Summary:

The fight against Envy proves to be difficult, and Ed has a hard time fighting something that has individual souls on it asking for his help. After getting slammed into the ground, he ends up getting eaten by Envy. Inside of Envy, Ed regains consciousness near the Homunculus’ Philosopher’s Stone, and seeing it allows him to make a sudden realization. He figures out a way to get out of this world, and he uses this fact to get Envy to release him. Back in the real world, May Chang has been looking for Shao May and manages to find the panda going underground with Al and Gluttony. She and Scar follow them down, but whereas Al and Gluttony are able to get through without incident, Scar and May Chang have to fight wave after wave of Chimera guards. What bothers May Chang is that she senses something bad underneath them, but it’s not more Chimera, it’s a person.

Meanwhile, Wrath tells Mustang of his past being raised in a facility with the other candidates to become Fuhrer. He was the one who survived the process of combining a Philosopher’s Stone with a human body, so he became the country’s leader. Mustang thinks that Wrath could still live as a human, but Wrath is prideful of being a Homunculus. Back in the world inside of Gluttony, Ed has Envy gather all the pieces of a stone mural. Ed realized that the pieces are all from Xerxes and match the one he saw when he was there, and what’s drawn on it is a human transmutation circle. His idea is to transmute himself, thereby disassembling and reconstructing himself, and that would open the Gate and allow them to escape back to the real world. Before he does this though, he confronts Envy about what happened to the people of Xerxes because he’s realized that they all disappeared to create a Philosopher’s Stone.

Envy doesn’t deny it, but he refuses to tell Ed who’s behind it or what the plan is for Amestris until after they escape. He’s also willing to offer up some the Xerxes souls attached to him as the toll for opening the Gate, and he correctly guesses that Ed sympathizes with them because he wants to believe Al, who is also only a soul, is human as well. Envy asserts that those souls can’t return to being human, and Ed has no choice but to use them. He hears the thanks of one of the souls as the transmute goes through, and the next thing Ed realizes, he’s in front of the Gate. There are actually two Gates though, and sitting in front of the other one is Al’s body. Ed immediately tries to run towards it, but the Gate he was in front of pulls him in, and Al explains that he can’t come along because Ed isn’t Al’s soul. The Gates close once Ed has been pulled in, but a moment later, he punches his way back out to swear to Al that he’ll one day come to get him.

Preview

Wow, what an amazing ending. Just seeing Al’s body in front of the Gate was big enough, but then to have Ed burst back out to declare that he’d definitely come back for him was an incredibly emotional way to finish the episode. That alone made this episode worth watching, and I can’t say enough about how powerful that scene is. But it also got me thinking: this should mean that if Al can use some souls from a Homunculus to get to the Gate the same way Ed did, then he should be able to reclaim his own body. Somehow I doubt things are going to be that easy though, and the general direction of the plot after the long explanation Ed had this episode seems to be pointing towards Ed and Al stopping a repeat of Xerxes as being more important.

As for the rest of the episode, I thought Scar and May Chang made a surprisingly efficient and powerful team. May Chang attacking the Chimera was just like in the OP too – come to think of it, a lot of the stuff that’s happened has been hinted in the OP. Ling also made an interesting observation about Ed’s transmutation method (putting his hands together) being like praying. I wonder if that will come into play later. In any case, despite the ending and the fact that Ed should be returning to the real world, the preview showed only Hohenheim and Father. Obviously there’s a connection, and I guess they’re gonna explore it next week (the new OP and ED should start then too).

87 Comments

  1. Next week, apparently there’s an anime-only flashback of Hohenheim meeting certain characters, according to that preview. I’m, uh, intrigued, but skeptical. I mean, it is stuff not from the manga.

    Have to agree about that final scene in the episode. One of the best moments of either series. Romi Paku is so friggin’ talented, I can’t imagine anyone living up to that performance. (I’m looking at you, Mr. Mignogna, let’s hear you do THAT… you know you can’t.)

    My only problem was the sudden change from action, action, ACTION to talking, talking, TALKING, in the very same episode but I think it paid off.

    penguintruth
  2. Naahh, they’re two completely different personalities.
    Show Spoiler ▼

    As for this episode, simply awesome, but I can only watch this on tuesday! 🙁

    Siddharth
  3. @Siddharth

    I am pretty sure no one cares about that, thus there’s no need to post manga spoilers there. 🙂

    overall great episode, although yes, next one seems to have an anime-original material about Hohenheim and Pinako.

    Unknown Voice
  4. This episode covers my favorite chapter of the series so I am glad to hear they did it justice. But I am a little nervous about the preview for next week since it shows something that is not in the manga.

    Lately the episodes have been much better paced than usual. This week and last week they didn’t even cover 2 full chapters but more like 1.5.

    Kim
  5. Damn, I have to wait an extra week for…
    Show Spoiler ▼

    Im hoping that flashback is actually just a part of the episode and not the whole episode, and that they only showed that in the preview to not spoil the meeting with Father..? /wishful thinking

    Speaking of spoilers, if the new OP and ED start next week, I wonder if they’ll show the return of you-know-who and Pride’s identity before they even happen. Hmm.

    Anyways, the episode was pretty damn good. The ending had me worried a little bit since it happen slightly different in the manga; when the door closed I was thinking, “thats it?” And then Ed busts through, I went “ah there you go. :)” The ED has been used nicely to end episodes lately. Heres to hoping the new ED is used just as good!

    damian
  6. “I wonder if that comes into play later…”
    I recommend that you get cracking with the manga, all your questions will be answered.
    This is my favorite episode so far, along with ep 25. I just love this part of the story since there’s so much going on and so many truths come to light finally.

    essy
  7. jeez sam now youve gone and spoiled one of the most epic things thats going to happen soon for everyone who hasnt read the manga. someone remove his comment quick!

    Anyway about this episode i thought it was great. im a little skeptical/dissapointed that their apparently going to have the first fillar episode of this series but maybe they just showed all of that in the preview to hide what happens next and suprise us? probobly not. im okay with an episode about hohenhim but it pisses me off that they have to throw it in now and delay all the epic stuff thats supposed to happen next.

    TakashiD
  8. Looks like a sweet ep. Definitely one of my favorite moments is when they fight (Lin is so badass) Envy in his true form; he just looks so demonic (in the Biblical sense) with all those faces and body parts hanging off him! Also looking forward to the return of you-know-who as well. (Someone please remove that n00b/troll sam’s frickin’ spoiler above!)

    Baby Bradley is so d’awwww!

    https://randomc.net/image/Fullmetal%20Alchemist/Fullmetal%20Alchemist%20-%2026%20-%20Large%2032.jpg

    Ha, I’m watching you! (Throw in obligatory “Objection!” joke here too.)

    Pinako looks pretty cute in the preview actually. Funny she shrinks to the little old lady we know know and love.

    Raika
  9. omg sam cut it out. either put spoiler tags or shut the hell up. dont spoil this awsome series for people who havent read the manga. seriously someone remove his comments pls!

    damian: o yeahhhh. i totaly forgot about episode one lol so then this will be the second filler episode XD

    TakashiD
  10. cant wait for this eppp!! and ps im sure that 2nd “sam” isnt the 1st one that posted… probably another freakin manga redaer that likes to spoil… thank god i already heard about the “return” online

    Ral
  11. @sam: Please stop spoiling it for those that haven’t read the manga, or at least put it in spoiler tags. No likes to find out what happens next until it is revealed to them.

    This episode was excellent, one of my favorite parts of the manga was done perfectly. =D
    The ending in particular was powerful. I loved it.

  12. GUYS, THE BEST ADVICE I CAN GIVE YOU IS TO IGNORE ANY COMMENTS IF YOU WANNA AVOID GETTING SPOILED FROM TWATS LIKE SAM. DONT PAY ATTENTION TO HIM, HE’S ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAS A PATHETIC LIFE SO HIS ONLY WAY OF ENTERTAINMENT IS TROLLING RANDOM PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET SINCE NO ONE IN HIS REAL LIFE GIVES HIM ANY ATTENTION. HE’S JUST A POOR LONELY VIRGIN BOY WHO DOESNT KNOW HOW TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE SO HE HIDES BEHIND HIS COMPUTER MONITOR JUST CAUSE HE KNOWS WE CANT DO ANYTHING TO HIM, AND THAT GIVES HIM A SENSE OF EMPOWERMENT, SOMETHING HE’S MISSING IN HIS REAL LIFE.

    That said, we all come here to read Omni’s blog, so like I said, ignore the comments section, if you dont wanna be spoiled.

    damian
  13. o my god EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT WANT SPOILERS, DAMIAN ALREADY SAID IT BUT PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THE COMMENTS.

    can someone just ban sam already? seriously hes already posted another spoiler and its only been a couple hours. PLEASE someone shut him up.

    TakashiD
  14. dang, they made the last scene in the ep more epic than in the manga…
    and nice that they’re expanding what they started in ep.20
    and i spot another spoiler point
    Show Spoiler ▼

    info600
  15. @info600
    totally agree, the gate scene was awesome and actually improved on the manga. i love how the final moments keep phasing into the ending theme during the emotional eps

    @sam. please for the love of all things holy dont ever procreate; I dont think the gene pool could take it

    on a personal note, my favorite scene of this episode has to be when envy slams ed into the ground for the sound of pain ed makes alone. i dont think i’ve heard such a convincing expression of agony in an anime before. ed’s voice actor is amazing

    fathomlessblue
  16. Forgot to add… I just hate the idea that this got very low viewer ratings in Japan.

    What the hell people? What the hell!? Hope it picks up now that everything is spectacular.

    megalith
  17. ? is it just me or is everyone saying the next episode is a filler cause i think i remember that’s what happens? The only filler i notice was the first episode too but also i’ve checked the manga and they skipped a fight a little before lust died. I wonder why their doing it but the changes aren’t that bad especially with the last seen in this weeks cause the ending was great.

    Kyo
  18. Damn it, what the hell is happenin’ in this site this week? A spoiler-posting contest?
    EVERYONE WHO DO NOT WANT SPOILERS, IGNORE ANY COMMENTS BY SAM OR IGNORE THE COMMENT SECTION COMPLETELY!!
    And awesome ep is awesome! Lookin’ forward to next week!

    tanukichan
  19. So Bradley/Wrath was once a human huh? Which means homunculi can be created from a living human vessel… I think I understand how a spoiler which I accidentally stumbled upon may be possible now…

    I thought that as soon as Ed got dragged back to the gate it’ll go straight to the credits (as the ED music was beginning to play), but then Ed decides to smash open the gate and yell “I’ll be back, assholes!” (something like that) before being dragged away again, though this time in “blazing glory”. Holy shit and wow.

    BTW, when was the last time a non-Shounen Jump/non-Detective Conan anime series aired for over 26 episodes non-stop? I only remembered Hayate no Gotoku (season 1) airing 52 episodes most recently, and even HnG season 2 ended at 25.

    (Naruto, Bleach, One Piece being obvious Jump titles, even Death Note at 37 episodes is a Jump title. )

    Kinny Riddle
  20. @spikey: nah, I’m pretty sure it’s her too.

    Show Spoiler ▼

    Satoida
  21. @Spikey: We never saw Hohenheim and Trisha’s meeting in the manga, so I’d assume (with the fact BONES is trying not to stay to the plot) that it isn’t Trisha =P but I dunno, I don’t remember a little girl…. could be an anime put in, we’ll have to wait and see?

    Kristyn
  22. It has been publicly announced at several places that the previous voice of Al, Aaron, will be replaced, because as you remember, he was a kid when voicing him, and he since grew up. 🙂 They replaced him with someone relatively new to FUNimation by the name of Maxey Whitehead, and SHE… is supposed to be awesome and a perfect match. Aaron himself will voice another character in this season.

    starss
  23. @ashleymarie
    Al’s eyes are supposed to have the SAME colour as Ed’s. God knows why they changed them to brown in the 1st FMA. That’s one of the things I don’t like about the 1st anime. The character design for Brotherhood is so much better and stays true to the manga. 😉

    tanukichan
  24. OMG, I’m gonna watch it now!! *so super-excited I can barely write!!!* squeels: “Al!!”
    (I’m also superhappy that Al’s eyes are right colour now!!)

    https://randomc.net/image/Fullmetal%20Alchemist/Fullmetal%20Alchemist%20-%2026%20-%20Large%2004.jpg
    That exact snapshot hurt. *I’m seriously shaking*

    Ah, lol! When Mei Chang imagined Al and tiny Ed, Ed’s evil laugh cracked me up!

    Even though I watch online and don’t download, the animation and quality is fabulous!

    and…the ending…I don’t even know what to say. I want to scream and cry and rage and laugh. It was epic and amazing and wonderful and devestating and splendid and heartbreaking and angsty and powerful and makes me cry and shiver. To quote Kinny Riddle (a couple of comments above): “Holy shit and wow.”

    *hurrying off to watch the ending again*

    Lily
  25. @tanukichan
    yea i agree
    the amazing design was the 1st thing i noticed about Brotherhood
    & i never knew his eyes were actually gold(i like them better gold too)
    I loved the 1st FMA & i was soooo excited when i found out they were making more
    and i loved it even more when i found out they were gonna follow the manga storyline
    This was probably one of my favorite episodes so far, its really intense

    ashleymarie
  26. i think holenheim was posessed.. or he has split personality..but don’t know who made him become like that, maybe his experiment went wrong. or is it holenheim and father two diff person.. im confused. i did’nt read the manga

    mioe

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