In the eighteenth episode of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Edward finds out why Col. Mustang’s behavior has been so erratic, only to discover another horrifying truth. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch FMA:B.
Just when this show gives me a bittersweet but undeniably pleasing plot twist, IT TAKES ALL JOY AWAY FROM ME.
- EVERYTHING IS WEIRD AND AWKWARD WHEN THIS EPISODE STARTS. Which is what I expected, given the endlessly painful experience that was “Cold Flame.” Edward and Major Armstrong have no clue what they’re doing in Resembool. Like, fine, Ed doesn’t know what’s going on. But adding Major Armstrong to that? Yeah, that’s unnerving. And then Breda shows up, and I understand nothing.
- Seriously, I am Alphonse in this episode. I don’t understand what’s happening.
- I really hope there isn’t some secretive, awful reason why Ling is around because he’s so entertaining.
- Xerxes? They’re going to Xerxes??? But why? And what did Ling stop there for before??? WHY IS FU THERE AS WELL?
- Okay, I am so into the idea that both the Xing and Amestrian cultures have a similar legend about the source of alchemy and that it’s tied to Xerxes. That does make me wonder why the place is left in ruins. Wouldn’t both cultures view it as a holy land?
- What do those transmutation circles mean? I don’t get it?
- Wait who is that
- who is that
- IS
- AHDF
- ADKSJLFAL;KSDJFA
- AS;DLKFJASLK;DJF
- I apologize that my reaction was not as shocked as you might have expected, and that’s 100% because of how immediately overwhelmed I was by the appearance of Armstrong ripping off his shirt and crying, and I refuse to apologize for how much I fucking adore Major Armstrong. HE IS SO SINCERE!
- OKAY
- MARIA ROSS IS ALIVE
- OH MY GOD, SHE’S ALIVE!
- CUE THE VERY BEST FLASHBACK EVER. Breda reveals the complicated plan that Col. Mustang enacted that involved him faking her death, sneaking her out of Amestria, and using Barry the Chopper in the process. I love that he included all of the people he’s brought along with him from East City, too. They’re all aware of how fucked up this conspiracy is, and their teamwork definitely paid off.
- We don’t learn how he faked the dental records, though. Did I miss that part?
- So, this episode opens and ends with some massive plots twists. My favorite part, though, is the quiet scene of unnerved introspection where the characters in Xerxes think about how far they’ve come and what an uncomfortable journey they have ahead of them. There are no more whoops of victory and joy. Maria won’t drag her parents into this mess, so she has to let them continue to believe that she’s dead. WHILE SHE GOES TO LIVE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY. More than ever before, Edward is aware of the extreme risk he’s taking by pursuing the Philosopher’s Stone, but he wants to honor the promise he made to his brother. It’s a neat moment because we’re so used to Ed losing his temper, and here, he puts that aside to dedicate himself to Alphonse and the protection of others.
- I will forever find the scene where Fu tells Ross to preserve her hydration levels to be one of the saddest fucking things ever. Don’t cry! YOU MAY DEHYDRATE.
- Oh, so Riza is a badass sniper, too? EXCELLENT.
- Yeah, I can’t imagine how weird it must be for Barry to have to fight his old body. Well, his old body with the mind of a rabid animal. Holy shit that’s messed up.
- Meanwhile, back at Xerxes, Ed is investigating the ruins by himself when he’s attacked by an Ishvalan man. It makes sense that some remaining Ishvalan people would flock to a place that’s both abandoned and far from Amestria. I am loving this exploration of genocide and the complicated emotions and realities that the Ishvalan people have to deal with. In this case, a lot of these surviving refugees were helped by two Amestrian doctors.
- WINRY’S PARENTS
- WHO WERE KILLED BY SCAR.Â
- ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?!?!?!? NO
- NO
- YOU MADE THIS WORSE
- EVERYTHING WAS OKAY
- NOW EVERYTHING IS WORSE.
- OH MY GOD, BARRY IS TRYING TO KILL HIS OLD BODY
- OH MY GOD, GLUTTONY FOUND RIZA.
- FUCK THIS CLIFFHANGER.
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