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Title:
  Fullmetal Alchemist vol 7 - Reunion on Yock Island

UK Distributor:  MVM (DVD Only)

BBFC Certificate:  TBC

Suggested Retail Price (SRP):  £19.99

Episodes:  25-28 (of 51)

Audio Options:  English 5.1, Japanese 2.0

Subtitles:  English

Reviewer:  Rich (Webmaster)

 

Well, volume 6, except for a little bit of cheesiness towards the end, was the peak for Fullmetal Alchemist.  Or it was, because this one blows it out of the water.

Following the dramatic and horrific events of the last volume you may think that this time round they'd lighten things up a bit, but the series has got into its stride and things from here on in get even more dark and harrowing.  Desperate to prevent any more innocents getting caught up in their quest for the Philosopher's Stone, Ed and Al Elric head off alone to the South in order to get leads from the Ishbalians who have retreated into the mountains.  However, they have reckoned without the return of a face from the past, the face of the only person the pair truly fear, and that person is not going to let them go off on their quest without a fight.  Meanwhile back in headquarters the ambitious Roy Mustang contemplates his transfer back to the capital and sets his sights for the top, but danger is just round the corner.  Someone in headquarters has gotten too close to something that the Homunculi want to keep secret, and their new found knowledge could cost them dearly...

Fullmetal Alchemist has been a great series so far but this volume is just stunning.  Striking a perfect balance between the drama occurring at headquarters and the oblivious Elrics being dragged back into their past by the mysterious alchemist Izumi, this volume has you gripped throughout.  Episode 25 is the undoubtedly the best of the series so far, building up superbly to a truly harrowing and pivotal moment for the series.  It is so well done that if you fail to have a lump in your throat by the end of the episode then you probably need to check to see if you have a pulse.

What makes it even more harrowing is that the main characters - Ed and Al - are completely oblivious to it all, and don't realise the impact it could have on them.  Their problems come in the form of Izumi, the dreadlocked alchemist who has a serious issue with their attempted transmutation of their dead mother.  Cue plenty of flashbacks, but unusually they are superbly done, blending perfectly into the action and adding more depth to characters you thought you already knew everything about.  Ed and Al become more rounded characters and you really begin to feel their determination and the naivety that would lead them to attempt the most forbidden alchemy.  The contrast between their young selves and the world-weary pair we see now is really striking and very effective, but the biggest shock is left to the end of the DVD where a tantalising preview of episode 29 suggests a plot twist of a magnitude that could turn the whole story on its head.

As usual the episodes on this disc are action packed and highly dramatic, but the comedy once again takes a back seat as events become pretty harrowing and emotional.  However, instead of becoming mired in melancholy the series grows in quality, once again defying expectation at every turn.  Fullmetal Alchemist is a series that isn't afraid to do things that similar series shy away from, giving it a harder, more emotionally charged edge that really sets it apart from its peers.  This volume encapsulates everything the series is about, really raising the bar in nearly every department and the twist hinted at in the final preview on the disc leaves me desperate to see what will happen next.  It's halfway through the series and it just keeps getting better, things are really getting interesting and you just can't see where the story is going to go.  Fullmetal Alchemist continues to be one of the finest series available in the UK, there are few action titles that even come close to it and it's a series that has to be in your collection.

Extras

We've-run-out-of-extras syndrome persists this time round, clean opening and closing sequences and a rolling production art video once again.

Ratings

Feature:   Extras:
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