Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episode 39) - Daydream

Scar took Winry as a hostage and fled along with Doctor Marcoh and Mei Chang. Their goal is to pass through the mountains and hide at Fort Briggs, but there’s a problem – Olivier Armstrong has been summoned to Central.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episode 39) – Daydream

What happened?

Scar stood on top of the building, holding Winry. He called down to Kimblee and then destroyed a part of the building, making it unsafe to follow them. There was also a snow storm emerging and they had to get to cover. They couldn’t track them even if they wanted to. But how did this happen?

It was all Winry’s idea. The need to decipher the ancient Ishvalan text in the book and Scar is their only hope. Miles is aware of what’s at stake and decides the best thing would be for everyone to hide at Fort Briggs. Yoki tells the that there is a mining tunnel that should take them under the mountain. From there, they would be able to continue to the fort.

As the others sit in a building waiting for the storm to subside, Miles gets a call from Fort Briggs. Olivier Armstrong has been summoned to Central to explain what happened with General Raven. That means the fort is no longer safe, but there’s no way to catch up with Scar and the others, not without going out in the cold.

Luckily, Alphonse doesn’t have a body to freeze so he braves the snowstorm, but it’s tough-going even for him. At one point, everything turns white and he sees a person staring back at him. Is it his body? What is going on?

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 39 Alphonse sees his body

What did you think?

This seemed like a lot of episode to explain something that was fairly obvious. Of course, it was Winry’s idea. Unlike Edward, she seems to be more level-headed. If anything Edward has started to become a little annoying again. I think it’s probably down to the fact that he likes Winry and doesn’t want to admit it to himself, but his determination to fight Scar is counter to everything else that they need to do.

Miles made for a good voice of reason and it was a nice touch that he is part Ishavalan and was able to talk to Scar in that way. It was also interesting seeing Alphonse tell Zampano and Jerso off for giving up and not fighting to recover their bodies. Their reactions to Alphonse removing his helmet were almost as good as Barry the Butcher’s reaction. I miss that guy!

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 39 Winry taking charge

What have you learnt?

Taking Olivier Armstrong to Central changes things. I still feel like there will be an uprising from the soldiers of Fort Briggs, but either way, there will be bloodshed and that’s going to be enough for a Crest of Blood. It won’t stop the overall plan, but maybe it’ll start a movement that can push back against Father and his plans. It was interesting that he sees Hohenheim as a sacrifice. There are still so many questions that need answering about him in particular.

I’m also curious how Alphonse saw his body. Was it calling to him or was he close to death despite his lack of body in the snowstorm? There was also the moment when Mei Chang realised that she probably can’t go home. I can’t see immortality being achievable without the philosopher’s stone and allowing anyone the chance to create one is terrible, especially if that person has the means to do it. People will do unspeakable evils to keep power. There was a Fijian king who believed that if he ate one thousand people he would become immortal. No one believed it would work, but he was still assassinated at nine-hundred and ninety-nine. Best not to take chances with stuff like that.