Company 8 battle a horde of Infernals
Episode 4 and 5 of Fire Force are no stop action. Obi suspects that Haumea is releasing Infernal Bugs, creating a massive number of Infernals. Company 8 struggles to contain the outbreak, with Infernal appearing at random, it becomes difficult to get the sisters in place to pray. Meanwhile, Maki locates Haumea and sends Arthur to distract her. At the same time, Shinra and Charon continue their battle over Inca. When Shinra tells her that she will be safe with him, she rejects his offer of safety. Inca hopes for a life of thrills. Shinra is confused.
Vulcan detects a demon Infernal. A rare type of Infernal, demons are horned sentient Infernal’s, with high strength and durability. The only two demons in the series were defeated by members of Company 7. When the Infernals overwhelm Vulcan and Hinawa they’re rescued by Lieutenant Karim. Elsewhere, Shinra is rescued by Toru Kishiri from the 5th and Juggernaut from the 2nd. Their interference allows Shinra to escape. However, Charon grabs him as he reaches a captured Inca. Company 2 and Company 5 arrives with reinforcements easing the burden on Company 8. Meanwhile, Arthur finally reaches Haumea, and she’s not pleased to see him.
Shinra tries to use Corna (Sign of the Devil)
Finally, Shinra and Charon battle again. However, Shinra’s heat does not affect Charon, he prepares to use “Corna.” As the Companies get a handle on the Infernals, the demon remains. Episode 5, Corna (Sign of the Devil), centers on the defeat of the demon. Fire Force highlights the fact that the Second Generations are not inherently weaker than the Third Generation. The second generation can only manipulate already existing flames, while, the third generation can create and manipulate them. Logic would dictate that successive generations would be more powerful, however, I think Fire Force balances the power levels in this series well.
Lieutenant Hinawa explains that one strategy of the second generation when facing the third is to use their flames to fight them. By concealing the generation to which they belong, they can catch the third generation “off guard.” Shinra releases this as he fights Charon. However, he still has the same problem, his flames don’t work. Inspired by his conversation with Obi, Shinra uses Corna, becoming the first person to harm Charon. Maki and the other faceoff against the demon. Licht creates a strategy to “kill two birds with one stone.” Using the second generation from the 2nd and 5th platoons to gather flames at the center of town. He believes that using the wind and air currents can create flame hot enough to destroy the demon.
Licht plans for a firestorm
Maki standing in the center creates a vortex, Licht calls a “firestorm.” As Hinawa lures the demon to the firestorm, Vulcan arrives with the Matchbox. Using the cannon on top, Vulcan and Obi knock the demon into the vortex. Trapped, Hinawa can use the flames from the firestorm to accelerate the velocity to the missile he’s controlling. As the demon reaches the top of the firestorm, its core is pierced by the missile and it explodes. Lieutenant Karim freezes the remaining firestorm leaving a pillar of ice. All that remains the Evangelists.
These two episodes focus on what the Fire Force does best, high octane action. Each episode successfully balances the many fights that are occurring simultaneously. However, I think it took too long for Shinra to figure out the problem with facing a second generation. That said, I liked the fact that Fire Force reminded us that even with all the new powerful characters, the second-gen. can match them. I still believe that Inca is going to join the Evangelist, especially with Shinra offering her safety. Finally, the humor in Fire Force is flat. Tamaki’s clumsy fanservice and Obi’s inability to aim were ridiculous and distracting. The next episode will likely focus on Arthur more and the conclusion of Charon verses Shinra. However, I don’t think that either fight will result in a conclusion.
Fire Force 2, Episode 3: Recap and Review
