Hagane no Renkinjutsushi – Fullmetal Alchemist Ep. 59
鋼の錬金術師 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST Episode 59 review
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood – 59

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:

Roy refuses to perform the human transmutation to save Riza’s life to the disappointment of the gold tooth doctor. Instead, Roy disappears and in the confusion that follows, the doctor is taken by Jerso, who’d been hidden in the dark, high space above. Zampano, Darius, and Mei Chan (along with Xiao Mei) also enter and the Wrath candidates are defeated. Mei saves Riza’s life but soon senses something bad coming as Jerso’s bloody body is dropped from the ceiling. Pride appears as does Wrath. Wrath quickly pins Roy to the ground and Pride uses his body to form the transmutation circle for human transmutation. Using the doctor as the human to be transmuted, Wrath takes his acquired alchemy skills and causes Roy to become the fifth sacrifice. Roy and Pride are both gone leaving Wrath to face the others.

Roy finds himself at the giant Door of Truth where Truth is waiting for him before he emerges along with Pride. Roy’s sight has been taken from him as a result of the forced transmutation. Father finds irony in Izumi’s, Al’s, Ed’s, and Roy’s sacrifices considering what they wanted. He then announces that “Truth” is in fact “God,” something Ed does not want to believe.

Since it is clear that Bradley’s goal is to keep Roy’s party from reaching Father, Scar decides to open up an escape hole in the floor. The others escape through but Scar launches a surprise attack on Wrath. The fight is pretty even, leading Bradly to ask Scar what his real name is. Scar says he’s thrown that away and has no name. Bradley finds that ironic since he has forgotten his name after becoming Wrath and their fight continues.

Mei blasts her way from the ceiling into Father’s chamber to his annoyance and there is concern over Al being unconscious. At the Gate of Truth, Al finds his body and has a chance to be reunited but because his body is so emaciated, Al decides to return to where the others are to help them. His body does not stop him and is proud of his soul’s nobility but notes that this may doom the world as the fifth sacrifice has reappeared for Father.

Thoughts/Review:

I never expected Pride to use Roy as a proxy to perform the human transmutation. I would guess that Pride did absorb alchemy skills when he consumed Kimblee. Then for Pride to use his shadow body to form the transmutation circle…wow. Well, they were pressed for time.

So, Roy becomes the fifth sacrifice and Father was still thwarted since Al’s soul was at the Gate of Truth. So, if Al had reunited body and soul, does that mean he wouldn’t have qualified as a sacrifice since his sacrifice would have been nullified? That’s the impression I was left with. If true, then Father used human compassion against them to get what he wanted in the end.

Going back to Roy, I guess the homunculi had cited him as the likely fifth sacrifice long ago. Did they hope to kill two birds with one stone by having Roy’s flame alchemy abilities taken from him if he performed human transmutation? I believe that was their intent and they think they’ve done that now. However, Roy may be blind but I dare say he can still use his alchemy skills. He’d just be shooting in the dark, but he could be directed on where to target. Not very efficient but I do know someone who could do the job. ^_~

I guess Scar is going to be the one to take out Wrath and gain revenge or justice for his people, depending on how you look at it. Bradley does have the philosopher’s stone so he might be able to regenerate somewhat with it.

So, what amazing plan gets them out of the mess they are in? *lol* I remember there being some work done on countering the gianormous transmutation circle that makes up the country of Amestris so maybe that comes into play to finally thwart Father’s plans. We’ll see.

Another good episode to be sure. I’m looking forward to seeing how everything is ultimately resolved. ^_^