Fire Force: S01, E02 | The Heart of a Fire Soldier (recap)
Episode 2 of Fire Force introduced an important character. We met Arthur Boyle, also known as Knight King. He and Shinra went to academy together and they have a healthy rivalry with one another. Arthur is also a 3rd generation fire manipulator.
Season 1, Episode 2 The Heart of a Fire Soldier
Akitaru announces that Arthur and Shinra are going to represent the Special Fire Force Company 8 at a rookie tournament. It will be those two up against rookies of other companies.
With the rookie tournament pending, Company 8 commander Takehisa prepares Shinra and Arthur by putting them against Maki. Maki is a 2nd generation fire manipulator. She can’t create fire, but she able to bend it to her will.
She goes up against Shinra and Arthur (using his plasma emitter sword) in a two on one battle to prepare them for the tournament.
Maki is very strong and as a result of Shinra and Arthur’s shortcomings, she’s able to win pretty convincingly. We never hear Takehisa give Shinra or Arthur pointers on how to be better, I’m assuming he saw more positive traits than negative.
“Never let the victim see your weapon” – Akitaru
An inferno forms in the city and Fire Force company 8 goes to the scene. While they are en route, Akitaru tells everyone to keep their weapons hidden away. However, Shinra and Arthur fail to listen.
As a result, Akitaru sort of reprimands them and threatens termination from the squad if they can’t listen to his instruction. Akitaru’s expresses that compassion needs to be shown for the victims family. You never know whos looking and it’s important to keep your weapons stored away until you get into the battle.
He goes on to explain that some Fire Force members ignore the victim element, but he does not run his squad that way. Special Unit 8 are not crusaders. Even though they are killing the infernos, showing compassion for those left behind is important.
“If I’m not there for those left behind, I’m no one’s hero” – Shinra
The little girl who called about the inferno was reporting on her dad. Her mother turned into an inferno recently and she is afraid that now she will be next.
When company 8 arrived at the inferno’s location, they discovered him just sitting in the family dining room staring at a family picture. The team opts to end this fast and swift. Iris says a prayer and Arthur using his sword (Excalibur) to end him.
While they are clearly the scene, an outside interference of a fire manipulator causes the building to collapse. Akitaru vows to find out who disturbed the scene and make them pay.
Later that night, Arthur and Shinra prepare for sleep and vow to end the spontaneous combustion of humans together.