I've been interested in Fullmetal Alchemist since perusing the manga at my library years ago, but never got around to checking any of it out. Recently, having some extra time and seeing that quite a bit of the anime is on Netflix at the moment, I decided to rectify that.
Not sure where to start, I watched the first 3 episodes of the original anime series (2003 I think). Pretty cool stuff, I liked it, but I decided to do some research to determine the difference between the two different anime series. Both the first anime series and the second (subtitled "Brotherhood" to differentiate it) seem universally loved, but apparently the first series starts to severely diverge from the manga storyline about half-way through, where Brotherhood is a direct adaptation of the manga. That, along with the fact that Brotherhood is in HD, made me decide to switch to Brotherhood, and I haven't been able to stop watching since.
Fullmetal Alchemist is the story of Edward and Alphonse Elric, brothers who are searching for a Philosopher's Stone to restore their bodies after a disastrous failed attempt to bring their mother back to life through alchemy. Alchemy is the science of understanding the structure of Matter, breaking it down, then reconstructing it as something else. Like making gold from lead. But alchemy follows the Law of Equivalent Exchange. To create, something of equal value must be lost. They researched Human Transmutation, a forbidden art in which one attempts to create or modify a human being. However, this attempt failed, resulting in the loss of Edward's left leg and Alphonse's entire body. In a desperate effort to save his brother, Edward sacrificed his right arm to affix Alphonse's soul to a suit of armor. I believe at this time, Ed is 11, and Al is 10 years old.
Afterwards, Edward's left leg and right arm are replaced with automail, a type of advanced prosthetic limb built for him by his close family friends Winry Rockbell (same age as Ed) and her grandmother Pinako. The boys spend a year recovering, planning, & sparring to stay in shape and get used to their new body and appendages, respectively. Ed decides to become a State Alchemist (alchemists employed by the State Military) so that he can use their extensive resources to help him and his brother search for the Stone. Edward becomes quite famous as the youngest State Alchemist in history by achieving his certification at age twelve. When an alchemist earns his or her State certification, they also are given a code name. Edward is given the name "Fullmetal" because of his automail, his personality, and his skill manipulating metals, but this does lead to some very humorous moments when people mistake Alphonse for the Fullmetal Alchemist, especially since Edward is hypersensitive about his small stature.
I'm glad I did watch the first 3 episodes of the first series because it gave me a bit more background on the boys, but Brotherhood is amazing. It is constantly laugh out loud funny, but it also deals with some pretty mature themes, and does it in an intelligent manner. Just in the 1st season alone are some of the most gut-wrenching television episodes I've ever seen. Ep.4 "An Alchemist's Anguish" literally made me sick to my stomach, and by the end of Ep.10 "Separate Destinations", I was crying like a baby. It's not all sad and depressing stuff of course, there are plenty of kick ass moments. From season 2: Barry the Chopper (hilariously awesome) busting Ross out of prison. Barry, Falman, Havoc, & Hawkeye fighting Gluttony and Barry's human body (must see TV). Mustang puttin the mutha-fuckin smack down on Lust, and at the end of season 2 when Ed kicks open the shut portal door to yell to Al's body: "I'll come back, wait here Al, I will come back for you!". Hell yeah! Of course what good anime doesn't have some romance, and I haven't rooted for a couple more than Winry and Edward since Lisa Hayes and Rick Hunter.
All of the characters are multi-dimensional and layered, and when you think you have someone figured out you're constantly surprised by their growth. Most have several motives, and even minor characters are shown to have considerable depth, which goes for the bad guys also. Good guys, bad guys, and those in between, almost everyone has some shades of gray to them. It's really impressive how many cool characters are in this show, and the show itself is never predictable. I've been shocked several times now with how some storylines have developed. I did also want to mention some of the opening & closing theme songs. The closing theme song for season 1 has a watercolor sequence and reminds you that the Elric's are still just kids, but kids dealing with some pretty deep stuff, and is my favorite song. The opening & closing sequences for season 2 are more mature, which corresponds with the darkening story, and are both very good with the closing having a better song.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a very funny, touching, emotional, kick-ass, intelligent show that I can't recommend highly enough.
