THE DARKEST EPISODE?!! WTF!! | FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST BROTHERHOOD EPISODE 4 | New Anime Fan! | REACTION

[@GOTGames]

WHAT THE ABSOLUTE F*** IS THIS???????? DON'T FORGET! For more LIVE reactions and ANIME watch-alongs as well as BIG GIVEAWAYS be sure to be following me on TWITCH! www.twitch.tv/gotgames_tb 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 Also, all UNBLURRED reactions are Uploaded early to PATREON! www.patreon.com/gotgames 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

[@Kandarako]

I could not warned you enouh without spoilers

[@iyqcha1789]

Soo... Who is the worst dad, Bondrew or Tucker?

[@gaara_of_the_desert1118]

This is kind of a rite of passage for anime fans and you made it through. Look on the bright side in the manga every character that died was given a little drawing of them going to heaven, everyone but Shou Tucker who went to hell.

[@tanvu2728]

there is non-canon and canon version of full metal alchemist, but both versions have this episode, and this ep is considered one of the darkest episode in all of anime history.

[@tanvu2728]

btw, older anime are not more lighthearted, in fact because they are older... they are more UNHINGED.

[@jamesoliver9278]

"He has a daughter and a dog, so I'm sure he's alright." Famous last words

[@marios5015]

Now what if they fused?

[@Azari4779]

@@marios5015 that's what I call "two in one package" :)

[@apratimsingh1306]

​@@Azari4779 dude you are evil😂

[@ShineeSylveon]

I have a dog I have a daughter OOOOOHHHHHH! Ed....ward

[@marialeon6765]

I tought exactly the same

[@joshspades3129]

And now you are one of us, congratulations you survived arguably the evilest episode of the the series. You are now ready for the main story

[@BlueTeam-John-Fred-Linda-Kelly]

These four episodes are basically a trial run for the rest of the series.

[@hebercluff1665]

Evilest episode of all time

[@jeansnow1116]

@@hebercluff1665 I agree I've never seen more evil episode

[@w1nther930]

@@hebercluff1665 In Fmab yes. In entirety of anime..? There are a lot worse

[@hebercluff1665]

@@w1nther930 perhaps. It's all a matter of opinion, and how individuals measure evil.

[@apratimsingh1306]

fun fact :- at the end of every volume of fma manga there is an artwork depicting everyone who dies in that volume going to heaven , Shou tucker was the only one who was drawn to go to hell

[@GOTGames]

Well... That's definitely the right place for him

[@PBandJwithBacon]

REALLY?!?! I need to check that out in my books when I get home!

[@zamaskowany12]

I think i've seen the same fun fact under every single FMAB reactors comments

[@AugustoEL]

@@zamaskowany12 It is needed, the autor herself basically said, yeah this man is an asshole of the higest degree, he is the only one going straight to hell.

[@rakoonshampoo2608]

@@zamaskowany12It’s the FMA equivalent to Viggo Mortensen breaking his toe in Lord of the Rings

[@badgerdax1763]

"The way he said that was weird but he has a daughter and a dog so I'm sure he's fine" sir just hop skipped and jumped over the red flags Tucker gave the entire episode

[@elledreamz]

Kind people tend to be trusting when kids and animals are involved. The perfect defense dropper. That's why a lot of the prolific serial killers had families. The single ones usually get caught quicker because there's no disarming cover.

[@GOTGames]

😂😂😂

[@edadragneel1569]

I mean to be fair Ed and Al did the exact same thing lol

[@eloisaestrada9608]

To be fair, Colonel Mustang wasn’t backing that piece of garbage up, he was talking about himself because he also hates himself for his actions and what those actions caused to other people. He is putting himself down, something along the lines of his soul not having forgiveness for things he did in the past. 😔 So glad you’re watching this! One of the most wholesome well rounded best written stories out there !! 🙌

[@Alucia0]

All stuff that becomes clear later down the line. I love how this series really does show the emotional impact that certain things like war have on the people.that unfortunately have to experience it. Its easy to forget that soldiers are people sometimes and even vets like Mustang feel the weight of all that pain and death.

[@cjjackson2423]

Well he actually said what he meant "When it comes to interfering with people's lives" and that just true, it's what it is.

[@Sandro_de_Vega]

Fun fact. At the edn there is mistranslation. This murderer guy never said "two human souls return to you". He said "two souls". Becose he meant Nina and dog.

[@sebaxrix]

"fun"

[@nico-v113]

You sure he didn’t just mean Tucker and Nina? In most beliefs animals don’t have souls.

[@Yorunotawa]

@@nico-v113 Nah, Tucker is going straight into Satan's hands in Hell. He meant Nina and Alexander

[@KadzietWolf]

@@nico-v113 In the manga, the end panel showed Tucker in hell

[@nico-v113]

Guys that’s not actually canon lol. I’m not inclined to think that Scar was talking about a dog’s soul. Animals probably don’t have souls in FMA because if they did then: SPOILERS Father would literally be farming Philosopher Stones from cow farms or things like that. It would be dumb to even use humans.

[@djmidori]

Emotional damage is an understatement for this episode

[@perkeletto640]

even worse in the older 2003 anime :D , there you get to know Nina more episodes

[@djmidori]

@@perkeletto640 2003 version first half of the season was true to the manga, but not the 2nd half

[@TDoughter23]

Yes, which is why I always recommend watching first half of 2003 and then starting Brotherhood

[@perkeletto640]

@@djmidori Yeah i know. That's why Brotherhood kind of fast forwarded the beginning stuff to get to the "new" stuff

[@The_BlOb]

@@djmidori the original run was a better adaptation than brotherhood being faithful to the source material ≠ being a good adaptation

[@Brimmy21]

"if the dog treats me like that, i know its a good house" _the noise that came out of me_ oh Luke u sweet summer child u had no idea what was coming 😆

[@andremarques1088]

xd

[@annieks]

bombastic side eye 😭😭

[@WiseSageBum]

I started chuckling maniacally at that part

[@m3diok3r]

"ohhh shiit"

[@yfrufeyfryd2129]

I was dying inside seeing his smile through out half the episode.

[@Requinix17]

The chimera crying over her dad is the most miserable, pathetic and messed up thing lol everyone's reaction to that part is priceless

[@MrFelblood]

There's a reason that gifs of Chimera Nina are called PAIN.

[@GOTGames]

It's just awful, that's the worst part

[@ryugaknight]

Funny thing, at the end of each Manga volume the author would draw a little doodle of any character who died going to Heaven, except Tucker he was the only character to go to Hell.

[@max.s5202]

SPOILER Did the homunculi go to heaven too, or do they not count as people? Did Kimbley go to heaven?

[@TheJStocco]

@@max.s5202 Yes, Kimbley and Envy fly together to heaven.

[@mortenlambrecht7283]

@@TheJStocco wasn't the reason for that cause homunculi gain a soul when the philosephor stone is implanted?

[@abbysaito5348]

There's a reason that FMA:Brotherhood is one of the classic must watch anime. It tackles uncomfortable morals, themes, and conflicts that evokes strong emotions with everyone of these characters having their own convictions and goals.

[@marceladelpino6401]

It’s even more messed up when you realize that Nina lost her mom, her dog, her body, her future, and everything just because of her dad and at the end she looses her dad which was the only thing she had left. Literally depressing

[@12thLevelSithLord]

Not just that, but can you imagine what the process of being transmuted was like for her? I desperately hope that Tucker gave Nina and Alexander anesthesia or something to knock them out, because if they were at all cognizant of what was going on that has to be one of the most horrifying things anybody could ever experience.

[@Anime-Doom]

Yeah, this episode sticks with everybody who sees it, a true emotional gut punch on so many levels. And now you know why Shou Tucker is arguably THE most despised character in all of anime.

[@maniaman6418]

true next to him is the red head girl from shield hero

[@davguev]

@@maniaman6418 And Rachel, from Tower of God.

[@xingtheevil363]

@@davguev Ah, yes, the Evil Big Three. Scum (Shou Tucker), Bitch (Myne/Malty) and Whore (Rachel).

[@NoelJohnCarlo]

​@@davguev Aria from Akame Ga Kill

[@cas2762]

22:58 I think you got it a bit wrong. No one is backing up Tucker’s actions. Roy is condemning himself, not condoning tucker.

[@monsterhunterayame4941]

This. I was going into the comments to say this exact thing. Mustang wasn't on Tucker's side with this, he was condemning his own past actions and cautioning the Elric brothers on what their future could hold.

[@WiseSageBum]

Yeah Due to their actions during the Ishaval war, they're all war criminals, except maybe Armstrong since he defected once the massacres started, so everyone but Kimbley ate carrying a lot of guilt for following Bradley's orders

[@opaopa6272]

​@@WiseSageBum Even Armstrong is carrying a lot of guilt for not doing more to protest the militaries actions

[@WiseSageBum]

@@opaopa6272 Good point

[@codyfox2876]

It was even more brutal in the original, because Scar does what he does right after the brothers have "rescued" the chimera. They think at least they can give it some kind of life afterwards and then Scar suddenly appears and kills it practically right in front of them.

[@The_BlOb]

and they also did Shou's character much better

[@beluquiroz4931]

Exacto!!!!! Es más cruel en la versión anterior

[@The_BlOb]

also nina and alexander are more like family to ed and al since they spend much longer staying with Tucker as they prepare for their alchemy exam so it hits so much harder

[@elledreamz]

@@The_BlOb Yeah, I wish they extended it out a bit like the first series, but I get why they kind of "fast-forwarded" through it. They knew their primary viewership had already seen the first (and/or read the manga) so lingering on the alike details would've been a slight drag.

[@The_BlOb]

@@elledreamz i disagree tbh. assuming someone has seen another series previously is the worst way someone can go about making a series

[@05stapj]

Tucker and Cornello, the villains of these past 2 episodes, serve as a cautionary tale to what our heroes could become if they misstep on the path of knowledge and power that they are pursuing

[@tuxrug]

The way I understand it is specialties in alchemy (such as Mustang using flames) is you have to mentally construct what you're making at a fundamental level. You have to understand what's in the thing you're deconstructing and how to turn that chemically into the thing you're making. As such, having strong alchemy skills is as much an intellectual trait as physical.

[@daverboy]

The other reason behind specialties is that most alchemists can't transmute without circles, and since combat alchemists use their powers by having circles transcribed on their clothing or gear, they're limited in what they can use on-the-spot. Mustang could do the same tricks Ed does to create weapons, but he'd have to stop and draw out an alchemy circle in chalk first. But with the pre-written circles on his gloves, he can do fire stuff as much as he wants whenever he wants.

[@bohdanpyzh2712]

Exactly, alchemists having specialties is equivalent to scientists having specialties. There aren't "universal" scientists, because no single human can be an expert at everything.

[@DaigotsuEXE]

Did you notice the themes of the last 2 episodes? Last episode demonstrated the bad that extreme religion brings. This episode the opposite was explored. The extreme of science. This series hits in such deep themes and does it masterfully. Cant wait for you to continue the series. Its truly a masterpiece.

[@yareth_v]

This hurts like the first time, it is a brutal chapter. It's amazing how an anime can make you experience such intense feelings with his story. I send you a hug, Luke. Thank you for another chapter!!!

[@parttimesaint3165]

This is what the comments have been talking about. At the end, the bad guy originally says "two souls", not human specifically. It is widely believed to reference Nina and Alexander. I cry every single time I watch this episode.

[@lucynatas8458]

Yea anime fucked it up its meant to be 2 souls going to god heaven alex and nina he doesn't say anything about tucker bcz he's going to hell

[@DutchDread]

"He's got a daughter and a dog so I'm sure he's alright".....Yeah, this reaction is hilarious. Anyway...yeah....this one hurts. A strong contender for darkest episode in all of anime. The whole "Ed.....ward" thing actually became a meme....a really dark meme. More importantly though I'd like to point out how this episode continues the trend of FMA:B having wonderful pacing. Episode 1 gave us an intro to characters and setting, just grounding the world. Episode 2 gave us backstory and our main thematic hook. Episode 3 gave us the dangers of taking religion to an extreme. And now episode 4 gives us the opposite extreme by showing us the dangers of unrestricted science. We've asked the question, and followed the question up by showing two answers and their failures. The core thematic conflicts are now truly, properly, set-up. Also: "Do alchemists specialize in different areas?" For one, yes, learning any form of alchemy takes years of studying normally. But not only that, but they require set-up, aka, the transmutation circles. Different transmutations have different circles so normal alchemists are limited to the circles they have on their persons. This is one of the biggest things that makes Edward so strong, since he doesn't need a circle he is far more varied in the types of transmutations he can perform. We also see the return of the religious themes in the show, in order to transmute Edward has to form a circle by clapping his hands together...as if praying. Also also, there was an off-hand line in this episode about a "lieutenant Yoki" who was doing some shady dealings with a mine, and was stopped by the Elrics. This is skipped in FMA:B but was shown in FMA. Still, it's a nice little thing to know since the character shows up later and without the set-up it feels completely random. Tuckers actions were definitely worse than those of others, it is why he alone of all characters in FMA is shown to go to hell, all other characters, when they die, got a little illustration of them with a halo, except tucker, who had horns. That having been said, just because his actions were the worst does not mean it's not good for other characters to self-reflect on them. We don't know yet if Mustang did anything to warrant the comparison, but as for Ed, both played god and tried to mess with peoples souls for their own desires. Yes, wanting your mother back isn't as shallow as wanting money, and perhaps trying to mess about creating an undead abomination of a mother isn't as bad as what Tucker did to his daughter. But it's good to acknowledge both the differences AND the similarities, that's the only way to really protect yourself from truly becoming as bad as them. In a way that might be what separates characters like Roy from characters like Tucker, the acknowledgement of wrongdoings that serves to facilitate personal growth and prevent worse future wrongdoings.

[@大好きまめまめ]

Let me jump to conclusion first: FMAB is considered one of the best anime of all time for countless good reasons. However many people quit watching it after this episode and I don’t blame them. I still remember first watching it when I was a teen, I felt sick, had goosebumps through my whole body, as if a part of my soul was damaged permanently. The tragedy of Nina remains a forever nightmare for me til this day… But I really hope that you’ll keep watching this anime. Please trust me, we’ll eventually come to an end that you’ll find so worth it for all the hardships and crazy shit that’s been through. And one more thing. I don’t think Roy is trying to back up Tucker at all. What he’s trying to say is 1)state alchemist is a nasty dirty job and Edward should had realised before taking it, 2)telling Ed to stay strong against whatever dark shit that’s coming, otherwise there’s no hope for them to get back their bodies. Just my interpretation though.

[@aryblack]

Nina and Alexander are a fresh wound that never heals in all of us.

[@breck1637]

The craziest thing is that this was even darker in the ‘03 version

[@thatxavianxfeline723]

I knew you would struggle with this one. It is one of the most iconic heartbreaking scenes in anime. I appreciate your pain at this episode, and i am glad you still like the series. Keep it up, Luke. That was among the hardest episodes to watch if not the top spot. Thank you for the awesome reaction!

[@MysteriMustacheToast]

Whenever a character died, regardless of whether they were ‘good’ or ‘bad’, the manga artist would always draw them as an angel with a halo and wings going to heaven at the end of the chapter. Shou Tucker is the only character she ever depicted going straight to hell. He was that evil and irredeemable. Shou Tucker: *Showing countless red flags and behaving like a straight up creep* Luke: the dOG 🤨🧐🤔 I laughed so hard 😂😂😂 jokes aside I totally feel the reaction you had to this ep. It’s heartbreaking. If it makes you feel a little bit better, Nina was in excruciating pain in that form so it’s a mercy that she was put out of her misery.

[@librarybear3419]

Previous episode was about the evils of the religion and faith. This one was about the evils of the science and knowledge. Both are evils of the Man.

[@AristasTheMonsterHunter]

They aren't. Not by themselfs at least. Humans wouldn't be where we are without science, and without religion we're like animals. Those episodes show what happens when going too far in both senses, Tucker was without religion: no ethics, no compassion, no consciousness, and ironically, Cornello was the same. Rose was without science: no logic, no thinking, a perfect puppet to control and perform evil deeds without question. There needs to be balance, but both are required.

[@Absoluuttinen_Totuus]

@@AristasTheMonsterHunter So are you saying all atheists and atheist agnostics are animals?💀 Kind of a stupid ideology to live by...

[@areopanda1664]

Not necessarily the evil of those things but the evil that is derived from the extremes of those things

[@WhitepawWolfGaming]

I've heard that in the manga, Scar just said "two souls" have just returned to God, and he specifically wasn't referring to Tucker lol

[@kamuyking551]

I know I've been kind of negative about the beginning of FMAB in a few of my comments... or at least, supplying rigorous background details about how things were kinda different in other versions of the story... but the first thing I want to say today is that I'm glad you're enjoying this series, and that the Elric brothers are coming across as lovable, the way I always found them to be. when I found the Fullmetal Alchemist manga back in middle school, it was really Ed, Al, and their dynamic that sold me. they're both really good people, even if they have very different ways of showing it, and you can especially see that shine out of them during times of intense darkness, like what happens in this episode. I think it's the first instinct of a good person to become sad and angry when they see something horrible happen. a good person knows how wrong it is, in contrast to the one who commits the act. it's heartbreaking. also, quick note... at 5:56

[@VerumSpina]

Great summary. In a way, I understand the decision of the directors to omit this episode, at first glance it may seem like something inconsequential, or unimportant; but in FMA nothing is superfluous. When Ed says: "we are not gods, nor demons"; he was summarizing what he had experienced in the two previous chapters, firstly it was how he saw himself and secondly how people saw him. Nina's episode was a reality check for him, because he realized that everyone was wrong: He, because he was so arrogant, and the others, because they were based on prejudices. It actually goes to show how the way people treated him, he did care. That is the value of Yoki's chapter. In the end Ed comes to the simplest and most humble conclusion, they are just humans, who are not capable of even saving a little girl. However, he reaffirms that he will continue to search for the truth and recover their bodies. It seems to me a masterful move by Arakawa to place the characters at the "start", from scratch. Since from the beginning they are presented to us with skills and objectives already established. And that's what makes FMA's character development so wonderful, especially Edward, an excellent Protagonist.

[@kamuyking551]

@@VerumSpina YES exactly! the Liore chapter and the chapter at this mining town are the two sides of the double edged sword that is being a state alchemist! sometimes people will think of you as superhuman and fall into a state of hero worship... other times people will think that you're inhumane, and hate or fear you like monsters. and there are people who lean into these sides of being an alchemist and make them true... like Cornello actively seeking to lead the Liore cult, or Shou Tucker doing what he did to Nina and Alexander. and I think it's no coincidence that Ed comes to this conclusion, that they're only human, just as Scar enters the picture. he's someone who is literally here to judge alchemists for their immoral actions, and punish them for their hubris. in some ways, Ed has no answer for this. he's seen people be exactly what Scar is accusing them of being. and all the while, in the background, we keep hearing mentions of the Ishval civil war. state alchemists were used during that conflict... they're controversial figures. the setup for all of this in the manga was just so clean... it was already concise, while still hitting all of these extremely relevant parallels.

[@VerumSpina]

@@kamuyking551 That's how it is. I also just read your note about the humor in Brotherhood. I think the same. I always come across people who say that Arakawa doesn't know how to do comedy, but the truth is that it's because they've only seen the anime. Arakawa's comedy works perfectly in the manga, because the panels and frames are well placed, and in a certain way that the thread of the reading does not break or lose seriousness, (Arakawa is a comedy genius, I know because Silver Spoon is another of my favorite mangas and it's pure comedy), it's something that Brotherhood fails on some occasions, and that 03 knew how to do very well. In any case, I love Brotherhood, I love it and I think the adaptation is wonderful, however it has details in which 03 shines, especially in this first arc, where the adaptation of 03 is masterful.

[@kamuyking551]

@@VerumSpina I agree wholeheartedly. tbh, I wish it wasn't so impossible to recommend the manga for FMA when both anime exist. both anime have parts that are excellent, and elevate the material, but the manga is consistently well paced, plotted, and illustrated the whole way through. it feels like experiencing that is a better first introduction to the story, but practically nobody will get into it first nowadays.

[@VerumSpina]

@@kamuyking551 I know what you are talking about, I personally started reading the manga a few chapters after finishing FMA, because I wanted to know how it was different. And what a surprise I got, I really appreciate 03 because it introduced me to the world of FMA, and it has a particular charm that becomes memorable. I really enjoy seeing reactions from Brotherhood, it's my hobby to see how people get hooked on my favorite story. Although I would love to see someone reacting to FMA03. But without a doubt, the manga is a separate matter, there are many things to discuss about its details and the things that both versions omit and that make the story of FMA something completely wonderful.

[@absolutionveil8632]

Honestly the look in your eyes at the end of that episode made me emotional. I've seen both versions of this show and read the entire manga, and it's referenced so often that I had grown used to it. But that silence and the soul crushing look in your eyes at the end of this episode made it hurt again in a way I was not expecting.

[@EG-cm5th]

It's less a case of them "backing up what the guy did" and more a case of "feeling so bad about things they themselves have done that they're willing to make the comparison"

[@lynchie2073]

i cant watch this episode without crying, even though its been almost ten years now since i first read it in the manga. i remember i actually gasped out loud and slapped my hand over my mouth. absolutely heart breaking

[@RobinNicoagain]

Fun detail in manga is that at the end of the books the author draws dead character's spirits rising to the heavens. She never did one for Tucker who belongs in hell.

[@roxysapostle2451]

Ah... here we go again, one of the most hated anime characters of all time hits once more

[@ryanakers1372]

'One of,' pretty sure Tucker is 'the most' hated character in anime.

[@saint-twinkie6406]

@@ryanakers1372 Griffith from berserk is not far from him personally 😂😂

[@yuledevorak8244]

I'm pretty sure whenever a list of most hated characters appears, this bastard is always number one.

[@RuelAustria]

​​@@saint-twinkie6406 yea, at least Griffith became a twisted f#£! because of being tortured and broken. This guy just straight up went full psycho

[@BCPvideo]

Made in Abyss would like to have a word...

[@brimc3960]

when mustang was talking about tuckers actions and his being the same, he was refferring to what they were ordered to do in ishval in the war

[@Masterfrogg]

This is the shared trauma that all of us FMA-watchers have to endure. This episode still gets me choked up all these years later.

[@Muthiakautsar]

When you find out what Roy and other state alchemists done in Ishval war, you would understand what Roy meant by here. He's not "backing Tucker's doing", he simply was comparing HIS actions in the past and Tucker's now. Just keep watching and enjoying your journey~

[@dannietea]

I watched this episode for the first time a few weeks ago and I was NOT prepared for what happens. All I knew was that people on Tumblr would talk about how much they cry just seeing a picture of the girl and/or her dog. It made for a good reaction for my friend to laugh at

[@WiseSageBum]

This part was spoiled for me, unfortunately, but it still hits so hard...

[@fruitpunchsamuraidavid]

State Alchemist is a sort of a rank in this Military, so any alchemist can apply and will be tested (like we saw with Ed in Episode 2) and will be evaluated annually (like we heard this episode)

[@mayannoliim3249]

As soon as I saw that it was chapter 4 I knew what was going to happen, but even now I ended up crying like the first time, I remember that the author at some point apologized for the crudeness of some chapters, but what she was looking for was to show that human ambition ends up being more dangerous than any weapon, this chapter lasts 20 min but it hurts for a lifetime.

[@aryblack]

Not me also wiping tears. It's been 20 years and this story still gets me since the manga.

[@sparemobius7430]

15:40 yes everything will be explained. Nothing in this show is really wasted, it will all come together eventually, enjoy the ride and theorize all you want.

[@Zanzapanda]

Definitely one of the heavier episodes. Nina and Alexander will never be forgotten. Rooting for the bad guy isn't a bad thing, it just means you understand the world isn't black and white all the time, which is a core part of this series shown in soooo many shades of grey. There are a lot of lighthearted episodes too. :)

[@paladincomics]

Also amazing when you realize that for Ed to fix anything like a radio reciever he needs to know EVERYTHING about it, the parts that make it, what these parts are made of, etc. in order to transmute you need a deep understanding of the build and composition of what you wanna transmute, Ed is a genius, especially for his age

[@kamuyking551]

okay so... second attempt to actually talk about the contents of this episode. there's nothing too terribly egregious about this episode in terms of botched adaptation, but I think Shou Tucker's sinister side was telegraphed too far in advance. maybe that's just a personal thing, but part of the horror of this story is that Shou Tucker is supposed to seem really kind and inviting, and Nina gets really attached to Ed and Al... so it kind of feels like the brothers are getting to experience a bit of that familial connection that was robbed from them. even Ed, who is typically more of a skeptic, got really invested in this sort of sibling relationship with Nina... both he and Al are still young, and these boys clearly need something like this in their lives. but Shou Tucker can't provide them with that. he completely destroys all possibility of that. and it's sick because he draws a comparison between Ed and Al, and himself. it's horrendously unfair... Ed and Al care about people. they cared about their mom. they were young, and naive, and they loved her. what Shou Tucker is doing is the exact opposite... he gave up his wife, and then he gave up his daughter. he failed to value them... it's hard to tell if he even feels grief over what he did. and most importantly, Ed and Al made a mistake and then learned from it. for Shou Tucker, this is a repeat performance. Ed and Al are committed to research, not to gain clout or obtain a rank, but because they can't afford to make even one more mistake that huge. knowledge is power in a very tangible way here. and Shou Tucker is a weak man.

[@stokerino1905]

This episode (and/or the FMA 2003 version of it) has left such a mark on the anime community. It persists in (evil) memes and most who've watched it will wince at the thought of it to this day. The number of individual anime episodes with a similar impact has got to be a short list.

[@marialeon6765]

I think the 2003 version was more dramatic and impactful, and the music of that version 😢

[@Shirakawa2007]

And they also changed the usual ending images to show Nina and Alexander, adding a ton of salt to the open wound...

[@blakec8549]

If there is a list, at least half of it came from this show. For me, no spoilers, but towards the end when the opening song is playing in the actual episode. I went from "come on man do something" to "holy shit, he's been doing something the whole fucking time!" Someone tell the reactors that this show is just as good on a second watch, if not better

[@newbie4789]

Oh the episode THE episode I'm not even sure if I am actually comfortable watching this again even through the reaction 😭

[@chadaletta]

I love your reactions!! Welcome to most evil episode of the series! Here is you badge, you are now one of all of us. Remember that it is always to early to talk about Nina and Alexander. No matter if it's years afterwards! I hope you enjoy the ride of FMAB from here!

[@SamiiSam128]

The silence at the end spoke louder than words. I felt that when i first watched that lmao cant wait to see you react more.

[@ammod4827]

despite being such a small side character, Shou Tucker is the biggest villain in all of anime for me. i still get shivers everytime i think about this scene

[@marina-jf3op]

The silence at the end, that's it, that's the feeling, no words are enough for this chapter 😢

[@aryblack]

I thought he was going to quit for a moment.

[@marina-jf3op]

@@aryblack yeah, I got scared thinking he was going to quit the series 😫! Oh my 🙈

[@AckeeDJ]

Knowing whats to come, every time you said Shou seemed nice and trustworthy it gave me a good chuckle. Aside from the conversations being very "anime" and over the top, the characters and the way they dripfeed the worldbuilding are so good that the show more than lives up to its n1 spot all these years later. Love your reactions as always Luke!

[@apexknight9356]

Seen this episode so many times over the years … yup still hurts like the first time. I knew this episode would hit you extra hard given you are a father yourself. Honestly I don’t know of any other anime that can go from peak happy fun times to absolute horror. Its such a brilliant show. In a way this episode warns us that this anime is gonna be funny and exciting but is not afraid to dip into darkness. It’s truly one of a kind.

[@KurouHaptism]

Oh man I almost cry again, watching people react to my fave anime/series makes me feel like I myself am watching it for the first time too, it brings back all the feelings from years ago, I love this story, it has everything and pushes one to want to (or at least try to) understand the world a little more, a little better.

[@melifair1625]

This is part of why it’s so highly recommended. It defies expectations. It’s a wonderfully crafted story with great characters and world building that shows the most light and hopeful moments to the most horribly disturbing moments like this episode. No worries for hay fever/crying sniffles! This episode is a gut punch in one helluva story!

[@AJUniverse]

Roy's seeming support of Tucker at the end is more sarcastic, and a warning to Ed to be careful of the path he's chosen, than actual support.

[@andrewblissett2211]

Whenever you have a reactor who goes into episode 4 of FMAB saying things like, "He has a daughter and a dog, so I'm sure he's alright," you know you're in for some *really* good stuff.

[@undead_pr1est978]

It's a good house

[@Kamenari37]

Alchemy in the sense of the show is akin to science. Some people are generalists while others work on a specific aspect of alchemy as specialists. Edward and Alphonse are special in that they are gifted students with a high degree of understanding regarding transmutation, elements, and reactions., You have to know the makeup and structure of the thing you want to transmute because you have to put that information into the reaction before you have even begun. You also have to know how the materials will interact, how much of each element you will be using, and how they are structured. A lot of the alchemists we see in the show are touted for their combat prowess and power so it is easy to forget these people are also academics to the extent they require knowledge of the Alchemy they use It is less about "Oh, this guy has power over fire. And this one can control water." and more they have dedicated themselves to understanding and developing alchemy based on these things. With the proper knowledge and practice, anyone could perform Mustang's flame alchemy, but his dedication to it is what has made him the BEST when it comes to its use thus earning him his notoriety and prestige. Also, nobody except for Shao is making comparisons about their use of alchemy being the same as others. When Mustang speaks on it, it's more to emphasize just how thin the line between what Shao did and what he was expected to do as a weapon of the state is very thin and blurred as if one step in either direction could push a person's motivations towards that of evil and that in the end it is the choice of each individual that determines what side they ultimately wind up on. It's a statement of warning and self-reflection.

[@mrmxypltk]

For when you can't afford both A Baby Sitter and a Dog Sitter, call Shou Tucker! There are so many horrible memes about this event. So many.

[@andreigabrielion9575]

Fuck, I laughed.

[@apratimsingh1306]

damn I am going to hell for laughing on this

[@mrmxypltk]

@@apratimsingh1306 don't worry, I'm driving the bus down there. I'll save you a seat.

[@mrmxypltk]

On a more Serious note, think of Alchemy as like a complimentary branch of Science, alongside things like Chemistry, Physics, Biology, etc. As long as you have the appropriate source materials, the knowledge of how whatever you are trying to create/repair/reinforce works, and the appropriate circle, Alchemy can do almost anything nearly instantly. But you still need to have all that knowledge to make it work. Say you have a wooden broom that's broken in half, and you want to fuse it back together. You'd need the knowledge of how wood grows and works, at least in a general sense, as well as the appropriate Alchemical symbols to draw and any additional materials you might need to bind the two halves together. It's much more complicated that gluing it, or tieing it, but it's also much, much stronger. If done well, it will be the same as brand new! This amount of knowledge is why *Most* Alchemists specialize in a specific type or style of Alchemy. Ed and Al are special cases, in that they both have a large array of general knowledge to pull from, and Ed can transmute *without* a circle, allowing him to quickly transmute things as needed. And just because an Alchemist specializes in one field, doesn't mean that they don't have knowledge of a related field, or sometimes random bits and pieces of other parts they've picked up along the way.

[@OmegaS-117]

The VA For Shou Tucker is the same actor who voiced Android #17 from Dragon Ball Z

[@bobriemersma]

And this is the "light" version of the story. In FMA 2003 we are given so much more detail and buildup. For example Yoki's back story is compressed to a slight mention in passing here. Remember, we are still doing a rushed recap of events already covered in FMA prior to story divergence in the two adaptations.

[@sanashi27]

The first anime adaptation already adapted some of the story arcs of this series so they didn't revisit it in the anime and just mentioned it. Like the guy named Yoki they mentioned at the start who the Elric brother's exposed - that was an episode in FMA 2003. I just wanted to mention that cause Yoki shows up later in the story. By the way, please also watch the OVAs as well. They have side stories including an episode showing what happend in the war in Ishval.

[@jeansnow1116]

Luke "please don't have anything sinister happens" Litterally me putting my hand on my forehead and then seeing Luke doing the same 😭

[@snowbell2617]

When he said "he has a daughter and a dog so im sure he is alright " Well that was the moment we all knew it was gonna happen wasn't it

[@itszefas]

Guys he likes Al... I cant wait to see his reaction to THAT episode..

[@lukefalkreath3370]

"Please don't have anything sinister happen" Right before the worst scene

[@cry9438]

The voice acting of Nina in Japanese Dub is more heartbreaking.

[@MeruHina]

FMAB's comedy sometimes makes you forget there's war, there's death, there's sadness. Arakawa knew what she was doing.

[@zorohibiki]

tucker was an allegory on why ethics is important in science

[@0Defensor0]

Ed doesn't upgrade things, he just restores the components to their previous unbroken state. It's the early 20th century, so everything is analogue, easy for an alchemist to repair. Also, state alchemists are unique talents, each of them are specialized in different ways so replacing any of them is unlikely.

[@samjonna9488]

Just think, you only had one episode to get to know Nina and Alexander. In the original series, you get 2 or 3 full episodes with them before Shou reveals his true self. Heart-breaking doesn't cover it. And Scar... rocks your soul.

[@Roxasandaxel13]

16:56 "Please, don´t have anything sinister happen." Request denied

[@Krawbs]

2003 anime really did this better.

[@MsMoranguinho92]

I remember the 2003 version of this episode being even more heartbreaking because they made Nina's story into a flashback story arc about how Ed got his State Alchemist certification. Tucker served as Edward's sponsor during the exam period and the Elrics stayed in his house for what was probably MONTHS versus the few days in the original manga/Brotherhood. We also got a little more background for the State Alchemy exam, for at least the 2003 version. Since Mustang was the one to discover Ed, he got a lot of praise and bonuses from the higher up for finding the Elrics. Al took the exam too but had to drop out partway since part of it was a medical examination, but he and Ed both scored HIGH on the written exam, which only made Mustang look better as their recruiter. When Tucker had a meeting with his recruiter/commanding officer, Basque Grand (aka the man who was killed by Scar in the beginning of the episode), he scolded Tucker and said that the previous year's recertification made Grand look like a joke because of how crappy Tucker's research was due to nothing new being discovered. It's also hinted that he knew how Tucker made the first chimera and subtly pushed him to do it again if he wanted to keep his certification, going as far as to have the Elrics removed from the house when Ed starts investigating the first talking chimera Tucker made.

[@VerumSpina]

We know, this episode always hits strong 💔, lo he visto una infinidad de veces y siempre duele.

[@tyler60904]

One thing youll see throughout this anime is that the characters all have their reasons for doing what they are doing. It never sugarcoats it if the reasons are good or bad. Just real.

[@newbie4789]

I love how even when he got some sus vibes, the plot smoothly distracted his attention from that detail Just to crush his soul 😭

[@kurappu]

This episode has become a rite of passage in some ways for people new to anime. It gets me every time... About many characters sort of 'defending' Tuckers actions, being purposefully very vague here, things have happened before, and I'm not talking about the kind of things we saw in this episode. I love how well written this series is, easily one of my top 3, quite possibly number 1 (but its hard to actually rank one loved series over another ^^).

[@OmegaS-117]

You haven’t even seen how Dark a anime can get yet

[@elioalbertopereyra4702]

Congratulations on completing your initiation to FMAB. With this you've seen the boy's origins and both ends of spectrum, overly religious and overly scientific (Cornello / Tucker). About the alchemy specialization, its basically like this: you can actually dominate many elements, your only restriction however, and the reason, is that you need a profound knowledge of that certain element to be able to use the transmutation. For example those who specialize a lot in metal-like constructions, those who know how to manipulate the oxygen/create sparks-flames, etc. Goes more into the scientific-kind of element manipulation rather than the classic magical/elemental one, albeit theres a couple who do the later but yeah. Really loving yer reactions bud, looking forward to the next and the future ones already!

[@JoshBou]

Please watch 2003 after brotherhood, it doesn't get the love it deserves, plus if you think this is dark 2003 is basically the dark timeline, with a better soundtrack. 😅

[@FictionHubZA]

The moral of the story might be "knowledge without ethics and wisdom can turn into cruelty."

[@davidwusoftdev]

In the original FMA (2003) this hits harder because we get a full episode of the boys hanging around with Nina and Alexander. There's a lot of bonding moments and if you were watching the show as it aired, you'd have a week of "happy memories" before the sinister events happen in the next episode where it hits SO hard. Also the way Nina-Alexander's death is presented is much more shocking in the 2003 version. Great reaction!

[@Fvviff]

Best quote.... "if the dog treats me like that, its a good house."

[@robertoschirmer5530]

I wouldn't say, Roy backs up Shou Tucker. I think, he wants us to remember, that we, who think we're so much better, are able to do horrible, disgusting things, if the circumstances lead us to them, too... Every human has a dark side and the moment it shows itself, nobody would be able to recognize the human, we once were... (Fun Fact, I just read 'Fairy Tale' by Stephen King, this exact thought is a main topic throughout the whole plot, massive recommendation to read it, it's great!) This doesn't mean, that Shou Tucker's actions weren't some of the worst imaginable... It only means, that people can become monsters in bad circumstances. Whether it's creating a chimera by mixing your daughter with your dog... Or killing innocent people in a war, your government forces you to join... It's the old saying "We were ordered to... It was our job... It wasn't my decision..." Of course, you could f*ck with your government. But on the other side, it is your job to progress your work. Shou Tucker didn't see another way. It was the wrong way, without any doubt... And he definitely got, what he deserved... And I'll never stop to hate this character... But he didn't see another one...

[@OrlanoFanis]

That theory about about the dog being the mastermind had me cry of laughter.

[@user-ud7gv3br5d]

22:50 they arent backing it up, most state alchemists that have been with the state for a while have something against the state, roy is pointing that out

[@pretzelman945]

I love his gag about the dog being the mastermind behind everything

[@AnnaMno1]

So last episode showed you what happens when religion is taken too far, this episode show what happens when science is taken too far. Neither us nessecarily bad on it's own, but they are followed by people, and some people will always find ways to justify horrendus acts no matter what they believe in or follow Interesting note, apparently in the manga everyone who dies in the show is generally shown going to heaven in little sections done by the author, no matter how bad some if the things they've done are, however there is one exception, shou tucker is the only character that got shown going to hell

[@WarTalonX]

This is a pretty devastating episode. And it's so iconic there are references to it on the internet in all kinds of places.

[@Kandarako]

Now you know who is the indiscutible most hated character in all anime. (Really. He's been #1 for years)

[@MikaGinelle]

When I was younger this was my forst episode of Fullmetal Alchemist. The original one, but because it was so heartbreaking and emotional I ended up watching all of it and then all of Brotherhood later on.

[@ПётрНауменко-т4з]

And still in first anime this moment was much much better.

[@aryblack]

This is the trial by fire for all FMA fans. I think you will really enjoy the full story now that you can see how dark it can get. You're one of us now!

[@Drucifer93]

It's here.... And it's also on Patreon xD

[@Potkanka]

Fuck, I forgot the episode came so early. Shivers went over me when I realized it's THIS episode. Yeah this episode is... this is the FMAB episode that breaks you. As for Mustang, I wouldn't say he was excusing Tucker, he said "Mr Tucker's actions and our own may not be all that far apart." He was comparing it to actions of other state alchemists. But we haven't seen what actions yet.

[@newbie4789]

Oh. Mustang really isn't backing up Shou Tucker. No one... Not even the Mangaka reasons what he did. In the manga, After every chapter, there is a panel where the mangaka draws the characters who died in that chapter going to the afterlife... To heaven. The only character, THE ONLY CHARACTER who was shown to be in hell, in eternal suffering was Shou Tucker. That guy is the most hated character in all of anime and there are only very very few who even come close. As for the Mustang, He was just stating the helplessness of state Alchemists. How are they still just humans.... Absolutely destroying Edwards statement towards Rose in the last episode saying what is the difference between an alchemist and God. This show ties up loose ends . It's important... You will get a lot of loose ends but everything will get tied up into this one absolute package by the end

[@FlyGravitas]

Bros whole attitude changes from the beginning of the episode. 😂

[@abarette_]

Oh here's the big one

[@volcanking662]

Episodes with after credit scenes 1, 6, 8, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 36, 40, 42, 43, 44, 46, 48, 49 And about specialities, it is all about knowledge and circles. Each state alchemist designed/deciphered the best or a really good circle for the thing they do. And to do that, you have to understand how that process works. The ice alchemist of episode one knew how water molecules work and the "best" circle to freeze or boil it.

[@ghostdragon4164]

Welp there goes another one. Told you you werent ready

[@justotk4010]

As someone who watched the 2003 version . I still think this part hurt a lot more then because you get more time with that family. They even made tucker had a good relationship with the brothers before that … happens .