November 18th, 2009 
AstroNerdBoy Hagane no Renkinjutsushi – Fullmetal Alchemist Ep. 32
鋼の錬金術師 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST Episode 32 review
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood – 32
SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:
As Mei Chan and a hooded person get on a train heading north, General Grumman arrives in Central City, disguised as an old woman. He meets a startled Colonel Mustang at Hughes’ grave and the two have a lengthy talk at which point Grumman finds himself fired up about things. Meanwhile, Ed and Al are looking for Mei Chan using the drawings of Xiao Mei but getting no where. As such, they decide to head to the Central Library to do some research on Eastern alchemy. Major Armstrong lets Ed know where Mei went and Ed goes to get Al, only to see him with Bradley’s son Selim.
Selim, who’s a big fan of Ed and Al, has the brothers come over to his home. While visiting and speaking with Selim’s mother and Selim, Bradley comes home. Ed and Al are not used to seeing the fatherly side of Bradley seeing as how he’s is a homunculus. Bradley and his wife let them know that Selim is an adopted child and after Bradley leaves, Ed and Al leave with a promise to return. With that, they head for a train to head north and to the northern fortification commanded by Major General Armstrong.
Meanwhile, Kimbley begins work in his civilian garb and has soldiers at his command tasked with tracking down Scar. Intelligence sees that Scar is heading west but every time soldiers get close to capturing Scar and his companion, they escape. Eventually, one of Scar’s escapes has him and his companion land on a train heading west but when the military boards the train at a stop, Scar is not there. Kimbley inquires if Scar could have jumped train in the mountains when the train has to slow down, which his military people say could have happened. As such, Kimbley wonders which way Scar went — north or south.
Thoughts/Review:
I figured that the “ugly old lady” would be Grumman in disguise and I had that confirmed when Kimbley seemed to recognize the old lady and ignore the situation. So as expected, Mustang’s new plan moves forward and with the general in charge of the eastern front on Roy’s side, that would mean a sizable force if it came down to a civil war. I don’t think we’ll go that route but then again, who knows. After all, the homunculi seem keen on causing unrest but I’m not sure why exactly.
On the other hand, the military seem keen on creating an army of homunculi based on Grumman’s words. I suppose Bradley was the first success in creating this army, though I suppose that the military’s interest in chimera is also part of that notion as are the armored shells like Barry the Chopper.
I figure that if Major Armstrong is giving Ed a letter of introduction to a Major General Armstrong, then the two 
have to be related. I can’t imagine this being his mother, so I’d guess this would be his sister. Surely, it wouldn’t be his wife, would it? *lol* That would be the most interesting choice of her relationship to Major Armstrong. Still, this new Armstrong could be another ally for Mustang.
It is still very creepy that such an innocent child could be the adopted child of Bradley and his wife. Actually, the fact that 
Bradley is married at all is strange. I can’t figure this one out for the life of me. What purpose would this serve the homunculi and their ultimate goal? They don’t seem to do anything that isn’t part of a bigger plan. So, for Father to say, “Marry this woman and adopt this child,” there has to be some bigger reason, but as I said, I can’t figure it out.
Since Bradley is (or was) a unique homunculus in that he 
was a normal human and actually ages, maybe this marriage was one to see if Bradley could produce an offspring naturally. Clearly that did not work, so then where does Selim fit into the picture? Also, it seems hard to believe that Bradley’s wife wouldn’t know that Bradley is a homunculus after all these years of marriage.
I think it is pretty clear that Scar is attempting to lead the 
military away from Dr. Marcoh by letting himself be seen. Scar and Yoki allow Mei Chan and Dr. Marcoh to get safely north but the question is how Kimbley runs the mission to track Scar down. I figure that Kimbley will figure out that Scar took a turn to the north.
So, a really interesting episode with some creepiness to boot.
Posted in 
Tags: 
Bradley’s wife is a strange part of this story, though I found it interesting when she said she slapped him early on when he was rude. Maybe that lead him to respect her or the respect came over time or a mix. And she might have suggested the adoption when they tried to have kids and couldn’t (thus she wanted one if she tried to have one).
And you were right on the ‘sister’ relation. She’ll be an interesting one to see, though I have no idea how they’ll voice her.
Long story short, the wife and son are to give the image that King Bradley is a normal human being with a normal family. His wife doesn’t know his a homonculus which is why she’s a pretty tragic figure.
Major General Armstrong is the blonde woman in the opening.
Heh. I’m guessing you haven’t been reading the manga, because there’s a BIG clue in this episode about one of the remaining homunculi. I think you’ll get that reveal next episode or the one after. Either way, it’s the one that REALLY gives me the creeps.
Oh, your naivety makes my day. I liked the little add in about Al looking forward to seeing snow. That wasn’t in the manga. Neither was…all the details about Kimbely looking for Scar. I also don’t think him recognizing Grumman was in the manga but maybe I’m not remembering. Also the scene with Bradley and his family was a little different. Bradley never showed up to intimidate Ed in the manga. But I’m really glad they’re adding extra little stuff that is still relevant to what’s going on in the manga plot. They’re significantly slowing down while giving Brotherhood some of its own little charm.
Yo im fun fact man here are some fun facts Gruman is riza hawkeyes grandfather and Bradley got a family to keep up his apperence to make him look more human also he chose his wife he said so himself a few episodes ago please reavel no spoilers
@Anon1 — When she mentioned slapping Bradley, I initially thought, “Why didn’t he kill her?” ^_^;
@Charred — Well, I can understand that from a political standpoint, Bradley would need a wife and kid for appearances sake.
@Azu — I figured that might be the case. ^_^
@Jeff — I’ve only read one volume of the manga and that was at the recommendation of the readers here. ^_^ Still, your words now have me curious because there are two homunculi to come into play.
@Anon2 — Oh, your naivety makes my day. *lol* Glad to hear that. ^_^
Also, thanks for mentioning how the anime is adding bits that weren’t in the manga.
@Anon3 — I’m trying to think if the anime has mentioned Grumman’s and Riza’s relationship or not. Well, that certainly adds to why Roy can trust his former commander so much.
Oh, Sloth hasn’t had much screentime. You’ll see him soon enough, likely in less than 7 episodes from now.
Also, have you seen the OVA for this anime?
If you watch the OP carefully, both Sloth and Pride make an appearance. ^_^
Apparently, I need to watch the OP better.
There are a few OVA’s that I’ve seen for FMA, but I’m unaware of one for “Brotherhood.”
Don’t watch the OP carefully >.> I want to see your surprise! Don’t you want to be surprised too?
*lol* OK, I won’t watch carefully for now. ^_^;;;
The pacing of the series is really weird. The Ishbal volume becomes one episode, while this episode covers like 20 pages of the manga.
pride appears right after major general armstrong standing on the wall in the opening the shadow with the eyes but pride does have a human form that is not shown in the opening
Yo its fun fact man look at Major genral armstrong with all her men in the opening the 4th face to the right look who it is
Dammit, top trying to make him watch the OP more. The reason I like this blog is seeing how he reacts to each new surprise.
And the OVA was based on an extra manga comic called The Blind Alchemist, though not released in the normal manga volumes.
What the Anonymous dude right before me said! My god, if anyone just blurts it out…T_T It’s much more interesting this way, reading a blog of Brotherhood from someone who has never read the manga, because then not only do you see it from a non-bias point of view but you get to chuckle behind the computer screen as they try to figure out what the hell is going on and guess things that are oh so wrong.
I have been known to guess right from time to time. ^_~
You’ve guessed some crazy shit so far…but maybe some things you have right. I’m not telling ^_~