Fire Force season 3 episode 8 review: David Production perfectly balances dark revelations with a lighthearted journey

Heading into Fire Force season 3 episode 8, fans were particularly curious to see how David Production would handle the dark revelations Sister Sumire was set to reveal. Officially released on Friday, May 23, 2025, the installment did indeed do justice to these events, portraying them in a truly perfect way.

What David Production also did to perfection in Fire Force season 3 episode 8 was balancing these troubling developments with a lighthearted focus on Arthur Boyle’s adventures. The studio displayed a particularly impressive level of shrewdness here via mixing in additional focus on what’s to come here, making these two distinct tonal shifts feel as cohesive as possible.

Fire Force season 3 episode 8 impressively merges two very different and distinct tones with shrewd choices

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When discussing what makes Fire Force season 3 episode 8 so impressive, it’s best to first start with its opening focus. David Production immediately sets the tone with scenes that briefly recap the tragedy of the St. Raffles Convent, focused on both Hibana and Iris as well as Sister Sumire. This transitions perfectly into Hibana’s horrified expression at seeing Sumire alive in the present, driving home that this tragedy is running through her mind due to the latter’s reappearance.

David Produciton also deserves commendation for their anime-original choice to have Sumire communicate her involvement and knowledge of the tragedy by replacing the books. It’s something which immediately drives home that she is familiar with this hidden space, and thus solely responsible for the tragedy itself. This likewise further enhances the moment where Hibana loses her temper, showing that both she and the viewers come to this truth simultaneously.

Fire Force season 3 episode 8 further enhances this sequence with some great production choices. One of the most impactful is the eerie, minimalistic music backing the scene, enhancing the suspense and drama of these revelations. It also enhances the execution of the buildup to Hibana’s explanation of the tragedy. Shots of the wreckage that was left behind after the tragedy, as Hibana explains what Sumire means to Karim Flam and Huo Yan Li, have a similar effect.

Hibana's horror at the truth of her origins plays a major role in Fire Force season 3 episode 8's dark opening tone (Image via David Production)

Sumire’s dialogue also becomes much less direct and more implicit here than it was in the manga, yet another impressive choice. It enhances the suspenseful, dramatic, and revelatory feel which this opening sequence has. Her dialogue revealing her connection to Rekka Hoshimiya further contributes in this way, and also shows an intent to answer lingering questions. This ambiguity culminating in her clearly explaining key worldbuilding and lore is also a great payoff.

Fire Force season 3 episode 8’s presentation of Sumire summoning the spirits of the dead Sisters is also impressive. The choice to intersperse images of the children and Hibana’s lives with them as they speak to her makes the emotions she’s feeling much more relatable to fans. Overall, this dark and sinister tone which the episode’s first half has is an impressive opening, made even more so by the balancing act David Production does with the second half.

After Hibana and co’s escape and discussion of the dire situations to come, the episode shifts focus to a depressed Arthur Boyle in Asakusa. This brief focus on his emotions is incredibly well produced, firstly with the stylistic animation that sees the world around him almost murky without Excalibur by his side. Yusuke Kobayashi’s performance as Arthur is key here, both as the fan-favorite character speaks to himself and discusses his woes with Vulcan Joseph.

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Fire Force season 3 episode 8 further enhances the manga via its stylization of the adventure Vulcan comes up with to raise Arthur’s spirits. Portraying it as a retro fantasy video game falls perfectly in line with Arthur’s well-known and beloved delusions of reality. While impactful overall, scenes seeing Arthur choose dialogue and action options throughout the fake adventure really drive home how effective and fantastic a choice this was.

While one may understandably worry that this lightheartedness is incongruous with the release’s dark opening tone, David Production accounts for this too. The studio does so via interspersing Arthur’s adventure with a focus on Joker and Benimaru Shinmon discussing the battles to come. The scene comes at truly the perfect moment, given the role it’s meant to play, helping unify the episode’s two distinct tones and remind fans that Arthur’s escape from reality is only temporary.

Final thoughts

The merging of two distinct tones in an almost seamless fashion is Fire Force season 3 episode 8's most impressive achievement (Image via David Production)

Technically, Fire Force season 3 episode 8 is arguably the least flashy of the episode, featuring little to no meaningful combat scenes. However, the animation is as clean and consistent as ever, making it difficult to truly critique that area of production. Likewise, David Production’s impressive merging of two distinct tones and the shrewd choices made in each focus (and to cohesively join them) makes this release one of the season’s most impressive.