Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

[iloveyuyuhakusho]

Oh yeah! I remember that commentary. I was laughing right along with them.
Yeah, they really do a great job of making you believe that Al is still human in armor form.

[JediChrys]

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Ghost_of_a_Librarian wrote:
Well, I totally missed that. How many times have I seen this episode?

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I think I'd watched that ep at least, oh, f.our times (or so ) before I finally caught what Ed used for the fake Al.

And sneakyAl gets me laughing everytime I see that ep...

edit: darn it dr.ew, there is too a f.our...

Message Edited by JediChrys on 09-23-2008 09:29 PM

[IstariErangua]

First ep I ever saw is on tonight...I can't believe it's been such a long time since that first run. I actually remember being unnerved by tonight's ep that first time I saw it.

[RPD]

well, it continues to be on another week. i fully expect them to change it soon...

[ALchemist81]

Yeah, I thought it wouldn't make it past last week either, but I guess we all were wrong.  If they really ARE going to play this series out for a while, I hope they at least get to the State Alchemy Exam.

After this I'm watching Mushi-shi.  It seems like a natural transition to me!  I don't need to see Robot Chicken again.

[Swiftblade--]

At least we get to hear L'Arc-en-Ceil again.........

[Peter_Wacker]

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Ghost_of_a_Librarian wrote:
From the reaction of the shopkeeper when Al fixed the radio, we can assume that the people in Lior know nothing about alchemy or have ever even heard of it.  Does that lady who identifies Ed say that he's an alchemist?  I can't remember exactly what she says besides telling everyone that he's famous.

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Something about "he doesn't need a job" or something like that.

[RPD]

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ALchemist81 wrote:

Yeah, I thought it wouldn't make it past last week either, but I guess we all were wrong.  If they really ARE going to play this series out for a while, I hope they at least get to the State Alchemy Exam.

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i never have been able to see it all the way through... was working weekends when it first aired...

[RPD]

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Swiftblade-- wrote:
At least we get to hear L'Arc-en-Ceil again.........

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can't hate that...

[Peter_Wacker]

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RPD wrote:

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ALchemist81 wrote:

Yeah, I thought it wouldn't make it past last week either, but I guess we all were wrong.  If they really ARE going to play this series out for a while, I hope they at least get to the State Alchemy Exam.

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i never have been able to see it all the way through... was working weekends when it first aired...

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Hopefully this time around you can get your chance. But if not, what else do they have on schedule is they don't run it completely.

[IstariErangua]

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Peter_Wacker wrote:

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Ghost_of_a_Librarian wrote:
From the reaction of the shopkeeper when Al fixed the radio, we can assume that the people in Lior know nothing about alchemy or have ever even heard of it.  Does that lady who identifies Ed say that he's an alchemist?  I can't remember exactly what she says besides telling everyone that he's famous.

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Something about "he doesn't need a job" or something like that.

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It's Lust who says it, and she says, "He doesn't need a job, he's Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist." And then everyone starts fawning over Al assuming it's him, and Ed flips his lid, as usual. 

[iloveyuyuhakusho]

As many times as I've seen this episode I'm still unnerved and saddened.

[IstariErangua]

It really was an act of desperation and grief that led the boys to where they were...led anyone who ever tried a human transmutation to such a path. I won't comment on later eps, but there's some really intense stuff that goes on, this whole show is intense, and it really toys with  your emotions and makes you question the principles that you hear about.

[iloveyuyuhakusho]

I think that's why I enjoy this series so much. It keeps its serious tones, even when it uses some humor to lighten the mood, like with Ed and Al running into their father's study and pulling all the books on top of them because they were so excited!

[Ghost_of_a_Librarian]

I think this is the episode that hooked me.  It is full of the things I grew to love about FMA.  Ed says, "What's a soul anyway?"  FMA asks these kinds of questions all the way through.  I also love the moral dilemmas that confronts Ed and Al.  Ed has to face up to this mistake, and counts himself lucky to have a face.

On a less serious note...yay Mustang!  I love his introduction into the story here.

[iloveyuyuhakusho]

I was actually hooked from the very beginning. I'm always struck by Ed's question about the soul and him rationalizing using their blood was enough. Really shows you how kids think, even when they are able to perform alchemy, they still don't know the ways of the world. I also like how Ed really tries to take on the entire burden himself. It shows that he's a combination of selfish and selfless. I still find myself fangirling whenever Mustang shows up!

[IstariErangua]

I think the situation with Ed is that he's precocious, and that means he assumes what he knows will be right, and is stubborn enough not to want to believe that anyone else could possibly be right. I wouldn't say he's so much selfish as stubborn, and when he gets his head around an idea, he holds on tight to it, but the same holds true for a mistake; he holds on to it and does what he can to rectify it. His stubbornness also makes him fairly unwilling to accept help, even from Al. He recognized his mistake, and wants to fix it, and he knows Al doesn't bear the fault, so in his mind Al has no reason to need to help him with anything. But a lot also has to do, as you pointed out, with him being young. For as much book knowledge as he has, he's not really that aware of the larger world outside his own wants and needs, so his actions reflect that childish mentality along with the stubbornness.

[iloveyuyuhakusho]

There's a fine line between being selfish and being stubborn and I think Ed flirts with that line. Although, sometimes the two can be one in the same. He's selfish in wanting to bring his mother back, I know how harsh that sounds, but his actions reflect those of a selfish attitude. However, at the same time, he's stubborn in wanting to prove that he's capable of doing such a thing. "They only slap the label of 'Taboo' on it so they don't have to be ashamed of their failure." I think this shows an underlying reason for wanting to try his hand at human transmutation, albeit more than likely at a subconscious level.

[IstariErangua]

That's a valid point, I think you're right. Especially in someone young there is a very fine line between just being stubborn and being selfish, and also, with children, they aren't consciously aware of either trait in themselves. Though I doubt it's the only reason, one of the reasons for his selfishness is his youth and how egocentric a child is. He wants his mother back for his and Al's own happiness and comfort, with no thought of any larger scope of how that will impact them or the world, or even her, for that matter, and I think that's one of the things the failed transmutation causes to dawn on him. He sees the grotesque thing that his mother returned as, and that it's obviously in pain, and realizes that it was his fault, along with the loss of his brother.

[Swiftblade--]

I've seen this episode AT LEAST 12 times.

[mgangel1124]

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ALchemist81 wrote:

After this I'm watching Mushi-shi.  It seems like a natural transition to me!  I don't need to see Robot Chicken again.

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It's an amazing series; you'll love it. Oh god, Ginko/Travis... Y

I always wondered who James (Janus?) Herbert was and why Roy had his letter.

Message Edited by mgangel1124 on 10-05-2008 01:15 PM

[IstariErangua]

I always assumed that James Herbert was someone the boys' father Hohenheim was working with, and his name was mentioned in a letter, so the boys sent their letter to that name and the return address.

[ALchemist81]

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mgangel1124 wrote:

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ALchemist81 wrote:

After this I'm watching Mushi-shi.  It seems like a natural transition to me!  I don't need to see Robot Chicken again.

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It's an amazing series; you'll love it. Oh god, Ginko/Travis... Y

I always wondered who James (Janus?) Herbert was and why Roy had his letter.

Message Edited by mgangel1124 on 10-05-2008 01:15 PM

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I already do!  I've now seen half the series on Hulu and am continuing it on YouTube's FUNimation channel.

Message Edited by ALchemist81 on 10-06-2008 02:17 AM

[iloveyuyuhakusho]

Everytime I see that scene of Al sneaking around the graveyard it makes me giggle!

[Ghost_of_a_Librarian]

I think it's funny when both Al and Ed feel bad.  Ed's mad because he's called a pipsqueak and Al is in a blue funk because he was called a tin can.

However, overall I think this is my least favorite FMA episode.  I can't stand Majhal's blindness and ageism that keeps him from actually recognizing the love of his life.  It's just too stupid and shallow.