Episode Fifty: Upheaval in Central
"Mustang leads a ragtag assault force of hardy northern troops--and welcome faces from the past--against Central's defenses."The first half of this episode is so much fun. Several different people come back into play, from Rebecca to Havoc to even Lt. Ross. Ross' return was the most surprising, although it probably shouldn't have been since she played a significant role earlier. It's nice to see her again, regardless. Hawkeye's friend Rebecca is also a lot of fun; she's slightly eccentric but not obnoxious and I love the fact that she's driving a cutesy, friendly ice cream truck as a cover for transporting munitions. That's hilarious. As I figured, Havoc is working behind the scenes and was responsible for getting Ross back into the action as well as supplying them with the weapons they needed in the ice cream truck.
(Side note: That bear looks a lot like a character from Happy Tree Friends...which just makes it all the funnier. If you don't know what HTF is, please look it up.)
The downside to all of this is that I'm having trouble keeping track of plans and people and what everyone is supposed to be doing and when. Part of it could be my habit of listening but not processing information, but at this point in time we've got so many characters running around that I have to practically make a list of everyone who isn't Ed, Al, Mustang, Hawkeye, and Hohenheim to know who they are and what their job is. Although in comparison to what could have happened, this massive cast is still quite well-balanced. Everyone is given something to do. No one feels they're hanging around for the hell of it. Unfortunately, it means that I have to go back and watch certain portions or episodes or conversations to keep track of it all for my own sake.
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| That may or may not even be everyone. |
Backing up a bit, I was right about Mustang storing a battalion inside of the Armstrong mansion. He used it as a place to hide all of the men that are attacking Central, and I'm assuming Olivier knew they were there. I mean, how could she not? The mansion may be huge, but putting an entire battalion in it would still mean stuffing a lot of people in a single space.
Olivier herself is proving to be a weird character, because to be perfectly honest I'm not convinced she's a hero anymore. I wouldn't call her a villain, but she's neutral in the larger sense. She's more concerned about her country's survival than actually "being a hero" or "doing what's right." She attempts to take control of the Central forces through coercion, which doesn't work, and then it turns out that her Briggs' soldiers swooped in and obliterated a bunch of those men. She stabs a general in the arm with a knife and then shoots another right in the face. It was cool and everything, but I can't help but feel like there was a distinct reason that Mustang and his men weren't killing anyone, and she kind of puts a damper on whatever point they were trying to make. Then again, Olivier is operating outside of Mustang's direction, so it's not like that could be blamed on him. Not that the Central forces would care; they'd still see it all as treason, anyway.
Ugh, I'm rambling. Olivier confuses me. I think about her too hard.
Although Olivier's decision to murder that general brings up another point that I was thinking about as I watched: Despite it's pre-teen/teenage boy target audience, this show really does not give two shits about the violence it portrays. I don't mean that it's excessive, because to be honest I wouldn't even classify this show as all that violent, but when it does choose to show violence and bloodshed it doesn't hide behind blackouts or alternate camera angles. You see people get shot, stabbed, punched, etc in real time. The only shots they don't explicitly show are the ones done for effect. Within this episode, one character tells a Central troop that he's lucky that he isn't a Briggs soldier, otherwise the shot to the Central troop would be a kill shot. Major Miles told Edward outright that he was going to kill Kimblee and his men several episodes back.
It creates an interesting juxtaposition with the two leads, who refuse to kill under any circumstances. In comparison to some of these soldiers, Ed and Al are practically saints. Mustang holds back his flame alchemy, but I get the feeling that not killing anyone is more about strategy than it is for the sake of preserving life. I'm not saying Mustang would be all for killing more people; I'm just reading his and his troops' actions as calculated rather than solely based on morality.
On an unrelated note, I had a feeling that the tapping Pride was doing on Al's helmet last episode wasn't arbitrary. If he had been knocking it rhythmically it wouldn't have raised a red flag, but if you go back and watch how he hits it...it sounds like Morse code. It's even more pronounced in this episode, to the point where you can tell something is up before they make it obvious. I guess that means Ed and Hohenheim are in for a surprise when they find him underground, since by this point Father must know they're coming.
I love how Edward manages to make a smart decision that also caters to his ego with those guards in front of the Fifth Laboratory. It was probably more practical to throw them off rather than just attack, but of course that was more about Ed's ego than anything else. Because he's a goober.
Also, Hohenheim's statement, "That was a mean thing to do" is really funny. And it's funny because of the way John Swasey says it along with the fact that a massively powerful alchemist and walking Philosopher's Stone said the word "mean" like he's ten years old.
The last big thing to happen in this episode (as there were many) is that one of the generals is releasing that army we saw a few episodes back. I thought they had already been in operation before and were stored away for the time being since they weren't needed. But no--these things are untested, unpredictable, and...creepy as hell. I'm sure the next episode will bring lots of wonderful imagery along with it, ahahaha...
Episode Fifty-One: The Immortal Legion
"Ed's crew faces a horde of ravenous mannequins, abominations powered by human souls."If I had to summarize this episode in one word it would be "disturbing."
This immortal army is given quite a bit of screen time, with their introduction involving the devouring of two people, one of which is the guy who let them out. Here's a pro-tip: Whenever someone says, "But we haven't finished testing ____ yet!" DO NOT let it out. Whatever it is. I don't care if it's a giant bunny made of cotton candy and filled with the laughter of small children. It's going to destroy something. Or, in the case of these undead things, eat people.
I find it kind of strange that these soldiers--which are powered by souls and Philosopher's Stones--would be after people. There isn't much sense behind it, unless the idea is that consuming people powers the Stone within them and therefore the more they eat, the more powerful they become. But it's not like they're absorbing people into their bodies; they're tearing open their necks and literally eating them like vultures.
In general, this army was just all kinds of bad ideas rolled into one.
Ed, Scar, and their gang end up back where Al and Mustang fought Lust, and as a bonus Barry the Chopper is still hanging out down there in all his broken, rusting glory. The legion of zombie people find their way down there and Ed transmutes the door so they can't get out and terrorize the rest of Central. The downside is that they're all stuck in that room with the zombies who keep pouring in through the open door on the other side of the room. I've gotta be honest and say that watching them fight these zombies is a little amusing, if only for the fact that it's unbelievable how much of a mess they're all in because of one idiot. It's that sort of situation where you think, "Wow, things are so dire right now that I can't help but laugh because I'll burst into tears otherwise." Also, it's hilarious when that one chimera guy flings one of them over his shoulder and yells, "Get. OFF!"
Sloth makes a return as well, and Olivier has the pleasure of facing off with him. There's something inherently humorous about Sloth's character, as he doesn't do much or say anything of note, but when he does talk it's clear that he doesn't give a crap about who he's fighting. He's just doing what he's told, as fast as he can, so he can go back to sleep.
Sounds like every college kid I've ever spoken to.
Olivier holds her own for a while, but then THANK YOU LORD because Alex shows back up and is a complete badass. Alex always was a tough guy, he just chose to hold back because I think he prefers peace to violence. Alex saves Olivier's life and--at least for the moment--they seem to be on slightly better terms.
The biggest element of this episode, though, I think is Al's confrontation with Pride and Kimblee. At this point, I'm crossing my fingers that someone takes Kimblee out, because I am sick and tired of his stupid face showing up everywhere. I was correct about Al and Pride not being locked up for the duration of the action. There was too much potential there to keep them holed up for long.
In any case, Heinkel realizes (after, you know, listening to it all day long) that Pride is using Al's head to tap out Morse code, like I mentioned in the previous episode. I thought he was sending out messages to Father about what Ed's plans were, since he was right there to hear a good chunk of them, but he was actually sending out his location. And that's of course how Kimblee found him and blew a hole in the giant dirt hamster ball to let him out. In typical Kimblee fashion, he attacks Heinkel and I was really disappointed that his character was going to be eliminated so unceremoniously, but it turned out that he wasn't dead.
Al gets some more great moments to shine here, and he's actually fighting for the duration of it. Not to mention he's really clever--he managed to fool Pride and get away, using the dust cloud from his alchemy to hide himself and the severely injured Heinkel. He demonstrates his level of resolve and, I think to a large degree loyalty, by refusing the leave Heinkel behind even when he tells him to do so. Al is literally crawling to safety (since he detached his body from his legs to escape Pride's grip) while dragging a grown man who is close to death. That's how selfless Al and Ed are. As Heinkel tells him: "You're still determined to help another person even when you're falling to pieces yourself." What's especially great is that selflessness doesn't feel forced; it falls in line with the type of people that Ed and Al have been written to be. It's easier to see it in Al, I think, but Edward's concern for others is as legitimate, if a little less obvious.
I have to say, also, that I'm quite impressed with the level of continuity in this show. Heinkel still has the Philosopher's Stone that he picked up several episodes back when Kimblee abandoned him. I had forgotten about that, which isn't altogether surprising, but I doubt many other more observant watchers remembered it, either. Heinkel is able to convince Al to use the stone regardless of the fact that it's filled with human souls. Al's now looking at it's usage as a way to let the people inside fight back against the injustice.
As a final note, May is back and I got a kick out of watching Envy flip around in that jar as she ran from the zombies. I'm a bit disappointed that he got his body back, and not because it means there's another person that they're going to have to take down (again); nah, I'm disappointed because seeing Envy as a little green chameleon-looking thing is way more fun than his human form. May is a damn good fighter, too, and watching her kick the crap out of those zombies was great. Not to mention the animation for that is smooth and exciting.
This episode introduces our last full-blown opening and ending (I heard that there's a different OP/ED for the last episode, but I'm not 100% sure and am trying to avoid spoilers). The opening is visually awesome. There are lots of great images, like the entire cast of heroes that moves across the screen and the sketchy, creepy style for the Homunculus. The image of Trisha opening her arms while light shines from behind her is a stunning shot as well. It's...probably one of the only somewhat uplifting ones. Lots of white in the visuals, too which, according to this website, means death and mourning for Eastern cultures and Japanese people (the site specifically says that a white carnation symbolizes death).
So that's encouraging.
There's one thing in particular that I'm concerned about, and that's the possibility based on the images of Mustang either drowning or falling and Hawkeye crying that Roy will die. And as I said in my last post, I'm not prepared to deal with that. I'm crossing my fingers that those shots are misleading.
SID's "Rain" is okay. It's not jumping out at me as one that I'll want for the iPod, but "Golden Time Lover" didn't, either and now it's one of my favorites. Funny how that works.
On the downside, I think the ending is hella lazy and boring. Most of the visuals aren't interesting and Shoko Nakagawa's "Ray of Light" is "meh." You'd think with the last ending they'd go all out and have some neat things going on, but 90% of it is stills and the other 10% is minimal animation. It just screams lazy to me. I know that sounds harsh considering it's the fifth one and by that point the staff probably didn't even care, but still. Go out with a bang, not a whimper, you know?
Episode Fifty-Two: Combined Strength
"With a Philosopher's Stone in his possession, Alphonse fearlessly engages Pride and Kimblee."HOLY CRAP.
OH MY GOSH.
KIMBLEE IS DEAD.
HE'S OFFICIALLY DEAD.
...
Excuse me while I go weep tears of joy.
I'm sorry to those who liked Kimblee, but I honestly could not be happier that he's out of the picture. His presence irked the hell out of me and he felt more like an extra appendage for the Homunculus and Father than anyone genuinely useful. Plus he was an asshole.
But I'll get to that in a minute.
Rewinding to the beginning of the episode, the animation for the fight scene is incredible. It's so dynamic and fast-paced and intense. Again, Al demonstrates not only his great fighting skills but his quick-thinking. He tricks Pride a couple of times during both parts of the fight (before and after he gets trapped inside the cone Al makes with the Philosopher's Stone). Given that Pride is an old-as-dirt and intensely powerful Homunculus and Al is a teenage boy...that's impressive.
The one thing I will say in Kimblee's favor is that he brings up a good point during his conversation with Al while Pride's contained in the cone. Al laments that it's unfair he and Edward are forced to choose between saving everyone and getting their bodies back, and Kimblee's response is to point out that there is another option: They can get neither. They can save no one and never get their bodies back. It's bleak, and definitely something that pit stain would say, but there's no denying that he's right. As optimistic as Al is and Winry tries to be, Edward had a point back in Risembul when he said it wasn't likely that they could succeed with what they were trying to do, at least not in entirety. Something would have to be given up, if you looked at the situation with any level of practicality or reason. Of course, Al is still clinging to the idea of an exception to the rule and then using that rule to rewrite what's possible. I'm not going to say that this won't happen, since I'm counting on this story having a happy ending, but the show had better find a way to pull it off that doesn't come across as lazy or nonsensical (kind of like the previous show did).
I do have to give credit to the writers for making use of Yoki. His and Marcoh's involvement in taking down Pride and getting away was nice, and it's made all the better by the fact that Yoki was the one who ran over Pride with the car Kimblee drove. He may not have done much damage, but it was a hit and it gave them time to get away.
Now, about Kimblee's death.
As much as I was rooting for it, when the moment did arrive I was actually quite shocked, for two reasons: One, they have Heinkel bite his throat and pierce his windpipe rather than blowing him up or stabbing him (and personally I find the animalistic nature of the act to be far worse than either of the latter). Two, Kimblee doesn't come back from it. He dies. Al makes no attempt to help him and there's no last-minute miracle to save him.
It's unclear whether or not Kimblee would have been able to do anything for himself had Pride not decided to eat him. Considering that it was a pretty mortal wound, I doubt it, yet this show has a way of surprising me even when it shouldn't, so there's that. I'm definitely disturbed at the notion of Pride devouring someone that isn't a Homunculus and if it was anyone else I'd feel some sympathy. Honestly, though, I've got no remorse for that creep. He can have fun in hell.
The only thing I don't get is why Pride refused to attack Kimblee when he was fighting Al. Al held him up as a shield and Pride withdrew his...weird shadow-spear-things and he even noted that doing such a thing was counter to Pride's character. So why do it? Was it a ploy to convince Al that he cared about Kimblee? Because if it was, what did he gain from it? I thought he genuinely did want to keep him alive, but once he decided to eat him that theory went out the window. Maybe that will be explained later. I don't know.
We also find out that Sloth is the fastest of the Homunculus because irony. I do like his reaction to when more people run into the room where he's fighting Olivier and Alex: He sighs and puts his hand on his head like, "Good grief, I'm so over this 'work' thing." He's so different from all the other Homunculus who enjoy everything they get to do. Sloth couldn't care less. Somehow I ended up feeling kind of bad for him when Alex skewers his head to keep him contained.
Alex pulls his character out of the shadows with this episode, too. He had been a fading presence for a lot of this series, whereas in the 2003 anime he had a lot more to do and didn't come across quite as...fluffy as he does in Brotherhood. Despite his fluffiness, though, Alex will bring out the muscles and brutality when someone he cares about is threatened. Olivier may act like a creep to him, but Alex loves her and is willing to throw himself in front of Sloth--to the point of dislocating his shoulder--to protect her. Of course, it doesn't take long for them to start bickering again, but hey, at least there were a few genuine moments of sibling affection for me to enjoy.
Envy gets into a squabble with May in the tunnel where the previous episode left them. Envy is kind of an idiot and consumes all of the zombie creatures to gain their power and Philosopher's Stones, which means that he takes away the extra threat to May. I think she knows that and that's why she pushes his buttons. The more she pisses him off, the more zombies he consumes out of rage and the less she has to fight. She's also still apparently looking for immortality. It's been so long since that was brought up that I thought to myself, "Wait, she still cares about that? That's still a thing?" Seems to me like she's more concerned about helping Amestris than getting immortality, even if that's not what she's telling herself.
Ed and his gang are still occupied by the zombies in this episode, though they discover that they can attack their legs and it immobilizes them to a large degree. But even with that knowledge, there's still a butt-ton of those things and it's pretty obvious that everyone--including the chimeras--are getting worn out.
Then, of course, we have the last shot for this season which has Mustang and Hawkeye breaking into the room through the alchemy-covered door and Mustang making some smarmy comment to Ed about always making a mess and needing some help. Which, I mean, they do. Bad.
I'd also like to point out how awesome the animators make those two look:
It's like something that would be on an action movie poster.
(As a follow-up to my amusement with the ice cream truck, Mustang turned it into a meat truck. Which isn't as funny as I was hoping, but when you think about the fact that there are a bunch of people inside of a meat truck...it kind of makes a joke about them being indispensable without, you know, actually making a joke. Or maybe I'm the only one that sees that and finds it clever.)
General Thoughts on Season Four
This has probably been one of my favorite seasons, although at this point everything is beginning to run together so saying that may not actually mean anything. The closer to the climax we get, the more action there's going to be and the more shocks I'm sure I'm going to get. I really love how they've built this plot up slowly and methodically without making it feel like it's dragging its heels. 52 episodes in and nothing feels wasted. There have been no fillers, and that's an accomplishment for such a lengthy series. It's also managed to balance its cast well--something equally as impressive when you look at how many active players we have at this point.Now the trick will be ending this series in a way that doesn't feel forced, overly sentimental, awkward, or nonsensical. I'll give it some leeway considering that there have been a small number of shows that I've watched which manage to have successful, coherent endings. The sheer scope of this story makes it a challenge to bring full circle. We'll see if it can appease me rather than all-out impress me.
Whoo-hoo I am down to the wire now! 13 episodes left and I AM READY, DUDE.
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