Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood 21

Summary:

After a rather plot heavy episode 20, we took a week off FMA only to find ourselves with yet another plot heavy episode. All was not lost though, as there was a cool battle at the end of this episode. The episode opens by closing up a few odds and ends at the end of episode 19. In fact it did a ridiculously good job at answering most of my questions which was surprising. As for why King Bradley decided to not kill Mustang after he killed Lust, it appears that in fact he has full authority over Roy’s fate and he has determined that he may make a good sacrifice.

After the OP we revisit a question I had at the end of the last episode. While Ed is sure that he can pull back Al’s body from beyond the gate, Al suddenly comes to a realization, of what if his body is “dead and rotting” already? Meanwhile at the hospital, we are reunited with Roy’s team, and learn that Havoc did not die after all but is now paralyzed waist down from his injuries and thus decides to retire from the army. I’m amazed at how Lust managed to piece his spine, but miss all his vital organs including his Aorta which would have killed him instantly. The show also neatly tied up the question of why he couldn’t just use automail, as the injury was too high up in his spine to allow for that.

As Ed and Al visit Roy and company in the hospital, they learn that by retracing her steps Riza has figured out that the location of the gate is potentially hidden underneath King Bradley’s house. Finally our heroes speculate the the King may be in on the conspiracy. As they try to investigate, Ed and Al realize that the entrance to the basement from Research Laboratory #3 has now been covered up… alchemist style. As for the question of sacrifices, our heroes speculate that perhaps the sacrifices are alchemists whom the Homuculus speculate could cross The Gate and come back alive. Yet another question was answered as we learn that Roy’s old war comrade who is now the coroner helped him to cover up his fake Maria Ross as him and Roy chat in the hospital. Another loose end from a while back is tied up as we Roy’s team finally learns of the disappearance of Dr. Marcoh.

In a weird plot turn Scar is suddenly back in Central. With that piece of information, Ed decides to do all he can to attract Scar’s attention by using their powers in public as much as possible. As they know that they are important sacrifices, Ed realizes that the Homunculus would do anything to save them from Scar. With Ran Fan and Ling Yao’s help it isn’t long before Scar finds our heroes. Without even a word the showdown begins. Roy and Riza speed away spread false rumours of Scar to ensure that the army doesn’t kill Scar before the Homuculus arrive while Ed and Al battle Scar.

The episode ends with King Bradley and Gluttony running to Ran Fan and Ling Yao, with Bradley managing to knock out Ran Fan.

Reaction:

Although this episode was rather plot heavy, I quite enjoyed it. I really like how this show continues to surprise me with it’s well thought out writing. I mean even Maria Ross’ ‘death’ was explained quite well as obviously that body Mustang made wasn’t THAT good, but the coroner was on his side! Brilliant.

One thing about this episode was that one of the most important mysteries of the show has been uncovered by our heroes : The fact that King Bradley has something to do with the Homunculus. I wonder how it will play out. Previously our heroes were fighting in the dark, unsure whom the real enemy was. But now as far as we know, all the major players have been assembled and made aware of each other. While no one can go out in the open just yet, the dynamics of the show will surely change, as we’ll no longer see King Bradley visiting Ed in the hospital without some eyebrows raised. The only major question remaining is what role Hohenheim will play in all of this. I like how after King Bradley mentions that his ‘father’ has put him in charge of Mustang’s fate, we suddenly break to a shot of Hohenheim. What are they trying to say here? Is he really the bad guy? Probably not cause the Homunculus are supposed to be hundreds of years old, but still questions remain…

The thing that irked me the most about this episode was how Scar was brought back into the show. During the last several times we’ve seen him, Scar was a rather complex character with strong motivations about what he was doing. With his reintroduction, the FMA style of showing both sides of the story was suddenly stopped and all of a sudden Scar became a bit of a unimportant sideshow. Not only was Ed worried that Scar would be easily killed by the army (ignoring how easily he escaped many times before against both the army and powerful alchemists), Scar himself didn’t even talk all episode. He was just a random killing machine that had to be dealt with. If Scar ends up dying soon, I will be quite pissed at how a perfectly good villain was treated like this at this stage in the game. Hopefully Scar will get his due in the coming episodes.

Finally… RAN FAN!!! NOOO!!! She better not die. But that mask better be gone forever! Need more Ran Fan.

Related posts:

1. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood 38
2. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood 28
3. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 22