The Nether Zone
Fire Force episode 19 begins a new arc focusing on the Nether. Maki takes center stage. Her father, General Danro Oze, receives a report from the Special Fire Force. He’s an intimidating figure. The Oze family get together for the first time in years. They mock Maki’s appearance for being too buff. Regardless, the dynamic of the Oze family is typical. Her brother heads down into the Nether to investigate the strange smells coming from the area. Along with his colleague, they investigate the strange smells coming from the equipment room. Inside they find Infernal insects and realize that it was a White Clad lab. Suddenly, a White Clad suicide bomber appears and kills himself. The lab is destroyed but Maki’s brother survived. General Oze upon hearing this, demands that the Military be involved in investigating the White Clad.
The 8th is asked to join a joint mission into the Nether. Maki receives orders from the military to return. She doesn’t want to go but when Hinawa tells her to go back she relents. After introductions, Special Fire Force Company 2 and Company 8 explore the Nether together. Fire Force episode 20 focuses on this exploration. This episode was strange. It felt like it had a horror element to it and it felt like it was more bloody than the series is generally. The companies encounter Infernals. The second company open fires and are quickly overwhelmed. I was shocked that they were so quickly defeat considering that they’re military and Maki is so skilled. The episode makes a weird decision. Several of the company 2 members get short flashbacks, one with his fiance, another with his pregnant wife, and the last one with his sneaker.
Juggernaut verses Orochi
They all are killed by Infernals and reanimated by Ritsu. The scene may have been intended to be funny but it was awkwardly executed. Platoon Leader Hajiki is given more introduction than his company 2 comrades but he’s then decapitated by a White Clad, Orochi. Enraged, Juggernaut overcomes his cowardice and attacks Orochi. At first, he creates a machine gun, but its countered by Orochi’s Medusa Whip. She then begins to strike at Juggernaut’s inflated body, drawing blood. Juggernaut’s ability to regenerate his uniform is never explained but borders on the ridiculous. Regardless, he’s able to use this ability effectively. Juggernaut can hit Orochi with a massive bomb resulting in the obliteration of Orochi. It’s not clear that what happened to Juggernaut, but it appears that he may not survive.
