Since I've finally been able to absorb back into this show I figured I'd drop in and say a few words.
I was disinclined to pick Brotherhood up at first, even though I knew it would be the accurate adaptation of the manga. I was just that much of a fan of the ending that Bones (or whomever) came up with while the manga was still running. It was fictitious, but I thought it was awesome. My love for the series inevitably had me attempt Brotherhood, though. It failed to take, but I attempted it. What it did, was make me want to watch the original 1-51 series. What it did, was distance itself from me with less dramatic moments and more, way more chibi/super deformed jokes. The original series had these as well, but I stand by it being considerably less.
Now, time went on, I attempted it again, and it took. It was just a matter of getting past the recap episodes and into those changes. I've accepted the heartier portion of jokes because not only are we sitting through another FMA series, but so is the production staff, and neither of us want it to feel samey or repetitive. If you asked me about getting into Brotherhood coming off of FMA original, I'd say brave it through the recaps, but I think if you started in around episodes 10-15 you wouldn't be bothered greatly or miss any drastic changes (correct me if I'm wrong).
Things I've liked (w/ light spoilers):
1. Changes in Scar's character design
2. Changes to the Gate
3. Al's transmuting method. It's a well-known fact that Al drew his transmutation circles in the old series, so to see him clapping his hands like his brother and engaging in the fights with the best of them is a delight I never thought I'd get to have.
4. Armstrong's character: Improved (if that's imaginable)
5. Roy Mustang's character: Improved (if that's imaginable)
6. Riza Hawkeye's character: Improved (if that's imaginable)
7. Havoc's character: Improved (if that's imaginable)
8. Fuhrer King Bradley's character: Greatly improved! (if that's imaginable) I have ALWAYS been a huge fan of Bradley. He has a look about him, greatly in part to his mustache, that sets him in a league of masculine manly men in the company of Freddie Mercury, Freddie of Cromartie fame, and that one guy everyone's seen pile-driving a shark with his shirt off. All of his scenes in the original series leaned to perfection, and awesomeness. In Brotherhood, that has been expanded upon. More awesome, More win.
9. Alphonse Elric's VA: I understand the old voice actor hit puberty! Bless his heart! The change was noticeable at first, but I very easily slid into it, like I slid into Scar's change in VA and Hohenheim's (I must admit, I do miss Scott McNeil terribly. But everything's working out!)
10. The first episode. The recaps weighed me down quite a bit, but the very first episode TELLS fans of the old series of what they're in for, and it is adrenaline-pumping alchemic badarsery.
Things I didn't like: A considerably shorter list:
1.The first opening (so far, but only in comparison to the ongoing theme of the original series' intro that changed over time. To this day I admire its change over time, even over the Game of Thrones opening, if that says anything.)
2. Super-deformed abundancy
3. Scar's brother: story changes
4. Lack of conspiratorial tension in Central
So far, it's all been good. There are nitpicky things in my likes, and my dislikes I generally approve of as well. Nothing is bad, I want to clarify, it is just different, and I mean that in the best possible way. I'm looking forward to continuing the series, and I am confident I will complete it in the same respect I did with its predecessor. The trailer released by FUNimation for the final pack of episodes to close the series is gripping, and really makes me look back on all these years with the old series and these with the new one as we close it as a series. My hat's off to the team, and voice actors like Vic Mignogna we've spent so many hours listening to. It definitely has a special place in my heart.
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