C&C - Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - "Doorway of Darkness" [7/31]

[macattack]

I apologize for not getting last week's talkback up in time. I was unable to use the computer until very late last Saturday night. Because I can't guarantee that won't happen again this week (chances are 50/50), I'm taking the initiative and posting this talkback a couple of hours early.

Last time on FMA: Brotherhood:

Envy forces Dr. Marcoh to cooperate with the Homunculi in exchange for his village's safety. Meanwhile, Ed, Roy, Ling, and company runs for their lives from a crazed Gluttony who is swallowing everything in sight in order to devour Mustang in revenge for Lust's demise. They manage to dodge Gluttony long enough to get Mustang out of the battle area, but Ed, Al, and Ling opt to stay behind and fight. Before they can, though, Envy shows up and calms Gluttony down, and focuses Gluttony on devouring Ling. Ed and Al turn the tables and force Envy to fight Ling while they take on Gluttony. This doesn't turn out well as Envy takes on Lan Fan's form, making Ling hesitate, and Gluttony promptly devours Ling . . . but winds up taking Ed and Envy with the prince by accident. Meanwhile, Mustang does some investigation to discover if the Fuhrer is really a Homunculus . . . and not only finds out that it is true, but the entire military is in on the conspiracy. Ed, for his part, wakes up in a dark ruin flooded in blood . . .

This is the second-to-last episode of this current run of Brotherhood, after next week the show will go on hiatus. Hope you enjoy it, a LOT is going to happen.

[RockmanDash]

...? Last I checked I told you I was going to be back for talkback duty in two weeks :/ And you decided to post it early to make sure you got it, thanks for being fair.*fun internet sarcasm!*

I broke the rule before once in the past(note I had no competition for the talkback whats so ever) so I can't say much but breaking the whole friday midnight rule is pretty low dude :/.

[macattack]

...? Last I checked I told you I was going to be back for talkback duty in two weeks :/ And you decided to post it early to make sure you got it, thanks for being fair.*fun internet sarcasm!*

I broke the rule before once in the past(note I had no competition for the talkback whats so ever) so I can't say much but breaking the whole friday midnight rule is pretty low dude :/.

I PMed you my mistaken reasoning for posting. I again apologize for jumping the gun and not paying close attention to your instructions.

I was hoping to make the episode 26 talkback my last post on TZ, but I guess that causing chaos and getting people angry at me is probably a more fitting end, knowing how many heated arguments I've had over my three years here.

[RockmanDash]

I'm not mad or anything, it's just that this goes on and on a lot with talkbacks. Usually "post talkback early syndrome" happens with last episodes more often though. And I was never mad at ya, heck I enjoy talking to ya about FMA and what not. And as for people on here, well I bet I get on their nerves all the time with my no spoiler rules and my usual speculations in manga threads ;)

I do admit I did read into your posting early a bit too much, but only because people who have done it in the past were doing it on purpose.

As for episode 26, your more than welcome to take it. Sure it's a huge favorite of mine but it's not my series and I don't own the talkbacks, I can let you grab it =). Hopefully you will change your mind and stay Mac.

[B.K.]

Only one more after this one. :(

I wonder when the next set of episodes will start. It would be nice if they could start airing them before the end of the year.

[Katsumara]

Yeah. No need for anyone to leave over this. D:

Either way, can't wait for the episode.

[Kitschensyngk]

Last time: State Alchemists melt in your mouth, not in your hand.

[Dolphin Boy]

Inside the belly episodes, hell yes

[Don_East]

So I was right, it is the belly of the beast.

SHOWTIME!

[zoombie]

It is starting right now.

[Kitschensyngk]

Aren't they wading ankle-deep in stomach acid?

The moocher and the midget are properly ID'd.

[Manga4life]

Nice blockage of the barrage of kicks by Edward while he was having a freakout moment, that was definitely sweetness. :D

[Dolphin Boy]

Okay...that was more weird than funny :sweat:

[zoombie]

Our heros, completely losing it.

[animePWNS]

So much for making their own hatch.

So that's why the panda's so small. I thought it was just for cutesy mascot effect.

[Kitschensyngk]

Panda flashback.

[InfiniteAura]

Normally, Ed would have some good ideas but I think getting out of and endless belly seems harder than it looks.

[Game Freak 4]

Isn't there ONE way Ed and Ling can get out?

[Nobodyman]

Xiaomei flashback? Hmm, interesting. That wasn't in the manga.

[Dolphin Boy]

Enough with the waterworks

[zoombie]

May and her tears, Mustangs ultimate nightmare.

[B.K.]

Scar is such a nice guy.

[Don_East]

Okay...that was more weird than funny :sweat:
You know, there are few shows that can transistion from depressing to funny without coming off as jarring. This is not one of them.

[zoombie]

I wouldn't make that offer Ed. He will eat you out of house and home.

[Bloody Marquis]

Oh look, Gold Rush allusion.

[Dolphin Boy]

Eating a leather boot! Just like in the cartoons

[animePWNS]

Finding something to eat in someone's stomach? Eww...

Well that's one advantage of having a metal foot.

[zoombie]

Too funny.

"You don't have athlete's foot?"

"My foot is made of metal you idiot."

[FFmax]

Shoe soup? Yuck.:sad:

[Kitschensyngk]

They're starving to death in a giant stomach. Wouldn't that be like starving to death in a grocery store?

No, you won't get athlete's foot. Though I hope you've had your tetanus shots.

[InfiniteAura]

It's good to know that when you are desperate, you can always eat a shoe

[Game Freak 4]

I never would expect to se a cartoon character actually eat a boot.

Doesn't Gluttony uh... poop? Can't he?

[zoombie]

A brotherly reunion sort of.

[Dolphin Boy]

Stuck in a glutton with no food... IRONY :p

[Kitschensyngk]

Maybe try giving him indigestion.

[B.K.]

Portal of Truth just sounds weird. I'm too used to it being called the Gate of Truth.

[Nobodyman]

So basically Gluttony is the portal to a dark empty void that can never be filled? Yep, that explains a lot.

Oh, and eating a boot may be gross, but at least they haven't resorted to cannibalism yet.

[Don_East]

BACK TO ACTION!

No way out? Well, considering the countless episodes after this I doubt that statement.

[Kitschensyngk]

You've still got so much to do! Get your limbs back! Restore Al's body! MARRY WINRY!!!

Huh. And last time it was a dead soldier girl whom Sloth was impersonating.

[zoombie]

Envy you jerk. First you kill Hughes, not his reverlation, you are a bad boy and going to hell.

[Bloody Marquis]

"Aww, look at the cute little girl! I could hug her, and squeeze her, and get a headshot out of her!"

[Dolphin Boy]

Oh Envy, you devilish little scamp!
You deliberately cause the genocide of an entire race

[Manga4life]

To whomever it may concern,

Scar is just plain awesome.

Respectfully yours,
Manga4life

[Nobodyman]

Damn, that Envy is one cold mo-fo. Incidentally, that was an awesome moment in the manga.

[zoombie]

Ed just blame everything on Envy, and he still doesn't know he killed Hughes.

[Kitschensyngk]

I believe this (http://www.toonzone.net/forums/showpost.php?p=2965241&postcount=17) would be the proper speech to use.

Whoa, who triggered Instrumentality all of a sudden?

[Dolphin Boy]

......I liked him as a dragon

[Don_East]

GOJIRA!

Wow, there are other characters in this besides Ed, Ling, & Envy.

[zoombie]

This scene is kind of cute in a weird way.

[Kitschensyngk]

Aww, Gluttony's made a new friend!

If they did resort to cannibalism, Ed and Ling would argue over who would be first, and Envy probably wouldn't care.

[InfiniteAura]

Watching Godzilla-Envy is quite frankly one of the most disturbing things in this series. and watching gluttony is like watching a big baby.

[Dolphin Boy]

OH NO HE DIDN'T:mad:

[FFmax]

Wow, Gluttony looks strangly cute when he isn't eating people.:)

[zoombie]

Wrath such a jerk, almost as much as Envy, picking on a little girl who's dad died like that.

OMG forshadowing.

[Kitschensyngk]

Whoa, spit on the corpse of his best friend and insult his family like that. Class act.

And now he's stealing his girlfriend!

[Don_East]

Bradley is breaking up Mustang's gang? You evil monster!

[zoombie]

Ritza has Sloth's old job. Bradley you evil man.

[animePWNS]

Bradley's really working the political villain thing now.

[Nobodyman]

Wow. Wrath dividing up Mustang's men and taking away his woman. Now that's harsh.

Also, this episode took out the one scene that made Hawkeye giving the gun to Ed even slightly relevant.

[Dolphin Boy]

"An ocean of blood"

BLOOD OCEAN

[Bloody Marquis]

Yo dawg, we heard you like laughing and spewing so we put faces on your faces so you can laugh and vomit while you laugh and vomit.

[zoombie]

Whoa, spit on the corpse of his best friend and insult his family like that. Class act.

And now he's stealing his girlfriend!


Why not just releve yourself on Hughes grave while your at it? And believe me he would strangle Hughes kid if giving the chance, he strangle his own kid in the last series.

[Katsumara]

Envy and Wrath really shine in this episode. This definitely isn't an episode for the good guys to move forward, and yeah.. Gluttony's so funny in this.

[Dolphin Boy]

Whoa, spit on the corpse of his best friend and insult his family like that. Class act.

And now he's stealing his girlfriend!

I know isn't he great?

[Game Freak 4]

Not fond of the CGI Envy.

Really, could Gluttony- you know what? forget it.

[Kouji Tamino]

So basically Gluttony is the portal to a dark empty void that can never be filled? Yep, that explains a lot.

Oh, and eating a boot may be gross, but at least they haven't resorted to cannibalism yet.

On the other hand, cannibalism yields actual nutrition. All they did was fill their stomachs with useless crap. :p

[Bloody Marquis]

On the other hand, cannibalism yields actual nutrition. All they did was fill their stomachs with useless crap. :p
Hey, don't knock the all-enriching boot.

[A.Magik]

Ah yes, Bradley's nasty insult about Hughes' family...and breaking up Roy's team. This was the first manga chapter I ever read, which was around the weekend when Anime1's episode 48 (Envy kidnaps Al, Tringham brothers return, Robo-Archer, Roy planning revenge on Bradley for Hughes' death) premiered on Cartoon Network (March 2006). Seeing one Roy heading for battle with Bradley, I was shocked to see another Roy under Bradley's thumb. It was a particularly powerful moment...

Okay, I'm sure there is going to be some comparison about the two Envys, with this episode's Envy's monster portrayal probably winning over Anime1Envy's seemingly 'impotent' portrait of being an Elric Brother. However, I can argue Anime1Envy characterization is just as disturbing in its subtlety.
Now, what can we say about Anime1Envy? He is cocky, prone to temper-tantrums, can kick arse, has major father issues, but is devoted to mother...
Doesn't this remind you of someone?
Remember his last scene in Episode 51. Going through the Gate, he takes on several transformation. Finally the Dragon/serpent, and before his presumed adult human form, and before that he takes Edward Elric! The point is made. Once upon a time, Envy was just like Edward.
Anime1Envy is Edward's doppelganger, his dark side, the path not taken. Both Edward and Envy suffered betrayal and resentment over Hohenheim's abandonment. But whereas Edward had the nurturing love of his mother and brother, Envy only had an evil biatch of a mom who nurtured his pain into a consuming hatred of monstrosity. His fate could have been Edward's. Edward's fate- even minus Homunculus trappings- could have been Envy's.
Thus the two brothers take on an interesting contrast of good and evil. Whereas Edward is for the protection of family (except for mom), Envy is for its destruction (except for mom). Having no cause of the Ishbal war in his series (that was caused by Marta and her gang), Anime1Envy's destruction is centered on family figures, be they paternal like Hohenheim (Crunch!), Hughes (Bang!), and Bradley (Pow!), or fraternal figures like Edward, Wrath, and Al (who at one point declares hatred to Envy, a sentiment Edward feared for himself). One can see Edward maybe doing these things, if his background was different. Even so, his dark similarity to Envy is still potent. This Anime1Edward- unlike his manga counterpart- is very susceptible to darkness, like when he almost transmuted the Lab 5 prisoners or when he killed his Homunculus mother. Note that Envy is present in both situations; it is as if he is Edward's 'guardian devil' representing Edward's evil with no 'guardian angel' in sight.
For some of you disappointed that Envy never crossed paths with Roy, it should be noted that this Envy is Edward's battle (besides, Bradley was a major target for Roy, considering he ordered Hughes' murder in the first place!). Such a battle represents Edward's war for his very soul! Envy inflicts the psychological injury by morphing into people who represent Edward's failings and weaknesses. Marcoh is Edward's bleeding heart heroism, doing good things without taking the consequences (his finding/rescue of Marcoh leads to his death, sorta like liberating Lior into its destruction). Hughes is Edward's failure as a son, feeling responsible for sending his 'father-figure' to his death. Sloth further adds to Edward's 'bad son' empathy- because he killed her- as well as representing his failure as an Alchemist by breaking the human transmutation taboo and creating a monster who killed many innocent people (Envy also morphs into Roy, always disapproving of Edward). All this leads to Edward to almost failing as a brother- by almost killing Envy. Once the identity is revealed however, Edward cannot kill his brother...but Envy can (Anyone who thinks Anime1Envy is a wimp should remember his killing Edward), with an Edwardian arm-sword to boot! But Edward is resurrected and the two brothers go their extremely different ways of good and evil: Envy becomes a dragon/serpent- symbol of the devil- and goes to his hell, while Edward takes on a heavenly radiance- looking Christ-like as he performs the ultimate self-sacrifice.
So, in short :p, Anime1Envy is as scary as MangaEnvy. A giant monster is scary, but looking at that monster and seeing yourself is no less disturbing.

[Light Lucario]

I thought that this was a pretty fun and interesting episode. I liked the beginning with Ed and Ling proving to each other that they weren't Envy in disguise, especially Ed's reaction to the short comments. Ed trying to contact Al through that piece of his armor was hilarious. The scenery was definitely depressing and creepy, mainly because all of the blood. May's backstory with her little panda was adorable and made me feel bad that she was separated from her. Scar wanting to help her out was kind of nice and shows that he does have a soft side, despite being a murderer.

I didn't think that they could eat boot soup, but at least it apparently gave them some strength. Though the idea that they were hungry and ate inside of another being's stomach was kind of creepy. Envy showing up and explaining that Gluttony was a failed experiment to become a Portal of Truth was interesting. I never would have guessed that they were in-between the real world and the Truth. Envy being responsible for the genocide of an entire race and being so proud of himself was just sick. I think Ed would have been full of even more anger and hatred towards Envy if he bragged about killing Hughes. As for Envy's dragon form, I did not see that coming. It was just creepy, especially with faces pretty much falling off every part of his body.

I agree that Gluttony isn't too creepy/scary when he isn't trying to eat/kill people. Al wanting to go meet Father made sense as it could lead to a way to get Ed and Ling out of Gluttony. I didn't expect Father to be in Central though. Wrath was definitely being a sick jerk like Envy was. That definitely wasn't nice of his reaction to Hughes' funeral or his grieving daughter. I have to admit that he had one clever and smart plan by dividing Mustang's group to different areas and even keeping Riza as his personal assistant. He knew Mustang's weakness since he needs those people for physical fighting and emotional support. Without them, his plans are weakened. Although I also think that Wrath's plan to separate Mustang from his team proves that the whole jumping right in with Bradly is not human and see who support me plan was not well thought out by Mustang.

Overall, it was an interesting episode. I hope that next week we'll see something nice happen with Ed, Ling and Mustang considering what happened in this episode and that Brotherhood will be on a break for awhile.

[Ultra8]

Envy-zilla is definitly nightmare fuel, though I've got to wonder where those droplets of screaming, wriggling faces go once they fall off his body.

Liked the origin of chibi-panda and Gluttony is addorable when he doesn't have some one bossing him around.
Well played move on Bradley/Wrath's part hopefully Mustang can muster some kind of countermove.:evil:
So if the military's in on it with the humonculi than who can the boys trust. For that matter I wonder why they're so interested in alchemists that have managed to see the gate.
Look's like Central is the place to be.

[Beefy]

Eh. I don't see the point of Ling needing to test Ed to see if he's Envy in disguise. Ling should have been able to tell by sensing his chi, like how he detects the other Homunculi. Unless Ling just wanted to provoke Ed.

You can't eat a shoe, silly Edward.
Not like that, no. You need to boil it, until the glue gets soft.

[adoptedBatpuppy]

I think both Ling and Ed were trying to provoke each other. I do not know why Ed and Ling did not get rid of Envy while they still have a chance. They did try though. Wrath is ruthless deviding team Roy like that, but then again Roy did not have the best strategy in town..."Hi King Bradley I know you are not human so I'm not only going to confront you about it, I might just go and tell your family"
Bradley is like: "See if I care, my family is dead anyways, well I'll kill what is left of Hughes family and then I'll kill mine....:sad:"

Inside of Gluttony's belly is too creepy, Envy's transformation into a dragon/snake was scary too, and I'm glad to say that the origin of May's panda bear made up for it by it's cuteness. I guess Scar is not such a bad guy after all, even though he murdered all those state alchemists and soldiers.
I'm curious to see confrontation of The Father upon Al's and Gluttony's arrival.
Somehow I think that this guy is Ed and Al's dad!? maybe evil twin!?
Have not read all the issues of the manga....

[A.Magik]

Wrath is ruthless deviding team Roy like that, but then again Roy did not have the best strategy in town..."Hi King Bradley I know you are not human so I'm not only going to confront you about it, I might just go and tell your family"
Bradley is like: "See if I care, my family is dead anyways, well I'll kill what is left of Hughes family and then I'll kill mine....:sad:"
If this was Anime1 continuity- taking into line Dante and Bradley's 'get rid of everyone who knows' strategy- if Roy executed this strategy to Bradley, his head would have gone flying into the air.

Thus, it was a good thing that Anime1Roy went revenge on the Fuhrer instead of doing some stupid compromise/plot...
Yeah...Good thing...:sad:

[GWOtaku]

The boot soup is icky but it makes sense. They were starving and needed something in their stomachs, anything at all. I'm more grossed out by the fact that they were ankle deep in blood.

It was just bad to worse this episode. Mustang is really in a fix now. Meanwhile, Al's taking quite a risk following Gluttony to Father.

[G1Ravage]

Yes, that's something whose importance sometimes flies under the radar. With Bradley having now split up Mustang's trusted eyes and ears, he's now a lone wolf, so to speak. Everything has now become just that much more difficult for Mustang.

[Pika Hikari KT]

This is one of my favorite episodes, subtly building Ed and Ling's friendship while the whole situation just gets more and more down the gutter.

The soldier Envy changed into turns his eyes from blue to red before shooting the poor girl. Nice detail.