I just remembered, I forgot ALL about the story of Bradley up until I watched this episode. It's been too long since I read those chapters.

The new music was very nice too.

Oh, Ed, you sure punched through some walls in this one!

I've always loved Ling's comparison between prayer and alchemy.

Definitely looking forward to next week's anime-only story.

First...this episode was GREAT!! I am so happy with how it played-out. This arch in the manga was amazing and I thought they did a great job with it in the anime. I'm loving this anime more and more each week.

HOWEVER... WTF is up with next week's episode!? NO FILLERS...we don't need FILLERS in this anime! OMG...if they'd slow the pace down they wouldn't need fillers period! That pisses me off now. I hope there is no filler arch and if there is I blame them for moving too fast. There's only a new chapter once a month...not every week.

Just one and then it's back on track again. I don't mind since I like Honoheim

I pretty much agree with Full Metal Elf. They rushed the Dublith arc in just three episodes, it would be someway funny if they had to add some fillers now! But I'm still confident that next week's episode won't be a filler... well, not totally. I hope.

There is at least one shot of Father underground in the preview so it wont be 100% filler but who knows how much is manga canon.

I've got a new thought on the preview. I don't have the ability to screen cap the image, but there is a part where there is a young woman with chestnut colored hair dancing around the fire. I was thinking perhaps the little girl is not Trisha but her sister or other relative trying to get Hoho to dance with her.

UGH! I was just thinking. She might be too old to be Trisha! It depends on how old Pinako is. Forget I said that.

I don't think the episode will be all filler. I think it will be used to reveal Hohenheim's character.

I love how everyone assumes that because something isn't from the manga it's automatically unholy non-canon. Did you ever stop to think that hey, perhaps Arakawa is overseeing this project so that it's done her way this time? Or that perhaps SHE wrote this "filler" episode? It's most likely that any additions / consolidations done to the story are done under her supervision / advice.

So far, many of the consolidations have been pretty necessary in my eyes. To me, much of the manga during the early parts felt drawn out and unnecessary. One episode certainly does NOT need to equal one issue of the manga. Especially because in some issues many panels are spent trying to communicate action; which when played out in cinematic situation, may pass in just seconds, whereas it can take several pages of illustrated panels to communicate the motions happening in that amount of time.

Quit complaining about all the little nit-picky details and enjoy the show. The new anime is awesome and has been a VERY good adaption of the original work.

This episode was so awesome it made me join this forum. (though I've been lurking here for awhile). I think the last bit will become one of the iconic moments of the entire series.

It's funny, I started watching brotherhood and immediately loved it. Then when there was no more brotherhood to watch I started to read the manga (from the beginning) and I could see why people thought brotherhood was flawed, though I still loved the episodes I'd seen. But now that I've caught up with the manga, nobody seems to be complaining about brotherhood anymore, as the pacing is finally doing the series justice. My experience with the series seems charmed so far.

As for next week's episode, I look forward to it. Hohenheim could really use some character development. Anime-original material is fine, as long as its well written, but I really hope they use some of the manga stuff too. (the Elric Family Omake would be awesome.)

I totally agree. And plus, what's so BAD about FMA "fillers" anyway? What makes them so awful and unbearable? Good grief, you guys! I've never understood why so many people seem to hate them. Sure, they aren't always canon and can be stupid and annoying when they're not done right, but I've never been that bothered by them. On the contrary, I rather like most of them. I think they're good for character development and fleshing out the details...and at the very least, they make great entertainment. (Episodes 13 and 37 from the first series, anyone?)

And personally, I'm really looking forward to this next episode. Sometimes it's nice to take a break from the constant action, sit back and enjoy simpler things...like a dance around a bonfire, drinks, stories, laughter, and people just being people. It's not like Brotherhood's gonna ZOMG GETZ RUINED!!!11 just because they're taking time for this kind of stuff. Sheesh...

Lol, now that my mini-rant is over... XD I ADORED this episode. They got everything down just perfect. The emotion, the action, the art...everything was just amazing. The best part was the "it was just like a prayer to God" line, and then the gate opens and the cinematography and music and everything gets SO EPIC...I got so many chills during that sequence. And I teared up at the Ed-and-Al-epic-brotherly-moment part. I think Brotherhood is finally beginning to match FMA 1 for me. (It only took, oh I dunno...19 FREAKIN' EPISODES TO KICK INTO GEAR...) *COUGH* But they did such a good job with the last few episodes, and it seems they've FINALLY settled into the pace (gawd I hope I don't jinx it), and I really, really hope they keep this up. At this rate, Brotherhood might even surpass FMA 1.

Gah, I think I officially have a love/hate relationship with this series right now. When it's good, it's VERY good, but when it's bad...I cringe and go to console myself by watching the old one and reading the manga. XD

EDIT: Hey! Welcome aboard, Kaleidoscope! It's awesome that the episode made you join, lol. Can't say I blame you. I was introduced to FMA pretty much the same way...only for me it was the old series. FMA 1, the manga, Brotherhood...they all have special places in my heart now, and I love them all equally in different ways. Fullmetal Alchemist is awesome no matter how you slice it, amirite?

I have a weird feeling up about the filler. The one thing that is kinda strange is that they put right in the middle of the season's climax! I wouldn't have minded if they showed it after (hey it's about Hoho! It's bound to be awesome!), but why put it there?! Why not after they met Father, after things start to calm down a bit?

Other than that, the first series did have some good filler. Maybe I'm too optimistic, but I have faith in Bones on that one.

This ep was really good if we talk about emotional impact (very stron this time) and music (which made emotional impact even stronger). About the storyline: good. Nothing new here, quite slow action today (well, we need to stop for a while after the fast-forwarded beginning). Anyway, everything is going in the right direction.

I have a question about translation in this episode. In the manga, Ed explains the part of the array with the word "God" and the two dragons as representing God being thrown to earth and the alchemist attaining godhood for themselves. But the subtitles in this episode - at least Madman's official version - translate it as "God descending to earth and becoming the perfect being". Is this an alternate translation, a mistranlation, or a change in the Japanese script?

Well, the Funimation sub said "I will strike God down to Earth and become the perfect being."

I can't believe that I am so behind on the episodes. Is it just me or did Al's body look worse in Brotherhood than in the manga? Also Bradley wasn't too bad looking when he was younger.

Please add FMA:B English dubbed episode 26 (on CN on Adult Swim) talk-back/discussions here.

FMA:B will air 12:00 AM - 12: 30 AM and 4:00 AM - 4:30 AM eastern time.

The only thing I really want to add about this dub is: Vic Mignogna took the big moment at the end and nailed it.

He did decently. He did not "nail" it. Romi Paku nailed it, blew me away. Vic just sort of didn't do as bad as I expected. I guess that's something, though.

I think he did a pretty good job, though Romi Park is still better in my opinion.

Oh my God, Envy was horrible. What the hell was with the effect they used on his voice?

EDIT: This is probably just me nitpicking, but was anyone else annoyed when Ed told Envy to "get ready to die"? I thought Ed's whole shtick was that he doesn't kill, period.

Vic did very well! Though, I do agree that Romi was better.

Why is Funi using a echo effect on Envy's voice? Ugh, I don't like it! I like how in the Japanese version, it sounds like 3 or more people are talking at once. Sounds uber creepy.

REMINDER!! THE HIATUS STARTS NEXT WEEK!! [AS] IS HAVING FMA:B GO ON HAITUS FOR SOME TIME!!! SO NO EPISODE FOR A WHILE!! THANK YOU!!

The smily face is to show I'm not angry yelling, just announcing.

It feels like Adult Swim isn't doing much justice for this show... they cut the opening and ending songs and don't advertise it much, even though the first Fullmetal Alchemist got a huge following just from being on Adult Swim.

As far as the episode goes, it was alright. It's a shame, because this is one of my favorite parts in the manga, but now that I'm seeing it animated I'm not as excited as I thought it'd be. Maybe it's the English voices, but I will always love it in the manga.

The ending with Alphonse and Ed was very powerful, though.

Last week I didn't like how Vic sounded. It came off as too grating. But this week, I thought he did a good job. Especially in the final scene. LOVED IT! (though I still prefer Romi)

I've only begun watching the dub a month or so ago. So I never heard how Truth sounded. And I was surprised, even though it was just one line, it sounded less deep than I expected. Nothing like the original sub. Not horrible....just surprising.



Though this face would be more accurate LOL.

I couldn't understand Envy at all; I had to watch it twice just to make out what he was saying. That filter is awful. Wendy's voice, maybe with a little bit of a filter or something, is pretty monster-ish already. They didn't need to add an echo to an echo.

Vic did pretty good this episode, though I do think Romi did better. And I really like Gluttony's VA; he doesn't get enough mention for the job he does xD

Still loving Bradley's and Roy's VAs :3

Overall it was pretty good, except for that stupid filter they used on Envy. Maybe when they're out of Gluttony's stomach it will sound better? There's already an echo in there added to all the voices, so maybe it will actually be understandable xP

I'm gonna go with pretty much everyone else and say Vic did a good job but Romi will always be the best He did better in that scene than I expected at least.

But I'm surprised no one has mentioned Maxey! I thought she nailed that part at the end with Al's body. Not a lot to say, don't have to scream and yell and flail around, but they're powerful lines and you've gotta give them something. Rie Kugimiya did a wonderful job in the Japanese. Maxey did great too!

I do think I liked the way in the dub Ed was all, "Al! Look at me!" or something. Envy was horrible I'm starting to like Ling's voice okay (like I can listen and not squirm and sit on my hands so I won't stop my ears). I think his VA is getting more comfortable with the role and sounds more natural. But I still worship the words that fall out of Mamoru Miyano's mouth as Ling.


And now we wait.

Yeah, Maxey Whitehead's Alphonse is the real star of the English dub, much in the way Aaron Dismuke was for the first series.

The effect they used on Envy's voice makes me worried about how they're gonna do Pride's voice in later episodes. Judging by his scene with Wrath a couple episodes ago, it seems like the dub is replacing all the multiple voice effects with an echo filter. Annoying.

Yes! The lines were simple, and almost gentle sounding, but they were so powerful they brought a tear to my eye!

This is one of my fav episodes for that reason - it's an emotional powerhouse! Vic did an awesome job showing that emotion in his voice, so even if you're not a fan it was still was a job well done. (I'm a fan though!) There's also not a lot of fans here for Envy's VA, which always surprises me because usually me and my friend are raving about her monster voice!

I thought it was pretty insane in the beginning with Edward fighting Envy and all those scary souls popping out and talking to him. Let's just say in my mindset at the time it was a pretty insane thing to see, but amazingly awesome.

This is one of my favorite episodes and I thought the dub was handled very well. I likes Ed's line "Look at at me!", it kind of makes Ed sound like he wants Al to make sure to hear his promise before he disappears again. I also noticed that this episode had a TV MA rating which is kind of a head scratcher for me. Maybe the moaning heads and Ling cutting open those heads contibuted to the rating.

I didn't hear a difference in Envy's voice. I assumed the echo was just because they were in Gluttony's stomach. Somehow I was expecting to suddenly like Envy's voice this episode. Meh.

Father's voice continues to be more exciting and mysterious than the Japanese VA. I especially enjoyed him in the lab room in Bradley's past and his line, which was something like, "Are you the one who will become my wrath?"

I think the real performance here though took place in the Gate scene, not by Vic Mignogna (I thought the "Wait for me!" echo was just weird) but by Maxey Whitehead. I felt emotion in her few lines in that scene that weren't there in the Japanese version. In episode 2, I was unsure of her doing Alphonse out of the armor but now I think she can pull it off.

This, so this. I have come to really love Whitehead's Alphonse. I sometimes forget it isn't Aaron Dismuke. It's just Alphonse to me.

I think Maxey is better than Aaron, to be honest.

It was fantastic. I'm still preferential to Aaron so its hard for me to get into Maxey still. I didn't like what they did with Envy though. I'm amazed at how different the show has become from the original anime, and its so weird seeing how its playing out.

Anyway, when's the next episode? I didn't see anything last night, same goes for DBZ Kai. Can anyone fill me in? Thanks!

@nickx Adult Swim put FMA:B on hiatus. You're probably not going to get any new episodes in the dub for a pretty decent amount of time.

Well, as for the Maxey v. Aaron debate goes, both are fantastic, but I'm sticking with Aaron as the better Al. The deciding factor may seem stupid to some of you, but, well, it was my deciding factor. When Maxey screams and does her wails every now and then as Al, it's just a little too high pitched for me (which is a polite way of saying Alphonse sounds like a total girl). But still, Maxey does a terrific Al, and like penguintruth said, I forget the Al we're now seeing isn't Aaron but Maxey every now and then since they're voice acting for Al is almost identical.

And Vic... he was alright. That "Look at me!" line was alright, but he didn't really get anything out of me, emotion-wise. :/ Envy's echo kind of made me angry. Didn't like that at all. Still loving Ling as always.

I find it funny how I used to vastly prefer Vic, but seriously, Romi is so perfect for Ed. She really brings out that arrogant, almost brutish side of his personality.

For anyone who missed this episode, it's on Adult Swim (U.S.) tonight.