English Dub Review: Fire Force “Formation of Special Fire Force Company 8/The Mightiest Hikeshi”

OVERVIEW (SPOILERS)

Because the hunt for the Evangelist may relate to the beginnings of their company, Hinawa recounts the origin of Company 8, specifically how he came from the armed forces, but saw his friend Tojo combust one night and was unable to shoot him even when he asked. Later, he saw Company 3 about to head into a battle with two Infernals, but picking the one that was more of a fight because it would get them more “points”. There, he met Obi (then a fire fighter) for the first time, with only the two of them willing to put the other Infernal to rest at the request of his pleading wife. A year later, along with Maki and later Iris, the four first formed Company 8. However, on their first proper mission, they faced an Infernal with odd white clothes and a red cross that the victim’s employers wished to retrieve quickly.

Years later, Obi and Hinawa have traced those employers back to Asakusa; the jurisdiction of Company 7. There, they properly meet Captain Benimaru Shinmon, who is unwilling to let them investigate. As these negotiations break down, an Infernal is spotted. It’s someone who Benimaru knew personally, so he puts him down with his own hands. Shinra is amazed at his stunning fighting ability (being able to wield both Second and Third Generation pyrokinesis abilities) and casual destruction of the local scenery, but also his surprising reverence for defeating Infernals.

OUR TAKE

This episode’s focus feels kinda scattered, being half about expanding certain characters’ backstories and half about starting the next arc. The first half is brought up in order to find out what the White Clad might have to do with Company 8’s first mission…only we don’t get to see that first mission, just how Hinawa and Obi met. This is pretty important, but I can’t help but feel like I got a bit jipped when the only relevant bit about the White Clad is kinda brushed off. I don’t feel like my time got wasted or anything, just a tad confused. Kinda like expecting cash as a present but getting a gift card to the place you were already going to use that cash? Not sure that’s the best simile but that’s what I’ve got.

The second half is, as mentioned, focused on starting the arc revolving around Company 7 and does a pretty effective job showing how they stand apart from the Companies we’ve already seen. Company 5 was science-based (though they were admittedly underdeveloped aside from Hibana) while Company 1 was noticeably religious, but Company 7 feels more like it’s full of people who are embracing their mortality. It actually connects well enough with the first half in how it focuses on the moral implications of fighting Infernals, who were previously innocent human beings. Like Obi, Benimaru and the rest of the citizens of Asakusa are aware that their lives could end at any time (which might explain the blasé attitude they have to their houses being destroyed), but also acknowledge that those who become Infernal are not simply monsters to be defeated, only people who need to be put to rest. We’ve seen Obi discuss this in the second episode and now see here that not all companies are on the same page, seeing killing Infernals as a sport to take the edge off of risking their lives so much.