Contemplations on FMA Brotherhood and Manga chapter 102
I think it's really fortuitous that I caught up on Brotherhood episodes 17-21 right after reading manga chapter 102.
You know, right after the latest manga chapter, I read a lot of speculation about what was going to happen to Roy now, and his plans for the future. Arakawa sure threw us a monkey wrench, no doubt about it.
Aside from the speculation that Roy's condition is being faked or won't be permanent, there seemed to be two trains of thought. One is that Roy would go on to become the leader of the country even in his condition, and even though it would be difficult. The other is that it will be Olivia Armstrong, and not Roy, who becomes the leader in the end, partly due to Roy's current state, and partly due to Olivia's own ambition.
I think it's fortuitous that I was really behind in watching the Brotherhood episodes, and only managed to watch eps 17-21 over Christmas and Boxing Day. Because as I watched those, all I could think was, "No way is Olivia Armstrong going to become the leader of Amestris." Absolutely no way.
Remember those episodes? Those were the ones in which Roy began his machinations in earnest, in which he, Havoc, Al, and Hawkeye confronted Lust down in the tunnels. The ones where he yelled at Hawkeye for giving up on life, where it was demonstrated that Roy himself never gives up, where it was established that he never abandons his people, and where Havoc was begging him to cut him (Havoc) loose. Because Roy had promises to keep to Hughes (remember? whose whole goal was to push Roy to the top?). And then Roy did let Havoc go, but only so Havoc could work to catch up with him. At the top. Where Roy would be waiting.
I watched those episodes, one after the other, with the swelling music, and thought just how much of Roy's character was being established here. I also know that this anime is being made in cooperation with Arakawa.
And it simply makes no sense to me that so much would have gone into a story establishing Roy's character like this, not to mention his lofty goals, only to have them all waft away at the end. It simply is not going to happen. Things may happen in a fashion that is unexpected, knowing how Arakawa does things. But the leadership ending up with anyone but Roy at the end? Nope. Not gonna happen.
Shall we place a bet? :-)
Meanwhile -- I'm having such a great time, catching up all at once! It's going to be awful when I get to where I have to wait week-by-week for the new episodes again. Still about 16 eps to catch up on, though. I was worried, through the first episodes, thinking they were rushing awfully quickly through the beginning stuff, but I think the series has gotten awfully good now. At least, it's really good, up to episode 21 anyway. :-)
You know, right after the latest manga chapter, I read a lot of speculation about what was going to happen to Roy now, and his plans for the future. Arakawa sure threw us a monkey wrench, no doubt about it.
Aside from the speculation that Roy's condition is being faked or won't be permanent, there seemed to be two trains of thought. One is that Roy would go on to become the leader of the country even in his condition, and even though it would be difficult. The other is that it will be Olivia Armstrong, and not Roy, who becomes the leader in the end, partly due to Roy's current state, and partly due to Olivia's own ambition.
I think it's fortuitous that I was really behind in watching the Brotherhood episodes, and only managed to watch eps 17-21 over Christmas and Boxing Day. Because as I watched those, all I could think was, "No way is Olivia Armstrong going to become the leader of Amestris." Absolutely no way.
Remember those episodes? Those were the ones in which Roy began his machinations in earnest, in which he, Havoc, Al, and Hawkeye confronted Lust down in the tunnels. The ones where he yelled at Hawkeye for giving up on life, where it was demonstrated that Roy himself never gives up, where it was established that he never abandons his people, and where Havoc was begging him to cut him (Havoc) loose. Because Roy had promises to keep to Hughes (remember? whose whole goal was to push Roy to the top?). And then Roy did let Havoc go, but only so Havoc could work to catch up with him. At the top. Where Roy would be waiting.
I watched those episodes, one after the other, with the swelling music, and thought just how much of Roy's character was being established here. I also know that this anime is being made in cooperation with Arakawa.
And it simply makes no sense to me that so much would have gone into a story establishing Roy's character like this, not to mention his lofty goals, only to have them all waft away at the end. It simply is not going to happen. Things may happen in a fashion that is unexpected, knowing how Arakawa does things. But the leadership ending up with anyone but Roy at the end? Nope. Not gonna happen.
Shall we place a bet? :-)
Meanwhile -- I'm having such a great time, catching up all at once! It's going to be awful when I get to where I have to wait week-by-week for the new episodes again. Still about 16 eps to catch up on, though. I was worried, through the first episodes, thinking they were rushing awfully quickly through the beginning stuff, but I think the series has gotten awfully good now. At least, it's really good, up to episode 21 anyway. :-)