Fire Force Season 3 Episode 16: Humanity’s belief becomes its greatest weapon and weakness

Still from the anime
Still from the anime (Image credit: David Productions)

Fire Force Season 3 Episode 16 has finally been released, and with that, the narrative has made it clear that the endgame is closer than ever. Since this anime started, it seemed like everything that ever happened was building to this moment, and fans have been on a rollercoaster of emotions as Shinra's story becomes more complex than anyone could have imagined. The world of Fire Force is getting closer to the Great Cataclysm, and it is reflected in the atmosphere of the installment.

The animation team has done a phenomenal job in animating Fire Force Season 3 Episode 16, in terms of maintaining the tone of the story, as it felt like the animators truly cared about delivering justice to the creator. With the White Clad's prophecy nearly complete, with only one pillar left to appear, the Tokyo Empire is gripped by a sense of unavoidable doom.

Still from the anime (Image credit: David Productions)
Still from the anime (Image credit: David Productions)

Interestingly, what actually makes this episode stand out is how it chooses to be quietly terrifying. Those who watched this episode have felt this too; there is no villain who dominated the screen, yet there was this creeping realization that all of humanity may be complicit in what is about to come.

When we talk about Shinra, the protagonist himself, this episode actually ended up painting him less as a hero but more as a saviour. This episode ended up showing fans the kind of burden he carried for being this one character who will have to save everyone. The kind of expectations that everyone has around him is testimony that the next battle he is going to be part of will be the final one.


Faith versus responsibility is a strong theme in Fire Force Season 3 Episode 16

Still from the anime (Image credit: David Productions)
Still from the anime (Image credit: David Productions)

If we were to talk about one of the strongest points of Fire Force Season 3 Episode 16 is how it contrasts with two important topics like faith and responsibility. For instance, it shows us that people in this world want others to make the tough decisions. Regardless of it being the right or the wrong choice, the responsibility is too heavy.

Moreover, if we were to talk about the production aspect of this installment, the overall animation was not as flashy as the Benimaru episode. Although an anime is not great only because of flashy animation, this episode carried itself with long pauses and an ominous animation style that forced the audience to sit with discomfort.

It is a choice that is bound to pay off. Finally, Fire Force Season 3 Episode 16 is not all perfect. If we were to talk about its shortcomings, there are some exposition-heavy momentsthat feel slightly repetitive for longtime viewers. However, the repetition also serves a purpose: it hammers home how inescapable this idea has become for the characters themselves.


Final thoughts

In the end, Fire Force Season 3 Episode 16 is one of a kind installment that took its time to finally set its final stone before everything starts to escalate. By the time anyone finished this episode might have felt uneasy, but it is important to know that that was the intent of the creator. One thing is for sure: the episode did remind its viewers that the conclusion is right around the corner, and all that has been built up will now start to pay off.

Edited by Nisarga Kakade