In the tenth episode of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, I am not going to forgive y’all for this. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch FMA:B.
I’m serious. Just try me. PS: LOL y’all didn’t have to wait at all for a new review. Check the Master Schedule. All FMA:B reviews for the whole month are scheduled based on what I think I can accomplish in the next 48 hours.
- I don’t think there’s much in the way of foreshadowing for Hughes’ demise, but in hindsight, the first half of “Separate Destinations” is unbelievably cruel. Just as the narrative establishes the importance of Hughes to his family, to Winry, to Roy Mustang, and to the story in general, he’s ripped away from everything, all because he finally figured out the mystery behind the Philosopher’s Stone. Well, and other things, but I still haven’t quite figured all that out either.
- The flashback that opens “Separate Destinations” shows us the origins of Mustang’s desire for the position of Führer. Despite being outwardly ambitious, it’s not quite as selfish as I expected. Mustang wants to protect everyone, which implies that Führer Bradley’s rule wasn’t ideal. What did he do? What happened during the Ishval Civil War?
- The only reason I ask my question that way is that Bradley’s appearance in Edward’s hospital room is fucking bizarre. It’s not like him to visit someone so far down the line of military importance. His knowledge of the Elric brothers’ journey is creepy, too, and it doesn’t help that he swings from being intimidating, joking as if he is the boys’ best friend, and then commanding them all to stop investigating the issue. Okay, you’re not helping, dude.
- If the narrative keeps finding ways to allow Winry to be a part of the story, I’m going to keep enjoying the narrative.
- There’s a holy land of automail, y’all. I really hope there’s an episode devoted to that place and to the teacher that Ed and Al are going to go find.
- In terms of the larger mythos of the show, “Separate Destinations” hints towards a greater sense of conspiracy between the State Military, those weird people named after the seven deadly sins, and the Philosopher’s Stone. What triggers Hughes’s revelation is the news of riots in Liore, which is part of a pattern of violence in the eastern part of the state, which is tangentially related to the Ishval Civil War? (Which Hughes rightly designates as a genocide, and I’m happy the show doesn’t try to hide this.) I don’t get how these could be connected at all. I don’t know how the deadly sins people are part of anything!
- After Lust attacks (AND SURVIVES A KNIFE TO THE FOREHEAD????), it’s clear that Hughes did not want someone within the military to overhear what he’d discovered. So that means it’s an internal matter? Is someone within the military at the center of this??? Is this why Bradley acted so strange?
- Okay, so Envy can transmute his own body??? Is that how he changes into other people? FUCK.
- I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS, DESPITE HOW HORRIFYING IT IS, BUT ENVY TURNED INTO HUGHES’S WIFE TO KILL HIM.
- FUCK THAT.
- FUCK THIS SHOW.
- YOU SERIOUSLY KILLED OFF THE HAPPIEST, MOST FULL-OF-HOPE CHARACTER IN THE WHOLE CAST.
- UGH.
- Of course, Hughes’s death is followed up by the Elric brothers’ realizing how helpful Hughes has been. Just rub the salt in my wound, won’t you?
- THAT FUNERAL SCENE IS THE DEFINITION OF CRUELTY. FUCK THIS SHOW.
- UGH.
- HOW MANY DIFFERENT WAYS CAN I EXPRESS MY OWN SADNESS? I ALREADY FEEL LIKE I’VE RAN OUT OF THEM.
- Mustang literally makes a comment about it raining because he’s crying.
- Goddamn it.
- Mustang’s at an interesting point in his career because his goal of leading the State might be at odds with his desire to find out why Hughes was murdered. It’s entirely possible that he could achieve both, but this is going to be difficult if he’s got Bradley doing what he can to prevent people from pursuing the Philosopher’s Stone any further. And if Ed and Al are both going to try to find out more about the Stone from their past teacher, will Bradley intervene in someone?
- Just for the record: While I am very interested to see where this goes, I still hate you all for subjecting me to this. Hate. You’re evil. ALL OF YOU.
Mark Links Stuff
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I’m about to leave for work but I’m so glad I caught this before I did. Poor Hughes. Poor everyone. I’ll never be able to watch ep 10 without utter heartbreak and then that quiet moment when Roy tells Riza that it’s raining and she agrees.