Company 8 does the impossible by using science to defeat their enemies.
Watching Fire Force Season 3 Episode 4 felt like stepping into a science class in the best way possible. Titled Golden Secret, the episode placed Company 8 firmly in the spotlight once more, showing that it's not just firepower but also knowledge that can defeat even the strongest opponents.
Warning: Spoilers ahead
In this episode, the encounter between Company 8 and the White Clad continues. Following on from Episode 3, Tamaki, Maki, Lieutenant Hinawa, and the others are still struggling against Gold, a third-generation pyrokinetic who manipulates magnetism through her heated golden gauntlet. Tamaki tries using Vulcan’s special fire boosters to amplify her flames against Gold, but her high fire resistance leaves her completely unfazed.
As Company 8 works to buy Licht some time to figure out a solution, Lisa steps up. Using her Fishing Flame (also translated as Tentacle Flame), Lisa’s magnetic fire disrupts Gold’s attacks and holds her off while Vulcan and Licht develop a plan.
Eventually, Licht comes through. The team uses Tamaki’s flame tails to melt an iron ball until it loses its magnetic properties. The molten iron damages Gold’s gauntlets, opening her up for Hinawa to land a clean shot to her forehead.
Before they can catch their breath, another White Clad member, Stream, steps in. He controls steam and the wind currents generated by heat, launching attacks at Tamaki and the crew. Luckily, Arthur arrives just in time, deflecting Stream’s blows and taking him out almost instantly.
Meanwhile, Shinra and Joker continue their confrontation with Captain Burns. Shinra finally speaks his mind, airing his disappointment over Burns' constant silence regarding his brother Sho’s whereabouts and his ties to the White Clad. Burns, staying true to form, dismisses the accusations by calling himself a "servant doing God’s work." As the episode closes, Burns orders one of the White Clad to implant an insect on Obi. It burrows into his clothing, and Obi screams in agony as his eyes turn red, leaving the episode on a tense cliffhanger.
An entertaining episode
Overall, Episode 4 was thoroughly entertaining and satisfying. The blend of banter, comic relief, and just the right amount of nerdy science was handled surprisingly well. While the idea of gold becoming magnetic after being heated might have stretched real-world science, most of the explanations were close enough to keep things grounded. It all played out like a flashy science experiment wrapped in fantasy, with the pyrokinetics in the crew using their abilities in creative and unexpected ways.
The pacing was spot-on, and the animation looked noticeably sharper than the previous episode. Character expressions were on point, and although Tamaki’s Lucky Lecher gag returned, it didn’t undercut her character this time. Arthur’s sudden reappearance added a perfect bit of comedy. His excuse for missing the fight was so ridiculous because who the hell just falls off the car on the way to where the battle was?
The episode closed on a strong note, too. The possibility of Obi turning into an Infernal, paired with his scream, was quite unsettling, so much that the amount of unease was enough to make you want the next episode immediately.
Science as the secret weapon
This episode truly highlighted just how vital Licht and Vulcan were to Company 8. It was entertaining to see Licht trying to come up with solutions to counter Gold’s magnetism under intense pressure.
The battle itself blended science fiction with real-world science. In Fire Force’s world, gold becomes magnetic when heated; a twist that isn’t scientifically accurate but works within the show’s logic. The clever part, though, was using iron to counter Gold’s magnetic powers. It’s ironic because iron is usually magnetic, yet once it’s heated beyond 770 degrees Celsius (the Curie point), it loses its magnetism. By pushing the temperature even further to around 1530 degrees, its melting point, the team was able to throw molten iron onto Gold’s gauntlet, which melted first due to gold’s lower melting point. It’s a smart mix of fantasy and fact that made the showdown feel both inventive and surprisingly grounded.
Other details, like using oxygen to fuel hotter flames and Stream using attacks with high-pressure steam, showed how carefully the show integrated scientific principles into its battles. These moments made the fights feel less random and more like a series of carefully thought-out experiments in a way that made the episode even more enjoyable.
Tamaki is more than just fan service this time
Let’s face it, Fire Force’s fan service isn't going away. However, the way it was done this time was much better than Episode 1, where it felt like Tamaki’s Lucky Lecher had only been used for the laughs at her expense. In this episode, though, it genuinely felt like she got her moment to shine.
With Shinra and Arthur absent, Tamaki stepped up as a third-generation pyrokinetic. Even though her firepower wasn't on the same level as the other two, she showed strong foresight by asking Vulcan and Lisa to prepare enhancements for her flames. Watching her charge at Gold with the flame boosters was one of the highlights of the episode, even if it didn’t quite land the finishing blow.
Her Lucky Lecher ability did make an appearance again, but thankfully, it didn’t feel forced. Instead of Tamaki being singled out, the mishap somewhat affected Tamaki, Maki, Vulcan, and Hinawa, when Gold’s magnetic powers caused their clothing to come loose. The moment provided comic relief without undercutting Tamaki’s role in the fight. Gold’s playful mockery of Hinawa, asking whether he got paid well to pose for calendars, was timed perfectly and added personality to the encounter.
If there was anything to improve, it was perhaps the number of times Tamaki ended up in awkward poses. Still, in this case, one of those moments even played into the plot, with Tamaki’s flame tails being used to create the vessel to melt the iron, which was eventually one of the most important contributions to the team’s victory.
Lisa finally used her third-gen powers for Company 8
Lisa Isaribi finally stepped back into action, and this time, she's fighting alongside Company 8. Once she realised that Gold’s abilities were similar to hers, Lisa joined the battle. As a third-generation pyrokinetic who conjured magnetic octopus-like tendrils of flame, Lisa was uniquely suited to counter Gold.
Although she wasn’t the most powerful third gen in terms of raw strength, Lisa’s composure made her a vital support. The last time viewers saw her fight was when she was part of the White-Clad, so now seeing her fight under Company 8’s banner showed her willingness to risk herself for them. Lisa had found a new home with Vulcan and the others, and while she might not have displayed the same fiery passion as some of her teammates, her loyalty and desire to protect Obi were beyond question.
What will happen to Captain Obi?
Toward the end of the episode, Burns instructed the White Clad to implant the insect on Obi. The insect went into Obi’s clothing, and Obi screamed in agony as his eyes turned red before the episode ended. So does this mean that he turned into an Infernal? And if he did, what would happen to Company 8 and those who believed in the same principles as they did? Those who probably followed the manga might already have known the answer, but it would still be interesting to see what happened after.
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.
