Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episode 28) - Father

Gluttony brings Alphonse to meet Father but before he can explain, Envy, Edward, and Ling burst out of his stomach. Father heals Edward and Alphonse, but they’re not too happy about his plan for Ling!

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episode 28) – Father

What happened?

Alphonse is stunned when he sees Father because he looks almost identical to Hohenheim, their father. However, Father is not Hohenheim. Just then, Gluttony screams as the portal opens up in his belly, allowing Envy, Edward and Ling to return. Alphonse is delighted to see that Edward is all right. Father is pleased too as they are vital to his plans.

He repairs Alphonse’s hand and heals Edward’s injuries without making any signs or using a transmutational circle. It’s like he can do it in his mind. Ling, however, is of no use to him so he tells Gluttony to eat him. They fight, throwing everything they can at Father and Gluttony. It was all in vain as Father somehow turns off alchemy…

Father then decides that he will use Ling for a new homunculus, producing a philosopher’s stone from his forehead. Edward and Alphonse try to fight back, but Ling tells them not to bother and that this is what he wants.

Greed enters Ling’s and takes over. That’s when Scar and Mei Chang enter. Amazingly, both Scar and Mei Chang can still use their alchemy. This is something that intrigues Father and he even approaches Scar to talk. Having found out that the Ishvalan conflict was caused by Envy, Scar is less than willing to talk.

Alphonse tries to escape with an injured Mei Chang and is joined by Scar, but they don’t appear to be any way out. Amazingly, Scar manages to create a diversion and vanish with Mei Chang. Alphonse is captured and taken back to Father. He plans on delivering them both to Wrath.

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 28 Envy Edward and Ling emerge from Gluttony

What did you think?

Excellent! This was where a lot of the work that has been going on for the last couple of episodes has been building towards and it was great. I’ve been thinking for a while now that Ling looked a little like Greed and couldn’t quite put my finger on the difference. It’s because Greed opens his eyes. I do think that Ling will regain control at a pivotal moment so I’ll be looking forward to that moment.

We also had it confirmed that Father and Hohenheim are definitely not the same person, but the question now is who came first – Father or Hohenheim. I get the feeling that one created the other, so that’s another thing I’ll be keeping an eye on. This really was an exciting episode and raised the bar a lot in terms of what alchemy is capable of.

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 28 Ling gives his body to Greed

What have you learnt?

So, how is it that Scar and Mei Chang can still perform alchemy? Well, my guess is that they are foreigners and use a different form of alchemy. I’m leaning towards the idea that Hohenheim created Father and that his powers are based on the local form of alchemy. This gives him a weakness, although it’s not a big one considering Scar couldn’t do any damage. Presumably, Father can heal himself as well…

There’s one final thing that I want to say about this episode and that was where Scar and Mei chang ran off to and how did they get past all those Chimera and Envy and Gluttony? Well, I have a theory for that too. They didn’t escape. They are inside Alphonse and will no doubt continue the carnage when they get a chance providing Mei Chang is able to recover. Either way, I feel like things are just going to get even more tense.