If you're looking for a break from shonen, I highly recommend Kaguya-sama: Love is War. It's a slice-of-life rom-com with INCREDIBLE writing, hilarious and well-written characters, and an engaging and entertaining story. Just make to watch the dub if you can; it's TOP S-TIER.
Ling's tactic to act completely clueless around other people while carefully observing and being able to defend himself due to his skills as a swordsman at any given moment is brilliant. He really shows us never to underestimate characters in this show, because he was able to hold his own against Bradley while also holding a unconscious Lan Fan, which is incredibly impressive.
So actually, Kimblee, the Crimson Alchemist, has not seen the Truth. He uses the same movements as Ed and Al because he has the tattoos on his palms, so bringing them together combines the two different types of alchemy represented by the circles.
@@miatonucci1416 not a spoiler its a clear thing with the tatoos in the palmas of his hand and the manga explains his alchemy the show never does they be would be oblivious thinking wrong.
I think it's so incredibly important that the first time we actually see more of the Ishvalan Civil War is from Scar's perspective, not only for us to understand the war, but also for the development of Scar. The Ishvalan people were the victims in a massacre caused by the Amestrians and to show the war from the perspective of one of the victims is crucial to show to some viewers that maybe still weren't sure that the war was wrong in so many ways. Civilians were murdered in cold blood, families torn apart and people scarred, and a lot of is was done by the characters we love. The author also stated that the choice to make the Amestrians have blue eyes and blonde hair was a direct parallel to Germany in World War II. This scene is one of the most horrifying, but also most important of the whole show.
@@Sunaki1000 If we want to get really technical it's neither WW1 or WW2 but rather Europe in the industrial perdiod, but people deducted that the closest we can say the show takes place is 1923 Germany during the rise of the No-No regime, but I said specifically WW2 because this episode depicts the Amestrian soldiers as blue eyed and blonde haired while exterminating an entire people, which is probably most cut and dry you can get while trying to depict a country similar to Germany in that specific period.
It also helps to show why Scar has such a distaste for Alchemy in general too, given how the idea of using it to kill others was filling the minds of even his fellow Ishvalans, with how they planned to use his brother as a 'human weapon', much like how the Amestrians were using their Alchemists. It's even harder not to sympathize with his motives when you see just how corrupting the idea of using that power against their enemies was, even to people who felt that power was against their religion. His methods and actions, of course, remain wrong, but it makes how he got to where he was all the clearer.
We rarely see Ed actually being gentle, so to hear him comfort Winry the way he did is such a special moment. His line "It's your hands. They weren't meant to kill. They were meant to give life", is one of the most heartbreaking and tearjerking of the show, and Winry completely breaking right after never fails to make me cry.
Notice how when the rockbells and winry are mentioned, scar clenches as if pain or regret. Scar was not in his right mind when the rockbells were killed. He was having a severe mental attack and acted without being able to process information, similar to soldiers with trauma. Of all the people he killed, he wishes he didn't kill them.
Honestly, those two and ninaxander are really the only innocent people he's killed. Anyone else can be chalked up to "state alchemists and the amestrian military are a clear and present danger to everyone not them, they have killed millions and will do so again", but not those three.
The backstory of Scar makes him a much more complex and tragic character. And the reveal of how and why he killed Winry's parents...did he kill them? Yes. Did he murder them in cold blood? No. Scar clearly was not in his right mind when he killed the Rockbells. He was living through a genocide; he was severely injured and had lost a lot of blood (it's said in the episode that they were out of painkillers); his family had just been killed in front of him; and he discovered that his brother sacrificed his life and transferred his arm onto Scar's body. So Scar, in tremendous physical and mental pain, triggered by the Rockbell's blue eyes, identical to those of the Amestrian soldiers, snaps and kills them. You can see that he regrets it; he never makes any kind of excuse for killing them, as he does with his killings of State Alchemists. No, he even goes as far as telling Winry that her shooting him is justified, and he never attempts to attack her at all. Honestly, I think Scar is so full of rage, hate, and grief that he wants to die, and is simply attempting to take out as many alchemists as he can before one of them manages to kill him.
One big thing I like about this episode is how they executed the flashback. It‘s completely black and white… until it isn‘t. The blue eyes that are prevalent in armestrians really stand out that way. Both on the soldiers… and winrys parents…
It is an amazing way to show where Scar was mentally in that moment. He obviously didn't see people. All he saw was colours. It is to show his focus, hatred and how his mind took Winry's parents as enemies despite the fact they saved his life.
@@bibbobella Yeah, the fact that it was a trauma response manslaughter rather than an intentional murder really hit me hard, because like… not exactly his fault. It just sucks. It’s a terrible situation for everyone, there’s no one winning
I would not be surprised if whoever directed this episode had seen Schindler’s List at some point as it’s eerily similar to one of the most famous scenes of that movie. Also would tie in to how brutally the genocide of Ishval is portrayed.
I enjoy most about how the brothers say they'll never forget Nina and they don't. That really stands out for me from any other media. Where the hero faces something has to move on and don't really go back to it.
Scar is a case of a revenge-fueled antagonist done well, especially considering where he goes from here as a character. Even though he's responsible for the murder of Winry's parents, we see he CLEARLY wasn't in his right mind, and then he sees the complete DESTRUCTION of his home. Showing those two scenes back to back was vital in understanding his character, in my opinion, and I think they did a great job.
I mean, yeah. His whole village is massacred by a group of people with blonde hair/blue eyes, and the first thing he sees upon waking up is a man with blonde hair and blue eyes standing over him.
Honestly, hes probably more fucked up about it than winry is. I don't think he'd be on all that "I have fallen from God, so why not butcher people" of he didn't understand that, on top of everything else, he also killed two innocent people. He genuinely does not believe he deserves to be doing anything other than what he's doing.
The scene in the flashback where the soldiers shooting people against the wall is so terrifying, and it become even more horrible when you realize in later episode who was standing on the other side of this wall.
@@Chris-ks4sw Isn't wrath in the 2003 series the little kid that tey encounter o the island? He was created in the likenes of teachers kid when Ed and Al tried to ressurect their mother if I recall corectly,
@@DaDunge yes in the 2003 where homunculi are created from people trying to bring the dead back, Wrath is a young boy the body of Teachers child. He also has Ed's arm and leg which he grabbed while in the gate. which was creepy. And sloth was Ed and als mom
The manga actually spends nearly an entire volume on the Ishbal flashback, which the anime condenses down to one or two episodes, so obviously a lot of things get cut. It's actually mentioned that a single Ishvalan Warrior Monk is equal to 10 Amestrian soldiers.
Yeah until the Alchemists interveaned, it was an actual war. In my Oppinion one of the greatest Manga Arks of all Time, I absolutely adore that Chapter of the Story.
It's a cool detail that his explosive transmutations are generated by having a sun in an upright triangle on one hand, the alchemical symbol for fire, and a moon in an inverted triangle, the symbol for water, on the other. When he presses his hands together to complete his go-to transmutation circle, the two contradictory elemental symbols are forced together, creating his blasts.
@@Zombiewithabowtie It's also the symbols for gold and silver. He literally just crammed every contradictory symbol he could in a matrix and called it a day.
It's also worth noting that he doesn't actually press his hands together in the praying gesture that Ed, Al, and Izumi use, his palms are apart, he only touches his wrists and fingers together, but his palms stay apart.
Makes him more methodic than Mustang. Mustang uses gloves for his structural matrix. Only carved one into his hand when it was life or death. Kimble is different. He tattooed his matrix. The only alchemist to sacrifice that pain for the pleasure. Even Armstrong keeps his on his gauntlets. Kimble revels in pain. It's how he knows he's alive.
It was Civil War before the State Alchemists came in. Ishvalans were actually 'winning' until Bradley finally passed a decree that sealed their fates by bringing in Alchemy.
The thing with scar he is clearly the survivor of some war crimes. Nothing going on in that battle looks justifiable. Pillars of flame, walls to create execution spots, a guy who can make explosions of some sort with his hands. Like there’s a reason he holds the hatred in his heart as he dies.
Not to mention that while _Ed and Al_ say he's just a wanton murderer, there's a reason why mustang and Armstrong don't see it that way. It's because he has only committed _two_ murders. Everyone else has been soldiers in the genocidal nation that just rolled in (even the 14 year olds who joined said genocidal military as living nukes). And really, if they can decide to start killing whenever they want, do they really have the right to say "war done now, no more killing"? Of course not. As much hate as he has, he's still very much in control.
@@AStrangeWindmill your completely right, except for the kill count. scar has killed a lot more than 2 people. we've seen 3 on screen murders, but we know from background exposition its more like a few dozen.
@@cosanchez124 The point they're making is that, of the people Scar has killed, only two of them should be considered murder. The rest are what in times of war the military likes to call Legitimate Targets
This episode is great in the way it explores Scar's story and his PTSD after he lost his people and his brother, specially in the way that he knows he died sacrificing himself for his sake, and Scar has a permanent recordatory of that sacrifice (his right arm). Also, you can point that until that moment Scar was a monk and altought his fighting skills were great he didnt killed the soldiers even in war and despiced alchemy because people only see it as a weapon to cause destruction
Ending this episode on the "let it all out" line from the ending is just perfect. Winry is crying for everything she's lost while Scar is lashing out his anger due to his trauma. It's a beautiful parallel between these two. Watching Scar backstory, I'm all on his side. Sure my boy, kill them all. They pull the trigger. And I love that he's not just attacking randomly innocent people. He killed the Rockbell because they had blue eyes, like the soldiers who slaughtered his people, even laughing and mocking them. That plus the trauma of having his brother's arm transplated to him, the very thing he hates being forced upon him... It was a defensive reaction. Other than that, he's killing state alchemists who were reponsible for killing thousands of people in the most horrific way. Even our beloved Mustang boy say it clearly : he had burned living people during the war. That the terrible fate of a soldier. Obey the order or be ready to die because of treason. Scar isn't going for a blind revenge, he is methodic. He knows revenge is a bad thing but he hasn't accepted it yet. How could he ? He hasn't spent enough time with those people to become mercyful. Maybe Winry will have a role to play of his redemption, if he doesn't die by then. I love the way Edward frame Winry's role in all of that. She isn't meant for killing people, she giving a new life to people who lost it or create it a new. She's a good person at heart and she probably understand that what her people did in the war was bad. She even hated soldiers when she first met Hawkeye. Kimblee, on the other hand, is a complete psychopath. I don't like him and I don't find redeeming qualities, even as the show progress.
Fun fact: Both Bradly and Ling keep their eyes closed to appear less serious. When they have their eyes open you know they are legit. Just the first of many parallels
Something I just realized is at 21:20 the shot is reminiscent of the remains of Ed and Al's house, with the tree on the left side of the frame. Scar in this moment tried to return home, only to find no home to return to.
Something really specific but pretty unique about this show is the way they handle graveyard scenes, there's quite a lot of them. In general, they feel very realistic to me, they have that intimacy that I associate with visiting my grandparents and a close family friend, all buried at the same cemetery. Its hard to get right, its not tear jerky, its not melancholic, its quite a unique atmosphere and feeling, and this show does it very earnestly. I really love that. Even the little things like Elicia's little smile as she's holding their hands, it becomes a part of life. This is how she visits dad now, and that's hard to understand for outsiders. And I find most graveyard scenes in the show to have a similar realistic feeling to them.
When Scar killed Winrey's parents he was in shock and didn't know what happened seeing his brother's arm as his arm.. he could only see the blue eyes of soldiers.. in normal circumstances he would never have killed the doctors who helped him
Kimbley hasn’t seen the truth, it’s just that he tattooed transmutation circles on his palms, so when he claps he can use his alchemy. Kind of like how Roy has his transmutation circles on his gloves, when he clicks his fingers he’s able to use his flame alchemy.
What fascinates me about this show is how dynamic and fluid the narrative foils are, and Scar and Winry are the best example of this. Its also the moment that Scar truly begins his arc, up until now he's been a Antagonistic Obstacle for the most part and now he gets to start evolving into something completely different.
I don't know if you guys noticed how the cinematic in the flashback beautifully portrayed Scar PTSD. The soldiers slaughtering the Ishvalan people were in black and white but their blue eyes were highlighted. When Scar wakes up confused and see the Rockbells their blue eyes are highlighted the same way and we see a short switch from the doctors faces to the soldiers. Scar was such in a state of shock and confusion, he associated Winry's parents with the enemy through their caucasian look and immediately had an intense fight or flight response.
Also in episode 26 when the outro instrumental started to play out after Ed punched the hell out of the Truth gate and made a promise to Al. Powerful tearjerking scene.
The moment between Ed and Winry at the end of the episode is one of my favorite moments in the series as it shows how well Ed truly understands her and is even willing to die to protect her
I think it’s an interesting choice to make the narrator at the start of each episode father, or at least his voice actor, who is doing the same voice he does when playing father. Once you think about it, it does make a lot of sense for it to actually be father, since he would presumably be surveying everything Ed and Al does. It’s a nice touch!
The same voice does the "next time" preview as well. If I remember correctly, some previews had him actually talk to the audience like he was Father, but I could be misremembering. Oh, and the voice actor for Father and the narrator are the same in the Japanese version, as well.
What we see in Scar's flashback is the end of the war, where the State Alchemists were sent in to wipe out Ishval. Though in the seven years before that it was a more even war. The manga talks about how Resembool got bombed by Ishvalans when Ed and Al were younger, though I think that is only briefly mentioned in the show.
Resembool wasn't bombed by Ishavalans though?? It was damaged, and the accumulation of corpses was what caused the epidemic that Trisha died of, but I don't remember bombs being involved.
When they're first explaining the war they mention how the Ishvalan rebellion spread out from Ishval all across the east of Amestris and including Resembool.
@@laurainathunderstorm I don't have the manga on hand to check, but looking online I see references to it being either burnt or bombed (likely differing translations). Whatever it was though was enough that Ed used it as a cover for why he lost his arm.
So, just to break it down (no pun intended), Scar's brother had two tattoos, one on each arm, a fusion of Alchemy and Alkahestry. His right arm performs the deconstruction stage, and his left arm performs the reconstruction stage. When Scar's brother found him dying from blood gushing from the stump where his right arm used to be, the brother made the choice to deconstruct his own right arm, and his left arm to reconstruct it onto Scar's wound. However, now devoid of his Circle of Deconstruction, he was unable to perform any form of Alchemy to save his own life, and died in Scar's place. His story darkly mirrors the Elric brothers - much like Ed, Scar's brother made the life or death decision to sacrifice his arm to save his brother. However, he did not survive, and now Scar has a permenant reminder of his grief physically grafted to his body.
Scar went through so much, and the flashback scene makes me sob every single time I see it. Obviously his actions are unjustified, but you can completely see that it was a tragic event and not just senseless brutality. Imagine thinking that your only family member survived with you (when he says “brother, you made it”) - the pure joy that he feels, just for a moment, believing his brother is still safe after explicitly saying that Scar was “more likely to survive than he is”. And then the pure confusion and rage at the realization that it’s only his brother’s arm grafted onto him - that he’s become an experiment of the science he loathed so much… A living embodiment of what he sees as the sole cause of so much of his culture’s demise… and the tragic irony knowing that his brother was wrong - scar would not have survived if it weren’t for him, and if his brother left him behind, he would have survived instead…
"Strategic reframing". I like that. Reminds me of Star Trek when Spock learns about swearing and it's explained as "colorful metaphors". (And if I recall correctly, he later suggests telling someone to 'go to hell'. A+ on colorful metaphors)
Non-spoiler stuff about the Crimson Alchemist: This is never directly explained, but his alchemy is sort of like Mustang’s in that they use alchemy to make explosions. Mustang manipulates oxygen to carry and amplify sparks from his gloves. The Crimson Alchemist triggers an energy imbalance in something he touches to cause it to go unstable and explode. Mustang shoots fire from his hands, Crimson turns stuff he touches into bombs. Some observational stuff about that flashback too. It’s possible that his two alchemical matrices on his hands are two incomplete matrices, and they need to be clapped together to form a complete one, but that’s a good point you had about the clapping indicating seeing the Truth. Also, did you see the color he used? Alchemy typically forms blue bolts of electricity, but the Crimson Alchemist’s were red. Also, about the Ishvalan Civil War, it did involve genocide at the end, perpetrated by the side that started the war, so it’s easy to see it as a one-sided slaughter while the Ishvalans were just defending themselves. However, it’s worth noting that while we don’t see much of it, the Ishvalan retaliation to the start of the war was severe. The conflict spread beyond just the Ishvalan native area, and there was innocent blood on their hands too. This isn’t at all to say that the genocide at the end was justified, but it was indeed a war; that part’s not simply revisionist history.
Both of you alreay know that, Kimblee is not the 'sacrifice alchemist' that opened the door. Kimblee activate his alchemy by the dividing the chemical formula circle that he originally intended to use into two tattoo drawing and tattoing it on his left and right hand, and then combine his palm to complete the circle of chemical formula haha yes.. Most combat state of alchemists, not just only Kimblee, use pre-tattooed combat tools and tattoos to improvise alchemy in battle. Kimblee and also 'Giolio Comanche', the silver alchemist in Episode 15 he invokes alchemy by tattooing it in his two palms. This is because if use gloves, when they get torn, lost, or forgot carry it in battle, it will have big problems. So the most common way is to tattoo their palm so that they can use alchemy anytime, anywhere. But it's just a representation of animation, but Comanche has tattoos on both palms same like Kimblee, but as animation's representation, he using alchemy without clapping. It seems to anyone that Comanche is using alchemy more efficiently and quickly, but I don't know why Kimblee is doing it in a cumbersome and complicated way. (I think it's probably animation's mistakes. Or the Comanche that creates silver, but Kimblee need to cause exploding. Maybe this difference is why Kimblee need to clapping. Or in fact, Kimbley might use three types of alchemy (not described in the story) if he doesnt combine his palms and just use one of hand separately, maybe he can use another form of alchemy, not explosion? Well, this is my imagination. ) While Mustang, Armstrong, and general Glan adhere to gloves, the reason why Mustang uses gloves that are easily torn, can be lost, and easily wet is that Mustang is forced to use the friction force of the gloves because it falls under the conditions of his flame alchemy. Armstrong's case can be safer than tattooing because he needs it for his boxing fighting style in addition with his alchemy, and also it's a wrist protector. In the tattoo method, when their palm be torn by injury, alchemy does not working. So sometime it is very dangerous way. And inside Kimblee's tattoo, there's a moon that's one of the symbols that's essentially used in alchemy, which doesn't have that much meaning. You don't have to care about it anymore. It just common symbol in alchemy haha. And last, if normal alchemist prepare and use these tattoos or tools, there is no gap in activation time or response speed compared to 'alchemists who seen truth', but they have a big weakness compared to the skills with them. Because they're using the formula that's already been drawn, so they can only use alchemy related to it. For example, if a Mustang wants to use alchemy other than flame, he also has to do the unsightly action like drawing a formula with chalk on the ground. That mean, If Edward had memorized the relevant alchemy formula and principles, he would be able to implement Mustang's flame transmutation in a limited by clapping action.
Being retired from the military, the scenes about Ishval really hit home. It’s such great writing from the soldiers & victims perspective. That’s why I love this show so much, the writing and characterization is so SO good
Scar and Alphonse, both got GOATED older bros. I really like the parallels being drawn in this episode, Scar can’t just see Ed as another military dog once he puts his life on the line to protect Winry like that.
During the flashback the colors were muted for two reasons: - it's a flashback - this way you pay attention to the colors that are still there, specifically the red of the fire and the blue of the eyes. Scar's people are a visually distinct race, with dark skin, white hair and red eyes, while the army was represented by a lot of blue eyed people. Just like Winry's parents. But there was one more color that you didn't notice here (I assume, because of the wrong counter), and that is Kimbley's alchemy. Whenever someone is using alchemy, the lightning is always blue. Kimbley however has red lightning here, which only happened with a few very specific people so far. Also, the ending song says "let it all out" while Winry is crying.
I'd I'm not mistaken scars brother is voiced by Reiner So we have (from AOT) Drummond=Zeke Lan Fan= Mikasa Fu= Rodd Reiss Ed= Eld Gild (Levi squad) Winry= Petra (Levi squad) Armstrong= Commander Woerman Riza= Mikasas Mother Scar= Erwin Smith Hohenheim=Premier Zachary Father= Dimo Reives Xiao Mei= Hannah Ling= Marlo (loves Hitch nit to be confused with Marco) Fokker=Darius Should Tucker= Petras Father #48= Thomas Wagner Barry the chopper= Moblit Falman= Mitabi Jarnach Havoc= Jean horseface Ishvalan boy (ep 18)= young rod reiss (As of ep 22) Also the crimson Alchemist, his name is Kimble. He has transmutation symbols on his hands but of opposite materials. Like gold, sun and something else on one and the moon and silver on the other. This creates an imbalance and why his alchemy is just destruction.
This is a great episode and it real provides three great character interactions. Most focus on Scar and Winry, Scar finally sees the hatred he is creating as he avenges his people and Winry finally knows who killed her parents. For Scar it is a great turning point for his character, whether it will a turn in the right direction, time will tell. As for Winry, she is not only confronting her parents killer she is also seeing first hand what the brothers are enduring in the quest to restore themselves. Usually she is just forced to wait for them to come in for repairs. As for the third character Ling, we have seen him play the fool and talk about his ambition but to see him protect one of his guards with such fierceness and to hear him speak on a king's responsibility is also an important thing. Also seeing how skilled Ling is to go toe to toe with someone of Bradley's skill while shielding an injured person does more to show the strength of his beliefs over anything he could say on the matter of a kings duty.
It took me this many rewatches to realise that Scar is a shade of Alphonse. The little brother that was the better fighter that was saved by the older brothers alchemy.
I was hoping you guys would notice but the english voice actress for winry rockbell also voices Petra Ral in Attack on titan. And the actor for Van Hohenheim also voiced premier Zachary in Attack on titan
The ending theme is so perfect for the episode ending. That scene with Ed and Winry is one of my favorite in the show. Him reminding her that she has given life, and that it’s not a weakness that she couldn’t pull the trigger.
the gun came from one of those two MPs that were on the sidelines of the fight waiting for the signal to shoot Scar. There's a shot a little beforehand that shows them getting blown back (and presumably knocked out) from the collateral damage
9:30 Every other state alchemist that scar has killed were part of the Ishvalan War. They all have committed or taken part in a massacre, so they have higher kill counts than Tucker. Tuckers just the worst cause he betrayed the people he was supposed to love and protect
Well you are forgetting that one of the reasons Ed didn't tell her because Ed hadn't totally confirmed if it was Scar who actually killed her parents. Winry already knew that her parents were killed during the war just not by whom. Ed found out it could be Scar at the ruins.
I think it was mentioned before that Alkahestry is more to do with the medical side, so perhaps Scar's brother did some of that to do the arm transfer.
Wow, this was such an eloquent discussion. Love it! Damn, it's been a while since I watched this episode. Absolutely breathtaking. Iconic. Legendary. Thanks for the excuse to rewatch!
Note the similarities between Scar's brother and Edward: Both of them gave up their right arm to bring their younger brother back from the brink of death.
I'm so glad you are not skipping episode 27. Some reactors do or find it really boring and miss the whole point of the episode. The exploration of Hoenheims mind is so interesting to me.
Episodes 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, & 27 of FMAB posted to Patreon now in their extended uncut forms! patreon.com/lettsreact Also, Episodes 5 and 6 of Arcane as well as Demon Slayer 1-8 are posted as well!
When it came to watching this reaction I stalled as long as I could. This episode made me cry so hard my teeth were shaking as if I was super cold. From the very first time I watched this episode when I was in middle school to now at 24 I still cry just as hard. So far I have been loving the discussion during and after the episode. You guys are amazing 🤩.
This is why I've always loved FMA. The arguments of science by using facts, logic and reason. To think. I got stoked the minute y'all announced reacting to it a while back. Thank you Kenny and Montana for all the great content. KEEP IT UP GUYS 🙌🙌🙌
Glad u got to see Ling as the badass he is. But what’s more, this episode hits u in the feels on both Scar and Winry’s side. Glad u saw what they did with the ending, it saying “let it all out” was just perfect
I don't know if anyone's mentioned this but when the flashback is desaturation, the amestrians eyes were still blue and you could still tell their hair is blond. Then when Scar wakes up he sees the Rockbells eyes and has an episode after the shock of seeing his brothers arm attached to his shoulder.
This is my 2nd favorite episode in the show. I LOVE the details. We got Ling CARRYING Lan Fan fighting both Wrath AND Gluttony. Ling’s combat sense is equal or even greater than his guards. He’s proven on multiple occasions how good he is at taking in details in an instant and just how knowledgeable he truly is. And staying in Bradley’s blind spot from the eye patch is just straight brilliant. And it goes to show how much he’s given thought of what he’s going to do if he actually becomes the emperor. It’s not just a title he seeks. And he can literally fight with his eyes closed. Just…he’s got the heightened senses of a blind person more or less. And only uses sight as truly needed. That’s one heck of a way to train yourself. Scar’s backstory is terrible. Killing the Rockbells because he was pretty much hallucinating from the pain and realizing his brother tore off his own arm to give to him. And all he needed was the bright blue eyes. Which stick out to Ishvalans as much as the red eyes stick out to Emestrians. Which I think is just so terrible. Scar’s motives do unfortunately make sense. The only people we’ve seen him target that are NOT major war criminals are the Elric’s and the standard officers that patrol the streets. (Target mind you. He always speaks the title of the state alchemist he’s trying to kill. And he even had remorse over killing the Rockbell doctors…because well…they’re doctors. Not soldiers.) And when you look at it that way, you can go back to what Mustang said about him being in a moral perspective justified. But on a law perspective not at all. And of course my favorite moment. Winry being unable to shoot. Ed is TERRIBLE at hugging, but that whole scene is just perfection. Scar saying you’re justified to shoot. But if you step in the way of my mission, I’ll remove you. (I doubt he’d try and kill her but at least do something like yank her off the field.) Only for him to try and kill Ed as he’s protecting Winry, and then he immediately backs off. Murderers are only monsters for a moment. They can be reasoned with depending their mindset. Scar is definitely one of them. But the whole releasing the gun one finger at a time telling her how much she’s meant to give life. I just can’t point out anything in that scene that’s not drawn and resembled perfectly. I did scream HUG HER, EDWARD when he barely could in that moment. But I know Ed well enough to know he’s not the type to do so.
Ling's eyes aren't closed, they're just squinty and drawn that way. They open up more to show when he's dead serious and can't afford to act laid back, or when (SPOILERS) takes over and his hair shifts to the other side of his face.
@@tau-5794 I’m not sure about that actually. Between Ling’s large connection to the dragon’s pulse, and him judging in this fight where drafts were coming from. There’s a high chance his eyes actually could be closed. (Also would give reason why the spoilers you mentioned happen.) Also there’s Lan Fan who doesn’t close her eyes but she’s seen with the same connection as May Chang. So perhaps she just hasn’t trained as long as Ling has. Or as diligently. This is headcanon but it just feels like it’s more intentional than the stereotypical squinty eyes.
The Ishbal flashbacks are intense. Especially when the soldiers are just killing civilians trying to run away. The music in that scene is also great. With the rythm of the feet marching in the background
hey, know I'm late but regarding ishval being a civil war, qt the time of the conflict the country of ishval had already been annexed into amestris making it a part of amestris and therefore a civil war.
In a couple of episodes is when the story really kicks into full gear and doesn't let go so don't get discouraged now if its still a little up in the air.
Quick clarification: Kimbley aka the crimson alchemist DID NOT SAW THE TRUTH, it's just that his matrix are in the palm of his hands and to activate he claps his hands just like Edward. I love the resemblance on Edward and Scar's brother because both of them gave up their arm in order to save his brother.
Anyone who wants to learn more about, what the symbols on Kimblys hand actually mean, should look at a channel called Max Derrat, he has a video on how the alchemy of FMA actually lines up pretty well with the alchemy of our world. The author of FMA really did her homework, almost none of the symbols are random, even if the story ever goes in depth with them.
Well you clearly figured out the Crimson Alchemist hasn't seen the truth... and actually you answered your own question to an extent. He has the alchemical circles in his palms because he hasn't seen the truth and needs them to perform alchemy. But how indeed is he singlehandedly doing so much damage...? A mystery indeed... :3
One of the major flaws in ascribing to one philosophy as your moral code is that any philosophy folds in on itself and collapses if it is the only input for the belief system. To see scar claim repeatedly that alchemists need to be destroyed, but using it himself, or to kill Winry’s parents, even though they weren’t alchemists, I think just proves how erratic his reasoning is with his whole philosophy. He’s constantly contradicting himself, and if something doesn’t change, he’ll drive himself to madness.
The Moon is more meant to be a nod to his character than his powers. The Moon in some traditions is a representation of insanity, which is pretty fitting for Kimblee
Which anime would you want us to watch after Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood? Comment below!
Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Not really an anime, but a show that pays off nonetheless
@@germanshein4674 They said ANIME
If you're looking for a break from shonen, I highly recommend Kaguya-sama: Love is War. It's a slice-of-life rom-com with INCREDIBLE writing, hilarious and well-written characters, and an engaging and entertaining story. Just make to watch the dub if you can; it's TOP S-TIER.
Death Note
Death Note or Naruto
Ling's tactic to act completely clueless around other people while carefully observing and being able to defend himself due to his skills as a swordsman at any given moment is brilliant. He really shows us never to underestimate characters in this show, because he was able to hold his own against Bradley while also holding a unconscious Lan Fan, which is incredibly impressive.
A classic "Crouching moron, Hidden badass"
I see you on almost every one of their FMA videos and let me just say: hello midzy 👋
@@hananhaliru4521 Hi :D
Can hold his own and isn’t an alchemist. Stud
Wait a second… does that mean brock from pokemon was secretly a super hero?
An older brother sacrifices his right arm to save his younger brother. Who’d a thought that would happen twice 😛
So actually, Kimblee, the Crimson Alchemist, has not seen the Truth. He uses the same movements as Ed and Al because he has the tattoos on his palms, so bringing them together combines the two different types of alchemy represented by the circles.
dude spoiler?
Thanks for clearing that up. When they said he'd seen the Truth, I got confused.
@@miatonucci1416 how is that a spoiler? It literally showed his symbols in episode one.
@@miatonucci1416 I was explaining something that they were wondering about that happened in this episode. It's not a spoiler.
@@miatonucci1416 not a spoiler its a clear thing with the tatoos in the palmas of his hand and the manga explains his alchemy the show never does they be would be oblivious thinking wrong.
I think it's so incredibly important that the first time we actually see more of the Ishvalan Civil War is from Scar's perspective, not only for us to understand the war, but also for the development of Scar. The Ishvalan people were the victims in a massacre caused by the Amestrians and to show the war from the perspective of one of the victims is crucial to show to some viewers that maybe still weren't sure that the war was wrong in so many ways. Civilians were murdered in cold blood, families torn apart and people scarred, and a lot of is was done by the characters we love. The author also stated that the choice to make the Amestrians have blue eyes and blonde hair was a direct parallel to Germany in World War II. This scene is one of the most horrifying, but also most important of the whole show.
Wasnt it WW1? I heard the War was a closer reference to 1.
@@Sunaki1000 If we want to get really technical it's neither WW1 or WW2 but rather Europe in the industrial perdiod, but people deducted that the closest we can say the show takes place is 1923 Germany during the rise of the No-No regime, but I said specifically WW2 because this episode depicts the Amestrian soldiers as blue eyed and blonde haired while exterminating an entire people, which is probably most cut and dry you can get while trying to depict a country similar to Germany in that specific period.
Most definitely agree!! Great and thorough breakdown!
@@Marta-uv4idthey were killing people firing squad style
It also helps to show why Scar has such a distaste for Alchemy in general too, given how the idea of using it to kill others was filling the minds of even his fellow Ishvalans, with how they planned to use his brother as a 'human weapon', much like how the Amestrians were using their Alchemists.
It's even harder not to sympathize with his motives when you see just how corrupting the idea of using that power against their enemies was, even to people who felt that power was against their religion. His methods and actions, of course, remain wrong, but it makes how he got to where he was all the clearer.
We rarely see Ed actually being gentle, so to hear him comfort Winry the way he did is such a special moment. His line "It's your hands. They weren't meant to kill. They were meant to give life", is one of the most heartbreaking and tearjerking of the show, and Winry completely breaking right after never fails to make me cry.
Not to mention the transition to the ED 😔
This is the episode I always come back to rewatch, this and the last episode, most Winry moments cause I love her
Agreed, it's one of my favourite scenes and favourite quotes in the series.
I crie everytime.
Notice how when the rockbells and winry are mentioned, scar clenches as if pain or regret. Scar was not in his right mind when the rockbells were killed. He was having a severe mental attack and acted without being able to process information, similar to soldiers with trauma. Of all the people he killed, he wishes he didn't kill them.
Honestly, those two and ninaxander are really the only innocent people he's killed. Anyone else can be chalked up to "state alchemists and the amestrian military are a clear and present danger to everyone not them, they have killed millions and will do so again", but not those three.
The backstory of Scar makes him a much more complex and tragic character. And the reveal of how and why he killed Winry's parents...did he kill them? Yes. Did he murder them in cold blood? No. Scar clearly was not in his right mind when he killed the Rockbells. He was living through a genocide; he was severely injured and had lost a lot of blood (it's said in the episode that they were out of painkillers); his family had just been killed in front of him; and he discovered that his brother sacrificed his life and transferred his arm onto Scar's body.
So Scar, in tremendous physical and mental pain, triggered by the Rockbell's blue eyes, identical to those of the Amestrian soldiers, snaps and kills them. You can see that he regrets it; he never makes any kind of excuse for killing them, as he does with his killings of State Alchemists. No, he even goes as far as telling Winry that her shooting him is justified, and he never attempts to attack her at all.
Honestly, I think Scar is so full of rage, hate, and grief that he wants to die, and is simply attempting to take out as many alchemists as he can before one of them manages to kill him.
One big thing I like about this episode is how they executed the flashback. It‘s completely black and white… until it isn‘t. The blue eyes that are prevalent in armestrians really stand out that way. Both on the soldiers… and winrys parents…
It is an amazing way to show where Scar was mentally in that moment.
He obviously didn't see people. All he saw was colours. It is to show his focus, hatred and how his mind took Winry's parents as enemies despite the fact they saved his life.
@@bibbobella
Yeah, the fact that it was a trauma response manslaughter rather than an intentional murder really hit me hard, because like… not exactly his fault. It just sucks. It’s a terrible situation for everyone, there’s no one winning
I would not be surprised if whoever directed this episode had seen Schindler’s List at some point as it’s eerily similar to one of the most famous scenes of that movie. Also would tie in to how brutally the genocide of Ishval is portrayed.
I enjoy most about how the brothers say they'll never forget Nina and they don't. That really stands out for me from any other media. Where the hero faces something has to move on and don't really go back to it.
Scar is a case of a revenge-fueled antagonist done well, especially considering where he goes from here as a character.
Even though he's responsible for the murder of Winry's parents, we see he CLEARLY wasn't in his right mind, and then he sees the complete DESTRUCTION of his home.
Showing those two scenes back to back was vital in understanding his character, in my opinion, and I think they did a great job.
I mean, yeah. His whole village is massacred by a group of people with blonde hair/blue eyes, and the first thing he sees upon waking up is a man with blonde hair and blue eyes standing over him.
Honestly, hes probably more fucked up about it than winry is. I don't think he'd be on all that "I have fallen from God, so why not butcher people" of he didn't understand that, on top of everything else, he also killed two innocent people.
He genuinely does not believe he deserves to be doing anything other than what he's doing.
@@AStrangeWindmill Exactly. At this point, he has nothing left to live for
The scene in the flashback where the soldiers shooting people against the wall is so terrifying, and it become even more horrible when you realize in later episode who was standing on the other side of this wall.
Oh I never realized that...
SPOILER
A method of wallbuilding that has been passed down the generations?
I cant remember exactly is it the person who created wrath in the original series?
@@Chris-ks4sw Isn't wrath in the 2003 series the little kid that tey encounter o the island? He was created in the likenes of teachers kid when Ed and Al tried to ressurect their mother if I recall corectly,
@@DaDunge yes in the 2003 where homunculi are created from people trying to bring the dead back, Wrath is a young boy the body of Teachers child. He also has Ed's arm and leg which he grabbed while in the gate. which was creepy. And sloth was Ed and als mom
@@DaDunge yes 🥲 it's so sad. I love the way it is revealed
The manga actually spends nearly an entire volume on the Ishbal flashback, which the anime condenses down to one or two episodes, so obviously a lot of things get cut. It's actually mentioned that a single Ishvalan Warrior Monk is equal to 10 Amestrian soldiers.
I think you mean "the manga actually spends nearly an entire volume on the Ishval flashback" 😅
@@miguelosvaldofloresdomingu8911 o true lmao
I've read that part in the manga to see more of how the war was displayed. Those warrior monks were really intense, no wonder Scar is such a menace.
Yeah until the Alchemists interveaned, it was an actual war.
In my Oppinion one of the greatest Manga Arks of all Time, I absolutely adore that Chapter of the Story.
2-3 chapters equal an episode
Kimbley has not seen the Truth, he just has his circle tattooed to his palms as other combat alchemists have.
It's a cool detail that his explosive transmutations are generated by having a sun in an upright triangle on one hand, the alchemical symbol for fire, and a moon in an inverted triangle, the symbol for water, on the other. When he presses his hands together to complete his go-to transmutation circle, the two contradictory elemental symbols are forced together, creating his blasts.
@@Zombiewithabowtie It's also the symbols for gold and silver. He literally just crammed every contradictory symbol he could in a matrix and called it a day.
It's also worth noting that he doesn't actually press his hands together in the praying gesture that Ed, Al, and Izumi use, his palms are apart, he only touches his wrists and fingers together, but his palms stay apart.
Possibly a reference to antimatter, and how mixing it and normal matter would likely produce immense energy, thus his alchemy causing explosions.
Makes him more methodic than Mustang. Mustang uses gloves for his structural matrix. Only carved one into his hand when it was life or death. Kimble is different. He tattooed his matrix. The only alchemist to sacrifice that pain for the pleasure. Even Armstrong keeps his on his gauntlets. Kimble revels in pain. It's how he knows he's alive.
It was Civil War before the State Alchemists came in.
Ishvalans were actually 'winning' until Bradley finally passed a decree that sealed their fates by bringing in Alchemy.
My heart absolutely broke when Scar saw his brother's arm on him. His world was broken in that moment.
The thing with scar he is clearly the survivor of some war crimes. Nothing going on in that battle looks justifiable. Pillars of flame, walls to create execution spots, a guy who can make explosions of some sort with his hands. Like there’s a reason he holds the hatred in his heart as he dies.
Not to mention that while _Ed and Al_ say he's just a wanton murderer, there's a reason why mustang and Armstrong don't see it that way. It's because he has only committed _two_ murders.
Everyone else has been soldiers in the genocidal nation that just rolled in (even the 14 year olds who joined said genocidal military as living nukes). And really, if they can decide to start killing whenever they want, do they really have the right to say "war done now, no more killing"? Of course not.
As much hate as he has, he's still very much in control.
@@AStrangeWindmill your completely right, except for the kill count. scar has killed a lot more than 2 people. we've seen 3 on screen murders, but we know from background exposition its more like a few dozen.
@@cosanchez124 The point they're making is that, of the people Scar has killed, only two of them should be considered murder. The rest are what in times of war the military likes to call Legitimate Targets
@@cosanchez124is it really murder to kill members of a genocidal occupying military force?
@@AZDfoxis it really murder to kill people?
This episode is great in the way it explores Scar's story and his PTSD after he lost his people and his brother, specially in the way that he knows he died sacrificing himself for his sake, and Scar has a permanent recordatory of that sacrifice (his right arm). Also, you can point that until that moment Scar was a monk and altought his fighting skills were great he didnt killed the soldiers even in war and despiced alchemy because people only see it as a weapon to cause destruction
and although his fighting skills were great, he has a lot to learn before he's ready to save any one.
@@johndinner4418 😆😆
@@johndinner4418 was thinking the same lol
Ending this episode on the "let it all out" line from the ending is just perfect. Winry is crying for everything she's lost while Scar is lashing out his anger due to his trauma. It's a beautiful parallel between these two.
Watching Scar backstory, I'm all on his side. Sure my boy, kill them all. They pull the trigger. And I love that he's not just attacking randomly innocent people. He killed the Rockbell because they had blue eyes, like the soldiers who slaughtered his people, even laughing and mocking them. That plus the trauma of having his brother's arm transplated to him, the very thing he hates being forced upon him... It was a defensive reaction. Other than that, he's killing state alchemists who were reponsible for killing thousands of people in the most horrific way. Even our beloved Mustang boy say it clearly : he had burned living people during the war. That the terrible fate of a soldier. Obey the order or be ready to die because of treason. Scar isn't going for a blind revenge, he is methodic. He knows revenge is a bad thing but he hasn't accepted it yet. How could he ? He hasn't spent enough time with those people to become mercyful. Maybe Winry will have a role to play of his redemption, if he doesn't die by then.
I love the way Edward frame Winry's role in all of that. She isn't meant for killing people, she giving a new life to people who lost it or create it a new. She's a good person at heart and she probably understand that what her people did in the war was bad. She even hated soldiers when she first met Hawkeye.
Kimblee, on the other hand, is a complete psychopath. I don't like him and I don't find redeeming qualities, even as the show progress.
Fun fact: Both Bradly and Ling keep their eyes closed to appear less serious. When they have their eyes open you know they are legit. Just the first of many parallels
The Winrey x Scar standoff is one of my favorite moments in the series. Really nails the “cycle of vengeance” message of the series.
Something I just realized is at 21:20 the shot is reminiscent of the remains of Ed and Al's house, with the tree on the left side of the frame. Scar in this moment tried to return home, only to find no home to return to.
The gun came from the Dead soldiers who got blown up by Scar during the fight.
The ones who said "Do we have permission to shoot?"
Personally, I choose to believe that soldier is named Chekhov for my own amusement 😆
Something really specific but pretty unique about this show is the way they handle graveyard scenes, there's quite a lot of them. In general, they feel very realistic to me, they have that intimacy that I associate with visiting my grandparents and a close family friend, all buried at the same cemetery. Its hard to get right, its not tear jerky, its not melancholic, its quite a unique atmosphere and feeling, and this show does it very earnestly. I really love that. Even the little things like Elicia's little smile as she's holding their hands, it becomes a part of life. This is how she visits dad now, and that's hard to understand for outsiders. And I find most graveyard scenes in the show to have a similar realistic feeling to them.
Winry’s VA absolutely kills this episode and it makes my eyes water every time I see it.
“Where’d that gun come from?” The knocked out MP literally 1 to 2 feet away. Winry walked past them.
The more emotional Bradley gets, the closer we get to seeing his true strength.
"I guess you could say I've finally arrived"
OH NO
When Scar killed Winrey's parents he was in shock and didn't know what happened seeing his brother's arm as his arm.. he could only see the blue eyes of soldiers.. in normal circumstances he would never have killed the doctors who helped him
Kimbley hasn’t seen the truth, it’s just that he tattooed transmutation circles on his palms, so when he claps he can use his alchemy. Kind of like how Roy has his transmutation circles on his gloves, when he clicks his fingers he’s able to use his flame alchemy.
What fascinates me about this show is how dynamic and fluid the narrative foils are, and Scar and Winry are the best example of this. Its also the moment that Scar truly begins his arc, up until now he's been a Antagonistic Obstacle for the most part and now he gets to start evolving into something completely different.
I don't know if you guys noticed how the cinematic in the flashback beautifully portrayed Scar PTSD. The soldiers slaughtering the Ishvalan people were in black and white but their blue eyes were highlighted. When Scar wakes up confused and see the Rockbells their blue eyes are highlighted the same way and we see a short switch from the doctors faces to the soldiers. Scar was such in a state of shock and confusion, he associated Winry's parents with the enemy through their caucasian look and immediately had an intense fight or flight response.
still one of of my favorite outros to an episode. Starting the music with Winrys crying, into "let it all out"
*Perfection*
Also in episode 26 when the outro instrumental started to play out after Ed punched the hell out of the Truth gate and made a promise to Al. Powerful tearjerking scene.
@@soulscyther666 thats one of my most look forward to reactions on channels lol. is the "just you wait" scene
The moment between Ed and Winry at the end of the episode is one of my favorite moments in the series as it shows how well Ed truly understands her and is even willing to die to protect her
Everytime I watch the end of this episode, I tear up when the song says "Let it all out~", its such a perfect ending for this episode.
Did either of you notice the other brotherhood moment linking Scar with the Elrics? Older brother giving up an arm to save the other 🙂
I think it’s an interesting choice to make the narrator at the start of each episode father, or at least his voice actor, who is doing the same voice he does when playing father. Once you think about it, it does make a lot of sense for it to actually be father, since he would presumably be surveying everything Ed and Al does. It’s a nice touch!
The same voice does the "next time" preview as well. If I remember correctly, some previews had him actually talk to the audience like he was Father, but I could be misremembering. Oh, and the voice actor for Father and the narrator are the same in the Japanese version, as well.
@@normalgamergal I know
What we see in Scar's flashback is the end of the war, where the State Alchemists were sent in to wipe out Ishval. Though in the seven years before that it was a more even war. The manga talks about how Resembool got bombed by Ishvalans when Ed and Al were younger, though I think that is only briefly mentioned in the show.
Resembool wasn't bombed by Ishavalans though?? It was damaged, and the accumulation of corpses was what caused the epidemic that Trisha died of, but I don't remember bombs being involved.
When they're first explaining the war they mention how the Ishvalan rebellion spread out from Ishval all across the east of Amestris and including Resembool.
@@tau-5794 well, yeah. It's the bombing that has me confused, did I miss something or is OP wrong on that part?
@@laurainathunderstorm I don't have the manga on hand to check, but looking online I see references to it being either burnt or bombed (likely differing translations). Whatever it was though was enough that Ed used it as a cover for why he lost his arm.
I know it's too soon but when you reach the final episode
Make sure watch the post credit scene it's super important
So, just to break it down (no pun intended), Scar's brother had two tattoos, one on each arm, a fusion of Alchemy and Alkahestry. His right arm performs the deconstruction stage, and his left arm performs the reconstruction stage. When Scar's brother found him dying from blood gushing from the stump where his right arm used to be, the brother made the choice to deconstruct his own right arm, and his left arm to reconstruct it onto Scar's wound. However, now devoid of his Circle of Deconstruction, he was unable to perform any form of Alchemy to save his own life, and died in Scar's place.
His story darkly mirrors the Elric brothers - much like Ed, Scar's brother made the life or death decision to sacrifice his arm to save his brother. However, he did not survive, and now Scar has a permenant reminder of his grief physically grafted to his body.
Scar went through so much, and the flashback scene makes me sob every single time I see it. Obviously his actions are unjustified, but you can completely see that it was a tragic event and not just senseless brutality.
Imagine thinking that your only family member survived with you (when he says “brother, you made it”) - the pure joy that he feels, just for a moment, believing his brother is still safe after explicitly saying that Scar was “more likely to survive than he is”. And then the pure confusion and rage at the realization that it’s only his brother’s arm grafted onto him - that he’s become an experiment of the science he loathed so much… A living embodiment of what he sees as the sole cause of so much of his culture’s demise… and the tragic irony knowing that his brother was wrong - scar would not have survived if it weren’t for him, and if his brother left him behind, he would have survived instead…
"Strategic reframing". I like that. Reminds me of Star Trek when Spock learns about swearing and it's explained as "colorful metaphors". (And if I recall correctly, he later suggests telling someone to 'go to hell'. A+ on colorful metaphors)
20:36 I hadn’t considered this angle before. Insightful interpretation
Non-spoiler stuff about the Crimson Alchemist:
This is never directly explained, but his alchemy is sort of like Mustang’s in that they use alchemy to make explosions. Mustang manipulates oxygen to carry and amplify sparks from his gloves. The Crimson Alchemist triggers an energy imbalance in something he touches to cause it to go unstable and explode. Mustang shoots fire from his hands, Crimson turns stuff he touches into bombs.
Some observational stuff about that flashback too. It’s possible that his two alchemical matrices on his hands are two incomplete matrices, and they need to be clapped together to form a complete one, but that’s a good point you had about the clapping indicating seeing the Truth. Also, did you see the color he used? Alchemy typically forms blue bolts of electricity, but the Crimson Alchemist’s were red.
Also, about the Ishvalan Civil War, it did involve genocide at the end, perpetrated by the side that started the war, so it’s easy to see it as a one-sided slaughter while the Ishvalans were just defending themselves. However, it’s worth noting that while we don’t see much of it, the Ishvalan retaliation to the start of the war was severe. The conflict spread beyond just the Ishvalan native area, and there was innocent blood on their hands too. This isn’t at all to say that the genocide at the end was justified, but it was indeed a war; that part’s not simply revisionist history.
Both of you alreay know that, Kimblee is not the 'sacrifice alchemist' that opened the door. Kimblee activate his alchemy by the dividing the chemical formula circle that he originally intended to use into two tattoo drawing and tattoing it on his left and right hand, and then combine his palm to complete the circle of chemical formula haha yes..
Most combat state of alchemists, not just only Kimblee, use pre-tattooed combat tools and tattoos to improvise alchemy in battle.
Kimblee and also 'Giolio Comanche', the silver alchemist in Episode 15 he invokes alchemy by tattooing it in his two palms. This is because if use gloves, when they get torn, lost, or forgot carry it in battle, it will have big problems. So the most common way is to tattoo their palm so that they can use alchemy anytime, anywhere. But it's just a representation of animation, but Comanche has tattoos on both palms same like Kimblee, but as animation's representation, he using alchemy without clapping. It seems to anyone that Comanche is using alchemy more efficiently and quickly, but I don't know why Kimblee is doing it in a cumbersome and complicated way. (I think it's probably animation's mistakes. Or the Comanche that creates silver, but Kimblee need to cause exploding. Maybe this difference is why Kimblee need to clapping. Or in fact, Kimbley might use three types of alchemy (not described in the story) if he doesnt combine his palms and just use one of hand separately, maybe he can use another form of alchemy, not explosion? Well, this is my imagination. )
While Mustang, Armstrong, and general Glan adhere to gloves, the reason why Mustang uses gloves that are easily torn, can be lost, and easily wet is that Mustang is forced to use the friction force of the gloves because it falls under the conditions of his flame alchemy. Armstrong's case can be safer than tattooing because he needs it for his boxing fighting style in addition with his alchemy, and also it's a wrist protector. In the tattoo method, when their palm be torn by injury, alchemy does not working. So sometime it is very dangerous way.
And inside Kimblee's tattoo, there's a moon that's one of the symbols that's essentially used in alchemy, which doesn't have that much meaning. You don't have to care about it anymore. It just common symbol in alchemy haha.
And last, if normal alchemist prepare and use these tattoos or tools, there is no gap in activation time or response speed compared to 'alchemists who seen truth', but they have a big weakness compared to the skills with them. Because they're using the formula that's already been drawn, so they can only use alchemy related to it. For example, if a Mustang wants to use alchemy other than flame, he also has to do the unsightly action like drawing a formula with chalk on the ground. That mean, If Edward had memorized the relevant alchemy formula and principles, he would be able to implement Mustang's flame transmutation in a limited by clapping action.
Show: *Shows transmutation circles on hand.*
Kenny literally one second after: "He's seen the truth!"
Being retired from the military, the scenes about Ishval really hit home. It’s such great writing from the soldiers & victims perspective. That’s why I love this show so much, the writing and characterization is so SO good
Scar and Alphonse, both got GOATED older bros. I really like the parallels being drawn in this episode, Scar can’t just see Ed as another military dog once he puts his life on the line to protect Winry like that.
During the flashback the colors were muted for two reasons:
- it's a flashback
- this way you pay attention to the colors that are still there, specifically the red of the fire and the blue of the eyes.
Scar's people are a visually distinct race, with dark skin, white hair and red eyes, while the army was represented by a lot of blue eyed people. Just like Winry's parents.
But there was one more color that you didn't notice here (I assume, because of the wrong counter), and that is Kimbley's alchemy. Whenever someone is using alchemy, the lightning is always blue. Kimbley however has red lightning here, which only happened with a few very specific people so far.
Also, the ending song says "let it all out" while Winry is crying.
I'd I'm not mistaken scars brother is voiced by Reiner
So we have (from AOT)
Drummond=Zeke
Lan Fan= Mikasa
Fu= Rodd Reiss
Ed= Eld Gild (Levi squad)
Winry= Petra (Levi squad)
Armstrong= Commander Woerman
Riza= Mikasas Mother
Scar= Erwin Smith
Hohenheim=Premier Zachary
Father= Dimo Reives
Xiao Mei= Hannah
Ling= Marlo (loves Hitch nit to be confused with Marco)
Fokker=Darius
Should Tucker= Petras Father
#48= Thomas Wagner
Barry the chopper= Moblit
Falman= Mitabi Jarnach
Havoc= Jean horseface
Ishvalan boy (ep 18)= young rod reiss
(As of ep 22)
Also the crimson Alchemist, his name is Kimble. He has transmutation symbols on his hands but of opposite materials. Like gold, sun and something else on one and the moon and silver on the other. This creates an imbalance and why his alchemy is just destruction.
“It’s your hands…they weren’t meant to kill, they’re meant to give life…that’s why.”
This is a great episode and it real provides three great character interactions. Most focus on Scar and Winry, Scar finally sees the hatred he is creating as he avenges his people and Winry finally knows who killed her parents. For Scar it is a great turning point for his character, whether it will a turn in the right direction, time will tell. As for Winry, she is not only confronting her parents killer she is also seeing first hand what the brothers are enduring in the quest to restore themselves. Usually she is just forced to wait for them to come in for repairs. As for the third character Ling, we have seen him play the fool and talk about his ambition but to see him protect one of his guards with such fierceness and to hear him speak on a king's responsibility is also an important thing. Also seeing how skilled Ling is to go toe to toe with someone of Bradley's skill while shielding an injured person does more to show the strength of his beliefs over anything he could say on the matter of a kings duty.
It took me this many rewatches to realise that Scar is a shade of Alphonse. The little brother that was the better fighter that was saved by the older brothers alchemy.
One of my favourite episodes in a show that is absolutely filled to the brim with great episodes
I was hoping you guys would notice but the english voice actress for winry rockbell also voices Petra Ral in Attack on titan. And the actor for Van Hohenheim also voiced premier Zachary in Attack on titan
The ending theme is so perfect for the episode ending. That scene with Ed and Winry is one of my favorite in the show. Him reminding her that she has given life, and that it’s not a weakness that she couldn’t pull the trigger.
Ed slowly taking the gun from Winry is my favorite quiet scene in the whole show. It makes me tear up every time.
the gun came from one of those two MPs that were on the sidelines of the fight waiting for the signal to shoot Scar. There's a shot a little beforehand that shows them getting blown back (and presumably knocked out) from the collateral damage
9:30 Every other state alchemist that scar has killed were part of the Ishvalan War. They all have committed or taken part in a massacre, so they have higher kill counts than Tucker. Tuckers just the worst cause he betrayed the people he was supposed to love and protect
The Crimson Blood alchemist hasnt seen the truth, he's just using helping circles like how Mustang uses one.
25:26 Yes! Very few people seem to catch that (or understand the difference). Good one.
Well you are forgetting that one of the reasons Ed didn't tell her because Ed hadn't totally confirmed if it was Scar who actually killed her parents. Winry already knew that her parents were killed during the war just not by whom. Ed found out it could be Scar at the ruins.
I think it was mentioned before that Alkahestry is more to do with the medical side, so perhaps Scar's brother did some of that to do the arm transfer.
I love the transition from Kimlee to scar after he tries attacking Winry. It's a great way of showing how Scar has become the very thing he hates.
Wow, this was such an eloquent discussion. Love it!
Damn, it's been a while since I watched this episode. Absolutely breathtaking. Iconic. Legendary. Thanks for the excuse to rewatch!
Note the similarities between Scar's brother and Edward: Both of them gave up their right arm to bring their younger brother back from the brink of death.
I'm so glad you are not skipping episode 27. Some reactors do or find it really boring and miss the whole point of the episode. The exploration of Hoenheims mind is so interesting to me.
Episodes 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, & 27 of FMAB posted to Patreon now in their extended uncut forms!
patreon.com/lettsreact
Also, Episodes 5 and 6 of Arcane as well as Demon Slayer 1-8 are posted as well!
When it came to watching this reaction I stalled as long as I could. This episode made me cry so hard my teeth were shaking as if I was super cold. From the very first time I watched this episode when I was in middle school to now at 24 I still cry just as hard. So far I have been loving the discussion during and after the episode. You guys are amazing 🤩.
Kenny flabbergasted saying "moon" is the highlight of this whole arc.
This is why I've always loved FMA. The arguments of science by using facts, logic and reason. To think. I got stoked the minute y'all announced reacting to it a while back. Thank you Kenny and Montana for all the great content. KEEP IT UP GUYS 🙌🙌🙌
The reason Kimblee can perform alchemy is because he has the transmutation circles tattooed on his hands. It's the same with Mustangs gloves.
Glad u got to see Ling as the badass he is. But what’s more, this episode hits u in the feels on both Scar and Winry’s side. Glad u saw what they did with the ending, it saying “let it all out” was just perfect
OMFG I just noticed that in the flashback when Scar is fighting the soldiers it cuts to him doing that one Lucifer pose!!??!?!
(At 10:40) even if this was unintentionally, I KNEW Edward was screw this up.
I don't know if anyone's mentioned this but when the flashback is desaturation, the amestrians eyes were still blue and you could still tell their hair is blond. Then when Scar wakes up he sees the Rockbells eyes and has an episode after the shock of seeing his brothers arm attached to his shoulder.
That whole confrontation was done so well
This is my 2nd favorite episode in the show. I LOVE the details.
We got Ling CARRYING Lan Fan fighting both Wrath AND Gluttony. Ling’s combat sense is equal or even greater than his guards. He’s proven on multiple occasions how good he is at taking in details in an instant and just how knowledgeable he truly is. And staying in Bradley’s blind spot from the eye patch is just straight brilliant. And it goes to show how much he’s given thought of what he’s going to do if he actually becomes the emperor. It’s not just a title he seeks. And he can literally fight with his eyes closed. Just…he’s got the heightened senses of a blind person more or less. And only uses sight as truly needed. That’s one heck of a way to train yourself.
Scar’s backstory is terrible. Killing the Rockbells because he was pretty much hallucinating from the pain and realizing his brother tore off his own arm to give to him. And all he needed was the bright blue eyes. Which stick out to Ishvalans as much as the red eyes stick out to Emestrians. Which I think is just so terrible. Scar’s motives do unfortunately make sense. The only people we’ve seen him target that are NOT major war criminals are the Elric’s and the standard officers that patrol the streets. (Target mind you. He always speaks the title of the state alchemist he’s trying to kill. And he even had remorse over killing the Rockbell doctors…because well…they’re doctors. Not soldiers.) And when you look at it that way, you can go back to what Mustang said about him being in a moral perspective justified. But on a law perspective not at all.
And of course my favorite moment. Winry being unable to shoot. Ed is TERRIBLE at hugging, but that whole scene is just perfection. Scar saying you’re justified to shoot. But if you step in the way of my mission, I’ll remove you. (I doubt he’d try and kill her but at least do something like yank her off the field.) Only for him to try and kill Ed as he’s protecting Winry, and then he immediately backs off. Murderers are only monsters for a moment. They can be reasoned with depending their mindset. Scar is definitely one of them. But the whole releasing the gun one finger at a time telling her how much she’s meant to give life. I just can’t point out anything in that scene that’s not drawn and resembled perfectly. I did scream HUG HER, EDWARD when he barely could in that moment. But I know Ed well enough to know he’s not the type to do so.
Ling's eyes aren't closed, they're just squinty and drawn that way. They open up more to show when he's dead serious and can't afford to act laid back, or when (SPOILERS) takes over and his hair shifts to the other side of his face.
@@tau-5794 I’m not sure about that actually. Between Ling’s large connection to the dragon’s pulse, and him judging in this fight where drafts were coming from. There’s a high chance his eyes actually could be closed. (Also would give reason why the spoilers you mentioned happen.)
Also there’s Lan Fan who doesn’t close her eyes but she’s seen with the same connection as May Chang. So perhaps she just hasn’t trained as long as Ling has. Or as diligently.
This is headcanon but it just feels like it’s more intentional than the stereotypical squinty eyes.
Yo what about the last episode, Ed seems pretty good at hugging then
3:57 💙💙💙💙ling is speaking straight facts
my favorite transition to the end credits song. thr writing is immaculate.
The Ishbal flashbacks are intense. Especially when the soldiers are just killing civilians trying to run away. The music in that scene is also great. With the rythm of the feet marching in the background
hey, know I'm late but regarding ishval being a civil war, qt the time of the conflict the country of ishval had already been annexed into amestris making it a part of amestris and therefore a civil war.
In a couple of episodes is when the story really kicks into full gear and doesn't let go so don't get discouraged now if its still a little up in the air.
Quick clarification: Kimbley aka the crimson alchemist DID NOT SAW THE TRUTH, it's just that his matrix are in the palm of his hands and to activate he claps his hands just like Edward.
I love the resemblance on Edward and Scar's brother because both of them gave up their arm in order to save his brother.
Kimblee hasn't seen the truth, his matrix is just tattooed on his palms, like how Mustang hasn't seen the truth but has his matrix on his gloves
They tried to get into scars head bringing up Nina, and he straight up uno reverse carded them. Gotta love it.
The funny thing is Scar's brother and Ed are the same. They both sacrificed their arm to save their brother.
Kenny's face saying "that's propaganda " 😄 we need a meme and a shirt
Kimblee has the transmutation circles on the palm of his hands, so when he uses alchemy it resembles what Ed and Al do
fun fact: We never hear the name of Scar's brother (and not any Ishvalan, if I recall correctly). Scar simply refers to him as his brother
That ending with winrey crying and the theme playing hits HARD
Anyone who wants to learn more about, what the symbols on Kimblys hand actually mean, should look at a channel called Max Derrat, he has a video on how the alchemy of FMA actually lines up pretty well with the alchemy of our world.
The author of FMA really did her homework, almost none of the symbols are random, even if the story ever goes in depth with them.
State Alchemists often specialize and have pre-rendered alchemy circles on them. Kimblee has his tattooed on the palms of his hands.
This episode is what the ending song was made for
Let it all out 😭😭😭
Well you clearly figured out the Crimson Alchemist hasn't seen the truth... and actually you answered your own question to an extent. He has the alchemical circles in his palms because he hasn't seen the truth and needs them to perform alchemy.
But how indeed is he singlehandedly doing so much damage...? A mystery indeed... :3
One of the major flaws in ascribing to one philosophy as your moral code is that any philosophy folds in on itself and collapses if it is the only input for the belief system. To see scar claim repeatedly that alchemists need to be destroyed, but using it himself, or to kill Winry’s parents, even though they weren’t alchemists, I think just proves how erratic his reasoning is with his whole philosophy. He’s constantly contradicting himself, and if something doesn’t change, he’ll drive himself to madness.
Scar's arc is probably my favorite arc in the show.
Is Scar's brother's voice actor the same person who voices Reiner? I also am hearing that Havoc's voice actor voices Jean in AOT?
The Moon is more meant to be a nod to his character than his powers. The Moon in some traditions is a representation of insanity, which is pretty fitting for Kimblee
Anyone else ever noticed that regardless if a anime is super detailed, nobody really draw each hand with skin folds between finger knuckles?
Kimblee: *uses transmutation circles*
Kenny: "He's seen the Truth!"
This logic ain't logic-ing.