Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood 1x5: "Rain of Sorrows" // Reaction and Discussion

[@worthythaneofross3925]

I think the comprehension stage of alchemy is why Scar failed to destroy Ed’s arm initially. He thought it’d be human so tried to destroy human anatomy… on a metal arm. Only when he realized that it was metal was he able to destroy it.

[@doubleasworkshop1692]

I think Ed and Al's characterization is what I love the most. They are prodigies, they are extremely hard working and talented. But they are also children and they behave like children. And it's so nice to see them be kids and act like kids in a shonen series

[@AnastasiaMarin-e2d]

And be understandable kids in regular, normal situations, not simply for the laughs. They have comedic moments when one or the other is a goof, or both, but they also have genuine childish, innocent or naive reactions only actual children would. And they also gradually, and permanently, learn from their experiences. The characterisation is chef's kiss.

[@aundreyyakar1272]

In your discussion at around 27:10 Anna said that she was a bit confused at what Roy was saying about alchemists in the scene on the stairs near the end of episode 4. I think that Roy was implying that the State Alchemists that fought in Ishval (including himself) weren't too different from Tucker in that they also treated the lives of others lightly. They were ordered to enact a genocide and slaughtered many innocents; "messing around" with peoples lives just like Ed accused Tucker of doing to Nina.

[@SpiderRiderKya]

It's Roy's gloves! They're made of a reactive material that creates a spark, then he uses alchemy (via the symbol on the gloves) to make the flames (probably using the gases in the air as fuel). So if the gloves get wet, it's like trying to strike a wet glove. State Alchemist IS the certification. It means he works for the State, the Military. As opposed to Al who is just a regular alchemist.

[@lidyarahmah6307]

I hope thy read this

[@RobinNicoagain]

Comprihension is super important element in alchemy in this series. Keep it mind as you watch the show. One good example is the attack that Scar did against Ed: First one was deflected and Scar thinks based on this that it's not normal arm. Then with that knowledge that the arm is metal, he managed to brake it. Ed is considered genious because he remembers composition of items super well is able to use alchemy super effordlessly. Kudos for noticing it. I have watched so many FMAB reactions and nobody got that detail as well as you two did!

[@ds90seph]

I like what you had to say about Ed's guilt, and I think it was apt. Ed clearly prioritizes Alphonse over himself. While beautiful and powerful it can be to his detriment. The relationship between the Elric brothers is really compelling, I love it

[@honscha]

Beautiful after episode discussion! You were the first reaction, I think, that can see from the eyes of Scar why he wasn't going against his beliefs even though he partially uses alchemy. Most others just go straight to "duh, he's just a hypocrite" when it's not always that simple. @edit: can't wait to follow you guys watching this show. By your discussions, you are exactly the type of people to get into the themes and deep history instead of shallowly watching

[@DavidGarcia-kw4sf]

Scar is a great interesting character and certainly not one-dimensional.

[@animusswtor4822]

you are right on the money with their discussions these two are currently probably the best duo reactors out there when it comes to anime, and they go into the characters' deepest complexities very early on and manage to nail almost everything completely

[@BlueJayzz-c4y]

thats why i love these two😓

[@Lightsephiroth]

A lot of reactors forget that Cornello was alredy dead, but you are very observant and I knew you would remember! Good job 😂

[@doubleasworkshop1692]

You're correct. Comprehension is unbelievably important. It gets a good bit of focus in the manga, but not in the anime. That's why they hammer the laws of alchemy into you over and over at the beginning of the first few episodes. It's a very gard magic system and very very strict rules. As such it exchanges flashy set pieces for fights with very smart and tactical fights. An equivalent exchange

[@ssjgoku276]

This is exactly why Ed at this moment is superior to many other alchemists in versatility. Due to his encounter with Truth and then passing through the Portal, Ed gained significant knowledge database to aid his comprehension skill further. I am pretty sure Ed can perform specialized alchemy like Mustang's Flame alchemy IF he gets access to the original formula.

[@SmthPositive_]

I’m so glad you haven’t watch fmab before and now get to watch it on the channel because you’re already digging so to deep into the characters and their motivations

[@honscha]

Something that they skip telling you in the show that you were discussing (not really a spoiler): Roy's gloves create a spark when he snaps his fingers and his alchemy uses the spark for the fire. If the gloves are wet they can't create sparks hence why he's useless in the rain

[@VladdViever]

Havoc briefly quips about it but it isn't as spelled out as it was in the original series.

[@TarundiMC]

So he'd lose the cool factor, but an umbrella would help!

[@VladdViever]

@@TarundiMC umbrellas can be cool!

[@zainsinclair5619]

@@TarundiMC Roy Poppins

[@rebuiltHK47]

It's a terrible day for rain.

[@noirionC]

17:49 Comprehension is also probably why alchemists are usually specialized. No other alchemist so far comprehends flame as well as Mustang does. We've seen only 1 chimera alchemist. 1 water alchemist (ep1). Armstrong does his own thing etc. And in this episode, Ed is the only one familiar w soul alchemy to fix Al.

[@damirdukic]

Regarding Mustang and the way that he makes fire: It seems that he is able to transmute the matter around him, including the air, in a way that it becomes highly flammable. After that, what he needs is something which will ignite the fire, and for that purpose he usually uses his gloves, which are made from a material that can create sparks. _(And also those gloves contain the transmutation circles that he needs to do the transmutation in the first place.)_ However, if it rains, than he cannot create such sparks with those gloves. This, of course, doesn't mean that an ignition can't be done in some other way.

[@moonwah123]

Love the analysis. Great Reaction!

[@AnastasiaMarin-e2d]

"Riza" is the Engrish pronounciation for "Liza", or "Lisa"( like the Simpsons girl). It's more like Lisa, tbcf. And, yes, Anna, you're onto something. I'm excited for you meeting teenage Winry too. After you complete the series, I hope you'll also watch and react to the 4 OAVs to this series. They're really good for world building and further characterisation. They also explain a trivial thing or two. I think you've also been notified that a number of episodes have interesting aftercredits too, try to not miss them :)

[@prashantpatade4756]

You know why I call this anime masterpiece. Because it's a masterpiece. The way they don't let go the emotions of past episode, they keep those emotions, their grief and sadness but still move forward I like it.

[@besupaaa]

So glad I found your channel. Its so nice to see the part of the video where you discuss the episodes. ❤ Thank tou for the great video and for giving this incredible masterpiece a chance.

[@SylverQrow]

State alchemist are alchemists in the military/government If they have a code name, they are a state alchemist. Known or not known/reputation or not.

[@robertolanzone]

Your reactions are always a treat 😊

[@eliottdewitt893]

So good bro, enjoy every minute, there's no other show that comes close to this journey

[@vphxn]

i always love your discussions so much. you guys notice so many things and have really interesting thoughts!!

[@haexelk]

So just to be clear. "Fullmetal" does not mean he can only craft metal. It's a metaphor for not only does he have an arm and leg that are automail but the rest of him are also as strong as metal. It's an amazing title if he doesn't have someone who is a suit of armor beside him and turns this into a meme. And other titles like "fram" normally suggest that's what their alchemy specializes in

[@mbpoblet]

It's also a pun on Ed's personality, if I'm not mistaken. In Japanese his title can also be interpreted as "the stubborn alchemist". Bradley does have a bit of a sense of humour.

[@haexelk]

​@@mbpoblet So this "Bradley has a sense of humor" thing looks like it is from the dub version of episode 2. But the Japanese version is more like "the fuhrer has given Ed a quite difficult title". So the difference is whether Bradley knowingly gave that double meaningful title or not. I never watch the manga so I don't know if the fuhrer knows Ed's long enough to know his personality and hint that. And my interpretation of that line is more like "the fuhrer accidentally given Ed an irony title". The reason that Ed becomes a state alchemist is because they think it will help them get their bodies back. But getting Ed's body back also means LOSING his metal arm and leg. But instead, when he became the state alchemist he also became the "Fullmetal". So I would say irony is about right

[@fahrenheit2101]

The lack of comments is unnerving, lol.

[@WeiChengFang-b6n]

Envy and Detective Conan are the same VA btw.

[@yakamen]

I'm sure it's not related but to borrow from the Silence of the Lambs movie - "We covet what we see" - Envy.

[@maxdon2001]

Great reaction!

[@lidyarahmah6307]

These two are too smart, im afraid thy would not survive in FMA word pass episode 10😂

[@wristcontr0l]

I think I am just now realizing how much of a Berserk fan Hiromu Arakawa is.

[@lidyarahmah6307]

I cant wait for thm watched ep 10- 17

[@ChristianGuzmanElespuru]

At some point the chapters will start to have after credits

[@BlueJayzz-c4y]

scar and roy is my fave🎉

[@gaara_of_the_desert1118]

Not sure if you've already been told, but it's pronouced Reeza.

[@BenHigginbotham]

I didn't think Scar would go after Ed as well. He was young enough not to fight in the war, where so many others did fight

[@BlueJayzz-c4y]

scar would go after every state alchemist

[@DarkRaven4649]

Have they picked up on Ed's VA being Hange's yet?

[@blueocean3024]

There is no season 1 or 2. In FMAB the first season is the last season, everything completes in a circle in one season, like alchemy.

[@rafaelbrisolara7599]

Crimson = Bloodshed

[@loftypenalty91]

While I obviously don't agree with Scar attacking Ed, Scar probably feels that if you chose to join the same military that committed all of those atrocities, then you're just as guilty as those that actually killed in the war.

[@yuichi1024]

0:05 what a cutie couple

[@joycecarine2939]

❤❤❤

[@sh3n3ng]

When you realize that they’re all alternate universe N_zi and Roy is basically an SS officer

[@GameMaster-sh7tr]

Before creation comes destruction and destruction comes from his single hand

[@joepickup7305]

With Kimblee's alchemist title, in the manga he's the Crimson Lotus alchemist but they changed it for the anime for some reason.

[@SpiderRiderKya]

It looks like it's a case of no one can agree on how to translate it. According to the FMA wiki 紅蓮 'guren' can mean 'crimson', but the kanji can also mean 'crimson lotus', and ig no translator can agree which it should be.

[@UncensoredScion]

If someone on Patreon can tell them to pay attention to this episode and the events fully, there's a callback to it later in the series that almost no one ever gets that I would love to see them catch. I know they don't check comments because spoilers but I think things on the patreon would work differently.

[@Eee-v3y]

Remembering that fudging father sucks, you know what else could make the day better if you like it or not Autosave, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure -sincerely a bothersome annoying rascal, who is not a silent commenter no more, for now