In the forty-second episode of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, NO FOREVER. NO. NO! Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch FMA:B.
Well, this is all leading to chaos again, isn’t it?
•   We have no idea where Edward is or what he’s up to or how he’s healing or what Darius and Heinkel or doing with him. Oh god.
•   The bulk of the focus is on Fort Briggs and the surrounding area in “Signs of a Counteroffensive.” May, struck with inspiration after the group tries to put together Alphonse, figures out what they’ve been missing in Scar’s brother’s research notes. I love the explanation that alchemists are obsessed with secrecy, so that’s why there are always so many hidden messages and codes within their work. It’s a neat bit of worldbuilding to provide a reason for the plot!
•   Of course, it was kind of disappointing to find out that Scar’s brother had merely found out about the existence of that nationwide Transmutation Circle. That’s it? They went through all of this just to confirm what they already knew? Marcoh’s quick to jump to condemning his naiveté, so I think it’s significant that it’s Al who suggests that they not do this. Again, this is perfectly in line with the characterization we’ve gotten of him before. He refuses to give up hope, no matter how dire matters seem. If anyone is able to flip a bad situation over, it’s Al.
•   SO WHAT THE HELL IS THAT TRANSMUTATION CIRCLE? I still don’t know enough about alkahestry to be able to hypothesize about it’s purpose, so consider me lost and confused. May and Scar don’t recognize it at all. UGH WHAT IS THAT THING?
•   I really do think that Kimblee is one of the most compelling and frightening villains in this whole show, so I enjoy that we’re getting to see so many sides of him. His conversation with Pride is creepy, yes, but I think it’s fascinating that he’s an antagonist who is purposely a step ahead of the protagonists all the time. He’s incredibly clever and smart, and that makes him so much more intimidating!
•   Hahaha “Crest of Blood” I KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS NOW. NO.
•   “Signs of a Counteroffensive” also gives us a glimpse into the lives of Mustang’s friends. As expected, the state military is constantly keeping the rest of Amestris in chaos. 2nd Lieutenant Falman speaks candidly with Breda about the state of their country, and EVERYTHING IS SO MESSED UP. The war with Pendleton is getting worse and worse while defying any sort of logistical pattern. As I understood it, Breda was bewildered at how quickly the conflict was turning to disaster. That makes me wonder: Does the State Military often embed soldiers within the opposing force? If they’re willing to do so with Kimblee and the Drachman army, who’s to say they haven’t done it before? That way, they could control both sides of the conflict in order to escalate these wars into massacres.
•   I STILL DON’T GET WHY THEY’RE DOING THIS.
•   Poor Fuery. 🙁 🙁 🙁
•   GODDAMN IT, SLOTH FINISHED THE TUNNELS. No NO NO NO. Ugh. Ugh.
•   And because this show isn’t ever content with how much it has ruined me, HOHENHEIM IS A PART OF THIS EPISODE. WHAT THE FUCK EVERY TIME HE SHOWS UP, MY BRAIN IS TURNED TO MUSH. Lo and behold, that’s still the case here. I had forgotten that I’d met Rose before from “City of Heresy.” To be fair, THAT WAS 39 EPISODES AGO. A LOT HAS HAPPENED THERE. But it was nice to see that the people of Leore were rebuilding their city after the civil war that ravaged their home. Plus, Rose! Character development! She found a reason to continue on, and that was to help her fellow citizens repair what was lost. I love it.
•   AND THEN HOHENHEIM IS JUST THERE AND HE WANTS TO VISIT THE CHURCH OF LETO AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING. You have to be there for a reason, dude.
•   Oh, god, WHAT IS AT THE END OF THAT TUNNEL OF TOXIC WATER.
•   I was legitimately scared of finding out, y’all. Hohenheim always brings plot twists with him! He’s like the Johnny Appleseed of making everything hurt.
•   Sweet gods, the transmutation tunnel is underneath Leore, too. I DON’T GET THE CONNECTION YET. I DON’T GET IT.
•   Then Pride shows up, because I wasn’t already freaked out enough.
•   My god, their conversation is SO INCREDIBLE. FIRST OF ALL: Pride is the first Homunculus that Father made. Seriously, I love that the oldest of these creations is assigned to the youngest physical body. Anyway, given what I now know of Hohenheim’s story, it’s all too much to handle. That whole reference to the flask? JESUS, HOW DID I NOT REALIZE THIS? Selim Bradley – and these tunnels – are the container by which Pride is limited to. It’s a weakness, y’all, one that Hohenheim and the others can use to their advantage.
•   I loved the idea that Father extracted the worst aspects of humanity to create the Homunculi, explaining why they are the manifestations of the seven deadly sins. YES, THIS IS GREAT.
•   But it’s not as great as Hohenheim announcing that he’s coming for father. A DECLARATION OF WAR. OH MY GOD, THIS IS SO EXCITING.
•   Leave it to Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood to take such a joyous and hopeful twist and then follow it with the invasion of the Drachman forces.
•   LED BY SOLF KIMBLEE.
•   FUCK.
•   FUCK!!!!
•   And Olivier’s still in Central City. And Kimblee’s men are in Fort Briggs.
•   PLEASE DON’T LET THIS END BADLY.
•   Oh, wait. Zampano just ratted out Dr. Marcoh’s location.
•   OF COURSE THIS WILL END BADLY.
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