Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episode 6) – Road of Hope
Edward and Alphonse head home for repairs. On the way, Major Armstrong recognises a missing alchemist – a doctor who was working on a philosopher’s stone project for the military before he disappeared!
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episode 6) – Road of Hope
What happened?
Maes Hughes sees Edward and Alphonse off at the station but has left Alex Louis Armstrong as their bodyguard. With Edward missing his auto-mail arm, he’s unable to use alchemy and would be a sitting duck should Scar show up. At one stop, Major Armstrong thinks he recognised a missing state alchemist. When the person sees them, he runs.
Edward insists that they track him down as he may be able to help them. They find out that Doctor Marcoh has been the town physician since all the other doctors were drafted for the civil war and never returned. When they finally find him, he’s not too happy to see them, believing that they have come to take him back.
Doctor Marcoh had been working on creating a philosopher’s stone and shows them the incomplete one he created. It was almost a liquid, yet it held its form. Edward asked to see his research but the doctor refused, believing it was too dangerous for anyone to have. However, he chases them down as they were about to get on another train and gives Edward the location of the documents.
The next stop is home and the auto-mail shop run by Granny and Winry. They agree to get Edward’s replacement arm done in three days. During that time, Major Armstrong learns what happened to the boys from Granny and is brought to tears.
What did you think?
After the last couple of episodes, this was exactly what we needed. A slower episode with some character development and some time to reflect. I thought using Armstrong as the conduit for this information was great and not just because of his emotional reaction. It wasn’t his need to hug Edward either, although that was pretty funny. Armstrong comes across as a genuinely nice guy so it was no surprise that he understood why Edward and Alphonse attempted to do what they did.
I hope we’re going to see more of Winry and Granny as they were fun characters that enable Edward and Alphonse to relax. You could see how much it meant to them and it was nice that Alphonse was able to express his gratitude so eloquently. Of course, we also got to see Lust visiting Doctor Marcoh, so he may have had some hand in the philosopher’s stone that Father Cornello was using.
What have you learnt?
I mentioned in the last episode about having highs and lows in a story and how variety is what makes each one that much more impactful. Well, the same goes for pacing. If you tried to write a book that was all action at a hundred miles an hour, it would be exhausting. Fun, maybe, and it’s something I’ve considered and may do at some point, but it would be a hard read. There need to be moments of calm and reflection to help drive home the message.
So far, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has done a great job at allowing us time to absorb the story. Admittedly, the first couple of episodes really threw us into the deep end and left us unsure as to what was what, but it has slowly and surely revealed more and more about the Elric brothers and the journey they are on. I’m definitely getting into this series and not just because the OP and ED are killers.
Other posts in the series
- Series Review
- Episode 1 – Fullmetal Alchemist
- Episode 2 – The First Day
- Episode 3 – City of Heresy
- Episode 4 – An Alchemist’s Anguish
- Episode 5 – Rain of Sorrows
- Episode 6 – Road of Hope
- Episode 7 – Hidden Truths
- Episode 8 – The Fifth Laboratory
- Episode 9 – Created Feelings
- Episode 10 – Separate Destinations
- Episode 11 – Miracle at Rush Valley
- Episode 12 – One is All, All is One
- Episode 13 – Beasts of Dublith
- Episode 14 – Those Who Lurk Underground
- Episode 15 – Envoy From the East
- Episode 16 – Footsteps of a Comrade-in-Arms
- Episode 17 – Cold Flame
- Episode 18 – The Arrogant Palm of a Small Human
- Episode 19 – Death of the Undying
- Episode 20 – Father Before the Grave
- Episode 21 – Advance of the Fool
- Episode 22 – Backs in the Distance
- Episode 23 – Girl on the Battlefield
- Episode 24 – Inside the Belly
- Episode 25 – Doorway of Darkness
- Episode 26 – Reunion
- Episode 27 – Interlude Party
- Episode 28 – Father
- Episode 29 – Struggle of the Fool
- Episode 30 – The Ishvalan War of Extermination
- Episode 31 – The 520 Cens Promise
- Episode 32 – The Fuhrer’s Son
- Episode 33 – The Northern Wall of Briggs
- Episode 34 – Ice Queen
- Episode 35 – The Shape of This Country
- Episode 36 – Family Portrait
- Episode 37 – The First Homunculus
- Episode 38 – Conflict at Baschool
- Episode 39 – Daydream
- Episode 40 – The Dwarf in the Flask
- Episode 41 – The Abyss
- Episode 42 – Signs of a Counter-Offensive
- Episode 43 – Bite of the Ant
- Episode 44 – Revving at Full-throttle
- Episode 45 – The Promised Day
- Episode 46 – Looming Shadows
- Episode 47 – Emissary of Darkness
- Episode 48 – The Oath in the Tunnel
- Episode 49 – Filial Affection
- Episode 50 – Upheaval in Central
- Episode 51 – The Immortal Legion
- Episode 52 – Combined Strength
- Episode 53 – Flame of Vengeance
- Episode 54 – Beyond the Inferno
- Episode 55 – The Adults’ Way of Life
- Episode 56 – The Return of the Fuhrer
- Episode 57 – Eternal Leave
- Episode 58 – Sacrifices
- Episode 59 – Lost Light
- Episode 60 – Eye of Heaven, Gateway of Earth
- Episode 61 – He Who Would Swallow God
- Episode 62 – A Fierce Counterattack
- Episode 63 – The Other Side of the Gateway
- Episode 64 – Journey’s End
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