Review of Fire Force Season 3

Let me begin by saying I like Fire Force. I also bet anyone else who's made it to Season 3 of it likes it as well. For people like us, this season was still the Fire Force we all know and like. However, there are some core issues with Fire Force that, though present in earlier seasons, have become more apparent with this one. First though, let me begin with some positives. The animation quality is superb. From fight scenes to monologues, everything feels crisp and fluid. There weren't a ton of moments to show it off, but when those moments came, they were extremelysatisfying. The overall story is also becoming more interesting. Fire Force has always been an esoteric show with a gradual unveiling of the occult, but this season unveiled a lot of background, as well as advanced a lot of set-up right to the beginning of a grand finale.

Now, the core issues. Firstly, the pacing is atrocious. The first 4 episodes dragged to an absurd degree. I haven't read the manga, but it felt like each episode was the equivalent of a page of manga content. A long-anticipated fight was introduced in the second episode with the characters in question literally standing off and about to fight, and then didn't actually begin to fight on-screen for another 3 or 4 episodes! That was how the whole season felt: anticipation for some expected event, and then excessive delay before it finally happens.

Another core issue is the increasingly prominent sense of 'shounen syndrome.' Now, obviously Fire Force is a shounen, so there's going to be shounen elements. Dramatic build ups before fights, particular types of shallow comedy, etc. These elements can be forgiven, and are even cool and enjoyable given proper care and attention. Fire Force has always dangerously treaded that line rather close for comfort, and while this season was not enough to render a DNR, the disease significantly worsened. From near-meaningless comedic fluff subplots, to endless stand-around talk-fests, to casual conversations being held kilometers apart during a fight, etc, this season really gave into a number of shounen tropes. Now, some may read that and think I'm some scrooge who can't enjoy what's meant to be a fun show. And to those people, I'll remind them of how I prefaced this entire review: I enjoy Fire Force! It continues to be a fun show! And yet, Fire Force wasn't ever intended to just be shallow shounen slop. It stood out as being among the new generation of quality shounen shows with a deeper and complex angle to them. If one's only response to my criticisms is ""you're overthinking it, just enjoy the fights,"" then Fire Force has lost an important part of its identity.

Finally, and the issue that inspired me to write this review, plot convenience has become Fire Force's rule of law. What was once a carefully constructed plotline in order to set up the world before Soul Eater has become lazy and submissive to the 'rule of cool.' For instance, the initial powers of Fire Force were all clearly related to fire in some way. Sure, there was always some stretching in order to diversify the powers, but they all made logical sense and were intuitive. Now though, there are increasing number of characters being introduced with overcomplicated and ham-fisted fire powers. Forgive the slight spoiler, but there is one antagonist who has the power to manipulate gravity, and in turn light. He claims this is done by exerting heat upon atoms at a molecular level, and by using an Adolla Burst to give them more mass. Now I'm sorry, but that is literal bullshit thrown at the wall to justify a gravity-power enemy and you can't convince me otherwise. It's not just the powers though that are shaped by plot convenience. So too is the dialogue itself. Characters will randomly know things that don't make sense for them to know, almost to the point where it feels like the manga context was removed. More specifically is the example of the White Clad. There is no consistency in how tangential characters react to these guys. A lot of times, there's minimal reaction at all.

It may not seem like it, but I still like Fire Force. It's a fun show with a cool concept and a unique apocalyptic undertone. Don't take this review as justification for dropping the series or anything, but rather as just a fair warning of what to expect. However, I'm a bit worried about how the series is going to end. I truly fear it's going to be squeezed and stretched for maximum profit, derived of all substance in the pursuit of quality. Let's hope I'm wrong.