#fullmeta alchemist

sombreset:

atomic-bobo:

bookofjudith:

when do we get to discuss how als determination to study alchemy and equivalency to get his brother back at the end of 03 is just. The cycle starting again. The snake eating its tail. There is nothing new under the sun. This story will repeat and repeat and repeat and there is nothing we can do to stop it

And the fact that everyone just… lets him. Izumi can’t say no to him, the rockbells let him run off in search for clues about his brother, exactly the same as they’ve done before.

It’s exactly what Ed meant when he said there is no war that we don’t all play a part in. All of them are pushing that boulder back up the hill again and again.

Its exactly what Envy meant when they introduced “the new Sloth” to Greed. Just like the ouroborus, they’re all destined to repeat and repeat because that is the nature of those who create a homunculus.

In 03, the boys don’t get to grow up and live past the events they fought through, they are stuck in their mistakes and the circularity of their decisions, facilitated by those who have made those decisions before them.

(Just like Liore, finding one false idol after another after another. Like Scar, who lost a brother and sought to take a brother. Like Dante and Hohenheim, repeating life ad infinitum together.)

Adding onto this, I think this is *exactly* why Edward chooses to go back to Earth at the end of CoS instead of staying in Amestris. His whole life has been a vicious cycle. He saw the cycle in Al, and it was fueled by his and specifically Edward’s past actions and dreams. Now that Al knew he was alive, and Ed knew Al was alive, the fight could stop and they could both just *stop.*

Of course, the power of alchemy and bending rules largely aided in Ed’s cycle. At least on the other side of the gate, he couldn’t be tempted to reach farther than his own limitations anymore. But he can’t just stop either.

So instead of extending beyond himself for personal dreams and goals, he’s set on playing a positive role in the world. Like he says to Al, they can’t keep living their lives like their dreams are the only things that matter. Everyone plays a part.

Edward finally, finally understood all is one and one is all. I can only hope things will go right for them this time.

jostenneil:

It’s very interesting to me that when people complain of some of the women in Fullmetal Alchemist existing as props to men’s character development, the primary example used is always Winry, and never Riza. To me, Riza is one of the most glaring failures of Arakawa to address her own themes about nationalism, white saviorism, and by extension, feminism. We’re meant to see her as this very independent character who makes her own decisions, most notably the fact that she chooses to stay at Roy’s side despite the constant risks that come with the job, but this dedication to him often comes at the cost of her own morals and world view. As the person closest to Roy, as well as to the very person who created Flame Alchemy, she knows better than anyone what the horrors of having these powers readily entails, and she’s witness to it almost every day. We see that she’s privy to a belligerent side of Roy that he doesn’t like to show or acknowledge around most people, and when people—Edward and Scar—do happen to be exposed to it, it’s… despicable. Riza nearly pulls the trigger on Roy because she realizes just how far gone he can end up as a result of his own anger, and because of the powers he’s equipped with. And I know that it’s painful and tragic and romantic that, ultimately, Roy manages to check himself and realize how much he’s hurt her, but the thing is—this is a recurring pattern with him. It’s an everlasting possibility. And to have Riza more or less succumb to that reality, that he could progress to the brink at any time, feels like such a disservice to her development as a character, regardless of how romantic it may be that she’s dedicated herself to keeping him in check. She shouldn’t have to. There’s a reason she said she would kill him if he stepped out of line, and it feels regressive and idealistic that in the end, she didn’t have to, despite all of the imminent dangers Roy continuing to live without facing real consequences posed. 

combustiblegarbage:

ed is racist!

like that is a fact! that is the starting point baseline for edward elric and indeed all of the amestrian characters in either fma03 or fmab. i think accepting that fact is key to understanding how race and racism is portrayed differently between the two series.

in 03 ed learns that the things he’s been told about ishbalans aren’t true, and is called out specifically for assuming things like the ishbalans weren’t as “culturally advanced” as amestrians because they didn’t have a manufacturing society and lived in the desert. he sees that and recognizes that and acknowledges that he was afraid the first time he saw an ishbalan!

in fmab…well… ed winds up lecturing a member of the persecuted minority on how we should all just look past race and how he doesn’t care that miles (or scar, or anyone) is ishvalan. it shouldn’t have a bearing on how they get treated! and that attitude is really just a rehashing of the idea of being “colorblind” - and we all know how that ultimately does not serve to protect, lift up, or help communities of color in any way.

i think that a lot of people look at that scene with ed and take him seriously because they’re coming from the understanding that ed is a Good and Righteous Main Character and his morals guide him, and his morals are correct. but they aren’t!! neither version of ed can possibly be anti-racist because the foundation of his culture, country, and childhood was on the back of dispossession and genocide of ishvalans, justified through nationalism and imperalism.

ed is racist! you and i are also racist, actually, because the societies we grew up in ARE RACIST! the way that we respond and grow and learn and listen is what defines us. and in that way, hooooo boy does fma03 outclass fmab