One is all, all is one: synopsis and review

Synopsis

In this post, I will be reviewing FMA: Brotherhood's 12th episode: One is all, all is one. In this episode, we will be looking into Ed and Al's past. The most interesting part is, we will also be introduced to their alchemist master.

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In episode 11 Ed, Al and Winry went to Rush Valley. Winry decided to stay there because she wanted to improve her skill in creating auto mails. The boys continued their journey to Dublith. When they arrived at Dublith the brother went straight to see their master who apparently a woman by the name Izumi Curtis. She was married to a butcher Sig Curtis.... Apparently she was one heck of a woman!

Then they started discussing about the Philosopher's Stone. Izumi revealed that she knew there was a person who knew a lot about the Philospher's Stone and that man's name was Hohenheim. To Ed and Al disbelief, that particular man was their cold-hearted father, who had abandoned them since they were kids. According to Ed, he was the cause of their mother's demise...

A short-lived happiness...

The cold look of a remorseless father, Hohenheim...

Then, at night the brothers began to reminisce the past, when they first met Izumi.... It was during a flood. Izumi saved a village by using her alchemy. She built a barricade to prevent the water from overflowing into the village...

A true wonder woman!

After watching Izumi's ability, Ed and Al decided to become Izumi's protege. Initially, Izumi refused them but after knowing that the boys were orphan, she began to melt thus accepted them as her protege...

But, with one condition. They have to endure a survival test...

[Screen shots: click for larger view]

They brothers finally managed to endure the test and after that their training as alchemists began...

Back to the present time, Izumi noticed something was amiss. She felt that there were things that the boys were trying to hide from her. She then, sparred with the brothers and she discovered that Ed had auto auto mail for his right hand and Al was actually an empty armour. Then, all secrets were finally revealed!

It so happened that, like Ed, Izumi once committed the taboo as well. She tried to transmute a human being after her baby died during birth... Apparently she also had gone through a similar painful experience that Ed had gone through when Ed tried to transmute his mother. And like Ed, she also had to face the side effects as well. In alchemy, equivalent exchange is the fundamental principle, hence in order to compensate the exchange in human transmutation, some of her organs were taken. Because of that, it disrupted her health.

Izumi had seen the truth too...

Review

Why do I like about this episode? It is because in this episode Ed and Al's past is revealed. In this episode too, we will witness how the boys had to undergo so many challenges and predicaments in order to be a full-fledged alchemists. Furthermore, we are finally introduced to Hohenheim... who actually their father. Later in the series we will be exposed to the connection between him and the humonculi as well as the organization that manipulated the military.

Also, we are revealed to boys' master whom I thought was a man. In fact I believe there are many people would share my opinion. It's a shocker! What's more, she is extremely skilled as well as strong. In addition, we learn that, other than Ed, Izumi Curtis had also conducted the big NO-NO human transmutation and she had to pay the price too... And because of the similar experience, she empathized the boys and felt connected with boys and hence the hug...

This is so heart-wrenching.... sob...