Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - Episode 42

After the previous episode of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood certainly didn't pull any punches, you could perhaps be forgiven for hoping for something more light-hearted and full of joie de vivre as we enter episode forty-two. Of course, this series being what it is, this isn't quite what we get; perhaps expectedly so, with the instalment beginning with Edward Elric badly injured and Alphonse having both literally and mentally gone to pieces.


Still, the good news is that come this latest episode Al is alive and kicking once more, and not a moment too soon, as Doctor Marcoh and company finally begin to make progress in deciphering the research they've been carrying around for what seems like such a long time now. Indeed, the fruits of their labours appear to be needed more than ever, as we see wars taking their toll and bringing death and destruction all around the country, thus playing into the hands of the Homunculus' plot.

Even with Ed most likely still out of action, that doesn't mean that the Homunculus get things all their own way however, as we see van Hoenheim turning up in Lior, itself a part of the currently on-going plot deep below the surface, and it's here that he (in his own words) "declares war" on the Homunculus in an exchange with Pride. As if that wasn't enough to be getting on with, we also see Fort Briggs on the brink of finding itself in dire straits, while Doctor Marcoh's period of freedom looks likely to be curtailed in short order.

Another week means another instalment of me wishing that each episode of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood would last longer - Twenty minutes or so just doesn't seem like long enough when I'm so keen to learn, see and experience more of this ever-more engrossing series. With so many important points coming to a head, having to wait a week for my next dose of progress is becoming ever-more difficult, but wait I must for this series to serve up yet more wonders for my delectation. As always, I simply can't wait.