Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episode 11) – Miracle at Rush Valley

Edward, Alphonse, and Winry arrive at Rush Valley the home of everything auto-mail. Winry is in heaven and can’t believe her eyes. Then, someone steals Edward’s State Alchemist watch and the hunt to retrieve it is on!
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episode 11) – Miracle at Rush Valley
What happened?
Rush Valley is known as the holy land for auth-mail, which is why Winry forced Edward and Alphonse to take her there when she found out they were going nearby. It’s packed full of engineers and auto-mail fans. However, Edward isn’t too keen on everyone getting so excited about his arm and leg. In the commotion, someone takes Edward’s State Alchemist watch.
Funnily enough, everyone seems to have a good idea as to who took it and point them in the right direction. The girl responsible lives on a farm on the outskirts of town where the ores are strongest. After quite a bit of walking, they do find her, but it’s not going to be easy to catch her. She has a pair of auto-mail legs and they’ve got some surprises installed.
After meeting the engineer responsible, Dominic, Winry asks if she could become his apprentice. He instantly says no! However, they’re welcome to stay for a while. Edward and Alphonse find a pregnant woman, the wife of Dominic’s son and are amazed at the miracle of birth – the one thing that alchemy has yet to replicate.
Unfortunately, she goes into labour and a heavy rainstorm makes it impossible to take her to the doctor. Dominic rushes to fetch the doctor, but it would appear that there’s no time to wait. The baby is coming and it’s up to Winry to get things done!

What did you think?
After the last episode, this one was much more lighthearted and feature several fairly funny moments. However, the real purpose was to show us the day that Edward and Alphonse burned their family home to the ground. It showed us how much it impacted them and Winry. Edward continues to hold fast on his solemn approach to it, but Winry shows that she can’t let them be so stoic.
I also liked the idea of balance being shown with the birth of a baby immediately after Maes’ death. It plays into the alchemist rules that for one thing to be given another thing of equal value must be taken away. The rule of Equivalent Exchange. Of course, I’m not pointing out that there is any correlation between these two events, but merely that the story is reinforcing the idea of balance and it works beautifully.

What have you learnt?
It’s interesting that Winry has taken herself off on a sidequest. No doubt, she’ll come back stronger and a far greater engineer which will aid Edward and Alphonse in their pursuit of the philosopher’s stone. It also takes her out of harm’s way which tells me that things are going to get rough for a while. It’s not that she can’t handle it, but she’s obviously not on the same level as Edward and Alphonse who are both alchemists.
Otherwise, I don’t think there was a lot to analyse with this episode as it was definitely a more lighthearted moment to ease the pain of the previous episode and it was a way to give Winry a task while allowing Edward and Alphonse to continue. I wonder how they will react when they hear about Maes’ passing. It’s not going to be much fun stirring that memory up again.

Other posts in the series
- Series Review
- Episode 1 – Fullmetal Alchemist
- Episode 2 – The First Day
- Episode 3 – City of Heresy
- Episode 4 – An Alchemist’s Anguish
- Episode 5 – Rain of Sorrows
- Episode 6 – Road of Hope
- Episode 7 – Hidden Truths
- Episode 8 – The Fifth Laboratory
- Episode 9 – Created Feelings
- Episode 10 – Separate Destinations
- Episode 11 – Miracle at Rush Valley
- Episode 12 – One is All, All is One
- Episode 13 – Beasts of Dublith
- Episode 14 – Those Who Lurk Underground
- Episode 15 – Envoy From the East
- Episode 16 – Footsteps of a Comrade-in-Arms
- Episode 17 – Cold Flame
- Episode 18 – The Arrogant Palm of a Small Human
- Episode 19 – Death of the Undying
- Episode 20 – Father Before the Grave
- Episode 21 – Advance of the Fool
- Episode 22 – Backs in the Distance
- Episode 23 – Girl on the Battlefield
- Episode 24 – Inside the Belly
- Episode 25 – Doorway of Darkness
- Episode 26 – Reunion
- Episode 27 – Interlude Party
- Episode 28 – Father
- Episode 29 – Struggle of the Fool
- Episode 30 – The Ishvalan War of Extermination
- Episode 31 – The 520 Cens Promise
- Episode 32 – The Fuhrer’s Son
- Episode 33 – The Northern Wall of Briggs
- Episode 34 – Ice Queen
- Episode 35 – The Shape of This Country
- Episode 36 – Family Portrait
- Episode 37 – The First Homunculus
- Episode 38 – Conflict at Baschool
- Episode 39 – Daydream
- Episode 40 – The Dwarf in the Flask
- Episode 41 – The Abyss
- Episode 42 – Signs of a Counter-Offensive
- Episode 43 – Bite of the Ant
- Episode 44 – Revving at Full-throttle
- Episode 45 – The Promised Day
- Episode 46 – Looming Shadows
- Episode 47 – Emissary of Darkness
- Episode 48 – The Oath in the Tunnel
- Episode 49 – Filial Affection
- Episode 50 – Upheaval in Central
- Episode 51 – The Immortal Legion
- Episode 52 – Combined Strength
- Episode 53 – Flame of Vengeance
- Episode 54 – Beyond the Inferno
- Episode 55 – The Adults’ Way of Life
- Episode 56 – The Return of the Fuhrer
- Episode 57 – Eternal Leave
- Episode 58 – Sacrifices
- Episode 59 – Lost Light
- Episode 60 – Eye of Heaven, Gateway of Earth
- Episode 61 – He Who Would Swallow God
- Episode 62 – A Fierce Counterattack
- Episode 63 – The Other Side of the Gateway
- Episode 64 – Journey’s End
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