Hagane no Renkinjutsushi – Fullmetal Alchemist Ep. 31
鋼の錬金術師 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST Episode 31 review
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood – 31

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:

Ed goes to Al and informs Al of the story Riza had told Ed. Meanwhile, Roy Mustang’s team go their separate ways but Roy considers his chess set and knows he hasn’t been checkmated. He sends word to General Grumman through Madam Christmas, who runs a brothel where a girl named Vanessa works. Mustang meets up with Ed and has a chat where Ed throws in with Roy. Mei Chan has left Dr. Knox’s care, leaving Ed and Al to look for her via Xiao Mei. Fu waits for Ed and Al at their hotel and learns of his granddaughter Lan Fan. Ed and Al take him to her and he’s upset over her loss. However, they take their leave of Dr. Knox and a change of civilian clothing.

In prison, Major Kimbley reflects on how he slew the officers tasked with getting Kimbley to return his Philosopher’s Stone, thus landing Kimbley in prison. He’s given his walking papers to the warden’s displeasure and after playing a practical joke on the warden, Kimbley leaves the prison. Outside, a car awaits with a military person in it. The military person is Envy in disguise and Kimbley knows Envy. Envy has a job for Kimbley — find Dr. Marcoh who quite possibly escaped. The homunculi want Marcoh alive but Envy says that Kimbley can kill the Ishvalan Scar. With that, Envy gives Kimbley a second Philosopher’s Stone.

Mei Chan and Xiao Mei arrive where Scar, Marcoh, and Yoki are hidden. Seeing Marcoh, she thinks they have a new friend, which Scar denies. Upon learning that Marcoh can make a Philosopher’s Stone, Mei wants to know the secrets, which Scar cautions against. Scar disfigures Marcoh’s face then tells Mei to heal the man. Scar’s reasoning is that this will disguise Marcoh and his reason to keep the doctor alive is to figure out some things left in Scar’s brother’s alchemy research papers.

Thoughts/Review:

Well, as some of you said, Dr. Marcoh wasn’t dead at all. Scar is showing more wisdom of late while still remaining true to his established character. So, if I understood this, Marcoh transmuted the chimera into a headless corpse and Scar brings him along to understand the alchemy stuff in his brother’s research notes. The fact that Scar “disguises” Marcoh by jacking up his face allows Scar to also obtain some measure of vengeance against another killer of his people. That to me is what allows Scar to remain true to himself and his mission against State Alchemist (though is Dr. Marcoh a State Alchemist complete with title?) while keeping Marcoh alive.

I find it most interesting that Kimbley knew the identity of Envy. That suggests to me that Kimbley has to know that Envy is a homunculus and that he’s down for their plan. Well, that would make sense seeing as how Kimbley loves killing so much. Still, the stone Kimbley uses isn’t absorbed into him like Bradley or Ling. Is that because it is an “imperfect” stone? He’s been given a second stone from Envy, but if he uses that, will Kimbley turn into a homunculus himself or just gain even more power?

I did chuckle at Kimbley’s little joke on the warden as he left prison. I figured that Kimbley wouldn’t have a real bomb on the warden despite his love of killing. Kimbley is like an insane artist who can pass himself off as fairly sane. As I mentioned before, this is what makes him a much more interesting and scary character.

As I think of Kimbley, it seems to me that Kimbley could have escaped from prison at any time. Granted, his hands were in stocks and maybe that somehow blocked his ability to use alchemy. However, Kimbley still had the Philosopher’s Stone and thus added powers. If that’s the case, (1) how did he get caught in the first place and (2) why’d he agree to be stuck in prison? The only thing I can think of is that it must have been after he killed the officers that the homunculi (Envy specifically) made a deal with Kimbley.

I didn’t know Fu and Lan Fan were related, or at least I don’t remember it as such. Still, I’m glad he’s back and now disguised as civilians, can get Lan Fan an automail arm. I can’t imagine they’ll be gone from the story for long, especially with Ling now being Greed.

I didn’t expect to get a little touching moment with Dr. Knox and his son and son’s wife Knox’s estranged wife (I missed seeing the adult son refer to the woman as his mother). Since I can’t imaging the anime writers including that on their own, I’m going to assume that it was in the manga. It is a nice touch to add to the crusty old doctor’s character. ^_^

Ed pretty much declared himself allied with Roy this episode, which is not unexpected at all. General Grumman I expect will also be an ally of Roy and so Roy’s plans to overthrow Bradley are now in play. No checkmate for Colonel Mustang! ^_^ I wonder about the Madam Christmas connection though. Still, it is sad seeing his former team busted up, but as I said before, I think this will end up helping Roy in the end.

Another really good, fast paced episode. Next episode is about Bradley’s adopted son. Hmmm. It still is creepy how Bradley (aka: Wrath) can seemingly have the happy home life.