Mark Watches ‘Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’: Episode 16

In the sixteenth episode of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, the Elric brothers and Winry finally learn about what happened to Hughes while a Homunculus hides in plain sight. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch FMA:B.

I swear, this show is going to do me in with plot twists alone.

• You know, I can’t think of a show that’s held death over the main characters heads like this. Seriously, the majority of the tension in “Footsteps of a Comrade-in-Arms” is based around Winry and the Elric brothers not knowing that Hughes died, and then everything is unbearable and awful and this is just so relentlessly sad, y’all.
• I actually thought that at least some part of this episode would be devoted to Ling, who senses that something is wrong with Central City, but he, Fu, and Lan Fan don’t appear in anything aside from the opening scene and Ling’s collapse. Is he actually sick or is this a scheme of his to get… actually, I don’t even know what he’d get out of this. I’m confused.
• There’s also a brief appearance of Havoc and Falman in the beginning, too. Turns out that Falman has been tasked with spending time with Barry the Chopper to make sure that the soul-bonded piece of armor doesn’t kill anyone else and so that Col. Mustang can continue his investigation. My god, poor Falman. That can’t be a fun job at all. What are they going to do with him eventually?
• SHESKA IS BACK. SHESKA IS BACK!!!
• Oh my god, she’s helping Mustang. THIS IS SO GREAT.
• There’s an interesting angle to her appearance, though. Mustang, the Elric brothers, Winry, Gracia… it seems everyone has to be ridiculously careful about who they speak to regarding the conspiracy surrounding the Sorcerer’s Stone. Every time one more person knows anything about what’s going on, even if it’s just a hint, that means they’re exposed to the possible wrath of… well, Wrath, for starters, but any of the Homunculi. At the same time, these people all need help. This isn’t a mystery they can unravel by themselves.
• It’s this very setup that makes Captain Focker’s questioning of Sheska so tense. You wonder if he’s working for Bradley or if he’s just doing his job and he’s completely innocent.
• Which is precisely why I did not expect Focker to walk past himself.
• HOLY FUCK, ENVY HAS INFILTRATED CENTRAL COMMAND.
• DO YOU REALIZE THAT I NOW HAVE TO SUSPECT THAT AT ANY TIME, ANY PERSON COULD BE ENVY?
• THIS ISN’T FAIR. THIS SHOW IS ALREADY UPSETTING ENOUGH.
• Can we talk about Riza? Can we acknowledge that she’s the one who insists that Col. Mustang’s treatment of the Elric brothers is actually cruel? Because lying to them about what happened to Hughes is only going to hurt them in the long run. And me. It’s hurting me.
• Col. Mustang, you hurt me.
• Plus, you’re not very good at lying. I mean, he didn’t even order others to lie for him, so what did he expect? That Ed and Al would never talk to another person or pick up a newspaper? Poor Maria Ross. God, she didn’t even know what she was doing. The worst part is that until the end, everything she said could have fit with Mustang’s retirement story.
• Edward is often overwhelmed by guilt, so it’s not like Mustang’s prediction is that far off. But I don’t think Mustang understands how willing Edward is to blame himself for the tragedies of the world. In that sense, he doesn’t shirk responsibility. Instead, he allows it to consume him, and he internalizes far too much.
• That scene where Edward collapses in the alley hit me really hard because… well, he looked like a kid there, you know?
• Meanwhile, we get the absolutely soul-crushing scene where Elicia opens the door and cries, “Daddy???” Which is the exact moment I wanted to throw my computer off a skyscraper in protest of this show ruining my everything. HOW FUCKING DARE YOU DO THIS TO ME.
• But you know, I really didn’t feel like “Footsteps of a Comrade-in-Arms” was emotional manipulation. These three kids needed to mourn Hughes. They needed to work through their guilt. We needed Gracia Hughes, not only because it was only fair that we see more of her story, but because she was the one to tell Edward that he had to keep going. She doesn’t want Edward to let her husband’s death be in vain. Plus, she even admits that it was in her husband’s nature to help out others and to dig around for information.
• Casual reminder that Winry wanted to learn how to bake an apple pie that was as good as Gracia’s so that she could give it to Maes Hughes.
• Casual reminder that Edward and Al walked right past the spot where Hughes died without knowing it.
• Casual reminder that this show is actively trying to devastate its viewers.
• WHY IS MUSTANG A CANDIDATE FOR SACRIFICE? WHAT MAKES A PERSON A CANDIDATE?
• GODDAMN IT, THEY’RE DISTRACTING MUSTANG BY FALSELY ACCUSING MARIA ROSS OF HUGHES’S MURDER. DAMN IT.
• Hey, at least today’s video commission can serve as proof that I figured out Solaris’s identity a good ten seconds before it was revealed.
• Also: What the fuck is this show???

The video commission for this episode is now archived in my store for just $0.99! You can purchase the entire show at once for only $49.99 for 64 videos!

Mark Links Stuff

– I have redesigned MarkDoesStuff.com! Check out this post explaining the new changes, which includes the start of a permanent archive of all Mark Watches videos!
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– I have been nominated for a Hugo in the Fan Writer category! If you’d like more information or to direct friends/family to vote for me, I have a very informational post about what I do that you can pass along and link folks to!
- Mark Reads Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is now published and available for purchase! It’s available in ebook AND physical book format, and you can also get a discount for buying the ENTIRE SET of digital books: $25 for 7 BOOKS!!!
- Video commissions are open, and you can commission a Mark Reads/Watches video for just $25!