Fire Force: S01, E03 | The Rookie Fire Soldier Games (recap)

During this episode, we finally get to experience the Rookie Games that Obi mentioned in episode two. We find out the Special Fire Force 8 is being closely watched by two people.

Remember the man who caused the disturbance at the last inferno incident? He’s one of them.

The other person is a special force member. We later see him among the other groups during the rookie tournament.

As a result of their research, we find out the Special Fire Force 8 group was created based on Obi’s moral compass. In the past, Obi refused to follow orders at the expense of losing a life and was put into a chief position as a result.

Season 1, Episode 3 | The Rookie Fire Soldier Games

During the rookie tournament, squad one is there and Shinra notices that their chief (Leonard Burns) was on the scene the day his mother turned into an inferno. Shinra approaches him to inquire about that day (12 years ago) he tells him that he doesn’t remember.

“I need your attention, Devil footprints”. – Mysterious Man

When Shinra, Arthur, and Tamaki (a rookie from squad one) start the tournament relay, they race to a mock burning building. The goal is the take care of the mock inferno and return to the starting line.

Shinra’s main focus is to finish the drill quickly so that he can get back to Burns and question him some more. Shinra enters the building first by flying over the others and bypassing the bottom floor.

He finds two force members knocked out by a mysterious man. The same man that caused the disturbance at the last inferno sighting in episode two.

This man claims to have information that Shinra is interested in regarding his life, mother and brother. But to get all of the information he has to choose between being a devil or a hero. Shinra sticks to his goal to be a hero which prompts a fight to start between the two.

During the fight, the man tells Shinra bits and pieces of information regarding the happening 12 years ago. The most important fact that he shares is that Shinra’s little brother is alive. This information catches Shinra off guard, but he holds on to his morals and continues to fight. The mysterious man controls ashes to cause explosions in the air.

Arthur and Tamaki finally make it up to the fight. At first, they think it is a part of the drill, but after almost getting blown up by the scattered ashes in the air, they have to cling on to Shinra. Shinra props the two unconscious officers on his shoulders and prepares to fly out of the building through the roof.

As the building begins to explode, Shinra manages to escape and get everyone to safety.

Who’s hiding the truth?

Captain Burns comes over to thank Shinra for saving Tamaki, Shinra is suspicious of Burns now so humbly accepts his praise and thanks.

Obi approaches Shinra and congratulates him on a job well done. Shinra is still taken back about finding out that his brother is alive and is curious about the mysterious man that he fought. He asks Obi who can be trusted now that he knows bits and pieces of information.

Obi opens up that the Special Fire Force companies are not monolithic. They each answer to heads and the actions of each force mainly benefits whoever is backing them. As a result, Special Force 8 was created to monitor Forces 1 through 7. They are also tasked with finding out exactly what causes spontaneous human combustion.

Obi expresses that he does not trust the Fire Force and chose people that he knew were trustworthy for Fire Force 8.

Previous Episode – Season 1, Episode 2 The Heart of a Fire Soldier