Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episode 22) - Backs in the Distance

Ling Yao tries to escape from Wrath and Gluttony while keeping an injured Lan Fan safe. Edward and Alphonse are keeping Scar busy, but they never expected Winry to walk in on their fight, especially not at then!

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episode 22) – Backs in the Distance

What happened?

Lan Fan manages to survive Wrath’s initial attack but she was injured in the process. Gluttony goes in for the kill, but Ling Yao is quicker, slicing Gluttony’s head in two. He picks up Lan Fan and tries to get away from Wrath, but it would be hard normally. It’s almost impossible while carrying someone. Wrath and Gluttony manage to pin them down inside a small room where they can continue in private…

Edward and Alphonse continue their fight with Scar, waiting for a signal from Ling Yao that he’s been successful. Alphonse can tell that Edward is tiring and attempts to buy some time by talking to Scar. He asks why he killed Nina as well as Shou Tucker. Scar tells them that Nina had no life ahead of her. She was destined to become a lab rat so he took pity on her.

The Elrics knew that too, but they couldn’t bring themselves to intervene. Edward changed the subject to Winry’s parents and how he killed them. Unfortunately, that was the moment that Winry walked in on their fight. She dropped to her knees crying and demanding to know why he killed them. The glint of a nearby gun caught her eye. She picked it up and aimed at Scar.

He was prepared to accept her judgement for what he did as he recalled the day Ishval was attacked and its citizens were mercilessly slaughtered. His brother, a student of alchemy and alkahestry saved him, but the damage was done. When he woke in a medical tent where the Rockbells were treating the wounded, he lost control and murdered them. He knew what he had done was wrong so he waited for Winry to pull the trigger.

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 22 Edward fighting Scar

What did you think?

There were some great moments in this episode. It opened like a house on fire with Ling Yao fighting against Wrath and Gluttony. I had no idea just how much of a badass he was, but it was a welcome surprise. I can’t wait to see how he gets out of his current predicament. It’s not going to be easy.

Then, you had the scene with Winry. I’ll admit it was a little convenient having Winry wander into the fight just as Edward asked Scar why he killed the Rockbells. Not to mention the gun that just happened to be sitting non the ground before her. However, it was a great scene and showed just how much everyone has been through. I also liked that Scar realised that he had to pay for what he did and accepted her vengeance should she pull the trigger. She could not!

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 22 Winry learns that Scar killed her parents

What have you learnt?

So yeah, Ling Yao! That was amazing seeing him go completely mental on Gluttony. It just goes to show you cannot underestimate anyone in anime who has their eyes closed most of the time. Those characters are dangerous, especially when they do open their eyes. I can’t believe we’re twenty-two episodes in and King Bradley is openly attempting to kill those who stand against him. I was expecting it to happen much later.

That leads me to conclude their either Bradley will pull back a bit and try to slip under the radar for a while or he will be defeated. That would likely mean that someone more sinister would be revealed as the new big villain. You have to go bigger or it isn’t worth it. Anyhow, I’m really enjoying this part of the series and can’t wait to push on.