Review of Fire Force

I had watched this series when it first aired and now starting the second season, so I'm really writing this review more in hindsight. I haven't rewatched it since then but I'll go off my interpretation of how I first felt when I watched it. Overall I enjoyed it. This story doesn't revolutionize the shounen genre but I would say that it is definitely a solid entry and I had fun while watching it. The highest points this show has is definitely the animation. Fight scenes are executed miraculously and this probably has one of my favorite Anime OPs ever. The first OP's animation highlights eachof the main character's strengths and abilities in a seamless almost one-shot esque take. This is one of the only series I never skipped the opening. Character designs are interesting and abilities are also visually engaging.

The story is... fine? Nothing groundbreaking and a bit predictable. I would say that the show gets into the plot pretty quickly with not much fillers or waiting around for reveals.

The characters are... a mixed bag. Shinrai is a typical shounen protagonist with nothing interesting to talk about, Obi is definitely my favorite. The kind leader who despite not having fire powers proves that he's the leader for a reason. The other characters have pretty good character designs and interesting abilities but personality wise are a bit forgettable.

The main problem I have with the show is the unnecessary and blatant fanservice. Certain characters have a distinct trait of pretty much only being eye-candy and in 2019/20 it's a bit problematic. I think if this anime came out 15 years ago it'd be rivaling a lot of the other shows out there and if I was a teenager again I'd probably love it, but now watching it as an adult, it just seems gratuitous. It's a cheap attempt at overly sexual humor and visual gags that are honestly uncomfortable to watch. In a genre airing the same time as anime like My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer, Fire Force is definitely not a must watch but might scratch the itch if you can get over the fanservice. If you're looking for something with great animation/sakuga, fun, interesting character designs, flashy abilities with a decent plot I'd say go for it.