neko's thinkbox

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood slows it down with episode 20 and focuses on character and story development.
Major episode and series spoilers lie ahead!

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Episode Highlights:
• Hohenheim confronts Edward about burning down his house.
• As Hohenheim leaves Pinako’s house he warns her that something terrible is going to happen in this country and that she should leave.
• Hohenheim asks Pinako if what Ed and Al really transmuted was their mother. Ed eaves drops on this conversation and when Hohenheim leaves, he and Pinako dig up the bones only to find out it was Trisha Elric who Ed and Al transmuted.
• After this discovery Edward determines that it is possible to get Al’s body back.
• Edward calls Izumi and asks her if the human she transmuted was her child.
• Edward heads back to central to find Al’s armor slightly destroyed.
• After explaining to Al that it is possible to get his body back, Izumi calls to confirm with Edward that is wasn’t her child she killed. She thanks Edward.
• With a new found hope Edward and Alphonse set out to continue the search to return to their normal bodies.


Liked:
+ The emotional hardships and strengths of this episode displayed by Edward, Alphonse, Winry, and Izumi.
+ The story development found in this episode, revealing some of the unanswered questions and explaining various situations.
+ The music that fit many of the scenes perfectly.
+ The way the episode constantly leaves me wanting more, in a way craving the next episode.
+ How the show manages to maintain its humor throughout almost every episode, no matter how sad or tragic the episode may be. The roller coaster feeling of emotions is something really different to me.
+ The feeling of hope when the episode ended, what a strong feeling!

Disliked:
- Hohenheim as a character just tends to bother me as he did in the first series. While it will be interesting to see what happens, he just makes me mad. :|
- Not so much the lack of action because character and story development are important, but it seemed like a slower paced episode.

Final Verdict: 8/10
Episode 20 was a solid emotion filled episode. While there was no action, you still get that satisfied feeling that the show is going somewhere, and I like where this is going. Hohenheim’s character is revealed a bit more, but he is still a man shrouded in mystery. Ed’s character has matured and it is shows. Filled with new found confidence, Ed and Al can move forward with the help and support of Winry, Pinako, and each other.