Believe in me as I believe in you

[taotrooper]

Late FMA reaction post is late. I've had the chapter opened in a tag for days, but TMI happens and I'm like "fuck it, I have cramps".

→ I liked that the Briggs soldiers were all "please, sir, rest already", and then Olivier is finally trusting Alex! About time for that.

→ Poor Sieg, it sucks that he has to be near the battlefield where his wife is in mortal peril without being able to help. He's badass for a normal guy, yes, but he knows this is out of his league.

→ Buccaneer and Fu :(

→ You Elrics and your habit of protecting people with the similar pose.

→ I was really scared when Al's armor collapsed at the beginning, because I was almost sure the crack in the seal had broken the contract and I was all NOWTFNO.

→ But seriously here, how come there are people who didn't realize that if Al hadn't transmuted himself, he would've "died" for real when the crack finished to fuck him up? No, guys, I thought we had established that he's nothing like first!anime!Al. He always acts after thinking things well. You can't count this as one of those Selfless Sacrifices For My Beloved Ones That Shall Fill Their Lives With Emo Angst. Because 1) there was nothing else he could do, and I think it was really clever to move fast to his body and take advantage to help Ed at the same time, and 2) he's confident Ed or someone else will take him out, and he's aware of all the deus ex machina roaming around for their disposal.

→ The point above? The brothers are not dumb and won't be all sacrifice-trigger-happy. Plus they're very stubborn and intelligent. They'll figure it out somehow. I flailed like a flaily thing and yelled, but I'm 99% sure they'll have a good ending with as least angst as possible in store.

→ That said, I do suspect that Ed didn't get to see Al's armor's condition from so far away, and this is why he flipped out. From that POV, of course it could look like mere sacrificing for his arm. But Ed, it's Al, he's cleverer and less suicidal than you ever were lol. Okay, back to chapter now that I've discussed Al.

→ Even blind, you're still this canon's Colonel Badass, Roy. That he's still this hardcore even though he hasn't mastered the clappy alchemy truly speaks by itself.

→ The exchange between Ling and Greedling. LOVE ♥ I adore it when Ling can pwn Greed in psychology by noticing the most obvious yet oblivious parts about the latter's behavior. As saccharine and cliché as the REAL way to fill Greed's void is, as WOOBIE as his true wish makes him seem, I don't give a fuck, I still "d'aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw"'d. I still do. D'awwwww. Do make lots of awesome friends, Greed!

→ And also? Apart from the emotional meltdowns whenever Bradley killed one of Greed's folks, I think Ling speaks with personal experience. He does project a lot on Greed, and I don't only mean the ambitions. See how Greed specifically says he'll be the king of the world (hopefully not involving James Cameron). Ling's philosophy is that you can't be king without the people. It's compatible, I think. And as a prince with his life in jeopardy since ever, I do imagine that Ling was also lonely before getting to Amestris (yes, I do think he thinks of Lan Fan and Fu as friends, but they see him as their master and they seem so traditional about stuff; so, he still needed mutual friends his age).

→ My God, I want to hug Mei SO MUCH. She's so strong.

→ Sorry, guys, but I felt more emotional when Al recovered his body than when Ed got the arm. Didn't cry, but still a knot in my throat.

→ HOLY CRAP, ED. YOUR BERSECK MODE.

Comments

[laurus-nobilis.livejournal.com]

But seriously here, how come there are people who didn't realize that if Al hadn't transmuted himself, he would've "died" for real when the crack finished to fuck him up?
I thought that was made pretty obvious with the crack going THIS CLOSE to the seal. :o For the readers, at least, if not for the other characters around.

See how Greed specifically says he'll be the king of the world (hopefully not involving James Cameron). Ling's philosophy is that you can't be king without the people. It's compatible, I think.
Ooooh, I like this. It makes sense. =D

AND A BIG YES TO EVERYTHING ELSE.

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

I haven't read many comments because bleagh, this fandom is a bit like Youtube. But a friend made a post about this, and WTF it was clear he was going to die anyway and this wasn't emosacrifice a la first anime. So I guess very few people have low comprehension skills as usual.

[laurus-nobilis.livejournal.com]

I'm only reading my flist for mental health reasons. |D

But yeah, one thing I've liked about this series since the beginning is that there aren't pointless emosacrifices a la first anime.

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

I read them when I go through spoilers, but I shortly regret it when suddenly it's aaaaaall about the presence/lack of x or y. Bleagh, youtube comments.

I could use with so less emosacrifices in my fandoms, sob. *stares at the glaring flaw in Tales of Abyss, where there's even emobanter in stereo between clone and original over whom of them should emosacrifice. and meanwhile, the rest of the cast wants to punch them in the face*

[laurus-nobilis.livejournal.com]

I sometimes feel like we're the only ones who get annoyed at emosacrifices, really. DX (And I emphasize the "emo". I can't honestly say all sacrifices bother me when I'm an Optimus fan. :P) But seriously, it's so much better when it's something meaningful instead of "I WILL SACRIFICE MYSELF BECAUSE THE WRITER(S) NEEDED TO INSERT ANGST HERE".

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

*tries not to make an "Optimus Prime died for your sins" kind of joke*

I think it depends of the circumstances to me. If it's important to the plot or unexpected protection because shit happens (and most people would push a relative or friend aside) or they use it for strong character development, I'm fine with it. But when they go on and on and ON with foreshadowing of how Fulanito would OMG GIVE THEIR LIFE FOR MENGANITO or OMG ATONE MY SINS BY MAKING THINGS RIGHT without no one calling on their shit until it happens, or even glorifies it as a good rolemodel? YES, I DO FEEL ANNOYED.

Because well, I know there are well done ways of killing off a character for angst's sake without making it look emotarded. For instance, Scar's brother and the arm thing was angsty and done to make Scar what he was until recently and what he is now, it was still a emosacrifice and one that brought a lot of bad crap, but I don't have issues with it (except that he was so awesome and I want more of him, baww)

[laurus-nobilis.livejournal.com]

... well, depending on the version, Optimus Prime dies for pretty much ANYTHING. |D

But when they go on and on and ON with foreshadowing of how Fulanito would OMG GIVE THEIR LIFE FOR MENGANITO or OMG ATONE MY SINS BY MAKING THINGS RIGHT without no one calling on their shit until it happens, or even glorifies it as a good rolemodel? YES, I DO FEEL ANNOYED.
Thiiiiis. Though I wouldn't call the whole thing with Scar's brother an emosacrifice. Like you said, it brought character development. It wasn't angst that didn't change anything - which was my impression with, well, most of the first anime.

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

It's not one in the intentional-by-character sense, since it's one of the examples I gave above, but in the plot device to justify a character's angst and issues sense.

[kirarakim.livejournal.com]

And then Olivier is finally trusting Alex! About time for that

Didn't mention this in my posts but I really liked this moment too and Sig telling Alex to protect Izumi (aww I love their friendship).

And I have always adored Mei but this chapter pushed the love up tenfold.

I am not sure what affected me more the arm or the body...well the whole thing I was like my god look how far we have come....And I am sure there will be an overall happy ending because these characters deserve it.

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

If after this Alex and Sieg don't at least become penpals, I'll feel ripoffed. Muscle bros! Misunderstood and scaring the shit out of children!

I think it was really unexpected. You'd think the body and arm would come on the last chapter, not the one before last |D Yeah, I also believe in happy-ish ending at least for Ed and Al.

[ningicoco.livejournal.com]

It almost causes me physical pain when some people compare Al's actions in this chapter as being like his in the 1st anime. THEY ARE DIFFERENT ACTIONS AND INTENTIONS AND SCENARIOS PEOPLE. GET THAT INTO YOUR HEADS. One of my favorite themes about FMA is it's emphasis on how self-sacrifice merely for the purpose of self-sacrifice is wrong. You are supposed to fight, crawl, and cling to life: survival should always be your first choice. Yet the series does this without making everyone self-centered and advocating the usage of others as stepping stone (instead it does the exact opposite): it says if you have cause worthy of sacrificing your lives for that will have not been in vain then it's valid self-sacrifice, otherwise you better try your damn best to live. Also your self-sacrifice should not be a form of giving up. FMA says that one should never give up hope, and it stays true to these themes throughout the series.

Wow. Sorry for the long ramble.

ROY AND RIZA. HARDCORE FOR LIFE.

Anyways OMG MEI YOU ARE BADASS AND SO STRONG. ♥

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL YOUR STRENGTH AND BELIEF IN YOUR BROTHER <3

And Greedling broke my heart this chapter AS WELL ;-;

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

I couldn't have put it better, yes. Word to the huge paragraph! I LOVE the fact they're so pro-life and anti-sacrifice. And while they struggle to live, they also do their best not to do it at other people's expenses. Even when there are deaths, because you can't avoid that in FMA, I think the characters feel like they must go on to honor the fallen more than wallow in despair because they couldn't stop it. They are all so strong and refreshing for doing that.

Don't be, I like tl;dr :DDDDb

[hamsterfactor.livejournal.com]

Well, I somehow came across an ~*awesome theory*~ in which, since the soldiers have been instructed to shoot "at the one who looks like the Fullmetal Alchemist, but has no automail" next chapter Ed will be shot because he has no automail on his arm now and he will die a stupid pointless emo death lol. This, just. I guess the first anime is to blame for this too, since over there soldiers where mindless rapists?

Ha. So yeah, the fact that fandom CAN'T READ ONCE AGAIN does not surprise me in the slightest.

and he's aware of all the deus ex machina roaming around for their disposal.

It's not deux ex machina if it's been planted in the story beforehand :) It's not even a case of Chekhov's Gun since Philosopher's Stones have been in the story for so long and we know what they do. I think it's a matter of who, when and how in this case.

And I believe I got more emotional over Ed getting his arm back, because well, he haven't seen it before. I'm sure I'll get PLENTY emotional when Al comes back with his whole body, but until then despite the fact that he technically has his body back already, he's still not out of the woods. I honestly can't wait for everyone's reaction to Al's recovery ♥ EVERYONE LOVES AL!

OH MEI ♥ OH GREED ♥

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

It sort of did cross my mind when I read the scanlation, but FFS. a) It was when they got to the battlefield and didn't know (I guess saying "the long-haired blond kid" was ambiguous since that description also fits nu!bishie!Father, but they all knew Fullmetal has an automail). b) THE BRIGGS SOLDIERS ARE NOT STUPID. c) Ed has already talked to them when they rescued him, Izumi and Hohenheim, and they've been shooting at Father for a little while now and know it's the "long-haired blond kid who's wearing a white skirt/toga and has the crazy eye and is fucking creepy". Sooooooo.

I think the arm thing didn't hit me that much because it was so unexpected. It was something I was counting for endchapter.

[zauberer-sirin.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's Mister Colonel Badass for you XD

Buccaneer and Fu :(

I feel like the only one who still can't get over Fu's death. I'm still in mourning. I loved him so fucking much.

As saccharine and cliché as the REAL way to fill Greed's void is, as WOOBIE as his true wish makes him seem, I don't give a fuck, I still "d'aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw"'d.

And yet I think Arakawa manages to make that moment not feel clichéd or sugary but truly touching. I don't know. It's the part of the chapter that got me there, you know. I was sobbing like an idiot.

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

Not alone about Fu! When I saw his arm in the fistbump splash cover and it wasn't next to Ling and Lan Fan, I pouted.

Yeah, it wasn't cheesy at all. It sounds lame and cliché when you say it aloud, but in the pages it was fucking great.

[ayasugi-san.livejournal.com]

What did Al do in the first anime?

Though I thought it was clear that Al wasn't doing a stupid!sacrifice, he was picking the option that would give everyone the best chance of survival. And he had to convince someone else to help him, and I don't think Mei would've cooperated if he didn't convince her that it wasn't a stupid!sacrifice.

I said it in Laurus's post, too, but oh, Greed, please live. If he does survive and stays in Ling's body, and they went back to Xing, they could probably be proclaimed heir by popular opinion, and I'm sure Greed would love that.

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

Uuuuuuh, I don't remember anymore, but rereading on Wikipedia I think it was: 1) the baddies doing something weird, Ed goes through the gate, ends up in a London World War I AU. 2) Ed is killed by a zeppelin, returns. 3) Ed is almost killed off by baddies. 4) Al emosacrifices himself to save Ed's life, because his body is a philosopher's stone (don't ask) and shit. Ed wakes up with all his limbs as a freebie. 5) Ed emosacrifices himself to get Al back. Al wakes up with amnesia and his body as freebie. Ed is back to WWI AU land, which is upgraded to Nazi Germany WWII AU in the movie.

I honestly want Greedling to stick around. With Greed's badassery and recklessness, and Ling's noble ideals and cunning, they balance each other quite well and could be the coolest emperor evah. As long as they give more power to the Chan clan, considering how Mei deserves it like whoa.

[ayasugi-san.livejournal.com]

...and approximately how much screentime did this occur in? Though, compressed or not, all the deaths-sacrifice-revival thing would get a bit Narmy before too long.

Betcha if he became Emperor, Greedling would open up diplomatic and trade relations with Amestris and surrounding countries. Mei would be his official representative and highly favored, which would raise the Chan clan's standing greatly.

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

About three or four episodes, with more stuff than this subplot going on during that. Oh, and to make it more emo, the BGM in the last episode was Chopin (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu4ui1rNr9o). SRSLY.

Ooh, I like that plan! And she could teach rentanjutsu around.

[teniente-ross.livejournal.com]

I agree with you in every point you made. I also thought about Al in a positive way, since as you said, it's obvious they'll get a chance to bring back Al. People should trust the Elrics, they haven proved to be quite intelligent!

And, I also wanted to give Mei a BIG BIG HUG. I still don't get why some people don't like her and think of her just as the cutie and pointless character. She's the only character capable of using rentanjutshu in the whole series and that has saved their asses several times, if I remember correctly. And 107 just couldn't have worked if Mei had not been there.

BTW, I do like your insight in Greed and Ling's characters and I totally agree with you. I think that shows Arakawa puts a lot of thought and effort in her characters and their development.

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

And even if they weren't, there are more than enough equally and more intelligent folks in the cast!

I reckon it's hard for some people to give credit to a Kung Fu Loli Princess With Mascot, just by the description she sounds really weird. Hell, a lot of characters would be fucking dead for 107 if Mei hadn't been around to help out or cure them. But fuck those people, I love her and Lan Fan.

The more time passes, the more sense it makes that Ling got Greed'd.