Episode 23: Heart of Steel [Spoilers]

[Fighter Volk]

I think it's about time for us to begin discussing our hopes and anticipations for this episode. As for me, it is apparent that what Barry told Al certainly affected his outlook on life. Also, Tucker's explanation of how he would 'implant' his memories of Nina into the chimera must have had an influence on him also. I only hope that he and Ed will be able to get along somehow -- the two brothers' relationship, along with their relationship with Winry, is one of my favorite parts of the series.

Hopefully, we'll see more of Greed and the Crimson Alchemist. I kind of hope that those two people with Greed weren't Sloth and Pride (or Sloth and Wrath, or Pride and Wrath), because I definitely expected the three to look much cooler than they do. Especially if one of them is Sloth, I was hoping that Sin would look really menacing and awesome.

Whatever happens, I'm looking forward to it.

[OMchan]

Originally Posted by Fighter Volk

Hopefully, we'll see more of Greed and the Crimson Alchemist. I kind of hope that those two people with Greed weren't Sloth and Pride (or Sloth and Wrath, or Pride and Wrath), because I definitely expected the three to look much cooler than they do.

Nah, neither of them are Sloth, Pride, or Wrath. ^^;;

Baah, just in case..

Spoiler:

Pride hasn't made an appearance in the manga yet [if it will happen at all], and Sloth was shown VERY briefly in the manga.. And we've seen Wrath plenty of times.

But I'm also looking forward to Episode 23.. well, I've been looking forward to every episode after Ep01.

[Fighter Volk]

Replying to the spoiler above --

Spoiler:

Yeah, I was hoping it wasn't them. Although I was worried because as of episode 21, I hear the anime took a really different route from the manga. So I speculate that they're some of the chimera guys Greed was freeing earlier?

[bayoab]

Originally Posted by Fighter Volk

Replying to the spoiler above --

Spoiler:

Yeah, I was hoping it wasn't them. Although I was worried because as of episode 21, I hear the anime took a really different route from the manga. So I speculate that they're some of the chimera guys Greed was freeing earlier?

Spoiler:

It looks like the anime just majorly veered off temporarily. It appears 23 should follow vol 4 c1 (roughly). I included my theory why below

And I think that the people who have read the manga should stop spoiling the ep before it airs and stop doing manga spoilers without being tagged as such...

Manga (mini?) spoiler about the rational behind 21/22:

Spoiler:

It occurs to me that the scene that happened in 21 matches the cover of vol 4. I think the reason they did this with greed is because they already did the flashback arc, so they are not going to go through volume 6 which contains the flashback arc and introduces greed at the end. This is similiar to what they did with Marcoh.

[YuuOminae]

Originally Posted by bayoab

Manga (mini?) spoiler about the rational behind 21/22:

Spoiler:

It occurs to me that the scene that happened in 21 matches the cover of vol 4. I think the reason they did this with greed is because they already did the flashback arc, so they are not going to go through volume 6 which contains the flashback arc and introduces greed at the end. This is similiar to what they did with Marcoh.

Spoiler:

Probably not. Only the last chapter of the flashback arc from volumes 5-6 was covered (very, very, loosely) in the anime. I figure there'll be another flashback arc later, considering how crucial one particular scene is to the whole plotline.
You haven't finished reading volume 6 yet, so I won't spoil it.

Oh yeah.

This doesn't really warrant a separate topic, so I'll just add this here. For any of those wondering, the name of the country this whole story takes place is Amestris, which would also be the name of the wife of Xerxes.

[BigFire]

Originally Posted by YuuOminae

Spoiler:

Probably not. Only the last chapter of the flashback arc from volumes 5-6 was covered (very, very, loosely) in the anime. I figure there'll be another flashback arc later, considering how crucial one particular scene is to the whole plotline.
You haven't finished reading volume 6 yet, so I won't spoil it.

Oh yeah.

This doesn't really warrant a separate topic, so I'll just add this here. For any of those wondering, the name of the country this whole story takes place is Amestris, which would also be the name of the wife of Xerxes.

Manga Spoiler

Spoiler:

Thus far, the anime haven't exactly explained how Edward is able to transmute by just clasping his hands together. That's one big point explained in manga volume 6, along with how Edward actually bind his brother's soul to the armor. For that, we really need another flashback, since it involves their master.

There is one departure on when Edward realized how to do his brand of transmutation. In the manga, after he saw the truth (in the middle of doing their resurrection), and realized that his brother is slipping to the other side, he clasp his hands together, and selected the nearest usable object to bind his brother's soul, sacrificing his right hand in the process. In both the anime and the manga, he passed out after that act, and Al have to carry Ed to Rockbell's house to get help. In the anime, his forst act of knowing how to do his sigil-less transmutation occured in Hughes' house when he needed hot water. It could be handwave argue that in the anime, his first major post resurrection transmutation took so much out of him that he forgot how to do this for a couple of months.

One other thing of note. Edward, Al and their master all wears the symbol of Alchemy (The winged serpent on a cross). In Al's case, it's painted on his shoulder piece. Ed's symbol is painted on the back of his coat. Their master have the same symbol (albeit, much smaller) tattooed on her left chest, just below the neckline. Did the boys decided to wear this symbol to honor their master, or is there other reason?

[sarcasteak]

Manga Spoilers:

Spoiler:

For that, we really need another flashback, since it involves their master.

And appropriately so; I felt the anime directors made the right decisions to leave it off until later.


In the anime, his forst act of knowing how to do his sigil-less transmutation occured in Hughes' house when he needed hot water. It could be handwave argue that in the anime, his first major post resurrection transmutation took so much out of him that he forgot how to do this for a couple of months.

If I recall correctly from the manga...right after his recovery, Ed basically went "watch this!" and showed off the sigil-less transmutation to Al, so it seems like he understood exactly what Izumi meant. But of course, since the anime barely mentioned her so far, that wouldn't really make sense, so the anime had to throw the sigil-less specialty somewhere.

One other thing of note. Edward, Al and their master all wears the symbol of Alchemy (The winged serpent on a cross). Did the boys decided to wear this symbol to honor their master, or is there other reason?

I've always assumed it's their "Style"...you know, like "Hidden Leaf Style - Something Something"? Yah, I don't know how to express it. ^_^;;

[Fighter Volk]

Huh. I was just wondering about the following...

Manga spoilers, only as far as TW has scanlated:

Spoiler:

Volume 3 ends with Lust, Gluttony, and Envy showing up and destroying Number 48's head just as he is about to tell Ed the possible source of more info about the Philosopher's Stone. But now I hear that the first chapter in volume four will basically follow Heart of Steel? Then what happened between Ed and the Deadly Sins? (er, I don't want that answered, necessarily, just wondering if we ever see what happens with them)
.

[sarcasteak]

Originally Posted by Fighter Volk

Huh. I was just wondering about the following...

Manga spoilers, only as far as TW has scanlated:

Spoiler:

Volume 3 ends with Lust, Gluttony, and Envy showing up and destroying Number 48's head just as he is about to tell Ed the possible source of more info about the Philosopher's Stone. But now I hear that the first chapter in volume four will basically follow Heart of Steel? Then what happened between Ed and the Deadly Sins? (er, I don't want that answered, necessarily, just wondering if we ever see what happens with them)
.

Slicer Little Bro got so mad that he single-handedly gave them hell and made Lust his bitch...with just his upper torso! Phear the handicapped! = P

[bayoab]

Originally Posted by Fighter Volk

Huh. I was just wondering about the following...

Manga spoilers, only as far as TW has scanlated:

Spoiler:

Volume 3 ends with Lust, Gluttony, and Envy showing up and destroying Number 48's head just as he is about to tell Ed the possible source of more info about the Philosopher's Stone. But now I hear that the first chapter in volume four will basically follow Heart of Steel? Then what happened between Ed and the Deadly Sins? (er, I don't want that answered, necessarily, just wondering if we ever see what happens with them)
.

Vol 4 starts off right where vol 3 left off, but has its own events take place.

[Fighter Volk]

Originally Posted by sarcasteak

Slicer Little Bro got so mad that he single-handedly gave them hell and made Lust his bitch...with just his upper torso! Phear the handicapped! = P

Heh heh ^^

Thanks bayobab for your answer...

[Yebyosh]

whaEpisode 23 screenshots are up at http://wgalland.hp.infoseek.co.jp/200403b.htm

Winry's back for all ye Winry lovers!

[OMchan]

Originally Posted by Yebyosh

Episode 23 screenshots are up at http://wgalland.hp.infoseek.co.jp

Winry's back for all ye Winry lovers!

Yay!! X3

I guess they did things a little differently in the episode than in the manga. ^^;

Can't wait.

[Fighter Volk]

Hey, would you look at that? We finally get to see Hughes's daughter in action!

I'm really excited.

Speaking of the latest Toriyama's World chapter release (volume 4, chp. 13), I found it funny how

Spoiler:

Envy brought the unconscious Ed to Ross completely nonchalantly, and no one even suspected her

[sarcasteak]

Originally Posted by Fighter Volk

Speaking of the latest Toriyama's World chapter release (volume 4, chp. 13), I found it funny how

Spoiler:

Envy brought the unconscious Ed to Ross completely nonchalantly, and no one even suspected her

Yaaaaaaah especially considering Envy's outfit

[Dark_Oblivion]

Wow, i just watched a subless ep23, none-the-less it was pretty cool.

Spoiler:

It's getting real tense with Al. Wonder where he ran off to

[Rasengan]

I'm sorry this is kind of off-topic, but can someone tell me who Sloth, Wrath, Pride and the Sins are supposed to be? I have no memory of hearing those names.

*apologizes for stupidity*.

[Fighter Volk]

Eh, no problem.

In Christianity, there are 'Seven Deadly Sins' -- that is, basic sins that are not so good to commit. They are: Lust, Greed, Sloth, Gluttony, Pride, Anger, and Envy. Hence, it seems obvious that since Lust, Gluttony, Envy, and Greed have already showed up, we presume the others will also.

Anger is called Wrath in the manga, as the manga readers say. They also say he/she has already shown up in the anime, but it hasn't been revealed which of the characters Wrath is. I wrote a post of speculation about Wrath's identity somewhere around here...

Hope that helps.

[ziphra]

just saw the raw for Ep. 23. MORE WINRY! WOOHOO! <<does that count as a spoiler? if so my bad, but its Winry! who doesn't want more Winry in an episode of FMA right? ^_^

anyways, since there aren't much in the way of words that I can understand in Japanese, I can't, neither would I, spoil anything. It's a really good episode though, one of the more non-action, yet quite serious episodes in the series. These kinds of episodes give lots of good clarity anyways and thats partly why I like them, plus i rarely read the manga!

[dreamless]

About the brothers have the symbol of winged serpent on a cross, the homuculi have the symbol of winged serpent biting its tail... some connections?