Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - Episode 48

The return of Lan Fan in the last episode of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood was certainly a moment for much cheering and punching of the air, but despite her re-emergence there's still a lot of unfinished business with the Promised Day just scant hours away.


However, with such a big action set piece just beginning, this latest instalment is dedicated almost in its entirety to the battle featuring Pride and Gluttony on the one hand and Ed, Lan Fan, Greed et al on the other. Certainly, it seems as though the good news have a notable upper hand for much of the fight at hand, with the darkness current ensconcing the forest disabling Pride's ability while Lan Fan and Ling can make use of their own specialities to handle Gluttony in the pitch black surroundings in which their foe can see nothing and only relies on smell.

However, it was inevitable that light would return sooner or later one way or another, and thus Pride soon becomes a major threat once again - Even though Edward has planned for this eventuality, even he and his comrades are shocked by Pride's next course of action as he looks to regain the initiative. Away from this particular battleground, we also see Roy Mustang reunited with his old comrades for their current mission, and watch it being as their planned coup begins to take shape in the face of certain dangers.

While I have to admit it's hard to hold back my impatience when it comes to what this series is building to, I really can't begrudge it an episode dedicated almost entirely to a particular fight scene, particularly when it throws together some brief yet stunning action sequences with the kind of smart progression we've come to expect from all things Fullmetal Alchemist. Yes, it is perhaps indulgent to spend so much time on these particular events, but when it remains so entertaining then is that such a bad thing? Certainly, it looks as though there is still plenty more to come from Pride in this particular scrap before we can really move on towards this show's big day and what it could mean for all and sundry involved within it - A prospect which regularly leaves me on the edge of my seat in its own right.