Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 3 was released a few days ago and I was really happy after watching it. The writers are really doing a good job of finding a balance of humor and conflict. The past three episodes were really like a roller-coaster ride, with each scene pulling and pushing your emotions. Anyway, in the last episode Al and Ed were about to enter Lior. Episode 3 is all about what happened once they were finally in the city in pursuit of the “Philosopher’s Stone”.

The episode starts out with Ed and Al in the city of Lior. They’re amazed that the people there really don’t know much about alchemy. However, everyone is a fan of a priest, named Cornello, who is supposedly performing miracles, including bringing the dead back to life. The Elric brothers manage to see the priest while he’s performing his miracles, and they conclude that the guy is just using alchemy but somehow he’s able to ignore the inherent laws in the craft. Ed deduces that this is because of the Philosopher’s Stone.

They enter the cathedral and meet Rose. They have a brief arguement about the existence of god. Ed eventually fakes asking for salvation and requests if he can meet the priest. Rose is delighted and manages to bring Ed and Al to one of the lower levels of the Cathedral to meet Cornello.

The true colors of Cornello are revealed and he orders Rose to attack the Elric brothers. Rose, out of desperation, shoots Al. She’s shocked to find out that Al is just an empty piece of armor. It’s also shown that Rose has been a follower because Cornello has promised her that he would resurrect her dead boyfriend if she followed his commands. The priest then unleashes a Chimera to attack Ed and Al. Ed quickly takes care of it using a combination of his auto mail and basic alchemy.

Cornello then transmutes his walking stick into a chain gun and forces all three of them out of the room. Eventually, he catches up to Ed in his very own office. Ed manages to trick Cornello into talking about his real plan, which he actually broadcasted to the entire town via a super megaphone that he transmuted together with Al. Driven by anger and almost insanity, Cornello makes a mistake in transmuting and transforms into a monster.

Ed and Cornello do battle but eventually the elder Elric gets the upper hand. He uses his alchemy to transmute a gigantic fist of stone, ironically from the statue of god, and deals a devastating punch to Cornello. Ed then tries to get the stone from the priest, but it suddenly breaks.

The episode ends with Lust and Gluttony killing Cornello for his failure, and Al and Ed walking away from a distraught Rose.

Can’t wait to watch Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 4 next week!