FMA: The Brotherhood Diaries - Episode 5

Ani-Gamers staff writer Ink contributes a weekly column in which he examines the difference between the original Fullmetal Alchemist and its re-telling, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. To read previous entries, click here.

Watch Episode 5 - Rain of Sorrows

It’s getting graphic, twisted, and dark. Had I not seen FMA1, I’m not sure how I would interpret this. Is seems rushed, but wasn’t the sudden immersion into the dark side of humanity what was so valuable about FMA1? Only you can tell. Onwards with the play-by-play!

First honorable mention goes to the 2-minute dream sequence that involves a very familiar scene of Ed Elric’s alchemic pride from FMA1 that goes somewhere completely awesome (if by awesome you can say “need therapy much?”).

We’re then returned to Liore, where depictions of the crowd’s division of the formerly exposed prophet, Cornello (now, Envy in disguise), are tantamount to the beginnings of actual riots. Impressively raw, really, and again showing FMA2’s dedication to violence (on-screen and off). Another important direction in Liore comes when noticing Gluttony’s role. He is no longer a mindless, flesh-eating minion, but someone who actually forms opinions. Nothing grandiose, mind you, but far better than the “can I eat him now, Lust” Gluttony of FMA1 (as charming as he was). Also, at 6:14 into the episode, I’d just like to give a personal shout-out to Lust: “damn, baby!” And since I can’t forget good ol’ Gluttony, “use a napkin, man!” Needless to say, this is FMA1’s episode 2 ending. After which, FMA2 cuts to a little meeting with Mustang, Hughes, and co., and then...

Instead of taking place in the back alleys of central, Ed’s initial confrontation with Scar happen on top of (and through) Eastern HQ! The battle is excellently executed, but one has to ask if a full frontal assault is out of character for someone we’ve only seen killing at night and in back alleys. Also, however inappropriate/exposition-esque dialogue may seem during a chase, the interchange between Ed and Scar here seems...off. FMA1’s had a natural flow to it, but Ed and Scar’s exchanges in FMA2 seem too blunt, even for anime. It is also during this chase that, unlike FMA1 where Armstrong saves the Elrics via intervention, Mustang ends up saving them (a la FMA1’s later conclusion). This furthers a more direct relationship in FMA2 as opposed to FMA1’s keep-‘em-guessing, friend-or-foe ambiguity that was Mustang. It is also worth noticing how blood-curdling Al’s screams of concern for his at-risk brother are.

Armstrong does come back later, balancing the compare/contrast, and the same excellent one-upsmanship of Hawkeye to Mustang from FMA1 still exists (way to be a wet towel, Mustang). It is after these events that most of the FMA1 dialogue comes back into play to describe Scar’s use of alchemy – or rather lightly brush over it in a very suitable manner – and go over his Ishbalan roots (or rather the nature of the rebellion that stemmed from there) in a manner entirely different from FMA1 but very effective all the same. After a familiar rebuttal by Ed on Scar’s flawed motivation, this episode leaves off with Ed and Al headed to Resembool to get their bodies fixed. And perhaps... Winry fans, prepare to holla!