Fire Force season 3 episode 7 review: David Production's stylistic directorial choices greatly enhance suspenseful and shocking reveals

Heading into Fire Force season 3 episode 7, fans were especially curious to see how David Production would tackle the significant revelations surrounding the St. Raffles Convent. Officially released on Friday, May 16, 2025, the installment did not disappoint, with the studio making plenty of shrewd and extremely effective stylistic directorial and production choices.

While this was undoubtedly the standout moment of Fire Force season 3 episode 7, other typical hallmarks of the series were commendable as well. This includes the limited action the episode featured, impressive narrative buildup, and cutoff with respect to the episode overall. Undoubtedly, it’s one of the season’s most remarkable episodes yet, even though it lacks action.

Fire Force season 3 episode 7 review: A different approach and focus yield the same perfect result

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As mentioned, the biggest highlight of Fire Force season 3 episode 7 is its narrative focus and the stylistic production surrounding it. This is primarily achieved through Hibana, Karim Flam, and Huo Yan Li’s investigation of St. Raffles Convent and the events that transpired there.

Fans are immediately floored by a watercolor-like portrayal of the lives that Hibana, Iris, and many other girls lived there. However, some unique choices elevate the episode beyond being a simple recap.

Easily the most significant choice is the decision to have the girls lack any distinct facial features that would differentiate them from one another. By reducing their individuality to this level, it further communicates how they were nothing more than “crops,” as Hibana puts it in the episode’s final moments. This intensifies the evil intentions behind such an act, making the reveal all the more impactful by showcasing how sinister the truth of this colorful recap is.

Fire Force season 3 episode 7 revisiting this scene and gradually distorting it as Hibana realizes the truth for herself is another excellent directorial choice. This pairs perfectly with Hibana’s changing body language and demeanor as she becomes aware of the truth. It creates a sense that fans are watching her perception of her own life contort before her very eyes, both intensifying the emotions evoked and deepening Hibana as a character.

The significance of Hibana's glowing eyes is two-fold in Fire Force season 3 episode 7 (Image via David Production)

This choice is further enhanced by both what precedes and follows it. In the former, Hibana’s eyes light up and change to a vibrant purple-pink color as she walks across the room. It’s a subtle but impactful stylistic choice that adds a feeling of enlightenment to the discoveries she’s about to make, as if a veil has been lifted. While it occurs as a result of her power usage, it nevertheless symbolizes her deliberate search for the truth in her murky past.

In the latter, Fire Force season 3 episode 7 perfectly conveys this slow but tense buildup into the sudden and shocking appearance of Sister Sumire. Although the slow camera pan may not have been the best way to initially introduce her, everything else about the scene is masterfully executed. Her calm, unfazed attitude perfectly balances Hibana’s emotions, which are clearly represented by the shaking camera and sounds of static as focus settles in on Sumire.

This choice to have the point of view reflect Hibana’s current emotional state is also particularly impactful for elevating what would be a good cliffhanger to a great one. This serves as a microcosm of how narratively strong the episode is as a whole. It immediately wastes no time moving from Leonard Burns’ death into these latest events, with each plotline tying into each other for a seamless transition of narrative focus.

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Fire Force season 3 episode 7 also does a good narrative job of teasing further developments. This is primarily achieved through the focus on Haumea and the White-Clad, implying that everything that has transpired so far has been by their design. The episode also does a good job of further teasing Iris as the final Pillar, doing so in a way that is not obvious but still clear enough to provide attentive fans with the necessary clues.

The episode also does a good job with what little action it has, primarily consolidated into its opening minutes. The depiction of Benimaru Shinmon controlling the heat around him is particularly well done, perfectly covering up the moon behind him and fitting into his alter ego likewise. His brief skirmishes with both Charon and Dragon are equally well animated, and do a good job of emphasizing his strength without undermining the power of either opponent.

Benimaru's brief fight against Dragon and Charon chiefly highlights Fire Force season 3 episode 7's impressive animation (Image via David Production)

Fire Force season 3 episode 7’s animation remains impressive as always, even if it is slightly lacking in sakuga compared to recent experiences. Genga is as clean as ever, with few mistakes worth mentioning. One minor issue is that some scenes feel generally underproduced, but these happen to be the right ones to skimp on, making it challenging to critique David Production in good faith.

Beyond this, the episode does an adequate job in all other areas. Benimaru’s attempt to be Moonlight Mask and Kishiri’s brief appearance provide much-needed comic relief to an otherwise tense and dramatic installment. The voice acting is also adequate, though it lacks standout performances that rise above the rest of the cast. The pacing is acceptable, both from an adaptation standpoint and regarding the overall viewing experience.

Final thoughts

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Without a doubt, Fire Force season 3 episode 7 is the latest perfect installment of the series following a slow start to its final season. While there are minor nitpicks, none are significant enough to truly say they drag the episode down beyond its incredibly high level.

Additionally, with just enough action to justify the focus on intense narrative developments, it’s a welcome tonal shift that heightens the suspense for what’s to come.

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About the author

Joseph has been working as an anime content specialist for Sportskeeda since the past 2.5 years. Primarily covering his core genre, he also contributes to popular culture writing news stories and cult classic features on older series.

Joseph holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Delaware, United States. His love of anime, combined with his background in literature, influenced his interest in engaging readers through the written word. He maintains complete accuracy in his content by verifying each and every piece of information regardless of how long it takes, and ensure that the output is impartial and free of bias.

Chainsaw Man, One Piece, Berserk, Undead Unluck, Re:ZERO, Tower of God, Jujutsu Kaisen, Inuyasha, and Fire Punch are some of Joseph’s favorite animanga. His exposure to 4kids' Sonic X series, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Dragon Ball Z on Toonami fueled his enthusiasm for the medium.

When not dissecting anime plots, Joseph likes to cook, play games, work on cars, browse new music, and watch pro wrestling, especially AEW. He also enjoys ocean-based activities - beach trips, fishing, swimming and watersports.

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Edited by Joseph Brogan