Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood 1x30: "The Ishvalan War of Extermination" / Reaction and Discussion
Added 2025-06-26 21:39:19 +0000 UTC
Comments
Since you talked about it, there was a 4-panel "what-if" where Ed is the one in the armor, and Al the one still flesh and blood. It's basically just Ed bullying everyone around him and having the time of his life for being so tall, and Al desperately trying to reign him in, but not being able to. I love those 4-panel gags at the end of each volume.
Alexandre
2025-07-04 11:58:17 +0000 UTCThis is a really good point in the series to seriously consider checking out the four OVAs. The stories are pretty self contained, but really help add just that little bit of extra characterization (and backstory!) to some of the most beloved characters in the show that adds that added layer of emotion or complexity to their stories they don't necessarily need but definitely still benefit from. If you want to safely watch all four in one go without spoiling future plot points for yourselves, you should wait until you get past episode 33 though. Even if you decide to skip the rest of them, it is reeeaaally worth it to at least check out "Yet Another Man's Battlefield" if this particular episode left you wanting more. All of them have something special to add, but that one in particular is a major fan favorite - and for good reason too!
Cinnamoone
2025-06-28 19:45:49 +0000 UTCFeel like they missed quite a bit in this episode, was hoping for a longer discussion. They also didn't catch that Riza was quoting Kimblee when talking about taking accountability after Ishval, neither did they seem to take notice of the other State Alchemist (like Isaac McDougal and Basque Gran).
Markus
2025-06-27 10:36:41 +0000 UTCI’m surprised you guys didn’t talk about Riza’s tattoo. When her father dies he tells Roy to watch after her, as she is in possession of his research. Flashback Riza’s last words are wondering if she can trust Roy with her father’s research so when we pan to the present, we can see the secret of flame alchemy are inscribed on her back. This is another huge piece to their lore, so much so that she got two screen cards in the episode, her younger self with a tattooed back intact, and her adult self with a scarred back. This episode and manga chapter are some of the most difficult to get through because it reveals the horrors committed by characters we have endeared ourselves to. It does display realism since the author sat and interviewed war veterans for their perspectives and accounts and the debate or morality and accountability. It’s hard to point out why Berthold was so against the military, but instead of just criticizing Roy and telling him no, he should have elaborated. Similarly to how if Izumi would have been more forthcoming to the boys about how she could do alchemy without an array via seeing Truth they perhaps wouldn’t have done human transmutation in the beginning. This isn’t a spoiler since it never come up in the show, but General Grumman is Riza’s maternal grandfather. In the manga, Riza confirms that her parents had been estranged from their family. It’s is commonly theorized Berthold disliked the military due to possible bad blood between the two. Sorry for the long post, you guys just have excellent discussion points to add on to!
Bits and bytes
2025-06-26 23:03:24 +0000 UTCThe Ishvalan War of Extermination feels so familiar in a real way somehow...
Jasmine Tea Enjoyer
2025-06-26 22:58:43 +0000 UTC
