So here it is.
I let mine "load" for a while before I watched, so I can't really attest to the speed and/or any buffering problems, but they did have some note on the site about how they were addressing the problem.
And, uh, I just realized I didn't need to watch it before I linked it, but I'm sure you guys all know where to get it anyway. Ha.
This one was quite good, and stirred up a lot of old questions. I'm gonna mention them in the comments.
I let mine "load" for a while before I watched, so I can't really attest to the speed and/or any buffering problems, but they did have some note on the site about how they were addressing the problem.
And, uh, I just realized I didn't need to watch it before I linked it, but I'm sure you guys all know where to get it anyway. Ha.
This one was quite good, and stirred up a lot of old questions. I'm gonna mention them in the comments.
20 comments:
Well, looks like we are going to get the Liore story after all. Of course, I'm not sure in how much detail we will get it, but I assume they'll manage all of it in the one episode, which I think I'll appreciate.
Now, can someone answer something for me? I seem to recall that in the first series, the train part with that one guy (Bald?) with the automail took place as Ed and Al were traveling to go take the state alchemy exam. Or am I incorrect on that? In the manga, Ed was already a state alchemist. Well, doesn't really matter.
I noted a few other things where they've been jumping around. In the manga, the back story doesn't get filled in until vols. 5 and 6 (Ed takes the exam in 6, ch. 24). So, I assume this series will keep interspersing the back story with the "current" events until it all gets filled in. Pretty good way to do it, actually.
As I was flipping through the various volumes I noted that the animators are being really faithful to the manga, more so than I even thought they would have at first, given the nature of the project. There are a lot of frames and sequences that were basically exact reproductions.
One other question that came up... Bradley (or at least Father) already knew of the Elrics' human transmutation attempt, right? I'm thinking they would have known pretty much right when it happened, or pretty soon thereafter. I can't remember if that's ever been specifically addressed, but it seems like it would have at some point. What I'm getting at is, I also can't really remember to what degree Father has been shown to be up on current happenings.
Oh uh, just to clarify, I know the train part didn't take place in this episode, I just needed it to give some background to my question.
Yes, you're right - in the first anime, Ed and Al were traveling from Resembool for the first time. Mustang told Ed to catch the earlier train, and once Ed arrived at Central, Mustang alluded that Ed's work in stopping Bald is what would allow him to take the state certification exam. As you said, in the manga, Ed was already certified.
I do not believe that it has been specifically stated how much is known about the boys by the homunculi and Father and at what point. It does seem that Ed and Al have been on the "human sacrifice" list much longer than Mustang has been. When Mustang takes out Lust, Bradley explains that he did not take out Mustang right after because he believes Mustang will be an adequate human sacrifice as well and Father agrees to let Bradley keep a watch on Mustang. Father does know about the boys, but he did not know enough to know that Hohenheim was their father. So, it's unclear where they got all their info or when they got it from what I can tell.
I like that the pacing of this anime adaption is right on par with the pacing of the manga. For example, the events that transpired in this second episode took about three episodes to cover in the first adaption. Of course, Tucker's role in the first anime was moved around a little, but even so, it's still a much quicker pace, which makes me happy.
One thing that I found interesting was the reference to Xing alchemy already. Hughes called it "Xingse alkahestry" which I am assuming is "Xing Alchemy"? Anyone have some clarification on that?
I'm enjoying the faster pace also. Especially as a nod to all of us who have seen it before and read it before, a quick glimpse and the imparting of the info necessary was all that we needed. In the space of one ep we covered something like 4 or so in the old series. Not complaining, because I still love the old series, but we're moving right along, and I love the glimpses ahead. As for the Xing alchemy, it flashed by quick enough that I didn't catch the word, but I'm seeing alchemy written just as that, though others in Ghost's thread on the boards say it's called alkahestry. A lot of the drama present in the first series is also missing; we didn't get nearly as much of a sense of Ed's bitterness about Hohenheim being around, or the impact of Winry's parents being killed, and even Trisha's death was treated as a brief scene. The look in Ed's eyes when Roy burst in, dead and empty, was actually pretty powerful for me, and Hagane pointed out in the thread that after their failed human transmutation, they were moving through the grief they had bottled over their mother's death, finally realizing the impact of her being gone, that she would never come back, and moving out of the denial that led them to perform the alchemy. Ed's despair was in that realization, that what he had brought back was not his mother, and that he didn't want to lose another person he loved.
I loved Ed's exam also, that he had the nerve to charge the Fuhrer with a spear, knowing he might well be shot and killed in an instant, and the Fuhrer's nonchalance as he slices it faster than Ed can even see and pretty much leaves smirking. I wonder why Al didn't go with Ed during the exam...maybe at the time they only had money enough for one of them? We also hear Winry's question to Riza much earlier this time around, that didn't happen until way later in the other anime, did it? And Riza didn't give the answer we got last time, though if I recall she does eventually. I like how they're interspersing flashbacks with present-day events, so that we don't get so caught up in the flashbacks that we lose track of what's happening now. Next week it's off to see the false prophet who's being played. Good times all around for Ed the cynic, as Vic played him.
One thing that interested me about the preview for the next episode is the appearance of where Lior is. Now, having seen the preview, I thought back, and couldn't recall if anything in the manga pointed to Lior being in the desert, so it now being in a forest-y area is ok, I guess. And Rose being lighter in skin color and not having pink hair also works, I think.
On to the main episode, though. I liked it, though at first it did kind of feel like they were blowing through things again, but then someone elsewhere mentioned that Trisha only did show up for like all of 5 pages, I think it was? So it was just being faithful. And I absolutely loved the transmutation scene and the scene with Truth. They really nailed that aura around him too.
I was surprised by how they translated Rentanjutsu (yeah, it is Xing's form of Alchemy, Kate). I looked up Alkahestry and it was apparently created by Paracelsus (aka the real life Hohenheim) as a sort of universal solvent, but also apparently with medicinal qualities.
So I think this is mildly interesting:
As we all know, I think, "renkinjutsu" is alchemy, or at least literally, the "art of refining/smelting metal". "Ren" is the refine/smelt/etc. verb, and "Kin" is metal (or gold, depending on usage). Now then, I looked up "tan", and it means "a red mineral found in a mine/well." I also searched for "rentan" and found it defined as the "elixir of life".
As for Al and the exam, I think, but am not certain, that they never intended that he should go take it. I'll have to go back and check. I did flip past the part in the manga following the exam, and I didn't re-read in detail but it seemed that Mustang basically hung the possibility of exposing Al over Ed's head as insurance against Ed doing anything too out-of-step. Which is interesting in itself - had they understood then what they do later, it would hardly matter, right? Because now, the only thing that the "bad guys" have been able to use as a leash for Mustang, Ed and others is the possibility of harm to their loved ones.
I've been reviewing the manga for the timeline I'm putting together (more on that in a little bit), and actually, this anime adaption is being very very faithful. The order is a little changed up like Ian mentioned in the first comment, but the material is all pretty much the same. As Maenos pointed out, Trisha really is in only a handful of pages; Winry's parents' death was a very brief mention, as well. And I remember being a little disappointed that Hughes' death didn't have nearly the emotional impact when I read in the manga as it did for me when I saw it in the anime. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that the first anime really fleshed out these scenes from the original manga content and made us love these characters all the more. Now that we're seeing a second anime adaption that is following the quick pace that Arakawa has in her manga, it does feel rushed because we're used to the first anime that really took its time setting the scene. I like that this second adaption is so different. The events are basically the same, but it has an entirely different feel.
Thanks for clearing up the alchemy Maenos and Ian. I like how we're getting mention of this different form early on. If I hadn't read the manga, I would have no idea what they are talking about, but it's all there for those who know what to listen for. Also, when Ed and Al where talking about the Easter Sage in the desert that sealed up the stone at Xerxes (I think I'm remembering that right), it made me think of Hohenheim. I said to Brian, "Maybe that sage was Hohenheim? Wouldn't that be ironic if the boys are reading about their father?" And now Maenos mentions that "alkahestry" is the alchemy by the original Hohenheim with medicinal properties, which sounds like the Xing alchemy we know in the story - Mei uses it and it's a healing type of alchemy, correct? So...hm hm. Is 'alkahestry' only referring to Xing's alchemy? I also find it interesting that Ian found that the translation for the Xing alchemy can also mean "elixir of life".
So, time for a bherm, ha. I'm going to guess that Hohenheim is the sage and that he knows the Xing type of alchemy, too. Father doesn't know it, being surprised when his cancellation affect didn't affect Mei (if I recall correctly).
Let's see...sorry this is so long. There is entirely too much going on that I can not not discuss it. :D
Yeah, rereading the manga for my timeline - Al wasn't ever going to take the exam. Just Ed.
Is anyone excited to see Scar's entrance into the story? I'm not as excited for Liore, but I can't wait to see Scar...
Okay, finally, some business. I am about halfway through putting together the timeline. Then I need to edit it and make sure that it makes sense and that I didn't miss anything critical. Once I do that - hopefully within the week - I am going to make a new blog. I will link it to this current blog. I just felt it would be better to have it in a separate place to keep things kind of orderly. It's going to be kind of long and I didn't want to have to make people scroll down a ton to get to another post, etc. Hope that makes sense. I'll let you know when I've got it up and ready.
Ah...maybe that Eastern Sage is Father. I was just thinking about this over dishes (funny how doing dishes gets you thinking), and I remember now that Envy's philosopher's stone is from Xerxes. So, there goes my bherm...oh well. :)
Ah, I'm liking this idea. I really need to reread the manga now, so many details I have forgotten from the early parts. Or maybe it's just because I know the original anime so much better. Anyway, I love the way this is playing out, and I agree that the scene at the Gate with the Truth was epic. Also, thanks for the translation, Ian, I would never have taken the time to check it out. I'm lazy that way. You would think I'd be better about it, since I'm actively studying Japanese again right now.
Such a quiet bunch of us, aren't we? I am still working on my timeline. I keep thinking of all these brilliant things to do to make almost a homage to FMA, and then I realize I really am a crazy fan. At least I recognize the fact and I'm not in denial. :D
Nothing wrong with being a crazy fan. I'm contemplating watching the original again, just for the sake of seeing my favorite eps, one of which is airing tonight on [as]. I also think I've got you beat...I have the entire set of art books and profiles, all the soundtracks including the video game one, and a signed lithograph: Vic, Travis, and Caitlin. Oh, and a poster on my bedroom door. And a pocket watch. And two pillow cases. And a deck of playing cards.
Yeah...you have me beat. I am envious of the signed litho, though. That's very cool.
Got it on RightStuf, of all places, though a bit pricier than I would have liked. Got a Furuba one from there as well, btw, signed by Eric Vale, Laura Bailey, John Burgmeier, Justin Cook, and Jerry Jewell. Well worth it. And I nearly forgot to mention the calendars...at least three years' worth. I'm such a dork, and I collect everything.
So they had some signed stuff there? Interesting. May buy one if I find something I like.
Ian, I never thought to look at the words for Alchemy/Alkahestry. Feel a bit foolish I didn't think to look it up, heh.
Thinking on the episode some more, I have to say I really liked, well not liked-liked but enjoyed...though not in a good way if that makes sense, the human transmutation scene. It was a lot more graphic, obviously, and that had a nice bit of impact. While the first one was kind of hard hitting, I didn't really feel, so to speak, Ed's loss of his leg and Al. This time...yikes.
I think I agree with that as well. With the first series, you don't really find out until later (as I recall) how the transmutation part played out in full. I think for a while I actually didn't realize that Ed gave up his arm in payment for getting Al's soul back, and I think the theme of sacrifice - well, I mean, Ed's being willing to give everything up to get Al back - becomes much, much more powerful when seen in immediate context.
And that brings up another question I thought of. Ed is confident there is an answer as to the correct way to do human transmutation, but Truth tells him (in essence) that his leg was only enough payment for what he'd been shown up to that point. I just wonder how much it would cost for Ed to know everything. I think it's kind of implied that it would require all his body and soul to gain all knowledge, at which point the whole exercise would be academic, right?
Or not? Is there some nexus point at which the toll for knowledge, the ability to remain in the mortal world, and the ability to still perform alchemy would have combined to enable him to get their bodies back? I guess not, because I think one of the underlying themes is personal responsibility and the idea that you can't get something for nothing, but it's interesting to speculate.
I had similar questions about this on the boards earlier, I'm going to just copy and paste the post, since I don't remember all of what I typed.
I don't really have the patience to read through my manga while I'm watching, I have enough trouble keeping up with subtitles as it is, since I'm usually doing other things at the same time. But from what I can recall of the early volumes, what we've seen so far is all canon. I'm loving it, the earlier exposure to things like the Gate, and Ed's realization of the price he paid and the knowledge he got. I may watch it again to see if I can recognize any of the things they show him seeing as it goes through that sequence. Like last time, when it was flashes of all those images, both from his world and from ours. I know we caught glimpses of the people he knows and loves, like his mother and teacher, but I don't remember what else he saw. He also stopped just short of what he really wanted to know...I wonder how big a price he would have had to pay to get the rest of that knowledge...more of his body, or maybe the body of another, like Al? I would assume that Al's consumption by the Gate was the price paid for the atrocity that came of them trying to recreate their mother, and this was before Ed paid another toll to get at least his brother's soul back...what more could they offer to have made her complete and herself? All of Ed's body as well? Or is a human really beyond price? What about say, an animal? Would it have been different if they'd tried to resurrect say, a pet dog that had died? Or a plant? Does sentience determine value? Or the existence of a soul?
Ep. 3 coming up tomorrow... will be interested to see how they handle the Liore story. There is a decent amount to it, but I think it can probably be condensed pretty easily.
Yeah, that's right. I like that it comes out on Thursdays. I feel like the wait is quicker that way. I almost forgot a new ep was today - thanks for the reminder!
Any takers on who wants to do the post? I would whip one up right now, but I am really not doing too well (trip to ER earlier this week, bad nights of sleep, yadda yadda yadda).
I'll do it... I am not sure when I will have time to watch it this weekend (hopefully Friday night) but I'll put the post out there.
I know I'm a little late to the game here, but I'm kinda still catching up. But yeah, I'm liking the quick pace of the story so far too, as well as how all this familiar territory still feels like I'm watching it for the first time again.
Anyway, I'm noticing that the colors in this series seem to be somewhat different from the original. It's kind of a minor thing, but don't young Al's eyes and hair look more like Ed's color now instead of the pale brown and gray he had in the first series? It was also kind of cool to see the manga's take on the gate fully animated. I'll catch up pretty soon and start posting thoughts in the entries for other episodes as well.
Also, one final random thought. Why does Ed hate the taste of milk so much anyway? It's not like it's particularly strong tasting, or the kind of thing a kid just stereotypically wouldn't like.
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