Fullmetal Alchemist turned a filler chapter into one of many anime’s greatest episodes

“The Navy Pageant” begins with the troopers of Amestris’ military debating who would win if Ed and Mustang ever fought. They’re like anime fans arguing over which of their favorite characters is strongerthey usually quickly get a solution.

To fulfill the curiosity of the ranks, Ed and Mustang are ordered to arrange a public match for the boys. The opponents’ mutual pal, Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes, serves as announcer. Ed spends many of the struggle operating away from Mustang’s explosive, slamming flame alchemy, whereas Roy – profitable effortlessly – drops some knowledge onto the battlefield. (“An indignant soldier fights blind,” he warns the choleric editor.)

Ed briefly positive factors the higher hand when he creates a decoy and cuts Mustang’s “ignition fabric” proper glove – just for Mustang to disclose that his left glove additionally has a Flame Alchemy transmutation circle. Victory: Mustang. Ed, comically injured, is ultimately carried away on a stretcher by Al, however Mustang is the actual loser as he has to wash up the destroyed battlefield. The chapter ends with Hughes again at HQ, sipping tea and dropping one final piece of knowledge: “A soldier should know when to retreat. »

“Fullmetal vs. Flame” faithfully adapts the battle, each the motion and the farce. This chapter and this episode each use a “Gilligan Cup” of Mustang saying there is not any manner Führer Bradley will authorize this struggle – then an immediate transition to him fortunately approving it.

When Hughes introduces Roy after which Ed to the gang, they’re each booed – Mustang as a result of the opposite troopers are mad at him for rising shortly via the ranks (and stealing lots of their girlfriends alongside the best way), Ed as a result of troopers don’t have any respect for a bit of teenager. , even one who’s an alchemy prodigy. When Ed flees Mustang’s firebombs, the anime marks the scene not with a dramatic battle air, however with Benny Hill-style slapstick music.

To spherical out the runtime, “Fullmetal vs Flame” provides two extra bonus comedy chapters. The episode’s B-plot, about Sergeant Fuery looking for a stray canine, comes from the chapter “Military Canine”, the origin story of Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye’s canine, Black Hayate (Japanese for ” Hurricane “). This ends in one of many episode’s most well-known (and funniest) scenes, the place the chilly Mustang swoops down on Hayate and exuberantly declares “I like canines!”

This is not Mustang’s solely foolish second within the episode. He additionally states that when he’s Führer of Amestris, he’ll demand that each one feminine officers put on “little mini-skirts!” » This earns him a glance from Hawkeye and the timeless loyalty of Lieutenant Havoc.

Bone

That is tailored from a non-canonical four-panel (“omake”) chapter, “The Bold Alchemist”. The joke is that Mustang’s sacred aim in reforming the nation is to alter the navy costume code to favor lechers, and it is this noble superb that makes his workforce so loyal to him.

Media viewing

Sure, “Fullmetal vs Flame” is funnier, but it surely’s not. simply a gag episode. The collection makes use of the episode to attach story arcs and deepen Ed and Roy’s characterizations.