So it’s been two weeks since the last episode and I know I haven’t been that active as of late. When J159′s been outposting you by a factor of 3, you know it’s time to start posting again…

Summary:

Beginning where we left off two weeks ago, Scar has Winry as his hostage and as Kimblee moves in for the kill, a distraught Ed runs out and stops Kimblee from trying to kill Scar and thus harm Winry. As Scar takes off, Kimblee’s further movements are checked by an approaching blizzard. As everyone runs to take cover, Miles remarks to Ed that he’s a good actor.

The episode then turns back to flashback mode. As we learn that my conclusions from the previous episode, it seems that after Scar gave Winry the choice to have her way with him kill him or not, she decided instead to fix his wounds because that’s what her parents would have done, while making it perfectly clear that she hadn’t forgiven him. It seems like Scar does feel remorse from all of this though as he thinks back to a conversation he had with the Ishbal chief a long time ago about the same thing. Meanwhile Miles decides to take Scar hostage and call Kimblee. When asked by Scar why an Ishbal-jin is on the side of the Amestris army, he replies that he wishes to become that country’s OBAMA.

Before Scar is taken away though, Dr. Marcoh runs in and quickly explains that Scar is absolutely necessary to have in order to figure out the research. Miles quickly decides that the best thing for everyone to do would be to run and hide in Fort Briggs under their protection as he’s heard the story of Father’s treachery from Olivier already. As Miles decides to dispose of Kimblee’s henchmen, Al persuades him otherwise, and the henchmen are also persuaded by Al to continue to live to regain their non-chimera bodies. As such they are taken hostage to go to Briggs. Finally Winry decides to allow Scar to pretend that she’s his hostage to allow the Elric brothers more space to trick the ever perceptive Kimblee.

As an oncoming blizzard threatens the plans, Yoki finally shines as the star as he realizes that the mining tunnels under the town would be perfect for escaping to Fort Briggs.

As the plan is set into motion, Winry removes her earrings as to prevent frostbite and leave it in Ed’s care for safe keeping.

The flashback is over and the episode is back in the present as everyone takes shelter from the storm. Miles gets a sudden call from Fort Briggs and is informed that Olivier has been sacked and sent back to Central and that a new crew has taken command at Briggs. As the Elric brothers and Miles think of a way to let Winry and the others know before they walk right into the enemy’s den, Winry and company have just figured out an even quicker way back to the fort ‘thanks’ to Yoki’s mine powers.

While Miles and Ed are stuck indoors because of the blizzard, Al volunteers to go off to warn Winry and crew as he does not get cold or tired. While walking in the blizzard, Al momentarily blanks out as he sees a vision of his original body wanting its soul back and he remembers Barry the Chopper’s comment that armour was never meant to hold souls.

The episode ends as Father contemplates some scheme. He lists off Ed, Al, Hoenheim and Izumi Curtis as he places them around the corners of a pentagon and mentions… ‘one more’.

Reaction:

Before we start, I do want to comment on the new OP and ED. The new OP (“Period” by Chemistry) is actually pretty good. It sort of reminds me of a slower version of a typical Gundam OP in fact (less loud and less beats) but unfortunately it isn’t so catchy. The animation in the OP is pretty good though as we finally get to see Pride fight in all his glory. As for the new ED, it’s upbeat but also not very catchy. I’m not a big fan of the animation. They do seem to run through all the characters, but it misses the charm of the Winry story and of course features… NO RAN FAN WHATSOEVER.

On to the episode itself…

As I predicted from last week, the entire Scar capturing Winry thing was all a big scheme by everyone (including Miles) to trick Kimblee. There were two things though that I did end up missing.

First of all, it seems that Ed really is a kid sometimes, as he’s not able to seperate his emotions from what needs to be done. His blind hate for Scar almost let him kill him even though Scar was already explained to him as important to decipher his brother’s research.

Secondly, it seems that the chimera henchmen aren’t as expendable as I had thought. While I’m super impressed with Miles ruthless efficiency at trying to kill them, it seems that Al’s compassion won the day and that the chimeras will play some important part yet (if the ED didn’t more or less tell us that they’re going to be good guys).

“Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo’s hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.”

A few more important things happened this episode. It seems that Olivier has officially been removed from Briggs. I wonder what will become of her. She’s in the preview for the next episode, so I hope there will be more of her. Perhaps now that she’s in Central, she will join forces with Mustang, or even better get involved with hilarious hijinks with Mustang and her younger brother Alex Louis.

I also wanted to once again praise the awesomeness that is Miles. Not only does the dude have the already mentioned ruthless efficiency (killing off all loose ends), he also dreams to become the OBAMA OF AMESTRIS.

Finally we have the little bit with Father at the end. We see him listing off the ‘candidates for sacrifice’ (it seems Mustang being a potential one isn’t important anymore?) and arranging the pieces around his pentagon (part of the giant circle around Amestris?). I wonder how Hoenheim is part of all of this. And of course I wonder what the goal of all of this actually is. ‘More immorality’ seems too easy an answer. Perhaps he’s trying to resurrect someone from his own past.

The next episodes seems to be a super heavy plot episode. Looks like we’re going to have some major revelation coming up. I can’t wait!

P.S. Kimblee isn’t that evil. I mean if some dude touched Darth Vader’s shoulder like that, he’d be dead so fast! BTW having Takehito Koyasu play Scar’s brother and then using him to voice some random mustache soldier dude cause he happens to be around? Pure genius.

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