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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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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 12 Review

Episode 12, "The Other Elric Brothers (Part 2)"



*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Mugear, who oversees the fake Elric brothers’ work, reveals that he knows their identities and plans to force them to finish making a Philosopher’s Stone in an unethical practice. Edward and Alphonse pretend to want to work for him, but release the Tringhams. They all confront Mugear who uses the lesser stones to attack them. Mugear ends up dying in a cave in where the red water is kept and the Tringhams help stop the flood of the water. Ed and Al continue on their way. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 11 Review

Episode 11, "The Other Elric Brothers (Part 1)"



Synopsis: The Elric brothers travel to the town of Xenotime, where research is being done on the Philosopher’s Stone to replenish the gold supply. However, they find that two brothers are claiming to be them. They sneak into the mansion where the fake Elrics work and confront them, but are driven out. Later, they confront them again, and the younger brother stands up against the older one, but the guards arrive again.



Comments:

This and the next episode are adaptations of Makoto Inoue’s light novel, Sareki no Daichi (translated by Viz as "The Land of Sand"), from 2003. In it, Edward and Alphonse find themselves in the mining town of Xenotime, where they encounter fake Elric brothers, Russell and Fletcher Tringham. I haven’t read this book. I’ve only read a brief synopsis. I’m not sure whether it was intended to be part of the manga canon or not, because it also features the mysterious "red water" which becomes a big plot element of the first anime series, but the book came out before these episodes. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 10 Review

Episode 10, "The Phantom Thief"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: The Elric brothers stop in the town of Aquroya, a tourist town. The police there have been trying to capture an alchemy-using thief named Psiren. The police inspector wants to use Edward’s talents to help capture the thief. Edward stumbles upon the identity of Psiren, a kind nurse who claims to be stealing to save the hospital. However, when he allows her to escape from the police several times, he realizes she’s been scamming him. Angry, he faces off with Psiren and captures her for the police. She gives the brothers a hint about the Philosopher’s Stone: the town of Xenotime, which has been researching it. When they leave town, Alphonse regrets her capture, but shortly after she escapes again. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 24 ENGLISH DUB Review

Episode 24, "Inside the Belly"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Gluttony goes on a rampage, trying to devour Roy into his eye Gate. Roy manages to escape with Riza in a car, taking Ran Fan with her, while Ed, Al, and Ling stay behind to fight. Envy arrives to retrieve Gluttony, but a new fight begins, and Gluttony accidently swallows Ed, Ling, and Envy. Roy attempts to enlist the help of General Raven at Central HQ, but it’s revealed that he and a number of high military officers are in on the homunculi’s plans, and the Fuhrer appears before him. read more

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