Fullmetal Alchemist: Episode 25

Here I was thinking that this episode would stay away from the drama and lighten up the atmosphere after the depressing past few episodes. And boy, I was totally wrong. If you would not want to be spoiled, stop reading right now because this episode has a big surprise.

The episode began with a memory of Hughes just after the Ishbal tragedy. He was visiting a guilt-ridden Mustang and trying to comfort and cheer him up. He then wakes up to the sound of his assistant calling out to him. The Fuhrer has come to speak with him. Hughes gives the Fuhrer an envelope filled with a list of names who had been involved with the 5th Laboratory experiments. He then requested if he can speak with Dr. Marco. The Fuhrer’s secretary, Juliet Douglas, who was revealed to be one of the homunculus called Sloth, was in fact in charge of the doctor’s hideout and was supposed to take him to the doctor later on. Of course, Dr. Marco has long been dead so there is dread already looming over me.

As the episode progressed, the Elric brothers decided to lie about their plans about their quest for the Philosopher’s Stone to Hughes and company in order to protect them from worry and danger. Scar, on the other hand, is still recovering from his wounds in a secret base camp for Ishbal refugees.

When Hughes said goodbye to his sleeping baby daughter Elysia, I knew it was usually a bad omen. True enough, while researching on the Ishbal War, the homunculus, and the Philosopher’s Stone, it hit him. He found a connection between a soldier who ignited the Ishbal War and the Fuhrer’s secretary. His mistake was his impulsive actions without even mentioning any of his plans to anyone. The supposed meeting with Dr. Marco turned out to be an ambush. Although he had a sort-of back up, it turned out to be one of the homunculus as well posing as Lieutenant Ross. Thus the end of one of my favorite character of this series.

To say that I am shocked with the turn of events is an understatement. I would’ve never expected Hughes of all characters the one to be buried this early in the series. When his daughter Elysia began to ask those innocent but heartbreaking questions, I totally lost it. Then when I was about to calm down, Mustang goes on and remarks to his subordinate that it was starting to rain and the image cut back to Mustang with tears streaming down his cheeks. Whoa, this series really giving its audience a rollercoaster ride.