#FMA Ep 8

[docholligay]

Yes! This is a good lesson, too, that...some people, in fact, have incredible courage. But even people who are courageous are in some cases just fucking impulsive as hell. No matter the case, often, after, that's when you remember what it feels like to be afraid. That's when you can admit that you were fucking terrified. Crying after something like that is the most normal thing in the world. We, as human beings, do not want to die.

So i love this! I love that after all the "ed is so great" nonsense we have this moment of real humanity, where he's admitting to his brother, if to no one else in the world, that he was terrified. That it was awful.

Please read me before commenting or sending an ask!

[sennenpharaoh]

"Um... context? Ed's looking at a bloody wall and the Colonel is talking about detaching emotion..."

[cynderrfell]

2nd midterms + getting sick combo really taking a toll on me rn again I just want to draw but have no energy

[stackslip]

i always got plenty of caveats when i rec fma 2003 but the vast majority of these caveats are, imo, stuff that's genuinely forgivable or that kind of add to its charm to me--like i love shows that are ambitious beyond their means, that stretch their budgets or clearly had to make choices to prioritize certain things--they give me food to dig into, and even if i don't always agree with the choices i find the examination of these choices juicy enough to still enjoy the process of it

but the one thing i think isn't really forgivable, even within the context of 2000s anime, is the transmisogyny--especially in episode 8. like half an episode of a "serial killer dresses as a woman to trap girls" trope, in the middle of a very plot and character relevant ep to boot--and for what? a serial killer character who existed in the og without that transmisogyny aspect, who could have just been a run of the mill shitty serial killer without the whole dressed as a woman thing? it's just..... shit tbh. there's stuff in 03 i'll defend no matter what bc it's due to budget/time limitations, or a poorly executed version of a good idea, but this particular bit is just wince-worthy and shit for no reason except that it's the 2000s and it feels like every serial killer trope had to have transmisogyny thrown in. there's also the later comedy ep with armstrong's sister and havoc imagining her the entire time as armstrong with a wig--haha get it, big woman who looks like a man, haha--and like, at least that one is skippable.

still, that's enough transmisogyny in the entire show for me to completely understand people skipping it--i'd beg for people to give it a chance despite all its other flaws, but that's the one i honestly think is more than reason enough to not want to watch it at all. why bother?

[limetameta]

I've begun watching Lost for the first time and so I am immediately thinking of a fma au

No like i just finished s1ep1 and im like

Oh damn they crashland on an island and that monsters got to be Envy

When that kid found those handcuffs immediate thought was like oh nice there's an escaped criminal on the island too. That could be Kimblee.

Have no idea who i want to be the doctor like the only canon doctor is dr marcoh or dr knox and both seem like the most boring protag choice so the doctor will have to be a side character . I could have the Rockbells be on the plane, too.

Roy Mustang as main character (woke up on the beach), was on the plane w his team (ie Hawkeye) transporting Kimblee. But Riza Hawkeye is nowhere to be found (already woke up in the jungle and started chasing after Kimblee)

Honestly i dont know whats up with the orange peel guy but hes weird as hell and i love him.

Pregnant lady obvs Gracia

The more i meet the cast the better feel ill get who can be who

I am super duper excited to be watching lost tho never saw a single ep (well a lie i saw one ep when i was like 8 i think it was the backstory for the orange peel guy because hes the only one familiar to me. I remember some sort of puzzle or game from the episode that i watched)

Edward is on the island. Maybe in the crash Alphonses seal got broke or whatever. Lets start this off w the boy absurdly traumatized from the get go.

[actuallyidontgiveadamn]

Really out of nowhere but I rewatched some of fma03 eps and im gonna rant

I'm just so done with smiling politely saying that fma03 and fmab are both great sorry i cant anymore. Just no

So if you in love with fmab im warning you it probably won't be a good read for you, so feel free to ignore this, block me or idk read this and give it a thought

0. I really dont understand the glorification of manga over anime adaptations. Like people who are making the adaptation are not artists and creators themselves? What makes mangaka better than others and absolutely indisputable, seriously?

1. 'Oh no long introduction and fillers' that actually allowed for Hughes' character development before his death. Seriously if i mention his death among my homies I'll get lots of faces clearly going through some ptsd level flashbacks, it was that impactful. I still need to take a breather when im rewatching before diving into that ep.

2. Nina. Yet again got more time to grow on us and thus aquired higher trauma inducing levels.

3. Ishval massacre and aftermath are WAY MORE VISIBLE in fma03. First of all Ishvalans are depicted as human beings, and not some background, and we get lots more on their sufferings, raids on camps, racism towards them, etc etc etc

4. Scar. Oh boi how do i even go about this. So without raging much about that beefy obviously wrong dude who got 'sense' bitten into him and started working with the oppressing gov in fmab, we have a wronged and tormented survivor of a genocide, who was justified in his vengeance and rage, was depicted as an attractive person of color despite his antagonistic role and was seriously almost cheered on in his actions by the narrartive. His interactions with his people and his moral dilemmas made his character possibly the deepest and most thought out one in the series.

5. The Rockbell doctors being killed by their own government. That's a waaaaay more interesting and damning detail on our government affiliated protagonists than just dumping their murder on a delirious patient.

6. Homunculi had their own will and desires and a way more developed story arc that had a huge impact on protagonists' morals. Being created by the humans who were desperate to bring back their loved ones and both parties are getting tormented by it?? Characters strongly driven by their own goals and staggered by their relations to their creators vs some indifferent goons in fmab. Just compare Sloths and their impact on the stories and protags.

7. Final conflict being a fight with god and his intricate plans in fmab, versus final battle vs a selfish pretty much usual person who had thrown everyone under the bus in pursuit of immortality. Adds so much more desperation flavor. Suddenly your hero journey doesn't end in epic battle for the sake of the mankind, as you would like it to be. It's just to oppose one awful person with too much power and zero care about anyone else. That's raw and that's way more plausible and relatable in our mundane lives.

8. Overall darker tone and themes of the fma03.

9. MUSIC. I dont remember a single track from fmab, but i went really out of my way in my teenage years to find internet access and pirate fma soundtrack and cry listening to it

10. ART. Sorry but don't tell me fmabs flat colors are anything to 03's soft tones and lighting

So yeah sorry, but I'll take the dark and gritty tragedy over just another shounen with doubtful messages each and every time

[the-nysh]

... alright! i'm tired! tired of 90% of your blog being blacked out to me because i censored 'trigun' 😭 tell me, where do i begin? where do i start... consuming, this story? there's like, an anime, i know, and the... rewrite of said anime?? all based on a manga i assume??? where do i start. what do i see. what do i skip. tell me i cannot live with this hamster drip of nysh content 😭😭

...?! HOLD UP also rip to your blacklist omfg I was totally under the impression you already knew, since you were the very first to notice a while back and ask me opinionated stuff about it! x'D Fortunately I've answered a similar ask relating to your current predicament~

As you can probably guess, each 'version' of Trigun essentially has its own separate canon (the 98 anime, the manga, and the new Stampede anime; there's 3 whole cakes to enjoy here~) as different tellings of the story + characters that diverge to explore the core themes and messages in their own ways. I do not recommend skipping anything, as it all builds to the lore, world, and characters! :O (Yes, even the silly 'filler' breather eps in the 98 anime's first half all build towards the whole picture, slowly revealing bits and pieces along the way. Even the 'recap' ep at midway pieces everything about Vash's character together thru Meryl's perspective, then introduces more to reframe what's known about him in new complexity.)

But if you're familiar with the old 98 anime (as I've been since 20+yrs ago) I'd recommend a rewatch just to freshen your memory of what happens. JYB's iconic voice work for the dub makes it worth (re)watching alone. Note the anime was created before the manga was even finished, so it draws from the first few early volumes then essentially becomes its own anime-original plotline with different lore akin to how the first fma anime went for example. :O Which upon rewatching recently myself, while it def has some dated 90s bits/gags you can safely ignore, the writing's core messages, themes, intent, and character-driven growth are still very solid and satisfying, with plenty of room left open for more. The strong emotional beats hit very hard for some unsuspecting watchers - going from a seemingly silly lighthearted episodic slapstick comedy at first, to transitioning thru the tragedies of some very heavy/difficult topics later. But worth it for the hopeful, healing process of living through major loss and trauma, and recovering from suffering emotional breakdowns and depressive spirals. :') So fair warning to pace yourself with breaks if needed, without speeding/binge-watching through that kind of content (eps23-25 are where it Hurts the hardest)!

...Cause then the manga takes all those emotional beats (+ the plot & characters) even further and harder than the old anime ever could!!! 8'D That coming out of that will probably make you question your whole existence worldview. Yes, the story's one of those gems that'll probably change your life~ In ways you simply have to experience for yourself to decide what meaning/interpretation/value it holds for you.

But Stampede is completely different from the old anime, since it draws its lore from the completed manga! :O While restructuring and exploring things in a whole new way. As long as you realize that - to not compare it to the old anime (since it's not a 'rewrite' of that story at all) and see it with open eyes as its own independent artform, then you'll have a much better time. Since I'd read the manga beforehand, I really enjoyed seeing the many endgame plot elements Stampede mixed in to set up and enrich what happens. You can of course choose to go in watching blind without that manga knowledge--it's up to you, but imo there's many more layers of appreciation once you realize how much they happened to rearrange and spin into their own thing. (So personally, I'd check out the manga first so you aren't spoiled with sudden endgame elements introduced early here.) BECAUSE, the biggest telling hint is seeing the whole season's timeline as an establishing 'prelude' of sorts before one of the major story events [July City] even happens (cause in the original story--for both the manga & old anime, that incident happens before the story begins, but here it's all different lead up with modified character backstories) with plenty more to continue the manga's (Trimax's) unadapted plot later in s2. Where of course you can have preferences to how it's done, but the overall lesson here is to have patience and let Studio Orange cook, because they knew exactly what they were doing--they did their homework on many meticulous fields of Interest, with everything done with care and purpose (yes, all those conspicuous 'odd' details like the reason why Milly's not here yet- it's explained!) with genuine love for the source material. :'D

The source material which--yes, begins as the Trigun manga (2 vols) and continues renamed as Trigun Maximum (14vols) under a new publisher as a hard seinen. Which currently! The fandom's having a whole bookclub (re)reading event, so it's the perfect time to join in if you feel so inclined! 8'D For enjoying maximum emotional damage and suffering, but easier to cope, navigate, and process among a friendly and supportive group environment~ I've already read the official Dark Horse translation (easily found on most manga sites, but thankfully there's a new hardcover reprint incoming!) but currently I'm trying a reread of the overhaul fan translation instead, as I hear it's more accurate overall. :'3 Hopefully all this info helps, as I bet there's plenty of overwhelming content you may have missed out on!

[sofipitch]

TV show tag game

rules: list 8 shows to let your followers get to know you better 

Tagged by @firegiftlouis and @dreamofme9

1. Interview with the Vampire (despite hating Ep 5 here I am still reblogging art and gifs, just avoiding that Ep/plot like the plague 😅)

2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

3. What We Do in the Shadows

4. The Good Place

5. Steven Universe (haven't watched in forever but was my last fandom hyperfixation before VC and despite su discourse I don't think it aged badly)

6. Blue Planet + Any other nature documentary 😂

7. Cooking shows, GBBO and Guy's grocery games are the main ones

8. ???? (I'm sorry I don't watch a lot of shows and my prev show fandoms are all cringe now, some I still think are still good or I would enjoy a nostalgic rewatch like FMA Brotherhood or Dr Who but some are OUAT and Sherlock 😭 I'm so sorry for having shit taste)

Tagging: @licncourt @hedonisticgene @bebidocrimes @zisurru @nasnyys @immortalconclusions @prouvaireafterdark @translouisdpdl @edwardsbloodbag

[starry-eyed-ceaseless-watcher]

Character Tags (7/28/24)

Aka the massive tag breakdown to get super specific lol

The Mechanisms

Gunpowder Tim, Jonny D'ville, Nastya Rasputina, Ashes O'Reilly, Marius Von Raum, Ivy Alexandria, The Toy Soldier, Toy Soldier, Drumbot Brian, Raphaella La Cognizi, Doctor Carmilla

mordred hnoc, mordred, the pendragons, arthur pendragon, lancelot pendragon, guinevere pendragon, galahad hnoc, arthur hnoc, merlin hnoc, gawain hnoc, ulysses, hades udad, (several posts mention "the oracle of delphi" but are not tagged as such and left as drumbot brian), loki tbi, sigyn tbi, lyfrassir edda, bertie the mechanisms

timraph, hearteyes, two of hearts

mechs performance, ben below, ouatis, tbi, hnoc, udad, ttbt, jonny without the waistcoat

Delicious in Dungeon

Laios Touden, Falin Touden, Chimera Falin, Chilchuck Tims, Chilchuck, Chilchuk Tims, Senshi, Senshi of Izganda, Itzusmi, Marcille, Marcille Donato, Thistle, Mithrun, Chilchuck's Wife, Whitbelle, Chilchuck Wife, Chilchucks Wife, Flertim Chils, Meijack Chils, Puckpatti Chils, Flertom, Meijack, Puckpatti, The Winged Lion, Kabru, Mayjack Chils, Mayjack, Itzusumi, Kabru of Utaya

Chilchuck's daughters

chilshi, pots n picks, chilchuck sandwich, labru, farcille

Full Metal Alchemist (Brotherhood)

Edward Elric, Alphonse Elric, Roy Mustang, Ling Yao, Greedling, Riza Hawkeye, FMA Greed, Trisha Elric

Voltron

Pidge, Pidge Gunderson, Keith Kogane

South Park

Kenny McCormick, Karen McCormick

The Owl House

King Clawthorne

The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack

Flapjack

The Magnus Archives

Jon Sims, Jonathan Sims, Martin Blackwood, Tim Stoker, Timothy Stoker, Sasha James, Elias Bouchard, Jonah Magnus, Peter Lukas, Simon Fairchild, Oliver Banks, Jared Hopworth, Michael Distortion, Helen Distortion, Michael Shelley, Helen Richardson, Agnes Montague, Jude Perry, Gertrude Robinson, Eric Delano, Mary Keay, Gerry Keay, Gerard Keay, Basira Hussain, Daisy Tonner, Daisy Toner, Alice Daisy Tonner, Nikola Orsinov, Georgie Barker, Jane Prentiss, The Admiral, Annabelle Cane, Melanie King, Not!Sasha, Mike Crew, Jack Barnabus, Lucia Wright, Robert Smirke, Desolation!Tim, Danny Stoker, Gerry Delano, Manuela Dominguez,

The Distortion, The Watcher, The Eye, The Spiral, The Stranger,

MAG 39, MAG 132, MAG 200, MAG 168, MAG 67, MAG 159, MAG 112, MAG 89, MAG 158, MAG 93, MAG 172, MAG 101, MAG 179, MAG 160, MAG 81, MAG 4, TMA S5, TMA S3, TMA S4, TMA Season 5,

teaholding, jmart, jonmartin, jontim, gerrymichael, timsasha, lonelyeyes, gerrytim, timgerry,

TMA AU

The Magnus Protocol

Alice Dyer, Gwen Bouchard, Gwendolyn Bouchard, Sam Khalid, Samama Khalid, Celia Ripley, Chester, Chester TMAGP, Gerard Keay, Gerry Keay, Mr Bonzo, Bonzo TMAGP, Bonzo, Georgie Barker, Jack TMAGP, Lady Mowbray, TMAGP Needles, Colin Becher, Norris, Norris TMAGP, Lena Kelley

(T)MAGP 15, (T)MAGP 12, TMAGP 10, (T)MAGP 8, (T)MAGP 7, MAGP 11, TMAGP 22

Just Roll With It

Chip JRWI, Gillion Tidestrider, Jay Ferin, Kian Stone, Timothy Rand, Rand JRWI, Lizzie Lafayette, Grefgor, JRWI Grefgor, Shilo Bathory, JRWI Shilo, William Wisp, Vyncent Sol, Dakota Cole, Queen JRWI, Caspian JRWI, Rolan Deep, Niklaus Hendrix, May Ferin, Peter Sqloint, JRWI Rumi, Rumi JRWI, JRWI Ollie, Ensa JRWI, Edyn Tidestrider, Goobleck, JRWI Goobleck, Runt JRWI, Uncle Threestrings, Troy Lougferd, Blink JRWI, Doppler JRWI, Pinch JRWI

JRWI Riptide, JRWI Blood in the Bayou, JRWI BITB, JRWI The Suckening, JRWI PD, JRWI Prime Defenders, Just Roll With It Prime Defenders, BITB, JRWI Apotheosis, JRWI Wonderlust, Blood in the Bayou

The Suckening 6, The Suckening Ep 6

armored pheasant, ghostknife

Malevolent

Arthur Lester, Kayne Malevolent, Oscar Malevolent, John Doe, John Malevolent, Detective Noel, Charlie Dowd, The Butcher Malevolent, Dennis Collins, Peter Yang

angeleyes, blind faith

All For The Game

Neil Josten, Andrew Minyard, Aaron Minyard, Nicky Hemmick, Matt Boyd, Dan Wilds, Allison Reynolds, Renee Walker, Kevin Day, Jeremy Knox, Jean Moreau

The Foxhole Court, TFC

andreil

The Locked Tomb

Gideon Nav, Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Harrow Nonagesimus, Ianthe Tridentarius, Coronabeth Tridentarius, Alecto the Ninth, Ortus Nigenad, Camilla Hect, Palamedes Sextus, Naberius Tern, Ianthe the First, Kiriona Gaia, Cytherea the First, Cytherea Loveday, Jeannemary Chatur, Issac Tettares, Abigail Pent, Magnus Quinn, Colum Asht, Silas Octakiseron, Dulcinea Septimus, Protesilaus Ebdoma, Marta Dyas, Judith Deuteros, Harrow Nova, Aiglamene, Marshal Crux, Pelleamena Novenarius, Priamhark Noniusvianus

Gideon The Ninth, GTN, Harrow The Ninth, HTN, Nona The Ninth, NTN, The Unwanted Guest

The Sixth House, The Third House, The First House, The Second House, The Fourth House, The Fifth House, The Seventh House, The Eighth House, The Ninth House, Sixth House

griddlehark, harryanthe, harrianthe, campal

TLT AU, TLT Crossover, Harrow Nova AU,

one flesh one end

Tolkien Works

tolkien

The Hobbit

Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, Gandalf the Grey, Thorin Oakenshield, Tauriel, Kili, Kili Durin, Kili the Dwarf, Fili, Fili Durin, Fili the Dwarf, Lady Dis, Dis, Dis Frisul, Dis Durin, Balin, Dwalin, Frerin Thrainul, Nori, Ori, Bifur, Oin, Dori, Gloin, Bofur, Bombur, Legolas, Legolas Greenleaf, Thranduil, Smaug

The Line of Durin, Reshirement Vibes, Parentshield, Thorin's Company, BOTFA, The Hobbit BTS

bagginshield, kiliel, thilbo

Everyone Lives AU, Wraith Kili AU, The Hobbit Role Swap, Vampire AU, Modern Hobbit AU

House of Feathers Hall of Night Fic

Lord of the Rings

Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck, Pippin Took, Legolas, Legolas Greenleaf, Gimli, Gimli son of Gloin, Aragorn, Arwen, Galadriel, Elrond, Gandalf, Gandalf the Grey, Faramir, Boromir, Eowyn, Sam Gamgee, Nienna, Gandalf the White, Eomer, Eomer Eadig, Peregrin Took, Perigrin Took, Meridoc Brandybuck, Denethor II

Viggo Mortensen

Fellowship of the Ring, FOTR, Return of the King, The Three Hunters, LOTR BTS, Two Towers

aragorn x arwen, gigolas, samfro

Boromir Lives AU

Homestuck

Dave Strider, Jade Harley, John Egbert, Rose Lalonde, Dirk Strider

Davekat

Hades

Zagreus, Achilles, Patroclus, Eurydice, Artemis

Hades II

Melinoe, Chaos, Chaos Hades, Apollo,

Baldur's Gate 3

Astarion, Shadowheart, Jenevelle Hallowleaf, Gale Dekarios, Gale of Waterdeep, Lae'zel, Halsin, Karlach, Wyll Ravengard, Minthara, The Emperor, Withers, Scratch, Owlbear Cub

bloodweave

Psychonauts

Razputin Aquato, Sasha Nein. Milla Vodello, Frazie, Lili Zanotto, Dogen Boole, Bobby Zilch, Benny Fideleo

(Bride of) Reanimator

Herbert West, Dan Cain, Dr Hill, Megan Halsey, Meg Halsey,

Deleted Scene

danbert

The Bad Guys

Diane Foxington

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Jessica Rabbit

Dead Poets Society

Neil Perry, Charlie Dalton

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

Puss in Boots, Puss in Boots Perro

Treasure Planet

Jim Hawkins, John Silver, Sarah Hawkins, Captain Amelia, Doctor Doppler

Scream (1996)

Billy Loomis, Stu Macher

stuilly

[lilac-melody]

Instead of arguing over which fma is better- 03 or Brotherhood, why don't we combine the best of both to make it one big beautiful work of art

In my personal opinion, I think 03 expands on the characters more- which is due to it having more filler episodes, and episodes that are from the manga as well (the train situation, the Youswell mining situation) (though I actually really love the ghost episodes- from ep 4 "A Forger's Love" and ep 37 "The Flame Alchemist, The Bachelor Lieutenant & The Mystery of Warehouse 13") and that's what Brotherhood lacks.

Oh sure, Brotherhood is fantastic. However, I really wish instead of spoiling the surprise about Central being a transmutation circle with Isaac McDougle and making the Elrics meet Lt Colonel Hughes in ep 1 (he's Mustang's best friend, somehow I doubt they hadn't met before...), they should have started like 03 and the manga.

And give us the Youswell and train eps. See, the manga served purpose for them. Yes, we get Yoki's minute montage about it later on, but for new fans who started Brotherhood first (me 10 years ago), it's confusing.

And with the train incident, it sprung out of nowhere and Ed had to deal with it, with Mustang seeing Ed was on board already and let him handle it, which is why Mustang introduced Ed to Tucker.

But in Brotherhood, Mustang says "I'm trying to repay you for your help on the Liore case"...like, wasn't that his literal job? His mission? It doesn't make much sense.

However, 03 isn't innocent with the train situation either. Mustang made Ed, an 11 year old, go on a train he knew would be held hostage, to test him. He had no reason to believe Ed could fight or defend himself. Sure, if Ed's going to be a State Alchemist, he'll need to know how to fight and such, but it still felt a little out of character.

Another complaint I have is the first Barry the Chopper episode (ep 8, "The Philosopher's Stone"). Oh it was a fantastic ep and it truly does show Ed's age! My only issue is why did they need to use Barry the Chopper? Because unless I'm misremembering, the incident wasn't brought up in Lab 5...so what was the point in it? Especially because it wouldn't drive the point to Al that he could have possibly been a puppet created by Ed like it did in the manga/brotherhood. In 03, he'd know Barry was a lying killer.

Anyway both 03 and Brotherhood have rather rocky starts.

And 03's plot gets to be...um...yeah.

But if we combine the amazing filler eps and characterization + manga chapters with Brotherhood, we'd have one big masterpiece...in my opinion.

[justplainsimon]

Ep 8 of fmab

yeah, this is where its noticeably on par/better than the original

yes, this is in regard to barry not being a 'dress to kill' esc killer and just being a 'i kill therefore i am' dude

i liked fma, but it was really weird about crossdressing

[docholligay]

And that's the episode!

Fortunately or unfortunately, a lot of that second half was nothing at all. It was kind of a weird ep! It started strong, and then dipped into a pretty boring lull, and then swooped back up into some really fun shit about Ed's mortality.

ANyway, so, this month I am deciding if I'm going to keep on with FMA 2003. Leave me your comments and thoughts on this! Also thank @automatuck9 the only reason we've even gotten this far into the show.

Discord is here for all your desire to spill spoilers! And complain about me!

I would love to hear anything you specifically loved, and if you wanted to add anything:

You can tip me at either Ko-Fi, or,  since Ko-Fi has recently started running through Paypal as goods and  services, thus taking a fee from my tips, you can just directly tip me at Paypal under @docholligay (But  I recognize ko-fi allows for anon tips so I haven’t gotten rid of it)! If you’d like me to tag you with whatever I get with the tip, please leave a heart emoji in the comments!

[randombook4idk]

SHORT HAIR RIZA MY BELOVED💕💕💕

[amiamizuki]

fullmetal alchemist brotherhood episode 8 - the fifth laboratory

[stackslip]

Just wanted to say I love your fma 2003 posts. While I do think the original story is more cohesive and stuff, I think that the stuff they did with the 03 show is really interesting and provides a lot of cool angles on the character. It's a completely different story after a certain point with its own merit, and I think that it gives a lot of development to the characters in fascinating ways. I feel like seeing it added depth to my appreciation of the story. There's juicy bits in there that I wish were in the original and I'm just glad they were explored and that I'm not the only one who loves it. :))

sorry i took so late to respond lol

i think the og IS a lot more cohesive and planned out, and more consistent in quality! it's just that i don't think it's much to write home about either. it's a very solid fun shounen and as long as you don't think too deep about its implications, it's definitely a lot better written than 90% of mainstream shounen. and i can see the appeal in that, i genuinely do. i don't think 03 is to everyone's taste, even outside of people for whom og fma is comfort food, for whom even a slight deviation feels Wrong because that's their emotional support anime or whatever. like, i'm a fucking dbz fan always and forever you know? i don't have room to say "why do people enjoy mangahood better, it's so much less mature than 03" bc i still get pumped and emo from super saiyan transformations. i do wish these fans at least would understand WHY one might have frustrations with the themes of the story and what it does with very serious subjects lol

i do think that 03 is its own story but i don't think it's its own story "from a certain point". yes the early anime follows a lot of the manga's story, albeit rearranging it differently. but i'd argue that it's different in essence from the very start. its tone it starkly different from the manga, which is and remains a Cool Mystery Action Shounen. fma 03 from its very first episode leans more into brooding and psychological horror territory, even outside of the extra gore. even the subtle changes it makes early in the story aren't just to change/"improve" or adapt the manga's story, but to set up what they do when 03 REALLY departs from the manga's storyline. ed and al's characters are, i'd argue, leagues away from their og counterparts by ep 10--the flashback and making them go through all that trauma at age 12 really sets up that 15 year old ed isn't a confident shitlord like he is in the og, but a deeply insecure and guilt ridden teenager forced to grow up too fast and hiding his insecurities behind a mask of confidence. al is still kind and polite, but also a lot more ruthless and even more dependent on his brother than the og one is--the sensory deprivation and dysmorphia from the armour is cutting him off from other humans than his brother, and a lot of his own doubts and anguish at his situation begin eating at him to the point that when barry throws out the "you're an artificial person" accusation, al's brain immediately latches onto it because he's been wondering if he's even human for years.

i do think 03 has pits and valleys in terms of quality--but honestly i'm fine with it (bar a few genuinely infuriating decisions such as the transmisogynist serial killer trope in ep 8), it's a 2000s anime that was insanely ambitious and butting against the author and funding, some episodes visibly have a shoestring budget and while it remains thematically consistent you can very clearly see moments/places where the production committe threw in "hey uhhhhhh put in more kimblee he's popular" or "we're not giving you more episodes sorry. wrap it all up in three". do i wish a more consistent version of the show existed, meticulously planned out and with all the time and money in the world they needed existed? yes. would that version have been perfect? not necessarily tbh!

but really, 03 has a number of strong decisions and genuinely genius twists on the og that make it very hard for me to come back to the fma manga without feeling deeply underwhelmed. i like greedling so, so much--i just don't like him enough to not feel really bitter about how lust is treated in the manga. i genuinely love the scene where ed swears he'll get al's body's back at the gate, 10/10 shounen scene--but also, there's the scene ed happily tells al that after digging up their mom's body it turns out the transmutation they did had nothing to do with their mom, and every time i'm like "this is so stupid and i wish they'd kept the failed transmutation homonculi". the absolute heights of fma as a manga never ever manage to hit nearly as strongly to me as 03's does, because og fma will always feel just..... lacking in ambition and in depth, where imo in some aspects fma 03 still hasn't been outdone. where can i find something like the 03's homonculi? how many narratives are there that celebrate a character like scar instead of playing the trope of the Well Meaning Extremist Who Kicks A Puppy? this is a real question btw send them to me immediately i need them.

[chikinan]

yeah okay fma shintetsu rewatch lets fucking go