Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood 21

Scar returns to Central, and the Elrics battle Scar in an effort to draw out the homunculi.

Summary:
In a dark stairwell, Envy and Gluttony argue to Wrath that they should go kill Mustang to avenge Lust, but Wrath states that Mustang is still useful and he has Father's permission to handle the situation.

Don't blame your shortness on Al. Drink milk!

The Elrics and Fuery pay a visit to Mustang and Havoc, who are recovering in hospital after the battle. During the incident at Lab 3 Riza had counted to steps to the giant stone doors but didn't remember the direction, so she took a map and drew a circle centered at the lab. After examining the map Mustang and the brothers realize that the stones doors could be under the Fuhrer's office, and this leads them to speculate that the Fuhrer might be in cahoots with the homunculi. After the Elrics leave, Mustang gets ready to plan out his next step, but Havoc states that he can't continue because he is paralyzed from the waist down. Mustang feels bad about Havoc's injury and mentions what happened to the coroner Knox who had faked Maria's autopsy to help Mustang. Mustang wonders what to do, but Breda informs Mustang that the Elrics said Dr. Marcoh might be able heal Havoc's spine with a Philosopher's Stone. Mustang then dispatches Breda to visit Marcoh.

Dinner time?

After leaving the hospital, the Elrics went back to Lab 3 for a visit and Ed discovered that the path to the stone doors had been sealed by alchemy. On the way back to the hotel, the Elrics run into Denny Brosh, who informs the brothers that Scar is back in town. Back at the hotel, Ed reveals the Al that Scar probably killed Winry's parents, and the brothers agree not to tell this to Winry for now. Ed plans to battle Scar to draw out the homunculi, but the plan is risky as both Scar and homunculi are very dangerous. Ling and Ran Fan climb through the windows and offers to lend a helping hand in exchange for the secrets of a homunculi, and the Elrics agree. Planning ahead, Ed also tells Winry to stay in Central for a little longer just in case his automail arm breaks.

I'm gonna bet that Winry will be the one to kill Ed.

Havoc is jealous because now Mustang has all the hot girls to himself.

Next day, Breda pays a visit to Dr. Marcoh's clinic and finds only signs of a struggle inside. Breda phones in to Mustang to report his findings, and Mustang walks dejectedly back to his hospital room only to spot Havoc's mother and a military official leave. Inside the room, Havoc explains that he has signed the paperwork to be discharged from the military. Mustang doesn't want to lose his loyal subordinate, but Havoc insists that Mustang leave him and move on. Mustang eventually agrees, but he tells Havoc to try and catch up and this leaves Havoc in tears. Mustang then decides to check out of the hospital.

No. Just no.

Mustang had always wanted to be a radio personality.

Meanwhile, Ed and Al are going all over town doing good deeds to attract Scar's attention. The brothers are picked up by Mustang and Riza, and Scar arrives just as Mustang and Ed are making fun of each other. The brothers tell Mustang and Riza to handle the military response while they handle Scar, and the two officers run off to a secret room to mess up the military's radio communication with equipment that Fuery had set up. Meanwhile, the Elrics and Scar battle it out in the narrow alley. Ed gets clipped by some flying debris and can't dodge Scar's next attack, but Ed is able to counter Scar's destruction alchemy with his own alchemy. As the Central soldiers are confused to where Scar is thanks to Mustang's efforts, King Bradley/Wrath uses Gluttony to pinpoint Scar's real location. Gluttony picks up Scar's scent and runs along the rooftops, but he gets kicked off the roof by Ran Fan. Ran Fan and Ling can sense the difference between homunculi and humans, and they have no trouble identifying Gluttony as their target. As the Xingese warriors get ready to fight Gluttony, Wrath charges in with swords drawn and quickly slices off Ran Fan's mask.

Palm strike showdown!!

I've said that Scar looked like the Terminator. Well Wrath looks like one too.

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After a more emotional episode two weeks ago, Brotherhood is back for another round of action. We are on to the second big homunculi fight with Ling and Ran Fan vs. Wrath and Gluttony and that should be a dandy as Ling, Ran Fan, and Wrath are all accomplished martial artists. Bones did a terrific job adapting the Mustang vs. Lust fight, and hopefully they'll do the same for this fight. While the Xingese warriors are busying handling the homunculi, the Elrics are busy fighting Scar, but as seen by the preview the focus on the battle won't be on the combatants but on the past history between Winry and Scar. The fight probably wouldn't be as exciting as Xingese vs. homunculi fight, but there will be an added emotional and component due to unfortunate events that connect Scar and Winry.

As for this episode, the relationship between Mustang and loyal subordinate Havoc was portrayed very well. Havoc wants to stay with Mustang's group, but he knows that without the use of his legs he'll just be a burden. Mustang is also reluctant to let Havoc go and eventually realizes that he has no other choice, but this doesn't mean he has given up on Havoc and that Havoc should give up on himself. I also liked how Riza and Breda were very concerned about Mustang and Havoc. Even though Riza and the other subordinates diss Mustang from time to time, you can see that they are really a close-knit group. Too bad Havoc has to leave due to his injury, but hopefully this won't be the last we see of him. On the lighter side of things, Ed served some comedy by going around doing good deeds with alchemy. I wonder why other alchemists don't do this as well lol. The part where Ed asks Winry to stay because his arm will break was pretty funny as well.

Overall, this episode had a nice mix of drama, comedy, and action. Next episode will mostly be more action and probably some drama as well.