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R2 DVD Reviews
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Tuesday, 02 August 2011 00:00 |
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Page 1 of 3
 Top of my list of ongoing shows at the moment, here's the latest volume of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and with just one set to come after this, events are really beginning to reach their climax. And it is truly epic stuff...
Having been summoned to Central by the Fuhrer, one of the first people General Armstrong meets is Mustang - and it seems as though there's not much love lost between the two of them. Her meeting with Bradley quickly reveals that he's well aware of what she's done to Raven, so rather than beat around the bush, she decides to take the direct approach - and in doing so, earns an equally direct response from Bradley. Meanwhile, Izuki has a chance meeting with Hohenheim - a meeting that has unexpected consequences. Beneath the frozen wastelands of the North, Scar, Marcoh, Winry and the others try to make good their escape from the area, while Ed and his new allies work out how to remove Kimblee and his men from Fort Briggs. However they do it, it's going to involve bloodshed, and that's an idea that Ed doesn't want to dwell on for too long - especially when he comes face to face with Kimblee himself...
That's a really brief summary that really doesn't do the events of the thirteen episode here justice. There's a lot going on, with different groups of characters coming and going, playing through events as the various factions jostle to get what they want out of the situation while still working towards the greater goal of defeating the homunculi. Blink, and you will miss something important; and the story unfolds at such a breakneck pace that keeping track of it all should be a nightmare.
Except that it isn't, and we'll get to why in a moment. Most shows, of whatever length, kick into the final arc in their last 4-5 episodes or so. Brotherhood really got into it last volume, with 20-odd episodes still to go, and what this volume is doing, essentially, is laying all the groundwork that's going to be needed to tie up everything that's going on in a way that has a chance of making sense. For a while we've been able to see the various storylines that people were involved in, and now we finally get to see everyone come together for the final battle that we know is just around the corner. There's something hugely satisfying in that, and when you combine it with the cast that this series has - a huge group of characters, to be sure, but one where there's not one of them that you can point at and say that the series can do without - you get thirteen episodes that you simply don't want to stop. I blitzed this set over two days, and "blitz" really is the word for it, as parts of it left me shell-shocked almost at how events were unfolding.
In amongst all the mayhem that's going on in the "present", there's also time devoted to exploring that past, particularly of Hohenheim and the origins of the homunculi and Father. Again, this is fascinating background stuff, and as well as filling in some the blanks in the series, it also adds another layer of intentions and goals that you have to think about when you're trying to work out what's going to happen next.
I liked the original Fullmetal Alchemist, a lot - it took a while to get going, but once it did it was an enthralling and enjoyable series. Brotherhood, though, takes it to a whole new level - the whole thing is so intricately woven and meticulously planned, that it's in a league all of its own. Completely engrossing from beginning to end, and leaves you just begging for more. Very highly recommended.
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