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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 21 Review

Episode 21, "The Red Glow"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: As Alphonse reels from Barry’s suggestion that he may be fake, Scar arrives on the scene. Barry makes his escape, triggering an explosion that causes a man, Greed, to awaken deep within the lab. Greed breaks out prisoners kept in the lab, telling them to follow him. Inside, Edward continues to refuse to finish off the Slicer brothers, but the younger one destroys its blood seal. Meanwhile, in the nearby prison, convicts are rounded up to be taken to Laboratory 5, including Zolf J. Kimbley, the Crimson Alchemist. Lust and Gluttony discover that Greed has escaped. Edward and the older Slicer brother wander through the hall of the lab, encountering several chimera, as well as Shou Tucker, still alive and turned into a chimera. Edward is appalled. Alphonse and Scar walk through the lab, Scar recalling how his brother tried to create the Philosopher’s Stone in Ishbal. Lust and Gluttony appear and Scar identifies them as homunculi, artificial people. Edward discovers that Shou has been trying to remake Nina with chimera parts. Tucker takes him to a room full of vats of the red water, encouraging him to make a Philosopher’s Stone. He reluctantly agrees. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 20 Review

Episode 20, "Soul of the Guardian"


*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Both of the guardians end up being like Alphonse, armors with souls attached via alchemy, and formerly condemned prisoners. They both do battle with their opponents. While Alphonse has little trouble with his opponent, who identifies himself as Barry the Chopper, Edward struggles against his. He eventually beheads the warrior, but his victory is short lived, because there in another soul in the body of the armor. The other one attacks and Ed is forced to use deconstruction to disable him. Unsuccessful in a physical fight with Alphonse, Barry uses psychological tactics, suggesting Alphonse is a fake, his memories all false ones his brother created. Alphonse reels from this, as Edward refuses to finish his enemies, since he considers his brother human, and thus them. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 19 Review

Episode 19, "The Truth Behind Truths"



*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Devestated by the secret of the Philosopher’s Stone, Edward and Alphonse hole themselves up in a room. Maria Ross urges them not to give up. Looking at a map of Central, they determine that Philosopher Stone research must have been done in Laboratory 5, which was supposedly shut down, which is next to a prison. The brothers are told to stay put while it’s investigated, but they sneak out during the night to investigate on their own. Scar finds the notes and decodes them with his arm (wtf). Edward makes his way into the lab while Alphonse stays outside. After avoiding various traps, Edward finds a chamber where he is confronted by an armored guard. Another guard attacks Al outside. Meanwhile, Winry realizes she forgot to put a screw in when she repaired Ed’s automail. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 18 Review

Episode 18, "Marcoh’s Notes"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: The mysterious people in black, Lust and Gluttony, fight Scar in the Central First Branch library and cause it to burn down. When Ed and Al arrive, and are given new escorts (Maria Ross and Denny Brosh), they discover the library has been destroyed, dashing their hopes of finding Marcoh’s hidden research notes. They consult with a woman named Sheska, who formally worked there, who they discover has the ability to remember everything she reads, and makes a copy of Marcoh’s notes. However, the notes are all coded and the brothers have difficulty decoding. Eventually they do, and are horrified by the secret behind the Philosopher’s Stone: it’s made from human lives. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 17 Review

Episode 17, "House of the Waiting Family"


*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: The Elric brothers arrive at the Rockbell home in Risembool, where Ed recieves a wrench to the head from Winry for his troubles. Winry wants to take apart Ed’s State Alchemist watch, but he won’t allow it. While Ed’s new automail is being constructed, he goes to visit his mother’s grave with Den. Alphonse has trouble remembering a childhood friend, but Winry explains that it’s only natural. When Edward’s new automail is finished, he repairs Alphonse’s damage and they spar, which Armstrong takes part in. Winry takes the opportunity to investigate Edward’s watch and finds a message, "Don’t Forget 3.Oct.10" inside. She tearfully returns to watch to him. Later, Armstrong makes the boys realize that, despite having burned down their own house, they do have a home to return to. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 16 Review

Episode 16, "That Which Is Lost"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Armstrong plays bodyguard for the Elric brothers on their way back to Risembool, where they’re going to get Ed’s arm fixed. On the way there, a packaged Alphonse gets dropped off and Ed gets off to look for him. Meanwhile, Lust and Gluttony appear where Marcoh is staying and he’s unable to hold them off. A boy finds Al and, thinking he’s just a suit of armor, plans to use him in a fight, but Al tries to convince him not to. While looking for Al, Ed gets knocked out by a girl who wants to give his automail leg to her father. Edward talks to the man, who lost his leg in the Ishbal war and doesn’t want an automail replacement. He argues that he would rather be as-is, as a reminder of that conflict, something Ed doesn’t understand. Ed and Al reunite and Armstrong arrives to get them to the next train before it leaves. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 15 Review

Episode 15, "The Ishbal Massacre"


*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Alex Louis Armstrong faces off with Scar while the Elrics flee with Marcoh, and discovers that his opponent is an Ishbalan. Marcoh recounts to Ed and Al how the Fuhrer sent in the State Alchemists to put down a long-running conflict in Ishbal and they used alchemic enhancers, lesser Philosopher’s Stones, to obliterate the Ishbalans. During the war, two doctors (who turn out to be the Rockbells, Winry’s parents) were ordered killed for helping the Ishbalans, and Roy Mustang is the one who did it (though this is not revealed to the brothers). Back in the present, Scar finds the group, disables Alphonse, and destroy Ed’s automail arm with his ability to deconstruct with his own right arm. Marcoh uses a Philosopher’s Stone to ward Scar off before he can finish Ed off, and the military arrives to take Marcoh into protective custody. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 14 Review

Episode 14, "Destruction’s Right Hand"


*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: The Elrics track down Dr. Marcoh, living in a small town as a physician. However, they find they were followed by Brigadier General Basque Gran, who wants to take Marcoh and his research in. Before he can, the mysterious scarred man kills him. He chases and corners Ed, Al, and Marcoh, but they are saved by Alex Louis Armstrong, another State Alchemist. Meanwhile, the military has laid seige to the town of Lior.

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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 13 Review

Episode 13, "Fullmetal vs. Flame"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: The brothers arrive in East City, where they report in with Colonel Mustang. Annoyed by Mustang’s attitude and suspecting he’s holding back information from him, Edward decides to take the opportunity to challenge him to a duel. Roy initially refuses, but the Fuhrer gives his approval, and the match is set up. Edward finds himself over his head in the match, but Roy hesitates at the end and it ends as a draw. Roy volunteers information about a military doctor named Marcoh who fled the battlefield. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 25 ENGLISH DUB Review

Episode 25, "The Door of Darkness"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Edward and Ling wander around the inside of Gluttony, looking for an exit. After hearing her story, Scar helps Mei look for Xaio Mei. Envy appears before Ed and Ling, explaining that they are inside a fake version of the Gate/Doors of Truth, and there is no way to escape. Envy reveals that he was the one who started the Ishbal war by disguising himself as a soldier and shooting a child, prompting Edward’s rage. After being hit, Envy transforms into a giant monster, his true form. Back at Central HQ, Bradley explains that he could never have a weakness that Roy could exploit, and has Roy’s subordinates reassigned, with Riza under him directly. Alphonse convinces Gluttony to take him to his creator, who, to his surprise, is in Central City. read more

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