#but mangahood's big bad EATS GOD

[anthropwashere]

You've inspired me to rewatch FMA 03. I watched it originally as a little gremlin child who had read the manga first and was like bah its different and quit.

Oh hey! I’m glad to hear that anon. 03 was how I got into FMA back when it aired on [adult swim] in, what, 2005? I cried like a baby seeing ep 50 the first time, haha. Plus I didn’t find out about CoS until years after it came out for that matter. It was a genuine delight to find out there was more 03 fun to be had. Idk how far you got in your first watch or how long ago that was, but I really hope you enjoy it this time around! 

Mangahood’s obv the story sandbox I like to play it but I love the amount of characterization that went into 03, bizarre filler eps and all. It doesn’t flinch away from the darker aspects of its story and often drives the point home unflinchingly instead. It’s so very much its own beast that it does a disservice to every version of FMA to bog yourself down with constant comparisons. I don’t mean it isn’t also interesting to make those comparisons, but so often you see folks springboarding to decry one over the other and sometimes going so far as to insult those who prefer one over the other for that matter. It’s two cakes, y’all. 

On the subject of making comparisons, I can’t speak for the subs but the dubs went out of their way to get as many voice actors from 03 back for Brotherhood and I keep making the Metal Gear Solid ! sound whenever I catch one. Father and Majhal have the same English VA and I just about died laughing.

I’m doing a rewatch with bunch of other folk on Discord every Saturday. We’re... 20? Episodes in now? We’ve got folks who’ve seen it multiple times, only seen some of it, and have never seen it all piled in there. If that’s something you’d be into doing too come join us! https://discord.gg/KvyVHPbg (1 day link)