'Fire Force' Season 3 Came to an End: Here's Why the Finale Disappointed Fans
There was good potential, but not every spark is destined to shine brighter than the stars.
Fire Force ended in early April – the final chapter was split into two parts. The first batch of episodes aired in spring 2025, and the new episodes concluded the story of this unusual squad of firefighters.
Visually, the anime is stunning – the editing, sound design, and animation are all top-notch. However, the plot doesn't quite evoke the same admiration.
What began as an engaging, albeit problematic, title with a detective storyline and charismatic characters has devolved into a jumble of fan service and pseudo-philosophical musings.
The following text contains spoilers for Fire Force Season 3!
What Is 'Fire Force' Season 3 About?
The second part of the third season picks up where the first left off. Shinra opens his eyes and finds himself chained to a bed. Three months have passed since he saw the planet before the First Great Cataclysm.
During this time, a doppelgänger, a worse version of Shinra: an aggressive, blond man with tattoos who raised his hand against his sister, Iris, has been roaming the squad. Due to the appearance of the Pillars, the real world and Adolla have become increasingly close.
Human fire abilities have grown stronger, and fires have become more frequent. The White-Clad have become active and are making final preparations for a catastrophe that will destroy Earth.
The Main Problems With the 'Fire Force' Finale Are Its Unanswered Questions & Lost Logic
As the author approached the climax, the entire house they had built burned down in an instant. It turned out that Adolla was a world of the collective subconscious where people's perceptions of everything were reflected.
If society considers someone to be bad, then their doppelgänger will also be bad. However, it all seems extremely strange: why are most people's doppelgängers demonic creatures while others have perfectly identical human counterparts?
Rather than developing characters and thoughtful confrontations, viewers were treated to a jumble of fan service and a pseudo-philosophical tirade about despair and hope.
The religious subtext shifted absurdly, and the plot twist involving the immaculate conception seemed out of place. Rather than flirting with evangelical subtext, the author would have been better off developing the characters and their ideological conflicts.
'Fire Force' Season 3 Failed to Develop Any of Its Characters
Meanwhile, most of the characters remained underdeveloped. The only character who was brilliantly written from start to finish was Benimaru Shinmon, the captain of the Special Fire Force Company 7.
His presence on screen evoked positive emotions, showcasing the author's talent for creating compelling characters. For some reason, however, he stopped doing so in the finale.
The fight between Arthur and Dragon was a perfect exception – it was captivating to watch. However, the battle between Charon and Ogun was disappointing, and the episode in which Tamaki battled Assault's doppelgänger devolved into cringe-worthy fanservice.
Where to Watch 'Fire Force'?
Fire Force is available to stream on Hulu and Crunchyroll.
