Black Torch Episode 3, titled “What’s My Name,” takes a breather after two action packed openers to spend real time on its characters.
There’s noticeably less fighting than before, and a good chunk of the runtime goes to explaining how the Bureau of Espionage operates, but the episode makes up for the slower pace with strong character interactions and a couple of new faces that make the cast far more entertaining.
Ichika Steals the Show in Black Torch Episode 3
Ichika wasn’t expected to be the highlight of this episode, but she owns every scene she’s in. Jiro opens things by saying he was only being nice to her because she’s a girl. That doesn’t go well for him.
Ichika doesn’t argue or launch into a long speech. She simply reminds him who’s stronger, then drops one of the best lines of the episode: “I have two pet peeves. Mononoke, and sexist pricks like you.” That’s enough to shut Jiro up completely, sassy punch included.
It works because Ichika isn’t written as someone constantly trying to prove she’s tough. She just is, and she never makes a big deal out of it.
Once she puts Jiro in his place, everyone else seems determined to test her patience too. Rago keeps pushing her buttons, and then the Mononoke attacking the transport van decides she’s the one worth picking on. At this point, a solid chunk of the episode is just Ichika dealing with difficult personalities, and it’s genuinely funny every time.
The episode itself runs slower than the first two. Most of it revolves around Jiro being questioned and evaluated by the Bureau, so viewers shouldn’t expect nonstop fights here. But the world building never feels overwhelming, and the pacing benefits from the cast constantly bouncing off each other instead of sitting through dry exposition.
The Team Finally Comes Together
Black Torch Episode 3 introduces Hana Usami and Reiji Kirihara, two characters who immediately add something different to the group. Hana doesn’t get a lot of screen time this week, but she leaves a decent first impression. Reiji, on the other hand, walks in and immediately starts beefing with Jiro.
Neither of them tries to get along, and honestly, that’s probably for the best. Their personalities are different enough that a clash felt inevitable, and their duel plays out less like a fight between enemies and more like two guys trying way too hard to prove who’s better.
Black Torch Episode 3 also finally explains why the squad is called Black Torch, which feels like a nice payoff after hearing the series title for weeks. It’s not some huge twist, but it does make everything feel like it’s finally coming together.
Up to this point, the anime has mostly been introducing characters and explaining its world. This is the first episode where it feels like the real journey is about to begin.
Black Torch Episode 3: Final Verdict
Episode 3 is definitely slower than the first two, with a lot of talking, explaining, and setup before anything major happens. Anyone expecting another fight heavy episode might find this one a bit much on the slow side.
That said, the characters carry most of the runtime well. Ichika is the clear MVP, Reiji already looks like he’ll be fun to watch, and the real question now is how this team functions once they’re thrown into an actual mission together.
Fans on Reddit have already pointed out that Ichika’s line reads like the episode’s unofficial thesis statement, and it’s hard to disagree after watching her handle Jiro, Rago, and a Mononoke in the span of twenty minutes.