Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episode 3) - City of Heresy

Edward and Alphonse are investigating a priest who can create matter out of nothing. Could these be actual miracles or is he using a philosopher’s stone? Either way, it warrants their attention as it could be key to recovering their bodies.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episode 3) – City of Heresy

What happened?

Edward and Alphonse arrive at Leore and learn a little about the place, listening to the religious broadcasts from Father Cornello. He’s the priest they’re looking for who has been performing miracles that seem like alchemy, although he’s probably using a philosopher’s stone to augment his abilities. They head to the church and try to arrange a meeting with the father.

Initially, he tells his followers to send them, but upon learning that it is the Elric brothers, he arranges for them to be taken care of… Edward and Alphonse are led to a dark basement to meet with Father Cornello, but it’s a trap and one of the followers points a gun at Alphonse believing that he is the Fullmetal Alchemist because he’s bigger.

Of course, this infuriates Edward who then takes out the followers and is approached by Father Cornello. They discuss what’s going on and then Cornello tells Rose, the follower who came with Edward and Alphonse to shoot them. She doesn’t want to but eventually shoots Alphonse, also believing he is the Fullmetal Alchemist.

Edward and Alphonse run when Cornello turns his cane into a gun. They trick him into revealing his plans, which are broadcast across the city. Cornello gets mad and tries to use his philosopher’s stone but it rebounds, transmuting his arm. He tries to change his entire body to fight Edward but eventually loses and the philosopher’s stone is proven to be a fake. Edward and Alphonse leave disappointed, however, Cornello, who is being pursued by the townsfolk, is quickly killed by Lust and Gluttony!

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 3 Edward getting mad

What did you think?

This episode was pretty much the exact series of events that happened in the first episode. It was fine but it didn’t show us anything new or do anything to build on the characters. I’m hoping that the joke about Edward being small is going to disappear as I’m already over that and I can’t help but find some of the animation a bit derpy, especially when Edward and Alphonse were running away from the followers.

I can’t believe that Cornello fell for the oldest trick in the book. Tell me your plans and I’ll leave. Oh, but make sure you stand next to that microphone. Don’t worry, it’s not on! This series has got quite the following and I’m sure it will pick up, but so far, I’m feeling a little underwhelmed. It’s not been bad, but it certainly hasn’t gripped me yet.

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 3 Father Cornello reveals all

What have you learned?

As I said earlier, this episode was almost identical to the first episode. Edward and Alphonse show up because someone is doing something bad with alchemy. There’s a fight. Edward’s clothes get ripped and he pulls off his jacket. Then, it’s revealed that Alphonse is just a suit of armour and the bad guy instantly realises what they did. There’s another fight, but no one wins. The only difference was that Edward and Alphonse tricked Cornello into revealing his plan and dooming it in the process.

I don’t mind a formulaic approach, but it also needs to feel new and fresh. Some of the finer details keep getting repeated and that’s not great. Much like the constant joke about Edward’s height. That was old by the end of the first episodes and it’s still going after three. I really hope it doesn’t continue too much. Hopefully, things will pick up when Lust and Gluttony get more involved.