English

The late Freeza arc really needed a much more accurate, better acted English dub than Dragon Ball Z's. Some of the worst material of that dub came from this group of episodes, especially with Freeza himself. Making him extremely jokey, playing on his androgyny with sexual innuendo, and just missing the point of his character altogether were big mistakes Funimation made with these episodes. Freeza is a huge part of these episodes, so treating with him respect is a necessity. Dragon Ball Kai did just that, rubbing ointment on the burns of the previous dub. The English dub's script allowed for Freeza to give his haughty, sarcastic (but not sexually charged, like the dub) remarks and feigned politeness and his grand declarations of his power. Chris Ayres lent him a regal-sounding voice and delivery.

Episode 33, " The Northern Wall Of Briggs"


*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Kimbley continues to track Scar and Marcoh, leading him North. When he finds Scar, it's not Marcoh with him, but Yoki: Marcoh and Mei aren't with him. After a short fight, Kimbley is pinned to the back of a train car with a metal pipe, but Kimbley destroys the back of the train and gets away. Edward and Alphonse, meanwhile, have made their way to the Briggs mountains and encounter Major General Olivier Mira Armstrong, Alex Louis Armstrong's sister, and the commander in charge of the Briggs fortress. Reluctantly, she bids them entry. In another part of the mountains, Marcoh and Mei reach the spot where Scar hid his brother's notes and uncover them.

#1: #2: Comments: Ehhh, I guess Tiffany Grant is a little better than before, but she's still no Yuko Miyamura. Spike Spencer's likewise mediocre, but at least not painful. I guess you have to set your bar pretty low to be impressed with either of them. The newer cast for the characters is a lot better then their TV series counterparts, for the most part. I love J. Michael Tatum's Kaji. I knew he was going to go with a voice that sounds like his Isaac from Baccano!. Oh, and Monica Rial is a fantastic Pen Pen, of course.

Episode 30, "Ishbal Extermination" *****SPOILERS***** Synopsis: Riza Hawkeye relates to Edward, and Marcoh to Scar, the Amestrian military's role in the Ishbal conflict. After the war broke out, it was seven years before Fuhrer King Bradley ordered the State Alchemists into Ishbal to eliminate the population. In a flashback, Mustang meets with Hughes and Hawkeye after a long while, and sees that they all have the eyes of a murderer. Hughes, however, looks forward to a future involving his girlfriend, Gracia, back at home. Zolf J. Kimbley, one of the State Alchemists uses a Philosopher's Stone made up of Ishbalan civillians to kill others. The head Ishbalan cleric tries to exchange his life for the life of his people, but King Bradley refuses the deal, calling him foolish.

Episode 29, " Struggle of the Fool" *****SPOILERS***** Synopsis: The Elrics brothers are brought to Fuhrer Bradley, who threatens to kill Winry if they refuse to cooperate. Edward calls Winry to check on her, and after the call, Greed appears and comments on their predictability. He leaves them a message for Ranfan that Ling wrote in Xingese. Roy updates Hawkeye and Armstrong. Alphonse delivers the message to Ranfan, who wants to get an automail arm. Edward fixes the damage done to the part of town he fought Scar in, and remembers he has to return Hawkeye's gun to her. Comments: I cannot stress just how badly I hate Jerry Russell's Tim Marcoh.