Fullmetal Alchemist (manga)/Tropes A-F: Difference between revisions

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=== Entries A-F ===

* [[Abuse Is Okay When It Is Female On Male]]: Nobody sees a problem with Winry beating Ed with a wrench whenever he pisses her off.

* [[Accidental Pervert]]: In a chapter in the manga and the corresponding episode in ''Brotherhood'', Winry walks into her room without noticing Edward already in there and starts undressing. By the time she realizes she's not alone, she's already uncovered some [[Underboobs]]. She almost goes ballistic on him (and everyone else who comes in hearing her scream).

* [[Action Girl]]: Hawkeye, [[Lady of War|Olivier]], Lan Fan, [[Little Miss Badass|May Chang]].

* [[Action Mom]]: Izumi.

* [[Alchemy Is Magic]]: Although it's presented as a [[Sufficiently Analyzed Magic|science]], alchemy in this series is very much fantastical.

* [[All Deaths Final]]: Verified by Edward going off an offhand remark Hohenheim makes. Bringing back the dead via alchemy isn't just taboo, it's completely and utterly impossible, and any attempt to do so will result in a completely unrelated soul in a completely unrelated body. {{spoiler|Things that Truth takes don't qualify as "dead", however, which is how Ed can successfully get Alphonse's body back at the end.}}

* [[All There in the Manual]]: The omake comics have revealed a few things, such as how flame alchemy really works--by changing oxygen concentration in the air so the spark from the finger-snap explodes exactly where and as big as needed. Of course, the technique's [[Mundane Utility]] is also revealed--making women swoon due to oxygen poisoning so Mustang can [[Falling Into His Arms|catch them]] and easily woo them.

** The reading "Homunculus" (ホムンクルス) has been written as both "[[Artificial Human]]" (人造人間) and "the little one in the flask" (フラスコの中の小人). Fun fact: {{spoiler|BOTH ARE TRUE.}}

** The "Milos" in [[The Movie]]'s title is written as "hill of grief" (嘆きの丘).

*** He's alternately called the "Crimson Lotus Alchemist" by some translations and sources for that exact reason. Not to mention that since crimson refers to a darker red, it doesn't change the meaning at all.

* [[Altum Videtur]]: A few examples on the soundtrack: "Lapis Philosophorum" ("philosophers' stone"), "Ante Meridiem" ("before noon"/A.M.), "Philosophorum [[Gratuitous Greek|Omega]]" ("philosophers' omega").

* [[Anachronism Stew]]: The series is set in the early 20th century... with mechanical prosthetics that are ''far'' more advanced than anything we have now. They don't seem to have advanced nearly as much in terms of technology in other areas, depending on whether you want Amestris to be pre-first-world-war or pre-second-world-war Germany. Of course, everything more advanced in this world is only due to Alchemy, and there appears to be an even gap between technological progress and magical progress.

** [[Fridge Logic]] points out that pharmaceuticals ought to be, as a result, on a par with (either) time period in [[Real Life]], except it doesn't seem to be so. [[Fridge Brilliance]], however, would like us to note that modern pharmaceuticals branched out from alchemy pretty much purely from the works of Paracelsus. {{spoiler|Hello, Hohenheim.}}

* [[Ancient Conspiracy]]: Oh so much. Turns out that {{spoiler|even the very creation of Amestris and modern alchemy were all part of Father's 450 year plan}}.

* [[And I Must Scream]]: The fate of {{spoiler|the human souls used to make the Philosopher's Stone}}.

* [[Anime Chinese Girl]]: May

* [[Anthropomorphic Personification]]: The homunculi each personify one of the Seven Deadly Sins. It's eventually revealed that {{spoiler|Father created them by giving them a portion of his personality, and that they are named after the "sin" they are created from}}.

*** Gluttony shows just as much, if not more, signs of his namesake sin than Greed. His catchphrase is even "Can I eat him/her/it now?" Lust might not be as blatant as some of the other sins, but there is a reason why she is one of the hottest characters.

*** Lust does show her sin, but it's not the type of lust most people think of: it's ''bloodlust''.

** Actually [[Subverted Trope|subverted,]] since most of good guys make it alive to the series finale. However, injuries are portrayed rather realistically here {{spoiler|like when Havoc got paralyzed.}}

* [[Apocalypse Wow]]: Chapter 104. {{spoiler|Father eats the souls of everyone in the country, turns into a giant, and then eats Truth.}}

* [[Armor-Piercing Slap]]: Subverted. Denny slaps Al, and [[Made of Iron|gets a sore hand for his trouble]].

** Played straight in the same incident with Maria Ross and Ed, whose face is not made of metal, and she successfully calls him out on his reckless charge into the 5th Lab.

* [[Artificial Human]]: The Homunculi.

* [[Artificial Limbs]]: Ed, of course. Also Paninya (and roughly half the residents of Rush Valley), [[Chainsaw Good|Buccaneer]], Bald, Den (a ''dog''), and later, {{spoiler|Lan Fan}}.

** From the manga, people started calling {{spoiler|the second Greed "Greedling"}} to tell him apart from {{spoiler|the original Greed in conversation, and because the human used to create him was called Ling}}. When Ed meets him again, he decides he's going to call him this.

* [[Assimilation Plot]]: What the higher-ups at Central take Father's scheme to be.

* [[Author Appeal]]: Hiromu Arakawa thinks men should be muscular and big, and women should be bosomy and curvy. That probably won't surprise anyone. The Armstrong siblings (with the exception of those two sisters who look like Alex) exemplify this principle.

** Even Edward isn't immune; despite his height problems, the guy's ''massively'' ripped, though not quite the level of Armstrong. But still enough to make him smoking.

 

== B ==

** Bradley gets a special mention. It took {{spoiler|ninety-nine}} chapters for someone to wound him. In chapter 97 he effortlessly destroys a {{spoiler|freaking tank}} ''while armed with only a sword and a single grenade''. [[Badass Grandpa|And he's over]] ''[[Badass Grandpa|60]]''.

** Kimblee shows that in FMA, even {{spoiler|deceased}} people are badass. Yeah.

** [[Back-to-Back Badasses]]: Roy and Riza in episode 57 of the anime.

** [[Badass Army]]: Briggs army.

** [[Badass Boast]]: Right at the beginning.

'''Ed''': Nope. God hates us. Even if we go, He'll just ''send us back''! }}

*** '''[[Memetic Mutation|THE ART OF BADASS BOASTING HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN THE ARMSTRONG LINE FOR GENERATIONS!]]'''

** [[Badass Bookworm]]: The whole concept of being an Alchemist.

** [[Badass Family]]: Ed and his brother and his father are all talented alchemists. Also the homunculi and Father are related to them by blood so one can say that all of Hohenheim's family is Badass.

** [[Badass Grandpa]]: Fu, most definitely.

*** Long hair in FMA:B/manga = badass! Nuff said.

** [[Badass Mustache]]: Alex Louis Armstrong and Fuhrer Bradley.

*** {{spoiler|It's now been outright confirmed by [[Word of God]] in the third art book.}}

** Ling fights alongside [[Bodyguard Crush|Lanfan]] with spectacular results, but like with the aforementioned Roy and Riza, the "couple" part is complicated.

* [[Belligerent Sexual Tension]]: Ed and Winry.

* [[Berserk Button]]: Ed if you insult his height or threaten Winry, and a lesser [[Berserk Button]] when people mistake Al for Fullmetal Alchemist (due to obvious reasons); Winry whenever Ed damages his automail.

** Talking about Al's soul being affixed to armor like it's the coolest thing in the world is ''not'' a conversation to have with Ed. ''[[Unstoppable Rage|It will end badly]]''.

** Ed's most frightening berserk button moment came when he realized what Tucker did to his daughter.

*** The Viz translation of the manga implies that it was very close to being one for Al too:

** If, for any reason you {{spoiler|force Al to sacrifice himself}}, [[Big Brother Instinct|YOU'RE]] [[Unstoppable Rage|DEAD!!!]] Ed may have gotten pissed at Tucker, but that was a mild tantrum compared to what he did to Father.

** Harming [[Papa Wolf|Hohenheim's]] kids is the worst idea, ever. Hell, just insulting his kids is sending you straight into an asskicking.

** Izumi Curtis will murder you multiple times if you dare to call her "old", "hag", or anything of the sort.

*** Calling her "cute", "my pretty", etc. in front of her husband is [[Papa Wolf|not less]] [[Curb Stomp Battle|dangerous]].

** Don't [[Stuff Blowing Up|look down on Kimblee.]]

** [[Action Girl|Lan Fan]] if you insult/belittle/threaten [[Bodyguard Crush|Ling]].

*** Same for Greed, as a matter of fact. {{spoiler|Which at least partly explains why they made such a good body-sharing tandem.}}

** Y'know what? Just don't even look funny at ''ANYONE''. That's probably the only way to avoid an asskicking.

* [[Berserker Tears]]: {{spoiler|Oh, ''Ling''. T_T}} Hawkeye when {{spoiler|Lust says she killed Mustang.}}

* [[Beware the Nice Ones]]: After {{spoiler|Shou Tucker transmutes his dog and daughter into a talking chimera}}, Ed beats the ever-living crap out of him and Al has to stop his brother from killing him with his bare hands. {{spoiler|Tucker}} takes this chance to gloat about having to dirty your hands to get things done. [http://www.mangareader.net/116-5191-33/full-metal-alchemist/chapter-5.html Al doesn't take to this very lightly.] Considering his status as a [[Gentle Giant]] [[Genius Bruiser]] [[Badass Bookworm]], this isn't exactly the smart thing to do.

** {{spoiler|Not that will stop Ed and Al from [[Walking the Earth]] to do research into finding a new law at the end of the series, of course}}.

** Played straight with Kimblee near the end. {{spoiler|maintaining his conscious after assimilation by Pride, and then holding him back from fleeing his body. The former alone is stated to be impossible and demonstrated as such by Father.}}

* [[Big Bad]]: Father. Which is ironic, considering his name...

* [[Big Damn Heroes]]: Multiple times, especially in later chapters. Hohenheim even lampshades it.

* [[Big Friendly Dog]]: Winry's dog Den and Nina Tucker's dog Alexander. Black Hayate is a Little Friendly Dog.

* [[Big Good]]: Hohenheim.

* [[Big No]]: Greed, {{spoiler|after killing Bido and getting his memories back}}.

** Major Armstrong gets a few during his fight with Olivier in episode 45 of Brotherhood. They only add to the humor of the scene.

** If you look closely, you realize that it {{spoiler|takes on the shape (outline) of whoever it's talking to.}}

* [[Blatant Lies]]: Olivier does it hilariously in chapter 67, while speaking one-on-one with Raven.

** In a way, even though it is portrayed as mostly a helpful and necessary power, Alchemy in the long term is shown to be very detrimental to both those who practice it and those who don't, as Alchemy is ultimately the main source of strife within the series. Alchemists by definition are blessed with suck.

*** {{spoiler|May Chang reveals that this is only true in Amestris where the philosopher's stone Father made is blocking the natural energy of the earth. Otherwise it would be powered by the natural energy released from things like volcano's and earthquakes. This is why Father was able to stop Ed and Al from using alchemy while Scar and May Chang can still use their alkahestry.}}

* [[Blood Knight]]: Kimblee

* [[Bloody Murder]]: Isaac McDougal transmutes blood from his wounds into spears.

* [[Bodyguard Crush]]: Pretty much outright stated with Lan Fan and Ling. Strongly hinted at with Roy and Riza.

* [[Body Horror]]: {{spoiler|Envy}} can take advantage of this. His {{spoiler|ultimate form}} consists primarily of masses upon masses of {{spoiler|human bodies he otherwise compresses within him}}, which explains his ludicrous density and weight. Oh, and he's remarkably sloppy with them, too. If he bites down on his "tongue" a little too quickly, the pieces will go flying off.

* [[Boisterous Bruiser]]: {{spoiler|Barry}} is the dark side of this in the manga, along with [[Ax Crazy]] and a dose of [[Heroic Sociopath]].

** '''[[Captain Obvious|Major]] [[Up to Eleven|Armstrong!]]''' '''[[Running Gag|His boistering and muscles]] [[Catch Phrase|have been passed down the Armstrong line for generations!]]'''

* [[Book Ends]]: ''Almost.'' Take a look at [http://www.mangareader.net/116-5187-52/full-metal-alchemist/chapter-1.html Ed at the end of chapter one.] Now, take a look at him at [http://www.mangareader.net/116-51515-68/full-metal-alchemist/chapter-107.html end of the penultimate chapter.] He even says practically the same line:

** A straighter version would be the beginning and ending narration of the first anime. The series begins with two lines of narration about how nothing can be learned or gained without pain and sacrifice. The series ends with the same lines, plus two more lines accentuating that you can overcome that pain and gain back even more than what you originally lost.

*** Even straighter is the first and last pages of the manga. They are practically the same, and it is implied that they take place at train stations. There's only two key differences: In the first, we see Ed and Al arriving; in the last, we see Ed leaving. Also, we get to see how much Ed has progressed ([[Character Development|both physically and mentally]]) from the beginning to the end of the series, with bonus points for having sense both in-story and in a meta kind of way.

* [[Brains and Brawn]]: Ed and Al, respectively. Although Al isn't stupid and Ed isn't weak. It can perhaps be said that Ed and Al alternate in these roles.

** That would make it more of a subversion. Ed is a [[Badass Bookworm]] and Al is a [[Genius Bruiser]].

** [[Running Gag|"THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID!"]]

* [[Bread, Eggs, Milk, Squick]]:

** Watch closely, in both the manga and the anime, the episodes during and possibly just before The Devil's Nest. If you read the sign outside (and also the board on the wall inside) you will see a list of meats available:

'''Mammoth''' }}

* [[Breaking the Fourth Wall]]: Throughout the manga, there are extra comics about the characters reactions and hopes about a popularity poll. This includes discussions about how much 'screen time' they've had in recent chapters and at one point Scar using alchemy to blow up the author when he reads that he has tied with her way low on the poll.

** And the side story where Ed and Mustang have a fight.

** In volume 14, when Ed comes out of the shower naked and finds out May is inside Al's armor, the guard comes in and says "Stop acting like you're in a manga!"

* [[Break the Cutie]]: The Elric brothers most prominently, with Winry trailing not far behind.

** Riza's in there somewhere too, if you take the time to think about her [[Backstory]]. ([[A Worldwide Punomenon|Back Story?]])

** How could anyone forget Rose? She hoped and prayed that Father Cornello could bring her boyfriend back, and the Elric brothers proved her wrong. Good thing it happened that soon and not later...

*** More than anyone in this series. Kimblee always, ALWAYS has the last word in any philosophcal/moral debate, shutting up even the main protagonists. The only way anyone manages to quiet him down is to {{spoiler|''rip his throat out''}}. But wait! {{spoiler|even when [[Dying Moment of Awesome|DEAD]] he manages to deliver one last brain-breaking statement to Pride that leads to his utter defeat. Take that!}}

** There was one (plus [[Kneel Before Zod]]) even on ''an episode preview'':

* [[Breathless Non-Sequitur]]: While Winry is working on Ed's arm, she asks herself why she had to fall for such an idiot.

'''Winry:''' Nothing. }}

* {{spoiler|[[Brought Down to Normal]]: Ed and Ling. Excluding that [[Noble Demon|Greed]] is now gone for good, no one minds.}}

** ''Full of weapons.''

* [[Butt Monkey]]: Yoki. Every scene after his intro is comic abuse. Well, [[Moment of Awesome|''almost'' every scene]]

 

== C ==

** Something of a minor one, but in Episode 33 Scar stabs Kimblee in the stomach with a pole. Kimblee gives an inspiring rant about how being close to death is exhilarating for killers. Less than a dozen episodes later, {{spoiler|Kimblee blows up the building he and Ed are fighting, and Ed winds up getting stabbed in the same place with a girder. He uses his soul as a philosophers' stone to heal it, saying that if he's going to show mercy he'd better get used to paying the price.}}

* [[Calling the Old Man Out]]: Ed to Hohenheim.

* [[Canon Foreigner]]: Isaac McDougall, the Freezing Alchemist, appears in the anime but not the manga.

* [[Car Fu]]: ''[[Dirty Coward|Yoki]]'' gets a [[Moment of Awesome|CMOA]] when he uses a car to {{spoiler|ram [[Eldritch Abomination|Pride]], saving several people in the process.}}

* [[Cast of Snowflakes]]: Arakawa is practically the manga queen of this trope.

** It's not even exclusive to the Major. Olivier also uses it, after Sloth kills the officer she'd been keeping hostage:

** Also, whenever Ed is insulted (or when he thinks he is being insulted): Who are you calling a ___ smaller than a ___!

** Izumi's "Just a housewife"-replies could count.

* [[Casual Danger Dialogue]]: Happens on occasion.

** One especially entertaining example occurs between Ling and Greed, during the battle with Gluttony in the woods.

'''Ling''': Oh, you know me. I'm full of surprises. *slams Gluttony into the ground* }}

* [[Chainsaw Good]]: Buccaneer, a captain in the Briggs brigade, has several different automail arms he goes through, one of which is the "Crocodile": basically a chainsaw with a serrated clamp over it.

*** {{spoiler|Aikido is a martial art based on using the opponent's strength and movement against them. What Izumi did was grab Sloth and use his own momentum to flip him into the air. There was no lifting involved - [[Weak but Skilled|she just isn't that strong, nor does she ''need'' to be]].}}

* [[Cheerful Child]]: Nina Tucker and Elicia Hughes.

* [[Chekhov's Boomerang]]: Kimblee's Philosopher's Stone. He gets it during Ishval, uses it as a bribe for Edward to attack Briggs (he refuses), and loses it while fighting Ed. Heinkel picks it up after the fight and delivers it to Alphonse to help him [[Moment of Awesome|fight Kimblee and Pride]] about 15 chapters and a few in-story months later. Toward the end of that fight, Al gives the Stone to [[The Medic|Dr. Marcoh]], who heals the wounded Heinkel, who proceeds to {{spoiler|finish Kimblee.}} The three of them, [[My Friends and Zoidberg|and Yoki]], escape to Central to join the main battle. It seems like a well done [[Chekhov's Gun]], but the stone has one last use in the final chapter: {{spoiler|being used as the toll to get Mustang's sight back and fix Havoc's legs.}}

* [[Chekhov's Gunman]]: In ''Brotherhood'', {{spoiler|the events of chapter 3 are only given a very brief mention in episode 4.}}

* [[Chekhov's Skill]]: [[Butt Monkey|Yoki]], [[The Load|of all people]], displays this. When on the run from Kimblee through an abandoned mine (chapter 70), his experience as the former head of a mining town (from chapter 3) allows him to read tunnel maps to allow his group to reach safety without getting horribly lost. In this manga, that's a LONG time for a callback.

** Rabbit snare traps also are an example of this trope. {{spoiler|Ed and Al develop the skill during their month-long isolation that starts their training with Izumi. Ed uses his damaged and detatched automail arm as bait to catch Lan Fan in a snare trap. This then inspires her to use her severed arm as a diversion against a pursuing Wrath.}}

* [[Chekhov MIA]]: Hohenheim.

* [[Cheshire Cat Grin]]: {{spoiler|The Truth.}}

** "THIS [[Large Ham|HAMMYNESS]] HAS BEEN [[Catch Phrase|PASSED DOWN THE ARMSTRONG LINE FOR GENERATIONS]]!!

* [[Child Soldiers]]: Ed became a "dog of the military" at age 12 and could be sent to the front any time. Later on, {{spoiler|he's called out to "do his duty" by Kimblee. He doesn't take it well, partly because Kimblee's using Winry as a hostage to force his cooperation}}.

* [[The Clan]]: Of the Xingese Royal Family, which apparently has 43 heirs, Ling and May included, who seem to all be willing to tear each other to shreds over who will inherit the empire.

* [[Clark Kenting]]: Riza lets her hair down and wears glasses when she has to go incognito. It's surprisingly effective, actually. {{spoiler|Except against Wrath's Ultimate Eye.}}

* [[Code Name]]: Every state alchemist gets one. It's where the series gets its title -- Fullmetal is Ed's code name. The Homunculi also have code names of sorts, though not all of them are stated in-series (Wrath is the Ultimate Eye, Greed is the Ultimate Shield, and Lust is the Ultimate Lance).

* [[Colonel Badass]]: Roy Mustang. So much so that when word gets out that he's coming to the front lines, his ''allies'' [[Bring My Brown Pants|need brown pants.]]

* [[Compliment Backfire]]: It's more like gentle teasing, but you'd think [[Urban Legend Love Life|a suave guy like Mustang]] could pull it off...

''(Mustang [[Sweat Drop|sweatdrops]])''. }}

** {{spoiler|And in episode 61, where all the souls are returned to their bodies.}}

* [[Continuity Nod]]: A long time after he died, the remains of Barry The Chopper are still there under research lab #3 when the coup de'tat and the attack on Father begin. Darius even fights with his trademark cleaver.

* [[Credits Running Sequence]]

* [[Creepy Child]]: {{spoiler|Pride}}, who is also an [[Enfant Terrible]].

* [[Cross-Popping Veins]]: A ''lot''. Ed sometimes seems to have them [[Hair-Trigger Temper|permanently]].

* [[Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass]]: Hohenheim, Havoc, {{spoiler|Fuery in the warfront}}.

** The fight between {{spoiler|Mustang and Envy}} in Chapter 94 is basically just 20 solid pages of this, with {{spoiler|Envy getting set on fire, interspersed with brief intervals during which Envy tries to think up ways to not get set on fire. None of them work, and some of them lead to him getting shot.}}

** The final beatdown of {{spoiler|Father in 108.}} And there was much rejoicing.

** Brought up in one chapter. Two chimera wanted to use the Philosopher's Stone to make themselves human again, but after their cool powers help save their lives, they start to rethink their situation.

** {{spoiler|Al seems to realize this, as he gives up his chance at getting his real body back because the armor would be better in a fight, which is about to go down.}}

* [[Custom Uniform]]: Partially averted, since most people in the military seem to conform to their uniform, even the tippity-top brass, with the exception of the titular character: Ed seems to be able to get away with a red cloak. The only means of identifying him as part of the military is his pocketwatch.

** Then again, the same goes for Tucker and Kimblee (except in the flashbacks). Presumably the rules are a little more flexible for State Alchemists.

* [[Cute Bruiser]]: May, master of alkahestry (Xingese alchemy).

* [[Cute Kitten]]: A [[Running Gag]] in the omakes.

* [[Darker and Edgier]]/[[Bloodier and Gorier]]: ''Brotherhood'' is more violent than the first anime, and the [[Media Classifications]] reflect it; at least two episodes are rated TV-MA by [[Adult Swim]], and some of the DVD boxes are rated MA15+ in Australia. (The original anime was never rated higher than TV-14 in America and M in Australia.)

* [[The Dead Have Names]]: Van Hohenheim has quite a list of them. {{spoiler|They're all the souls trapped inside him, and [[Really Seven Hundred Years Old|over the centuries]] he's talked to all of them, convincing them to stand with him in his fight against Father.}}

** Greed (original model) {{spoiler|was boiled down for his most valuable part}}.

** Lust {{spoiler|was burned to death by a man well known as a serial dater}}.

** Envy {{spoiler|committed suicide out of sheer self-loathing at his enemies' pity}}.

** Sloth {{spoiler|was worn out by a long fight}}.

** Pride {{spoiler|was [[Break the Haughty|broken brutally, psychologically and physically, by some of the humans he so despised.]] While he doesn't die, his prideful personality vanishes and he is humbled by living as a human.}}

* [[Death Glare]]: The Fuhrer, {{spoiler|Alex Armstrong}}, and Mustang.

* [[Department of Redundancy Department]]: The Führer (meaning "leader" in german) of Amestris, effectively the president and prime minister is named ''King'' Bradley.

* [[Devour the Dragon]]: {{spoiler|Pride devours Gluttony to replenish his Philosopher Stone and gain Gluttony's ability to follow others by smell, though that may have been simply an added bonus.}}

** {{spoiler|Father eats the goddamn TRUTH.}}

* [[Did Not Do the Research]]: A ''very'' minor example. In one episode of the dub Ed is reciting the periodic table to distract himself from his feelings for Winry, and he skips Boron.

** [[Fridge Brilliance]]: That could actually have been intentional, suggesting he's not fully succeeding.

* [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?]]: {{spoiler|Father eats [[God|the Truth.]]}}

** {{spoiler|And then Ed punches him in the face. Repeatedly.}} And it is [[Moment of Awesome|AWESOME]].

* [[Disappeared Dad]]: Hohenheim

** {{spoiler|[[Daddy Had a Good Reason For Abandoning You]]: Sort of. He was looking for a way to die with Trisha, and counter Father.}}

* [[Discontinuity Nod]]: A possible one in Chapter 108 against the ending of the first anime series, when Hawkeye wonders if Ed will sacrifice himself to get Al's body back.

'''Roy:''' No. He knows the fear and despair of being left alone... He wouldn't put Alphonse through that. }}

** It may not be the case as Arakawa stated that she enjoyed the first anime's ending.

* [[Disney Death]]: {{spoiler|Just about EVERYONE IN AMESTRIS (minus a few major characters) have their souls absorbed by Father during his ascension. Fortunetly, they just absorbed rather then killed outright, and Hohenheim (having seen this coming) managed to ressurect everyone with no ill effects beyond some mild trauma.}}

* [[The Dog Bites Back]] {{spoiler|(Almost) literally, as Kimblee gets his throat ripped out by one of the Chimeras who was previously forced to work for him (he's actually a ''lion'', not a dog).}}

** And then {{spoiler|Kimblee pulls one of these on Pride in a [[Dying Moment of Awesome]]}}.

* [[Doesn't Like Guns]]: Ed.

* [[Does This Remind You of Anything?]]: [[Word of God|The author]] has commented that the whole Ishval situation was inspired by the plight of the Ainu people, which is unsurprising given that she's from Hokkaido.

*** Not only Westerners. Interestingly enough, track #20 of the second ''Brotherhood'' OST, ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-nCtkY-43E Land of Ishvala]'', has a decidedly Oriental/Arabic tone.

** She has also said she gets ideas from befriending people in complicated personal situations, like disabled people, war refugees, and (wait for it) a former [[Yakuza]]. The similarity between {{spoiler|Riza's concern for hiding her tattoo}} and the social stigma a bearer of Yakuza tattoos has to endure in Japan is actually made fun of in a [[Omake|yonkoma]].

** [[Glorious Mother Russia|Glorious Mother Drachma?]]

** The scene in [[The Movie|The Sacred Star of Milos]] where {{spoiler|Atlas}} tries to take Julia's blood has some very rape-y overtones.

* [[Double Entendre]]: The homunculus named Lust is also referred to as the Ultimate Lance. (She's a woman, but I mean ''come on!'')

** ''[[Incredibly Lame Pun|Come on?]]''

* [[Dramatic Wind]]: what every opening and closing credit sequence is filmed in.

* [[Dreadlock Rasta]]: Izumi Curtis.

** In a troubling scene in a recent chapter, Envy {{spoiler|does a Gracia impression to taunt Roy about how he killed Maes}} and, with his usual body language... looks like a male transvestite.

** [[Word of God]] stated that Envy's gender is ambiguous, even to Envy. Many fans take this to mean that Envy is genderless. May be a justification for the {{spoiler|fetus-like look}} of Envy's abhorrent ''true'' true form.

 

== E ==

** Note that that last one {{spoiler|can very easily be mistaken for an older Ed with his arm intact. Family resemblance is a wonderful thing.}}

** Izumi and Sig can be seen in the background fairly early in the manga.

*** Ling {{spoiler|becoming Greed has ''nothing'' on the emotional impact of [[Tear Jerker|losing him again.]]}}

* [[Easily Forgiven]]: Averted quite nicely for the most part, especially with {{spoiler|Scar, who is never actually forgiven for his actions at all. He is, however, given the chance to seek redemption at the end, but whether he achieved it or not is, as they say, another story.}}

* [[Eccentric Mentor]]: Hohenheim, maybe. Also Bradley acts very similar to this until the Greed arc, at which point he changes completely.

* [[Eldritch Abomination]]: {{spoiler|Father}}, perhaps most explicitly portrayed during the events of Chapter 104.

* [[Empathy Doll Shot]]: In the Ishval backstory.

* [[Empty Piles of Clothing]]: Happens to Al after the failed human transmutation.

* [[Episode Title Card]]

* [[Equivalent Exchange]]: [[Trope Namer]] and the foundation of Alchemy.

** [[Ouroboros]]: All the homunculi have Ouroboros tattoos. We still haven't seen where Pride's is, though. Ed, Al and Izumi sport the Flamel.

** The symbol for Amestris (as seen in its flag, other banners and military badges) is a white dragon, a figure often associated with Arthurian legend and some mythical tales in Asia. The dragon is also engraved in all State Alchemists' pocket watches, circumscribed by a hexagram, which is also a well-known religious symbol.

* [[Even Evil Has Standards]]: One of {{spoiler|Hohenheim's many souls, named Zuul}}, was mentioned to be a terrible criminal seemingly beyond rehibilitation, but agreed that {{spoiler|Father needed to be destroyed for what he had done}}.

** Many characters react with horror to Pride's cruelty and callousness toward his allies {{spoiler|particularly when he ate Gluttony}}, even ''Kimblee''. {{spoiler|Even more surprising is when in chapter 106, Kimblee, previously devoured by Pride, rebels against him out of disgust at Pride's hypocrisy, and helps distract him long enough for Ed to destroy him}}

* [[Evil Counterpart]]: King Bradley arguably serves as this to several characters, but Ling is the most obvious example. They are both figures with authoritative positions, but while Bradley sees the people f his nation as little more than [[We Have Reserves|cannon fodder]], Ling strongly believes in the idea that people with power exist to serve those who don't. The parallels become even stronger when {{spoiler|Ling becomes a human-based homunculus like Bradley, but unlike Bradley who lost his original soul (in addition to all the other souls in his Philosopher's stone rendering him unable to regenerate like other homunculi) in the process of becoming Wrath, Ling manages to assert and maintain his consciousness within Greed. It is also interesting to note that Bradley was the 12th candidate for Führer and Ling is the 12th crown prince of Xing}}.

** Greed himself serves as a counterpart to Bradley, as he too values the existence of his underlings {{spoiler|and as stated before becomes the only other human-based homunculus}}

** Scar is a counterpart to Bradley, being a devoutly religious ex-monk who was a victim in the civil war that atheistic Bradley led and, like Bradley, a warrior without a true name.

* [[Evil-Detecting Dog]]: Den growls at Hohenheim, although that is a subversion since he isn't evil. Possibly he senses that Hohenheim {{spoiler|isn't altogether human}}.

** Animals reacting badly on the Promised Day.

** {{spoiler|Father also resembles Ed in some of the later chapters.}}

* [[Evil Costume Switch]]: After {{spoiler|Ling becomes Greed, he drops his Xingese-styled clothes in favor of an all-black suit and a [[Badass Longcoat]]. Subverted in that it didn't stay as "'''''Evil''''' Costume Switch" [[Heel Face Turn|for long]]}}.

** Same with Barry the Chopper.

* [[Expy]]: Jean Havoc's characterization and design originates from an earlier Arakawa manga, ''[[Shanghai Youma Kikai]]'', along with those of Lust.

** Lan Fan's design is nearly identical to the main heroine of Raiden-18, yet another one/two-shot from Arakawa.

* [[Extreme Omnivore]]: Gluttony.

** The process of {{spoiler|Bradley becoming a homunculus}} cause his eye to ''melt''.

* [[Eyes of Gold]]: Ed, and also Al before he got stuck in his [[Animated Armor]]. {{spoiler|They got it from their dad, and it's a sign that they're ethnically Xerxesian.}}

 

== F ==

* [[Family-Unfriendly Death]]: {{spoiler|Solf J. Kimblee's, although slightly averted due to his soul being incorporated by Pride before actual death. In the ''Brotherhood'' anime, after having his throat ripped out by chimera Heinkel, Kimblee's dying gasps for breath is a horrifying mix of oxygen-deprivation and drowning in his own blood. The sound is ''disturbingly'' realistic in its portrayal by Kimblee's seiyuu [[Hiroyuki Yoshino]].}}

* [[Fandom Nod]]: 503 as shorthand for Ed/Winry shipping, {{spoiler|Ed calling the new Greed "Gree(d)ling"}}.

* [[Fan Service]]: Lust and Winry's [[Stripperiffic|skimpy outfits]]; Ed, Ling and Armstrong's constant [[Shirtless Scene|shirtlessness]]. Several gratuitous bath/shower scenes, for Riza, Winry and Ed. The opening to season five, in which a very clearly maturing Ed is asleep and looking downright ''beautiful'', may also count.

** Though to be fair, Armstrong's shirtlessness may count as [[Fan Disservice]].

* [[Far East]]: Xing

* [[Fatal Family Photo]]: [[Lampshade Hanging|Explicitly pointed out]] by Roy, who uses it to warn Hughes against talking about his girlfriend on the battlefield. However, {{spoiler|a photo of Hughes' family actually plays a direct role in his death}}.

* [[Fate Worse Than Death]]: The people of Xerxes who {{spoiler|became disembodied, dehumanised souls making up Envy's true form}}.

* [[A Father to His Men]]: Roy Mustang is a prime example. Olivier also counts, if not for the fact that the "[[Everything Is Worse With Bears|Briggs Bears]]" [[Badass Army|can hold up on their own.]] But when they ''really'' need her assistance, Olivier can be a really ''terrifying'' [[Mama Bear]] [[A Worldwide Punomenon|To Her Men]].

** Ling qualifies, though he's royalty rather than military personnel. He's got a really protective streak when it comes to his bodyguards.

** {{spoiler|Greed himself pulls this on Father as he's being reabsorbed for good, using his carbonization ability to turn Father's body into charcoal.}}

* [[Figure It Out Yourself]]: Izumi gives one month for Ed and Al to figure out the meaning of "All is One, One is All" before they begin their official training.

* [[First Episode Spoiler]]: Al is an empty suit of armor and Ed has two artificial limbs.

* [[Five-Man Band]]: The members of Team Mustang.

* [[Foreshadowing]]: Lots. Especially prevalent in the first episode of ''Brotherhood''.

** A particularly emotional one (if you know the whole story, potentially making it [[Fridge Brilliance]]/[[Fridge Logic]]) is depicted in the second opening sequence of Brotherhood, when {{spoiler|Mustang battles Lust}}. In the manga, {{spoiler|Mustang brutalizes Lust by constantly scorching her with the aid of a transmutation circle carved '''''on the back of his own freakin' hand''''', until he finally [[Deader Than Dead|kills her off for real]]}}. These events take place in episode 19 of Brotherhood.

**** Could be this troper looking too much into things, but when Edward and the first Greed's battle is interrupted by the arrival of the military, Greed's words when he leaves are "See you later, kid," not "Goodbye." He gets killed soon after that, but {{spoiler|comes back ... he really does see Edward "later."}}

**** Think that's looking too much into things? Try asking yourself why [[Defector From Decadence|Marcoh]] calls the [[Philosopher's Stone]] "[[Satan|the Devil]]'s research".

** Does anyone else remember what Dominic said at Rush Valley!? He said that if Ed had lighter automail he'd get taller, and {{spoiler|when Ed gets his automail replaced at Briggs he comments on how much lighter it is, and a few chapters later becomes taller}}

* [[Forgotten Fallen Friend]]: Averted '''''hard''''' in Chapter 108, when Al reveals that he and Ed ''never'' forgot about their inability to save Nina, referring to an incident that occured 102 chapters ago and ''three years ago'' in-story. Major [[Tear Jerker]] when one of the chimeras asks his motivation for his journey of [[Walk the Earth|roaming the land]] seeking to right the wrongs done by alchemy. His simple reply is, "...There was a little girl that we weren't able to save."

* [[Functional Magic]]: Alchemy

* [[Funny Background Event]]: When the forces of good prepare to {{spoiler|attack Central Headquarters}} you can spot the presence of {{spoiler|Izumi Curtis}} as a pair of scary red eyes in the background.

 

{{reflist}}