Since I’ve been ranting about the titles in this show, I’m still a little vexed as to why Ed's the fullmetal alchemist instead of just the metal alchemist. Isn’t Mustang just the fire alchemist? Is there a hierarchy? Does the “full” refer to the fact that he doesn’t need transmutation circles?
There’s something very enjoyable and very... freeing about seeing your enemies become enemies. So, let me tell you, I was rocking around in my chair and punching my fist into my palm (in excitement, not for some spell*) when Scar and Gluttony went at it.
* Speaking of spells, I like the presitgiation here a lot. It’s more economical than the AVATAR toon's and yet it still has more rhythm than the POWER RANGERS'.
Back on point - - I always prefer complexities over simple black and white morality plays, so it was actually exciting (as exciting as any action scene, really) to see all the heroes debate about what to do with Gluttony once they’d caught him. They're arguing for their interests, and you can see how the politics are intersecting, all the while this bound-up mass of flesh is just sitting there, writhing and gurgling like John Carpenter's THING or that "bag man" in AUDITION. And when he pops... hoo boy... you don't know who he's going to go after first.
Winry’s finally warming up to Ed, too. I could’ve called this (and I did) many episodes ago. Although, given how serialized shows go, I reckon it’s going to be a loooooooong time before they hook up. First, he'll need to get what's going on, then she's going to have to say how she feels, then he's going to blunder it, then another suitor's going to enter the mix, and so on and so on.
Ahhhhhh.... yes, I’ll fess up to it. You guy weren’t kidding about this show getting a lot better after my cut-off point.
Watch this episode, “Girl on the Battlefield,” below, make your own decisions, and then read my comments on the previous episode here.Tom Pinchuk’s the writer of HYBRID BASTARDS! & UNIMAGINABLE . Order them on Amazon here & here .
