A Story Made Fullmetal

Sections:
#1: Cold Flame
#2: How Humanity Triumphs
#3: Favorites
#4: ending statements

I watched Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood in April of 2021, I have watched it thoroughly a total of three times, first by myself, once with my dad and again with my mom. Then I watched snippets of it here and there, I can say that it had and will withstand the test of time. With all of its themes, characters, philosophy, and worldbuilding, I can confidently say that this is one of the most well written stories (in general) I have ever consumed.

This review is going to be filled with bias and spoilers so leave now if you're not into that.

~Cold Flame~
But before we can get to me rambling and throwing praises at FMAB, let’s get to the things that could have been handled better out of the way.

1. As many fans would say that the manga and FMA 03 had a better established beginning, I also agree with this sentiment, as in the Manga it tells us about the war in more detail and how messed up the military can get, with the as Fessler recklessly through his soldiers onto the battlefield to be killed and the imprisonment of many Ishvalans who were working in Amestris while the war decimated their people. I do also like the focus of the Soldiers’ trauma from the war in FMA 03

1. This is already nitpicky since I’m really trying to find things that FMAB ‘fails’ to do, so another thing is that it omits certain moments from the manga (I know it’s for time constraints but still) that could have made FMAB more fleshed out. For example the part (in the manga) where it shows that Kimblee was ordered to kill the Rockbells since they’re healing Ishvalans and the part was he (Kimblee) killed (Ishvalans) for Alex Armstrong since Alex was too taken aback, disgusted by the horrors of war and was sent back to central. I know this isn’t wasn’t in pity of Alex since Kimblee enjoys killing but it was sort of a unintentional kind gesture AND when Alex made a whole in the wall for an Ishvalan to run pass the gun fires, sure Kimblee killed that person right after they got past the wall and Alex saw it with his own eyes, but Kimblee still didn’t tell anyone that Alex was trying to save some Ishvalans (he could definitely told someone and gotten Alex into even more trouble but no…)

1. Lastly, I didn’t think that restoring Mustang’s vision was necessary, now don’t get me wrong I’m glad that he was able to see again (like anyone would) but I didn’t think that using the philosopher stone was the ‘right’ move, Sure he’s going to do good when he gets his vision back and help to restore Ishval but using the lives collected by the people he killed (willingly or not) just doesn’t sit right with me (personal thing, if you’re fine with it, then good), but I do like that he offered to heal Havoc first. Speaking of Havoc, I was fine with him using the stone since…I don’t think he was involved in the war? (someone correct me if I’m wrong) but I do like the way the Manga showed him going through physical therapy, I don’t know if you still have to go through therapy if you use the stone or if you just can suddenly walk or see again but it was a nice touch in the manga.

Now onto the positives, Grab and snack or drink this is going to be long.

~How humanity Triumphs~

~Ouroboros~
[a circular symbol that depicts a snake or dragon devouring its own tail and that is used especially to represent the eternal cycle of deconstruction and rebirth]

~Deconstruction~
The first thing we see is a circle, a transmutation circle…Isaac’s transmutation circle to be exact. Isaac McDougal, who knew that a minor brotherhood exclusive villain would have a major effect on this grand story. Or rather a was a great tool to foreshadow the story and bring it full circle in a span of 34-35 episodes. Making our protagonist rethink their initial dismissiveness to Isaac’s statement of
“...but do you really know the ones you serve? Or what their true plans are?”

An eternal cycle of life and death, shown by the Homunculi, as Father kills and rebriths them at any time he pleases. As they make mistakes, Father will rebirth them and purge their memories, as I think that memories play a key in breaking the cycle, as Greed(ling) remembers his old memories and starts to diverge even more from Father, severing the cycle and creating a positive change.
Speaking of making the same mistakes time and time again, links to their (the Homunculi + Father) sentiment on humans, as Lust says
“Human foolishness never ceases to amaze me…Bloodshed gives way to more bloodshed, hatred breeds more hatred until all of the violence soaks into the land, carving rivers of blood, and no matter how many times it happens, they never learn…”

Hohenheim’s interlude party…when he battles against his own humanity.
“It’s just one after another…we’re always at war.”

“and no matter how many times it happens, they never learn…the human race is made up of violent, miserable fools”

“Hey! Dance with me!”

“Well…Aren’t you the ladies man, Hohenheim?”

“I don’t dance, I’ll just sit here and watch you.”

“But that’s no fun! Come dance with me!”
…
“Because it would’ve been pointless to do so, nothing can change the reality of what they’ve done…they’d still be damned “

“That’s a little harsh.”

“Their sin is still a sin.”
…
“It’s remarkable how weak they are. They’ve an innate fear of the dark and how do they handle this fear? They simply pretend that it doesn’t exist, they run away from it. How could anyone say humans aren’t weak?”
…
“I’ve watched humanity for a long time now…and all I’ve seen them do is endlessly repeat the same mistakes. It’s like they choose to be helpless. They either run away or they roll over…they’re so fragile, How can they not break?”

~Reconstruction~
“So what could they do? They can’t defend themselves, not against the likes of the homunculi”

“But that won’t make us give up. We will never give up!”

“That is true…it is a human characteristic.”

“They can put us through hell. But it doesn’t matter! Nothing they can do will make us give up. And someday we will win.”

“You’re just wearing yourselves out.”

“Well the only way we're gonna find out is if we try! It’s better than lying down and accepting it!”

(Damn long ass monologues)
“You’re really getting worked up over this aren’t you? Don’t kid yourself into thinking you can help any of them…the smart thing to do? the only thing? Take whatever is important to you and run away as far as you possibly can…you act like you have a conscience but you’re just being sentimental…isn’t that right, Hohenheim? You think you can change things? You honestly believe one act of caring will make you human?...Humans are nothing but a resource, and if we don’t use them they’d spread like weeds. You can’t change reality, only your perception…tell me what you can actually change? The nature of their species? They will always be weak and frightened creatures.”

“We will change. Because we can change. I know it…we may be weak, but we just have to be (weak)...if not…then we wouldn’t have any reason to grow…to get strong…I know that it may be futile to you. But it’s not, because we are getting stronger with every step we take.”
…

“...and in turn they’ll protect the ones they love, it seems like the least we tiny humans can do for each other.”

“I’m sick of watching people die! And it can’t just sit back and take it anymore! I won’t let anyone else get killed! Not when I can protect them!”
…
“You see? I’m sure we can change, because we’re weak…and because we die. We have to fight in order to live and that’s what will make us strong.”

I know this may be melodramatic to some but to me this ‘recap’ episode really cemented this idea to me, is that humans capable of coming stronger not just because it fact that we sin but it’s that we walk away from it, tattered and scarred, but with the right mindset we will see a better and brighter future ahead of us. Many of the characters represent this overarching theme like Scar and Mustang, two men filled with justified rage, almost losing themselves in the flames of hatred, managed to pull themselves off the path rage and pain to look to a brighter future at the end of the series.

This theme is incredibly heartwarming without feeling forced (unlike the power of friendship for example). The whole story is built on this message/theme, this show puts humanity in the deepest pits of hell with all of the atrocities it created and somehow can still make you root for it in the end.

One is All, All is One
One = me
All = the world

A very abstract and vague thing to comprehend, like Truth…What is God and how we perceive the existence of God. Science vs Religion.
Everything is connected, everyone has their role and their importance. The ironic deaths of the Homunculi, Scar's duel with the literal embodiment of Wrath, I can go on and on about this but this is already long enough.

~Favorites~
Did you make it? Thanks for making it this far into my review. Let's see my personal favorite characters, shall we?

Scar
[There is no forgiveness for wanton murder]

Kimblee
[The one thing worse than death is to avert your eyes from it]

Alphonse
[You know, I didn’t ask to be this big]

Greed
[You humans think Greed is only for money and power but everyone wants something they don't have]

Openings (in order of best to least best)

1. Period (Op 4)
2. Rain (Op 5)
3. Golden Time Lover (Op 3)
4. Again (Op 1)
5. Hologram (Op 2)

Endings

1. Ray of Light (Ed 5)

1. Uso (Ed 1)

1. Shunkan Sentimental (Ed 4)

1. Let it Out (Ed 2)

1. Tsunaida Te (Ed 3)

15 Favorite Scenes (In no particular order)

1. Scar and Kimblee fight on the train

1. Pride getting owned by Kimblee at the end

1. Ed and Miles conversation at Briggs

1. Dr. Marcoh destroying Envy

1. Yoki's silent film Flashback

1. Greed killing Bido and Ling's lecture

1. Olivier killing Raven

1. Wrath vs Tank

1. Ed, Ling and Envy in Gluttony's belly

1. Pride's reveal

1. Kimblee lectures Mustang and Hawkeye in Ishvalan War

1. Hohenheim’s backstory

1. Greed roasting his siblings before he was melted by lava

1. When Father opens the Gate of Earth and consumes God

1. Greedling vs Wrath

My last words are that, I love FMAB with all of my being. Check it out if you haven't, you don't have to love it, just give it a try. Thank you for reading this far, I hope you have a great rest of your day.