Arthur and Shinra immediately begin to fight Miyamoto. Unlike the other Infernals, he’s self aware. If your will is strong enough you can keep your personality after transforming. He escapes, and Shinra is sent to stop him. Shinra dominates Miyamoto, as Company 5 watches. Princess Hibana orders her company to capture Miyamoto. They arrive and capture him, when Shinra tries to question her authority she uses an ability on him. He collapses to the ground and she orders her company to hold him down.
Shinra prepares to fight the entire 5th Company, but is stopped by Obi. We meet another new character from Company 5, Second Class Fire Soldier, Third Gen., Toru Kishiri. He calls Captain Obi a “no-talent nobody.” As Arthur and Shinra argue with him, Maki sucker punches him in the stomach. It’s a funny moment that Toru earned, even the uptight Hinawa approves. Anyway, Company 5 leaves with Miyamoto, I doubt that they will share what they discover. While, I find Princess Hibana’s abilities to be intriguing, she yet another fanservice character. I can tolerate fanservice as long as it’s occasional. We’ll see, it early. I wonder how far these companies will go in terms of morality. Company 5 are rude (they knocked a little boy over) and appear unethical, but are they evil? I expect that some of them are, but wonder if any of them will be “good.”
The lines are certainly pretty grey at the moment. Company 5 is certainly not entirely good, but it’s too early to might call them evil. Which I think makes for an interesting watch. As far as the fan service is concerned, yeah agreed. Hopefully it’s not going to dominate this show, that would be a shame.
I expect that most of the Companies are going to exist in some grey area, with some characters possibly defecting. As for the fanservice, I don’t expect it to be rampant.