Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 12 was released early this week. Since PLDT still hasn’t dropped by my place to install my internet connection, I’m a bit delayed with blog updates (as most of you have probably noticed by now). Anyway, moving on, FMA Brotherhood 12 focuses again on character/plot development. This time we’re introduced to the master of the Elric brothers, Izumi. I find her to be one of the most interesting characters in the series. She has a really good background and she’s very prominent in the major events of the series. Review and synopsis of FMA Brotherhood 12 after the break.

Review and Synopsis
Al and Ed finally reach the house of their old master. They’re greeted quite harshly, with Al getting a roundhouse kick from Izumi as her hello. This was a really funny scene. It was hilarious seeing both brothers cower at the sight of their former master. At this point the episode shifts to a rather long flashback showing how the two kids met Izumi and how they became her apprentices.

After the death of their mom, the Elric brothers find Izumi after she saves the village by using alchemy to stop a flood. They immediately pester her to take them as students and she eventually agrees to take them with her but she will have to test them first if they are worthy of learning alchemy. She leaves the two brothers in an island.

In this island the two brothers realize the true meaning of alchemy – life and the concept of equivalent exchange. After successfully proving themselves, Izumi formally takes them on as students.

We shift back to the discussion of Izumi and the brothers. Ed finally realizes that Izumi can also do transmutation without the circle because she did something similar to what they did. He confronts her and Izumi answers by sparring with the two kids. She finds out about the automail and that Al is just an empty piece of armor. They all sit down again to talk thing out and in this conversation she reveals that she tried to revive her dead baby through alchemy, and in exchange she lost several of her internal organs.

The episode ends with Izumi hugging the two brothers. This is a beautiful scene because before the hug, the two kids were trying to put up a strong face about what happened. However her hug totally disarms them and the two start crying. Finally they can stop acting so tough and be kids.

For a guy like me who totally digs action flicks and kinda is bored to hell by drama, I really find FMA Brotherhood to be very entertaining. It has the right mix that will really tug at your heart by drawing so many emotions from you.

Can’t wait to watch Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 13!