Well, this actually had the funniest gag in the entire series - - maybe even the funniest gag between both of these shows. I'm talking about the part where Ed’s trying to flee out the window and Izumi’s hand just pops out like a jack-in-the-box to give him a wallop.
It’s a simple gag on the order of the slapstick you’d see in TOM & JERRY but, I don’t know, there was just something about the precise timing of it that made me chortle. And I supposed it’s appropriate that it would then be followed immediately by a lame chibi gag; if only to make it absolutely clear how much funnier it is than 90% of the gags in this series.
* AHEM *
Pregnancy seems to show up a fair amount in this show, and that’s doubly-notable given FMA’s persistent cooties phobia. Considering how there’s such a hoodoo about how alchemy can’t ever bring life back (a hoodoo that’s explicitly discussed in this very episode) my morbid imagination likes to infer that the rules still allow for alchemy to create life - - because there’s certainly no sex going on to make the babies in this world.
Is this observation a little too macabre, given how Izumi’s big, tragic taboo-breaker revolves around her exchanging internal organs for a lost child? Yeah… well… once the show uses her resultant blood-vomiting affliction as the subject of another bit of chibified comic relief, then all expectations of reverence are really off the table.
See, this is why BROTHERHOOD really ruins this show, no matter how far you get into its plot digressions. Minor details notwithstanding, I’ve still seen all of this basic drama before, so all there’s left for me is to make these mean little snipes. If I were watching it for the first time, I might comment on how heartbreaking the loss of the cat is, or how Izumi proves to be a very three-dimensional character... but I’m not, all you lunatics get is snark from me.
Watch this episode, "Her Reason" here and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the previous episode here.
Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk
