Full Metal Alchemist
Publisher
Geneon/MVM
Director
Seiji Mizushima
Production
BONES, Dentsu, MBS
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
52 episodes
Year
2003
Full Metal Alchemist Volume 3: Equivalent Exchange
By otaku_kei
11th Jan 06  The law of equivalent exchange: to create anything something of equal weight or importance must be sacrificed. A law that our two Elric brothers take with the utmost seriousness, a law that they try to live their lives by as it governs their actions and morality. But it seems that there are others as devoted to alchemy but who do not share the Elric’s respect for such an important law. But with Ed now a State Alchemist They are no longer free to journey where they will the direction of the Elric’s future now dictated by where their orders send them. And yet always there is the quest for the true Philosopher’s Stone at the heart of both of the Elric’s. So now Ed and Al set off to build the legend that will become Fullmetal Alchemist! The Elric’s find themselves under the command of Colonel Mustang and are sent into the East to lay the groundwork for a command move further in that direction. Sent to a small coal-mining community the two brothers come face to face with the cruel brutality and corruption that afflicts police states. Demonstrating that they are not cut from the same selfish cloth as other State officials, and the set out to bring an end to the exploitation of the townsfolk. It may take fraud and deception but the Elric’s manage to overcome these injustices - an act that makes Ed and Al question the legitimacy of the State and their loyalty to it. The following episode plays to the comedic element of the show as the Elric’s try to help a local police force track down a cat burglar who uses alchemy in perpetrating her crimes. This is of course complicated by Al’s crush on this pretty thief, and Ed’s indulgence of his younger sibling’s feelings. These episodes serve only as a precursor to the two-part story ‘The Other Brother Elric’s’. This duo of episodes that round off this volume follows the investigation by Ed and Al of a town that is already inhabited by a pair of fraudsters pretending to be Edward and Alphonse Elric! Ridiculed by the locals, Ed and Al set about trying to expose the truth about these frauds as well as solve the mystery of a local sickness that is plaguing the town. But there is more than meets the eye to this sickness, and it may just be useful in the Elric's quest for the Philosopher's Stone. These episodes work as an insight into another possible route that Ed and Al could have taken in their quest to set right the tragedy that they caused. The creators have taken a look at what Ed and Al could have become if they gave up caring for others and became obsessed by the quest that they have set out before them. The fake Elrics have become so consumed by their own desire to see the completion of their father's life work that they care nothing for poisoning a town and hurting others. It is not too hard to see how the real Elric's could have been similarly twisted if they gave up on caring for others, or if service to the State embitters the young pair. The volume brings to a close the 'introductory' phase of the series. From this point forwards we will have been introduced to the main characters and understand their motivations and ambitions. The Elrics have also faced their first trials that will set the tone for later confrontations, trials that have proved them competent alchemists. Yet there is still some way to go before they acquire the fabled Philosopher's Stone, and ambition that constantly hangs over the Elric's in every endeavour. This show remains as entertaining as previous volumes, and sets up the coming troubles very well. Having now clearly set out where the Elric's morality lies, this will be an issue that I'm sure will come to have greater relevance when they are sent on missions for the brutal police state the Elric's are allied with. The success of this show may appear as if it is based upon the flashy action, but this volume demonstrates yet again that it is heart that is the major drawing point of this show. The strong filial bond between Ed and Al provides the emotional core of this show, without this relationship the show would not be as engaging as it is. So with an end to the introductory phase of the show it is time to get back to the main plot and track down the Philosopher's Stone. But for Ed and Al nothing is going to be that easy!
R2 DVD Notes
Features: English Language 5.1; Japanese Language 2.0; English Language Subtitles; Textless Opening & Closing; Art Galleries
Release information: OUT NOW
Notes: Another quality release from MVM, keeping up the standards set by the previous volumes. Whilst the a/v quality is as good as it can be from a show this recent, it is once again the lacklustre extras that mar this release. The standard inclusion of art galleries and textless opening and closing sequences are all that we get with this release. But even these less than stellar extras cannot bring down the overall quality of this show.
-- otaku_kei 11th Jan 06
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