Shinra’s long-awaited clash with Captain Burns ignites more than just fists, and hopefully, it's a sign that we get more fluid, action-packed episodes.
We’re halfway through Fire Force Season 3, with Episode 6, titled Beyond Prayer’s End, which doesn’t hold back when it comes to action and major revelations.
Warning: Major spoilers ahead.
This episode brings the focus back to the long-awaited clash between Shinra Kusakabe and Captain Leonard Burns. While most of the runtime centres around their intense fight, the episode slips in enough smaller moments and details to add real weight to the larger story.
Episode 6 feels like the moment Fire Force Season 3 finally finds its rhythm. Up until now, the season’s done a decent job building its world and slipping in light-hearted moments, but it’s definitely been lacking when it comes to high-stakes action. This episode shifts the pace in the best way possible. It doesn’t just deliver on the long-awaited fight scenes.
It ties them into everything the season has been quietly setting up, from the deeper lore to character motivations. It’s the first time all those threads really come together, making the episode feel both exciting and meaningful in a way that’s been missing so far.
The Shinra vs Burns fight was top-notch
The long-awaited showdown between Shinra and Captain Burns is everything fans could have hoped for, and then some. It’s easily one of the most gripping fights of the season, not just for its animation but for how it finally breaks away from Fire Force’s usual exposition-heavy style. There’s no monologue dragging things down. Instead, we dive straight into the action, and the story beats slip in naturally without killing the momentum.
Even though the fight spans most of the episode, it never drags. Sharp pacing and well-timed pauses, like Burns’ flashback, Shinra’s brief Adolla Link moment, and a few quieter exchanges, give the episode room to breathe.
Visually, the episode holds up with crisp animation and a good mix of high-speed choreography and slow-motion moments that really emphasise the impact of each blow. Although there still are some awkward frames and overall, it might not be as flashy as Jinwoo vs Beru in Solo Leveling Season 2, or hold up to Demon Slayer’s biggest showdowns, there's still plenty of weight and fluidity in each move.
What really takes this fight up a notch is how it’s staged. Shinra’s full-speed, no-holds-barred attacks clash perfectly with Burns’ heavy, unshakable stance. It’s a clear contrast: youthful drive versus immovable faith. And that’s where the real meaning kicks in. Burns isn’t just a boss fight. He’s a man bound to his beliefs, even as the world around him goes to ashes. Through his flashback with Joker, we see that he’s not evil. He just can’t let go of the god he’s trusted for too long. Shinra isn’t just punching a guy with an eye patch. He’s breaking through a wall of old conviction.
This time, the battle isn’t one-sided. Shinra’s clearly levelled up, showing off new tricks like Death’s Weight and holding his ground even when Burns powers up into his final phase.
What’s interesting to note, though, is that from the time Shinra continued to push his powers more, Burns focused on defence. From the moment Shinra begins to push his limits, Burns remains purely on the defensive.
At first, this seems odd. But paired with his backstory, it’s clear his inaction is intentional. As a priest, Burns cannot bring himself to oppose the Evangelist directly. However, he sees potential in Shinra as the hope for the world and chooses to help him grow stronger in his own way. In essence, this fight becomes a trial meant to prepare Shinra for even tougher opponents ahead.
But just as Burns finally acknowledges Shinra’s strength, Haumea intervenes. Burns’ doppelgänger appears and fatally stabs him. Shinra tries to save him, but Joker, reminding him of their real objective, which was to rescue Captain Obi, drags him away before the infernal form can stop them.
Iris is the next Pillar
Just when viewers think everything is winding down, another explosive revelation unfolds. With Arthur seriously injured, there was no way the rest of Company 8 would hold up to Dragon’s attacks without Shinra or Joker. And as Dragon blasts them with a breath of fire, Maki attempts to control the fire. Later, she admits to herself that it was too strong for her, and she and company 8 seemingly get engulfed by the flames. However, not a single one of them were unscathed after the attack. Hinawa, Vulcan, and Tamaki praise Maki for her efforts, and the next scene focuses on Iris and Licht.
Licht’s expression says it all: his surprised and cautious face looking at Iris only meant that it was Iris who blocked the attack, not Maki. Based on what just happened, Iris, being the eighth pillar of Amaterasu, is able to create a protective aura and shield others from attacks.
It’s a major turning point that completely upends everything we thought we knew. Many fans expected Hibana to be the next Pillar, especially after her investigations into their shared past at the orphanage. However, it turns out that Iris, who has been known as “unpowered” since Season 1, was quietly holding this power in plain sight all along.
But this immediately draws the attention of Haumea and the rest of the White Clad towards Company 8. She gives orders to kill everyone except Iris, making it clear that another epic showdown is on the horizon. Hopefully, it will be just as fast-paced and action-packed as this episode.
Episode 6 pushes Fire Force Season 3 into exciting new territory. It delivers on long-awaited action while deepening the story in ways that feel earned and engaging. With surprising twists and fresh challenges now on the horizon, the show is clearly moving forward with new momentum. Company 8’s journey is far from over, and this episode leaves us eager to see how everything will unfold.
If you want to check out reviews and discussions on the rest of Fire Force Season 3, click here.
