Full Metal Alchemist General

I recall that conversation between Riza and Edward in the 2003 anime, but not Brotherhood. Do you have any links?

Its in the beginning of Chapter 62, Edward comments that more civil wars and international conflict will happen if Amestris remains a military dictatorship even after Mustang seizes power and then Hawkeye tells him that's why the intention is first to restore democratic power to the parliament which has become inert under the military leadership.

I see.

Though there are other things to consider. For instance, it is very unlikely that any of the surrounding nations will be willing to negotiate with Amestris due to the constant warfare which they experienced under Bradley. As such, it is unlikely that any such reformations will be able to be put into place without crippling the country financially or defensively (even if the nation has only been a military dictatorship for a few decades, it's economy has become accustomed and flows under those circumstances, and won't take well to it's dissolution) and a large military power will still be necessary. It is still very likely that a large military following would develop and resist such changes.

Also, Grumman became the Fuhrer because he wasn't a war criminal, which Mustang is, and Mustang doesn't want to be a hypocrite and put "another war criminal on the throne" as it were.

As for Olivia, she only did that for Scar because of her relationship to Major Miles, and as payment for Scar helping her; her philosophy is based on loyalty and military code, so she repays her debts. That doesn't discount her from seeking power herself.

Its highly unlikely open war is going to take place between any of the three nations bordering Amestris even in a period of disarmament, Creta borders a pretty big canyon separating the two countries, Briggs borders a wall of mountains and Aerugo is a small principality with very little military power. The logistics of invasions from any side are all fairly improbable.

Grunman also does imply he will hand reigns to Mustang when he is ready when he is having tea with Mrs Bradley and that both he and Armstrong both are working to support him rather then squabbling over power. Armstrong also is explicitly pointed out not have the support of the people because her involvement was too bloody and Rebecca literally says her future in politics is likely over because of it.

edited 17th Mar '18 1:54:40 AM by lycropath

Aerugo tried to negotiate in the Wii games. It has enough weapons to arm the Ishvalan rebels.

Drachma probably won't do anything stupid within Olivier's lifetime.

edited 17th Mar '18 7:42:30 AM by RAlexa21th

So I've watched the FMA movie.

The short jokes make no sense. Ed is average height. He is taller than Haruko!

I give the movie credit for remember Al's "Mr. Tucker, if you don't shut up then I'm gonna be real mad."

I also like Al's identity crisis here, even though it has a crucial flaw.

edited 28th Mar '18 11:12:04 AM by RAlexa21th

I remembered something else great about FMA.

The differences in Envy and Lust when Roy faces them.

With Lust the entire scene radiates power and authority, Mustang marches in angered at Lust and himself for getting hit, and proceeds to kill her before she even has a chance to retaliate. The entire scene in animation is about 2 minutes long and exhumes a triumph over the Homunculi.

With Envy it starts off satisfying seeing the shitheel burn... but it quickly becomes excessive. Envy doesn't fully burn until the end, Mustang torturing Envy with pinpoint aiming, burning body part after body part to make him feel pain. Mustang's expression contorted into inexhaustible rage, this isn't a triumph, this is excessive violence meant to draw out something. This is a incarnation of Wrath on the warpath.

And it's just so clever visually and makes clear why one is acceptable and the other isn't.

When Pride absorbs Gluttony, does the Pocket Dimension inside him exist? Could you get Gluttony to inhale himself and be stuck in his own Pocket Dimension, and if you succeeded what happens when he tries to eat things with his Belly Mouth?

It occurred to me that almost no one in the fandom talks about the Gold-toothed Guy much, compared to Kimblee, Envy, and even Tucker. He's a fantastically heinous asshole and doesn't appear much, of course, but he's also one of the most important villains in the whole story. Not only did he transform Bradley into a Homunculus, but he also reared him up to be the unfeeling fascist killing machine he is now. Bradley's attitude probably comes more from him than Father and his "siblings".

One can only imagine if Wrath held any resentment for the man who ripped his childhood away and turned him into a monster.

I mean Gold-Tooth (Who should be in the military section rather then the Hommonculi one) is fairly one note, he's just like the other generals who's names we don't remember.

He's somewhat of a Small Role, Big Impact

Honestly I think he would have been more interesting had he not shown up at all outside of flashbacks.

I don't have much to say about the Live action movie since I haven't really seen it, but I find it a bit funny how out of all the characters they cut, from Izumi to Scar to Kimblee to Ling Yao, they still found a way to fit in that silly ol' priest from the beginning, that pathetic yet horrifying creep with the dog, that generic army guy from the train, and those silly lookin' Mike Wazowski zombies from near the end.

I can see why they kept Shou Tucker. He may not be in the story for very long, but the impact that incident left is huge, and it’s one of the most memorable parts of the story - it should be there, I think.

That said, he probably doesn’t deserve the prominence I understand the movie gave him.

Cornello is the Starter Villain in both continuity, discounting McDougal.

I don't remember the train terrorist in the movie.

I don’t think they mean the terrorist guy - rather, they mean the general they rescue on said train. Hakuro, I think is his name.

Oh, Haruko. He doesn't do anything noteworthy in the manga, besides telling Bradley "Hey I think Mustang and Grumman are organizing a coup."

Not sure if he did anything in the 2003 continuity though.

IINM Halcrow in 2003 was responsible for what happened to Lior, and was put in charge of hunting down Ed and Al after they went rogue.

Regarding impact, I have to wonder: how different would the story be if they didn't encounter He who Must Not Be named? Would they meet Scar at a different point or learn all the lessons just the same?

Ed's decision to sacrifice alchemy is influenced by the Tuckers.

Fullmetal Tarot Cards

so, going back a few pages, am i the only one that feels like they didn't suffer enough for their happy ending? and that the good guys could have gotten some more casualties during their attack on Central?

but then again, my measuring stick is Subaru Natsuki, he didn't get the nickname "Suffaru" for nothing

Yes, they already went through so much. Won't more do you want?

Edited by AfroProduction96 on Feb 12th 2019 at 12:15:02 PM

They lost Greed (but his death was pretty inevitable, and he went out like a badass), and Hohenheim dies at Trisha's grave after the battle. I mean, i guess Fu and chainsaw dude also died, but they were barely characters to begin with, so it's not much of a loss losing them. Compared to the, like, 40 or so characters who lived while managing to kill off every bad guy (even the half dozen they brought back for the final battle)... yeah, i'd say they came out pretty unscathed, all things considered.

Edited by Eldritcho on Feb 12th 2019 at 12:25:59 PM

If many more characters died it would start to feel more like number than an actual meaning full death.

Besides the characters went through enough tragedy and trauma already.