Review: Shinra, Joker and Company 8 are in trouble, but will they pull through and finally rescue Captain Obi?
At last, the action has begun in Fire Force Season 3’s third episode, “Incarnation of Flame,” and things are looking increasingly dire for Shinra, Company 8, and their allies. While the previous episodes were dedicated to setting up the arc’s major confrontation, this one marks the explosive beginning of the actual clash. Unfortunately, it seems Shinra and the others are in real trouble, as they struggle against both the White Clad and Captain Burns.
Warning: Spoilers ahead.
The episode opens with Shinra and Joker storming Fuchu Penitentiary, immediately setting off a fiery clash. They’re met by Captain Leonard Burns, whose sudden appearance throws Shinra into emotional turmoil. Once a trusted figure, Burns now stands in open opposition, aligned with the White Clad.
As the fight intensifies, it becomes clear that Burns’ strength is overwhelming, pushing Shinra and Joker into a corner. Meanwhile, Haumea and Charon monitor the situation from the courtyard, having anticipated the conflict. Back at the prison gates, Company 8 faces their own trouble as Gold of the White Clad blocks their entry, and Arthur is nowhere to be seen.
While the animation in this episode may not have been exceptional, it was far from poor: it served its purpose, with certain moments standing out visually, while others felt out of place and stuck out like a sore thumb. Despite this, the episode truly excelled at maintaining tension from start to finish, delivering a story that held the viewer’s attention throughout.
Shinra and Joker vs Burns
During the confrontation, the show reveals Shinra’s inner thoughts about Captain Burns. He admits he always saw the Fire Captain as a father figure and is deeply shaken by what he perceives as a betrayal.
This revelation is surprising, especially considering Shinra’s suspicion of Burns in earlier seasons. He even once believed Burns might have played a role in his brother’s disappearance.
The confrontation between Shinra and Burns delivered some of the episode’s most emotionally charged moments. Though Burns’ allegiance shift had already been hinted at in the Season 3 trailer, it’s Shinra’s stunned response that gives the reveal its weight.
Burns held firm to his convictions, growing more formidable as the fight escalated. His discussion with Haumea appears to have sealed his resolve: in his eyes, the future lies in flame, and the world must become a sun.
For viewers unfamiliar with the manga, this transformation might seem abrupt, but it was written deliberately so for good reason. Burns, once a pillar of the Fire Force, now turning his back on everything, creates a sense of betrayal that mirrors Shinra’s own disbelief.
Even his own company isn’t united in understanding him. A brief exchange between Karim Flam and Huo Yan Li reflects this divide. Karim, visibly enraged, compares the Evangelist’s doctrine to that of a cult, while Huo Yan offers a more measured take, suggesting that Burns’ convictions may stem from something he witnessed through the Adolla Link. However, like much of the audience, Karim isn’t buying it.
Princess Hibana’s discovery
Meanwhile, over in Company 5, Princess Hibana was uncovering more about the tragedy that befell the convent. It appeared that the incident at the convent where she and Iris grew up wasn’t simply the result of uncontrollable circumstances.
Hibana soon discovered a connection between the "doppelganger" phenomenon and their childhood convent—an unsettling clue that pointed to a broader conspiracy involving the creation of Infernals and the mysterious actions of the White-Clad. While this brief scene is left at that, more will surely be revealed about the said phenomenon in the coming episodes.
Company 8 vs Gold
Before reaching the prison, some members of Company 8 had voiced unease about breaking protocol, especially when even Lieutenant Hinawa, usually the strictest among them, was caught standing in a moving vehicle. His awkward attempt to hype up the team’s rebellious side landed more strangely than it did light-hearted, highlighting just how serious the situation had become.
Fortunately, Company 8 are not just background players in this conflict, they are part of the action. With Shinra and Arthur absent, the team’s second-tier fighters step up. The confrontation with Gold offers a chance to showcase the abilities of Tamaki and the other second-generation pyrokinetics. However, as the episode closes, the upper hand clearly belongs to Gold and the White Clad.
Will Licht’s research provide the edge Tamaki, Hinawa, and Maki need to overcome Gold? Will Arthur finally arrive and tip the scales in their favour?
There’s also the looming mystery of Haumea’s fatigue and the unsettling transformation of Yona’s form, which isn’t the best news at all for anyone in that world.
Even so, if there’s one thing Shinra, Captain Obi, and the rest of Company 8 have shown us, it’s that they are defined by hope. They persevere against all odds, and that resilience means the tide could turn at any moment. Viewers can certainly expect another episode brimming with tension and action.
If you want to check out reviews and discussions on the rest of the episodes for this title, you can check out our Fire Force Season 3 review collection.
