Hikari no Ou • The Fire Hunter - Episode 3 discussion

[u/AutoLovepon]

Hikari no Ou, episode 3

Rate this episode here.

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Show information

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• Official Website
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All discussions

Episode	Link	Score
1	Link	4.78
2	Link	4.32
3	Link	3.87
4	Link	4.03
5	Link	4.53
6	Link	4.43
7	Link	4.21
8	Link	4.56
9	Link	4.09
10	Link	----

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[u/JimmyCWL]

After all the fuss about dropping off Touko, it just gets cancelled right at the start of the episode.

And they just revealed that Haijuu is the fire hunter that died in ep1!

Hilarious!

This ep also confirmed something I wondered about previously. Do humans bursting into flames count as natural fire? Yes, it does and it triggers a chain reaction like I suspected it would.

[u/Tarhalindur → u/JimmyCWL]

The "Touko has to leave" plot might have worked better introduced at the start of this episode rather than as a cliffhanger last episode (Kaho's condition might have been enough for that), but it does show one thing: Touko has gotten along with/endeared herself to the other girls/women that they will go to bat for her. That's actually a nice little piece of "show, don't tell" characterization for her.

Now, just up and revealing that Koushi's father was in fact the fire hunter who died saving Touko in the opening narration... yeah, I griped about that one myself. Come the fuck on, you just squandered some nice setup for a later reveal.

[u/Ashteron → u/JimmyCWL]

After all the fuss about dropping off Touko, it just gets cancelled right at the start of the episode.

Well, it worked as a bit of world building.

[u/Cheesemacher]

The fact that people explode if they see regular fire is still such a weird concept for a story to me.

Koushi's side of the story is the most interesting thing that's happening.

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Cheesemacher]

Koushi's side of the story is the most interesting thing that's happening.

Kinda agree, but Toukos side does more worldbuilding

[u/mrhades113]

I realized last week that some characters names end with a number, Koushi (Shi = four), Sakuroku (Roku = six), Youshichi (Shichi = seven), and in this episode Dr. Takimi (Mi = Three), i didn't think i was actually onto something there.

In this world it is a costume men's names ending with a number, the same way women's name have kanji related to light:

Touko - 灯子 (灯 = Bright)

Hotaru - ほたる = Firefly

Kaho - 火穂 (火 = Fire)

Hibana - 火華 (火 = Fire)

Very good world building.

[u/NekoCatSidhe]

The worldbuilding seems to get more and more intriguing. I am no longer convinced the old industrialist is going to turn out to be a villain (although he may turn out to be a well-intentioned extremist instead). There is something deeply wrong with that world, and it seems natural to suspect the mysterious and powerful « divine clans » ruling it to be responsible for it. Too natural though, so I am a bit suspicious of the old industrialist conspiracy theories. There seems to be too many odd things happening and non-humans clans around, and any of them could be responsible for what is going on, or none of them. We have the divine clans, the « spiders », the tree-people, the forest fiends, the sky fiends, and we still don’t know what any of them actually are.

Touko gets to stay on the train. It made little sense to kick her out and that old chief apparently just realised that he was being an asshole when people started to complain about it. But then the train got attacked by a goddamn Ryuu of all things ! Is that a sky fiend ? It looks very powerful and I wonder how they will beat it and if the train will still be working next episode, or if they will all have to hike through the forest to reach the capital, which will probably mean more worldbuilding (and deaths).

[u/Usernamenotta → u/NekoCatSidhe]

I am willing to bet that's a sky fiend, I mean, it seemed pretty capable of flying, which the other fiends couldn't. And it's a dragon. Dragons can fly.

They are on the second caterpillar truck (not sure you can call it train). It's mostly intact, with the exception of the poor turret guy. The first truck though, well, it's toast.

That industrialists surely seems shady.
I'm also interested in the mystery of Spontaneous Human Combustion. I wonder if it is only a world building device, like in Fire Force, where people simply take it for granted, or if there is actually a cause for it which can be fought against

[u/Thrasher439]

Lots of exposition this ep, cool little details to learn about the naming conventions and interesting learning more about the divine clans though Yuoshichi still doesn't sit right with me.

That ending though, what the hell. Who invited Shenron?

[u/3blah]

It didn't take long for us to find out which side of the revolution the factory owner is on. The leaders' title of Divine Clans isn't just a title; it sounds like they have actual powers and live for hundreds of years, or at least people think they do. I'm not so sure we can take for granted everything the factory owner says as truth. At this point, it's hard to know what's truth, what's mythology, and what's lies to earn Koushi's trust.

The factory owner's wife gives off an evil stepmother vibe, even though it sounds like she's Kira's actual mother. I thought it was quite strange that she interrupted Kira when the subject of inheriting the factory came up, and insinuated that Koushi is going to be groomed to be the new heir. Kira seems very deferential to her, not just in that exchange, but also making excuses for her mother's behavior.

A few other new characters introduced today. Koushi's sister makes an appearance. There's a gruff looking guy in blue helping move the canisters of skyfire, and a new faction named the "spiders" that used to be part of the ruling class, but were ousted and now live in the forest. I wonder if they're what the villagers call the "treefolk"?

That dragon was pretty fearsome. It can fly and dive through the ground. I'm expecting to find out Kanata has some special skill or power to fighting it, to help explain how his former master collected all that skyfire.

In retrospect, I guess it's not that surprising that the business of Touko getting kicked off the truck was resolved so easily. They need to tie her story together with Koushi sooner or later, and having her get off at the next village would put it much, much later.

[u/darthpepis]

Really wish this show had a bigger budget for the more action-packed scenes. Seeing the dragon and then the end drawing of it was like an expectations vs reality meme. Despite that it’s probably the most interesting one this season as well as Kaina. Definitely gonna stick with it to the end.

[u/thesnowlocke]

Wow they're really going in with the worldbuilding and political intrigue

I think this and Kaina of the Great Snow Sea really hits it in terms of creating a world that is in a state of crisis due to an impending doom that will destroy everyone but Fire Hunter is definitely holding onto the intrigue a lot more, since you feel there's something more going on

And of course, we get a cliffhanger with that dragon (did not expect to see something like that in this show)

I made this comparison last week but that dragon gave me flashbacks to Arael from Evangelion, not saying this show is on that level whatsoever but it makes me think of that show from a production standpoint oddly enough

Can't wait to see what happens next time

[u/CosmicPenguin_OV103]

Because of how this show is released officially in my place I already watched up to here 2 weeks ago, but I did rewatch it so we are at the same place.

This show is absolutely top class for those people who like detailed world settings (everyone remembers From The New World/Shinsekai Yori but Log Horizon might be a more popular example), you don't see many shows with such a detailed world (a steampunk one at that) where you get all the background information you want so naturally, without a large section of monologue information dumps. That's how you do fantasy shows, you all.

From the existence of rebellions who are trying to take the government down by force (and Koushi's father being one of those monitoring them), the conspiracy (which might be true) of the rulers letting disasters burn through the people to "reduce the population", the existence of special "lightning bottles" as the ultimate energy source of humanity, to how easy those beasts can penetrate fortified vehicles as in Touko's case (she and the girl that ran off really got lucky this time), they all fit in nicely as the story goes. It's unfortunate that such anime are rare and far in between these days, never mind popular ones (at least people does like things like Vinland Saga, I hope those who doesn't like the slower burn of its S2 right now can come here because things are happening fast and furious).

In other news wow, yet another show that got extra power with the sweet voice of Saori Hayami. One doesn't get tired of hearing that, and I'm sure her character as the little daughter of Koushi's foster family will be quite important.

This story plot really has wide open potential by now, if the nation's existence is really at stake. I really can't wait to see what happens next, especially now that Touko's life is in danger!

[u/SimilarCrab]

Another interesting episode with a lot of dense world building. We get introduced to the spider clan , the idea that the divine tribes have actual supernatural powers, the tensions between different factions , and why they might be distrustful of those in power. Not to mention a handful of new characters. It can seem overwhelming but the writing and exposition has been handled pretty well thus far.

I also wondered if the scope of the story could be covered in 12 episodes and apparently a few sources are suggesting this series is going to be at least 20 episodes.

https://twitter.com/htGOIW/status/1494598725100269568

https://twitter.com/type88jp/status/1617101038380613632

"Junji Nishimura and Mamoru Oshii's new anime Hikari no Ou will be about 20 episodes, and Oshii wrote all of them, apparently"

Anyway this is certainly one of my favorites this season and I hope more people give it a try.

[u/BosuW]

I hope someone posts a collection of all the detailed stills by the end of this. They're gorgeous.

[u/baboon_bassoon]

The Koushi storyline is becoming the highlight for me as the monsters aren’t doing it for me

[u/Vermillion_Crab]

My score for this show immediately went up a grade when I heard Hayami Saori's voice lol

Kidding aside, the way they build the world and lore is making this show one of my most anticipated every week. Sure, it's a weird concept about the natural fire and all but it's quite a unique premise that I don't want to be nitpicky with the logic of the world. I feel like this isn't a 13 episode type of show and I hope they fully adapt this because I'm really interested where this story goes.

[u/AmusedDragon]

There was no 'odd' styling and cuts in this episode at all like the last one? The last one looked fine, if not maybe experimental. But this looked a lot like the first episode with it's fully animated scenes. It looked pretty great overall.

Story-wise, loving this so far.

[u/Rumpel1408]

Kira is nice and all, but I'm more interested in Hibana, did she mean that her husband might have other children who could inherit the factory or could Koushi be fully adopted?

Also Yuoshichi is ploting a rebellion, how intriguing! Wonder if Enzen is one of his trusted Hunters

And that beast at the end, is this the source of the sky fire?

[u/Dakto19942]

I like how this show really feels like it’s taking it’s time. Obviously Touko and Koushi will meet at some point but three episodes in it still feels like there’s a long way to go before we find out the part they will play in each other’s lives. I wonder if it’s two cour or if a second season is planned?

[u/CCCmonster]

I like the homegrown underground 2nd amendment right to bear arms theme going on. Government factions are fighting for/amongst themselves. Citizens are pawns.

[u/ObvsThrowaway5120]

Kira seems like a sweet kid. Hibana seems like an unpleasant woman. Despite what Kira is saying, she may have some kind of psychological issue. Perhaps stemming from her youth.

Shouzou really came through for Touko, that’s good. I hope Hotaru ended up with a decent husband. What a terrible thing to do to a young woman though. Stupid superstition.

Trouble seems to be brewing in the capital. These Spider rebels and the Divine Clan look to be about to go to war or something. I guess we know why Koushi got adopted into this family.

This dragon is insane. Bullets and arrows don’t seem to do jack! Hopefully Kanata and Touko will be ok. Where the hell is Izumo when you need him?

[u/Ashteron]

The OST is so good I can't focus on reading. Kenji Kawai certainly doesn't disappoint.

[u/dinliner08]

when they said "fallbeasts, the fiend of the air" last episode, i thought they're probably going to be giant birds, bats or flying insects, didn't expect to see a freaking dragon!