Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood – 48

We bring something old but new to the blog: Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood.

I still remember. I was wide eyed and a bit wet behind the ears when I got fully captivated by the anime fandom. Full Metal Alchemist to-date is still one of those anime which I can get back to any day and be intrigued, amazed and laugh my guts out. It does not need an introduction.

Fullmetal has the right amount of drama, comedy, action and intrigue. The main characters are lovable and to be identified with. There is no young boy or even a girl, who could not get what Ed and Al went through. The loss of loved ones at a young age; the feeling of abandonment and helplessness; when it felt that it couldn’t have been worse, the will to stand up and do something about it.  All is one and one is all.

The first installment is still a classic but I have to say that the moment it strayed from the manga, it went on a downward spiral with twists that really didn’t make much sense. Show ▼

When I heard that the franchise is returning and it’s being produced by BONES, I had hopes of it living up to the expectation that the Manga demands. When Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood started airing I finally went back and read up the Manga and felt the story should have been told in the same way rather than the first installment. However, nothing changed in terms of the characters we have come to know and love.

The Fullmetal Alchemist extraordinaire, Edward Elric. Err… Chibi… (I can hear him say, “Oye, Kurra! Urussai!”)

The aspiring Alchemist, Alphonse Elric. Calm and resolute.

The Flame Alchemist, Roy Mustang. Ambitious leader.

The Protector, Riza Hawkeye. Loyal and confidante.

The Automail guru, Winry Rockbell. Warm and strong.

The True Friend, Maes Hughes. Bishie and adorable.

Not just a house wife! Izumi Curtis. Stubborn and strict.

The Missing. Van Hohenheim. Mysterious and distant.

I take a pause here to let all of you know that I was rearing to go on a limb to review all the episodes in one single blog post but when I went and looked through the first 10 episodes, I kinda felt like this >>> :freeze2: <<< Err… 37 more episodes?! Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!! :doom

I want to love blogging about anime not make it a chore. (kanzie made sure that I don’t! XD)

So, I’ve decided that I would keep reviewing the current released episodes regularly but keep on bringing defining moments of the series 10 episodes at a time. By 52^nd Epi review, I would be done with it. :tea

So, getting back to Brotherhood, when it started airing, I had mixed feelings about it. What if it was a dudder? What if, it couldn’t live up to the huge expectations? What if, I come to hate this new anime because characterization was not done right? There were too many ifs and buts; yet, when it finally began, I was swept away with the storyline even more than before.

Here were Ed and Al, fighting the rogue Ice Alchemist as if nothing had changed and they were just gone for a breezy walk in the park.

Of course, Ed’s temperament is same as ever.

The bickering between Mustang and Hughes is usual too.

All but not the least, Ed is still quite touchy about his height and people misunderstanding Al for him.

I was only miffed with the metallic sounding “Fullmetal Alchemist” in the middle of episode. It still goes on, I don’t know why! This is the only thing I can complain about the series.

Episode two onwards, the story becomes a recap of what we already have seen in the first Fullmetal Alchemist anime adaptation:

• What led the two brothers to the path of Alchemy? How in the hopes of reviving their deceased mother, they used human transmutation, which took Ed’s arm and leg, while Al’s whole body. Their constant struggle began with the determination of getting their bodies back for good. The first step after getting automail was becoming the dog of the military for Edward.
• Their visit to Liore and how they save this city from the clutches of Cornello, the Leto preacher. We also get to see the first glimpse of homunculus: Lust, Envy and Gluttony.
• Scar surfaces and so does Shou Tucker and cute Nina. Ed and Al are faced with the grim realities of being a state level alchemist and the level some people go to in order to keep their status.
• Ed and Al finally have a face-off with Scar. He is like a mad dog fueled with revenge rather than blood running in his veins. He doesn’t care who Fullmetal Alchemist is, he would like to kill one and all state alchemists. Truth of Ishbaal is revealed, while Mustang and Armstrong intervene in saving the brothers.

  

• With Armstrong, Ed and Al travel back to Resembool to get themselves fixed. We see the headstrong Winry and old Pinako loving both the brothers as family. They meet Marcoh on the way and see the first philosopher’s stone. He tells them about the secret hidden in the central library.

Proceed to the Episode 48 review

About Kyokai

The Boss lady of Metanorn, who makes it all happen. An animanga enthusiast, who watches/reads almost anything that strikes her fancy. Just beware of her Death Perception and always keep her happy. Regularly found at @KyokaiTM & #[email protected].