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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 09 Review

Episode 9, "Be Thou for the People"


*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Edward is given his first assignment as a certified State Alchemist: inspecting the Youswell coal mine in the east. He and Alphonse take a train to the small mining town, which is controlled by an officer named Yoki. Edward is shunned by the locals for being a dog of the military and flattered by Yoki who wants to buy his trust. However, seeing the bad position the people are in, Edward tricks Yoki into giving up the deed to the mine and sells it cheaply to the people of the town. Because of this, Edward’s reputation as a hero of the people spreads. The episodes long flashback ends to where Ed and Al began the show, just outside Lior. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 08 Review

Episode 8, "The Philosopher’s Stone"


*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Disraught over Nina’s death, Edward turns in his pocket watch when Mustang refuses to let him track down the serial killer and decides to investigate himself. Inspired by notes in Tucker’s house, Alphonse asks around about the Philosopher’s Stone. Winry comes to Central to congratulate Edward, but is kidnapped by the serial killer named Barry, who is disguised as a woman. Edward realizes what has happened and finds his hideout, but is knocked out and tied up. Edward uses alchemy to escape, and barely manages to subdue Barry. When the military arrive, Edward breaks down over his powerlessness. Later, Roy gives Edward back his pocket watch and gives him the title the Fuhrer has passed down to him, the Fullmetal Alchemist. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 07 Review

Episode 7, "Night of the Chimera’s Cry"


*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Edward recieves a pocket watch that all State Alchemists wear that signify their position. On his way back to the Tucker residence, he learns Colonel Mustang has been investigating a serial murderer who kills women. Edward is cynical, believing Roy just wants a promotion. Back at the Tucker place, Ed learns that Tucker’s yearly assessment is coming up, which he is concerned about. Ed learns that Tucker’s wife left before he became a State Alchemist, because they were poor, and he’ll return to that life without the support of the state. Hughes tells Edward that Tucker’s wife died before he moved into town. The brothers go to the library to try to get information on Tucker’s chimera. General Basque Gran ejects the brothers from the Tucker residence. Returning to his house later, the brothers find that Tucker has created a new chimera that talks, but Edward realizes that it was made from Nina and Alexander. Gran and his troops arrive and take Tucker away, but Nina gets away and is killed by a mysterious scarred man. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 23 ENGLISH DUB Review

Episode 23, "The Girl on the Battlefield"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Ling, with Ranfan on his back, tries his best to evade Fuhrer King Bradley while Gluttony is sent after Scar. Ed leaves Winry to the MPs and goes off to help Alphonse. Gluttony arrives to eat Scar, beating him up. Bradley sees that Ranfan has cut her own arm off to throw him off. Ling arrives on the scene with Gluttony and Scar and with Ed’s help, binds him. Ling escapes from the scene with the help of Hawkeye, but insists on picking up his aide. Mei helps Scar escape, but loses track of her panda, Xaio Mei, who Alphonse picks up. Ed and Al see Winry off at the train station, Ed promising to make her cry tears of joy next time. Roy picks the brothers up and takes them to a house where Doctor Knox treats Ranfan. As they argue over what to do with Gluttony, the homunculus overhears Roy’s name, and enraged by Lust’s death, transforms and destroys part of the house. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 06 Review

Episode 6, "The Alchemy Exam"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Edward and Alphonse are assigned to study the notes of The Life-Sewing Alchemist, Shou Tucker, and study for the exam to become an official State Alchemist. Tucker lives with his young daughter Nina and dog Alexander in a large house gained with his pristege. Maes Hughes throws a birthday party for Ed at his house, but his wife goes into labor. Trying to help with the delivery, Ed discovers he can use alchemy without a transmutation circle. The baby is delivered successfully and Ed returns to studying for the exam. Alphonse is forced to drop out of the exam for fear the nature of his body might be discovered, but Edward manages to pass with an impressive display before the judges. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 05 Review

Episode 5, "The Man with the Mechanical Arm"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: The Elrics get on a train bound for Central, but it is taken by terrorists. The brothers get the help of Maes Hughes, a member of the state military, to help them fight off the terrorists. The leader of the terrorists, Bald, also has an automail arm, but it is weaponized. However, Edward overcomes him and the terrorists are defeated. Once in Central, Roy tells the boys that they can take the test to see if they can become State Alchemists. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 04 Review

Episode 4, "A Forger’s Love"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: The brothers come upon a town where an old acquantince of their father, Majihal, lives. Strange disappearances and ghostly apparitions rile up the community and Ed and Al doubt the idea that people are coming back from the dead. However, Majihal is not all that he seems, and a past love moves him to commit terrible atrocities to regain what he lost.

Comments:

Aaaaand the show stumbles. Damn it.

The premise is decent enough: the Elric brothers come upon a town where the people are afraid of people coming back to life and meet an alchemist friend of their father’s who refutes this as impossible. But the episode plays out as an entirely forgettable affair at best, and annoying at worst. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 22 ENGLISH DUB Review

Episode 22, "The Distant Backside"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Wrath and Gluttony attack Ling and Ranfan. They attempt to get away thanks to a flash grenade, but Wrath reveals his homunculus eye. Meanwhile, Winry notices people talking about Ed and Al’s fight with Scar on her way back from visiting the grave of Maes Hughes, and runs off towards the scene. Edward brings up Scar’s murder of Winry’s parents just as she arrives, which prompts Winry to break down and point a gun at Scar. Scar flashes back to the war of Ishbal, when his brother was trying to learn Xingese alchemy to bring peace, while some other Ishbalans wanted to use it to counteract the State Alchemists. Scar’s family is attacked by Kimbley and most are killed. Scar’s brother sacrifices his arm for his brother. Scar awakes i a rage, killing the Amestrian doctors treating him, and, his brother’s research with him, vowing vengeance. Back in the present, Alphonse moves Scar away from the scene. Edward talks Winry down from her revenge and she holds onto him as she cries. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 21 ENGLISH DUB Review

Episode 21, "The Fool’s Progress"

 *****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Edward and Alphonse visit Roy in the hospital and exchange information. Havoc reveals to Roy that his legs are paralyzed from his injury from Lust. Roy sends Breda to find Doctor Marcoh, but he’s gone. Edward is warned that Scar is in town and makes a plan with the Xingese to capture a homunculi by luring out Scar. Making himself known around town, Ed attracts Scar’s attention. The homunculi, Wrath and Gluttony, come to get Scar, but they’re confronted by the Xingese. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 03 Review

Episode 3, "Mother"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Finding a basic alchemy book in the library, the Elric brothers reflect on their past. In the small town of Risembool, Ed and Al grew up with a loving mother, but they were abandoned by their father. The two learned alchemy to try to cheer their mother up, but she died of an illness. The brothers try using human transmutation to ressurect their mother but things go horribly wrong. Edward loses an arm and a leg and Alphonse’s soul has to be attached to a suit of armor. Roy Mustang, who works for the state military, comes upon them after this and offers to have them become State Alchemists. Edward decides to get surgery to attach artificial "automail" limbs and go to Central to become a State Alchemist. The two boys burn their home down so that there’s no turning back. read more

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