The following contains spoilers for Fire Force Season 3, Episode 6, «Beyond Prayer’s End,» now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Fire Force Season 3, Episode 6 finally fixes one of the fans’ major criticisms of the final season. Instead of a needless focus on exposition, this episode of Fire Force Season 3 jumps into the big Shinra Kusabe vs Captain Leonard Burns battle. Both fighters only grow stronger to protect their principles, and what follows is a fantastic Fire Force fight that doubles as one of the best battles in modern anime history. The choreography, animation and sound design are all on a higher level than anything seen from most new-gen anime in Fire Force Season 3, Episode 6.
Shinra and Burns’ showdown has a fiery conclusion worth the tremendous buildup that began in Fire Force Season 3, Episode 3. Haumea interferes in their clash before it properly ends, killing Captain Burns with his Doppelganger from Adolla. At the same time, and despite what fans might have previously assumed, Sister Iris is heavily foreshadowed to be the pillar the White-Clad is after. Fire Force Season 3, Episode 6 proves that the season is only getting hotter from here; key battles and plot reveals easily make this one of the most engaging episodes in the entire Fire Force franchise.
Shinra Kusakabe is Finally Strong Enough to Beat Captain Leonard Burns
Shinra & Leonard Burns' Big Battle is a Fiery Clash of Ideals
Shinra Kusakabe’s important battle with former Fire Force Captain Leonard Burns has been teased since before the third season began. Even the trailer for Fire Force Season 3 spoiled the reveal for fans before release. When Shinra and Captain Burns’ battle first begins, they get relatively little screen time in Fire Force Season 3’s Episode 4 and Episode 5. Thankfully, Fire Force Season 3, Episode 6 gives fans what they want in a truly overwhelming conclusion to such a highly anticipated conflict.
Leonard Burns is an old man stuck in his morality and values. According to what he says to Shinra, Burns cannot change, even in the face of the pending apocalypse. Captain Burns has always worshiped God, and the Evangelist is only a fixation for Burns’ worship. A flashback to Burns’ past with Joker explains that he blindly follows his supposed savior and is too old to change his ways. The former Fire Force Captain stands as a literal roadblock for Shinra, not only for protecting Akitaru Obi but for stopping the Evangelist’s plot entirely.
The Fire Force Rookie’s battle with the ex-Captain is the greatest part of Fire Force Season 3, and maybe even the best of the anime. The Shinra vs. Leonard Burns battle highlights the amazing choreography largely absent from the episodes leading up to it. Shinra throws out some captivating attacks to defeat Burns and creatively uses his tremendous mobility to his advantage. Shinra’s battle moves are made even cooler by some of the best anime sound design. Fire Force‘s sound effects and soundtrack raise the bar for other currently streaming shonen anime.
Shinra and Burns only seem to grow stronger with every subsequent blow. Neither combatant is willing to sacrifice their ideals, and the only thing keeping them standing throughout the fight is their tremendous willpower. Although Burns appears unbothered by Shinra at the beginning of their fight, Shinra’s flames finally wear down the former Fire Captain. Yet, Leonard Burns seems equally capable of pushing the Fire Force Rookie to his breaking point.
Shinra Kusakabe Unleashes Powerful New Blue Flames on Leonard Burns
New Power-Ups Make Fire Force's Shinra Stronger Than Ever
With his back against the wall, Shinra finally unveils the blue flames that he learned to use with the help of Benimaru Shinmon. Benimaru is a 2nd and 3rd Generation Fire-User and one of the most prevalent fighters in Fire Force. On top of his tremendous fire abilities, Benimaru possesses some of the best hand-to-hand skills in Fire Force. Benimaru teaches Shinra how to invigorate his flames when he gets near death. With tremendous new blue flames, Shinra can finally fight on equal footing with Burns.
Former Captain Burns refuses to back down, even in the face of Shinra’s new power. The more the two battle, the more it appears like Burns wants Shinra to surpass him. Strangely, Burns realizes his inability to change and looks at the next generation to save the world. Burns tanks or blocks every single one of Shinra’s attacks, but refuses to dodge. By using his own body as a stepping stool, he is pushing Shinra to become the hero who can oppose the Evangelist. Yet, Shinra’s former hero refuses to relinquish things to the next generation without a proper fight.
Nevertheless, Shinra meets his challenge head-on and gets faster than ever before. Shinra is unwilling to give in to the Evangelist’s influence and fights in direct opposition to their will. Despite being called a devil his whole life, Shinra has wanted little else but to live in harmony with his family, which was wrongfully taken from him. Now that Shinra knows his brother Sho is alive, there is nothing that will stop him from eventually saving his family. Shinra’s tenacious perseverance steadily makes him stronger as the Fire Force anime unravels.
Near the penultimate moment of the battle, Shinra has a flashback that mirrors the earlier moment with Leonard Burns. Shinra thinks about his brother and his desire to free him from the Evangelists’ clutches, enabling him to create another Adolla Link with Sho. Fire Force Season 3, Episode 6 marks the first time Shinra has linked with Sho remotely, and it provides him with the power to break the very laws of physics with his speed.
Fire Force Makes the Groundbreaking Reveal That Iris Could Be the Next Pillar
Fire Force Season 3, Episode 6's Finale is Full of Plot Twists
Shinra Kusakabe speeds up to a level unheard of in Fire Force and finally lands a significant blow on Leonard Burns, ending the fight. Neither combatant is capable of resuming the battle when Burns is suddenly struck from behind. Due to Haumea’s interference, Burns’ Doppelganger kills him and attempts to drag both fighters to Adolla. In one final act of heroism, Burns prevents Shinra from being taken and proves that his character isn’t as one-dimensional as it seems. Burns believes there is some deity beyond the Evangelist guiding the events of the story.
As Burns and Shirna’s battle officially concludes, the next pillar makes a shocking appearance. The pillar’s identity is not expressly stated, but the White-Clad flock to the remaining members of Company 8 to finish them off. Just as it looks like things might be over for Fire Force‘s lovable protagonists, a mysterious masked figure arrives to help them in the fight. The mysterious new character might be wearing a mask, but it is clear that Benimaru Shinmon has arrived to assist Company 8 once again. Yet, that is not the most shocking reveal from the episode.
As if Burns’ death weren’t enough to hold fans’ interest, Fire Force Season 3, Episode 6 teases Iris as the next Pillar, meaning she could have an Adolla Burst just like Shinra. It’s a surprising reveal given Iris’ lack of powers, but it fits incredibly well given the recent relevance of her origins. The monastery where Iris and Princess Hibana grew up has been connected to both White-Clad and Doppleganger activity. Moreover, Viktor Licht’s tense expression as he stares at Iris all but confirms Iris’ new role in Fire Force as a Pillar. The Sister is completely responsible for saving Fire Force Company 8 at the hands of Dragon and appears to have some hand in making her allies stronger.
Fire Force Season 3, Episode 6 is a shonen anime masterpiece. This episode from Fire Force Season 3 features every crucial element in making a battle anime successful. The sound design, animation, choreography and character development all play a tremendous part in what makes it truly great. If the anime can maintain this tremendous momentum, there is little doubt that Fire Force Season 3 will achieve universal critical acclaim. Even more importantly, Fire Force Season 3, Episode 6 now serves as the landmark for what all the following episodes should aspire to acclaim.
Fire Force is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
