Recap / Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood E 64 Journeys End

• And the Adventure Continues: Now that they've gotten their bodies back, the series ends with Alphonse and Ed finding new goals. They want to travel outside of Amestris in order to research how to safely change chimeras (human and otherwise) back into their original forms. Otherwise, they generally want to see the world outside of their relatively small country in order to better themselves. Winry even lampshades how Ed and Alphonse wouldn't really be themselves if all they ever did was sit around doing nothing.
• Babies Ever After: One of the final shots of the series is of Ed and Winry's family photo, their toddler son and infant daughter among them.
• Bait-and-Switch: When he shows Mei how he obtained a Philosopher Stone first, it seems as thought Ling is doing this to rub it in her face that she essentially lost. Instead, he takes the time to tell her that should the Stone better his chance of becoming Emperor, he will use his power to better the lives of her dying clan.
• Earn Your Happy Ending: An off-screen example. There was no guarantee that Havoc would ever gain the full use of his legs ever again. But once Mustang learns from Dr. Marcoh there's one Philosopher Stone left he's willing to use for good intention, Mustang has one request before it's used to restore his eye sight. No points for guessing what that request is.
• Like Father, Like Son: Ed's traveling clothes in the final shot are evocative of Hohenheim's own wardrobe. It's a subtle way of again demonstrating he's forgiven his father.
  • Also exemplified between him and his own son. In a final shot of his and Winry's family photo, Ed's son looks and smiles just like he did when he was his age. And Ed even holds him up in the photo the same way his father did in their previous family photo. Only this time, it's with a genuine smile that matches his son, symbolizing he's going to savor the life of home and family his own father lost out on.
• Maybe Ever After: It's strongly implied Al and May have gotten together from her presence in the Elric-Rockbell Family photo in the show's penultimate shot.
• Official Couple: Ed and Winry are confirmed to be married—and have two children—in the epilogue.
• Pet the Dog: Instead of treating her like an enemy or rival, Ling treats Mei like the half-sister she is and promises to use his position as Emperor to save her clan.
• Sweet and Sour Grapes: Mustang was readily prepared to become Amestris' first ever blind Führer, as demonstrated when he memorized the politics of the other countries while recuperating. Then Dr. Marcoh comes by with a Philosopher's Stone, wishing to use it to restore Mustang's sight as penance for creating it in the first place.
• Symbolism: When leaving Resembool to see the world, Ed's travel clothes greatly resemble Hohenheim's clothes, not only reflecting he's forgiven his father, but also implying he's become just that much wiser in his own way.
• Time Skip: Three. The first half of the series finale takes place two months after Father's defeat in the previous episode. The second half jumps ahead two years later (with the epilogue photo montage taking place several more years after that).
• Together in Death: One of the photos in the end credits is of Pinako somberly standing before the graves of Hohenheim and Trisha.
• What the Hell, Hero?: Played with. When Ling humbly declares he's going to use his Philosopher's stone (and his new position as Emperor) to protect her and her clan, Mei tearfully calls out how "greedy" Ling's being trying to claim so many new allies at once. If anything, this is one of the more heartwarming variations of this trope.
• Worth It: Played for laughs, as Ed tries to use alchemy to fix the roof shingles on the Rockbell home. It obviously doesn't work, but Ed wryly admits it was worth a shot. Then, it gets played seriously when Ed surveys the peaceful, idyllic Risembool (saved by him and his friends) and concedes it was worth it.

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