Well, well, well, it looks like we’ve finally reached the halfway point in Fullmetal Alchemist. *throws confetti* Congratulations and I really hope you’ve enjoyed yourself thus far. Actually, you must have, otherwise you wouldn’t be continuing on into the 7th volume now would you? For those of you who haven’t started from square one, know that watching them out of order doesn’t work. By now we’re in the thick of things so you’d just be confused and that’s no fun. There are 51 episodes, and with about 4 episodes per volume that brings us to roughly 12 (probably 13) volumes in total. Let’s rock.

Episode 25: Hughes has made a few discoveries, and after doing a ton of research, has made even more. As Ed and Al go off yet again on their own, he investigates something that could solve a lot of puzzles surrounding the Homunculi.

Episode 26: Wha! Who is this strange lady? At least it look like it’s going to be a decent time in Rush City with Ed, Al, and Winry – ack! Winry, why are you clocking Ed upside the head with a wrench?!

Episode 27: After an abrupt introduction, we once again rewind to the early days of Ed and Al’s youth where they first met their teacher of alchemy, before going back to the present and following them back to her home.

Episode 28: Put on an island by themselves, Ed and Al flashback to the hardships their teacher put them through to push them to their limits, and the things they have to think about in the present. But what’s with the crazy kid?

The Details?
I am SO angry! I’m angry and I got all teary – not enough to actually be labeled crying, but pretty freakin’ close. Enough to merit tissue usage. Why do they have to do these things, why? *sigh* For #27 I really don’t understand their teacher’s methods, especially when it comes to beating the crap out of them all the time. I’d either get really ticked or just break down near the end when Ed tells her how they ended up how they did and she just starts wailing on them – what the heck? Haven’t those two suffered enough without having her beat the stuffing out of them? And then what she does after – yeah, like that’s supposed to make up for it. This lady is weird – I’ve decided I don’t like her.

I still have a lingering question concerning the Homunculi – if Lust complains about humans, then why do they want to be human? I don’t get it. They have some pretty fantastic powers and yet they want to be regular Joes? Kinda weird, but I guess I’ll find out more as things go along. Er, and no one has noticed that Dr. Marco has been dead for how long now? Eeeh…

Animation? Despite my early quirks with the style, I’m accustomed to it now. In some ways it’s simple, but it’s still really good. For some reason I tend to forget things, one of which has been the neglect of the State Alchemist uniforms. They’re pretty cool, even if the people in them suck. Considering Ed’s never gotten one, I wonder what he would look like wearing it, but I love him in his black shirt and red jacket all the same. Don’t wanna be a military dog wearing the same coat as everyone else now do we?

Voices – I prefer the English version. I usually end up watching it because I prefer Ed and Al’s VAs over the Japanese ones. All the other characters work out rather well, so sit back and enjoy. As for the Japanese version, even though I’m used to Ed and Al having female VAs, they manage to merge into the characters, and everyone else was fine from the start, so in the end it just depends on what you prefer.

Awww. At episode #26 the opening song changed. Sad. It’s an all right song, but I still don’t like it as much as the last one. The same goes for the ending song. It’s changed to something even slower that feels rather out of place. Never did like it on TV, still don’t like it here. The song itself is okay, it’s just awkward here. The instrumental background music for the show gets 5 stars in itself because it works so nicely.

This series, though it has amusing parts, is serious a lot of the time. There is violence and Ed tends to say “Damn it” more often than everyone else (actually it seems like he’s the only one ever swearing), and a lot of weird stuff going on, but in my opinion (though without kids I’m by no means an expert) most kids will be able to handle it without much of a problem.

Episodes in this Volume:
Episode 25: Words of Farewell
Episode 26: Her Reason
Episode 27: Teacher
Episode 28: All is One, One is All

NT

Note: Actual rating is 4.5 stars.

Earlier Volumes:
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 1: The Curse
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 2: Scarred Man of the East
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 3: Equivalent Exchange
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 4: The Fall of Ishbal
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 5: The Cost of Living
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 6: Captured Souls

Future Volumes:
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 8: The Altar of Stone
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 9: Pain and Lust
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 10: Journey to Ishbal
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 11: Becoming the Stone
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 12: The Truth Behind Truths
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 13: Brotherhood

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD