Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episode 40) - The Dwarf in the Flask

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 40) – The Dwarf in the Flask

What happened?

Olivier Mira Armstrong arrived at Central and was asked by Fuhrer Bradley what happened to General Raven. Aware that she couldn’t keep everything from him, she bent the truth and told him that Raven had been blabbing about everything so she killed him and came to Central with the intention of taking his seat at the table. Bradley was amused by her ambition and allowed it.

Meanwhile, Mustang met with Hawkeye and had a coded discussion in case Pride was listening. Mustang couldn’t believe it but had no reason to doubt her. Could Selim Bradley be a homunculus? How did this all happen?

Many years ago when Xerxes was a flourishing kingdom, a being was created from the blood of a slave. Since the slave had given this being life, it gave him a name. It taught him to read and write and watched over as he learn alchemy. However, there were others that sought to use the being.

The king wanted immortality so it told him what to do. However, it lied about the centre of the transmutation circle. Van Hohenheim and the being were at the centre. They were both shown the truth and when they returned, Hohenheim was an immortal, the being had built a body that was the same as Hohenheim’s, and everyone in Xerxes was dead.

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 40 Hohenheim witnessed the death of Xerxes

What did you think?

So, this was amazing. I am constantly impressed by Olivier Armstrong and the way she handled herself in front of Fuhrer Bradley was incredible. Although the rebellion is still coming and her men in Briggs will lead the charge. And of course, Mustang and Hawkeye have a code to talk to one another. It would have been far less believable if they didn’t, having worked together for a long time.

However, it was the flashback to Xerxes that will stay in my mind long after this episode. What was the dwarf in the flask and how did they make it from Hohenheim’s blood? As with everything, it raised even more questions, but I love that this all ties back to so many other things that have happened. This is but the first step on the road to the truth, but it was an impressive step nonetheless.

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 40 The Dwarf in the Flask

What have you learnt?

A lot of writing advice will tell you that everything you put into a story should have some purpose. It should either progress the plot, develop a character, or explain the world. For the most part, I believe that to be true. You can take this too far in either direction and the story will suffer. This episode showed us just how those things don’t need to happen instantly. Lots of these ideas can be sprinkled in slowly. Then, little by little the picture builds up until it all starts to make sense.

I’m sure we’re nowhere near the point where it will all make sense, but we are on the right path. The more answers it gives us the more likely we are to keep watching. More answers mean more questions. The cycle will repeat itself until you get to the end and hopefully, it will all make sense. This was a pretty big revelation, but there are so many more questions that need answering. It’s compelling stuff.