I just finished reading a very negative FMA 2003 review ( https://myanimelist.net/reviews.php?id=155137 ), and even if some points are understandable, I strongly disagree that Fullmetal Alchemist 03 has no character development. And no, I'm not blinded by nostalgia glasses like OP said, since I didn't watch as a kid this anime. I really think that it has AMAZING character development!
In the beginning, Ed was an arrogant, egoistical and impulsive boy who couldn't accept his own actions, but in the end he became more mature and selfless, and understood that you can't erase your sins, but you have to accept them and continue living on. Mustang wasn't able to accept his past too, and he suffered from depression and PTSD, but he survived thanks to his own dreams. However, later on he took action and gave up his ambitions for revenge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jOHFg0iiXE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o3pS8T3s6A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6b87ZXPuso https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuoedfxhfFM
In the beginning, Al thought that Edward was always right and was able to do anything, no matter what. However, during the series he understood that Ed was nothing more than a fragile person (just like him), and he started having different opinions from him. Also, he became a lot more violent. https://youtu.be/oZLTWEDExmw
Winry started as a reckless person who had no dreams except being with Ed and Al, but later on she started thinking about her life and her career, and became stronger and more indipendent, thanks to her friendship with Sheska.
In the beginning, Scar thought that he was killing for God's will, but thanks to Lust and Al he understood that he was only trying to take revenge. In the end, he already knowed that he was going to die, and because of that he decided to help Ed and Al: he understood that they were just like him and his brother.
Rose's love for Edward was similar to Elizabeth's love for Darcy in Pride and prejudice: just like Elizabeth, Rose fell in love with a guy because of his past. I was never a big Austen fan (I like Brontes more), but I liked this little reference.
Dante wasn't meant to be a well-developed character. Her role was only philosophical: she represents cynicism, psychological hedonism and a criticism of American dream. However, even if Dante is right when she says that there are no certainties in life, Ed demonstrates that you can always be happy, no matter what, and that every experience (even the worst) can be bended into strenght. This is the point of Fullmetal Alchemist.
I think this goes without saying for 03. The show managed to do almost everything perfectly (imo) EXCEPT stick the landing. Bad endings don’t ruin a show, but they certainly leave a bad taste in your mouth once finished
carterman1552 said: I think this goes without saying for 03. The show managed to do almost everything perfectly (imo) EXCEPT stick the landing. Bad endings don’t ruin a show, but they certainly leave a bad taste in your mouth once finished
Honestly, I loved the ending and the bad taste in my mouth. Personally, my biggest issues with the show are the plot holes and
carterman1552 said: I think this goes without saying for 03. The show managed to do almost everything perfectly (imo) EXCEPT stick the landing. Bad endings don’t ruin a show, but they certainly leave a bad taste in your mouth once finished
Nah I personally liked the ending, no other ending gave me as much depression as fma 2003's one, it's also in the exact tone of the show and isn't an almost fanservice ending like brotherhood
carterman1552 said: I think this goes without saying for 03. The show managed to do almost everything perfectly (imo) EXCEPT stick the landing. Bad endings don’t ruin a show, but they certainly leave a bad taste in your mouth once finished
Honestly, I loved the ending and the bad taste in my mouth. Personally, my biggest issues with the show are the plot holes and
To be fair though the producers at bones had to make up their own story as the couldn't follow the Manga since it wasn't out completely yet, so they had to make stuff up as they went, the plotholes sure suck but when I put myself at the producers' place then I don't find them too bad
carterman1552 said: I think this goes without saying for 03. The show managed to do almost everything perfectly (imo) EXCEPT stick the landing. Bad endings don’t ruin a show, but they certainly leave a bad taste in your mouth once finished
Honestly, I loved the ending and the bad taste in my mouth. Personally, my biggest issues with the show are the plot holes and
To be fair though the producers at bones had to make up their own story as the couldn't follow the Manga since it wasn't out completely yet, so they had to make stuff up as they went, the plotholes sure suck but when I put myself at the producers' place then I don't find them too bad
carterman1552 said: I think this goes without saying for 03. The show managed to do almost everything perfectly (imo) EXCEPT stick the landing. Bad endings don’t ruin a show, but they certainly leave a bad taste in your mouth once finished
Honestly, I loved the ending and the bad taste in my mouth. Personally, my biggest issues with the show are the plot holes and
To be fair though the producers at bones had to make up their own story as the couldn't follow the Manga since it wasn't out completely yet, so they had to make stuff up as they went, the plotholes sure suck but when I put myself at the producers' place then I don't find them too bad
I agree that the plot holes weren't too bad, but
the cyborg shit has no excuses.
Wait you mean how they made him into a cyborg or something else?
carterman1552 said: I think this goes without saying for 03. The show managed to do almost everything perfectly (imo) EXCEPT stick the landing. Bad endings don’t ruin a show, but they certainly leave a bad taste in your mouth once finished
Honestly, I loved the ending and the bad taste in my mouth. Personally, my biggest issues with the show are the plot holes and
To be fair though the producers at bones had to make up their own story as the couldn't follow the Manga since it wasn't out completely yet, so they had to make stuff up as they went, the plotholes sure suck but when I put myself at the producers' place then I don't find them too bad
I agree that the plot holes weren't too bad, but
the cyborg shit has no excuses.
Wait you mean how they made him into a cyborg or something else?
He survived after Reole and then they made him into a cyborg.
carterman1552 said: I think this goes without saying for 03. The show managed to do almost everything perfectly (imo) EXCEPT stick the landing. Bad endings don’t ruin a show, but they certainly leave a bad taste in your mouth once finished
Honestly, I loved the ending and the bad taste in my mouth. Personally, my biggest issues with the show are the plot holes and
To be fair though the producers at bones had to make up their own story as the couldn't follow the Manga since it wasn't out completely yet, so they had to make stuff up as they went, the plotholes sure suck but when I put myself at the producers' place then I don't find them too bad
I agree that the plot holes weren't too bad, but
the cyborg shit has no excuses.
Wait you mean how they made him into a cyborg or something else?
He survived after Reole and then they made him into a cyborg.
carterman1552 said: I think this goes without saying for 03. The show managed to do almost everything perfectly (imo) EXCEPT stick the landing. Bad endings don’t ruin a show, but they certainly leave a bad taste in your mouth once finished
Honestly, I loved the ending and the bad taste in my mouth. Personally, my biggest issues with the show are the plot holes and
To be fair though the producers at bones had to make up their own story as the couldn't follow the Manga since it wasn't out completely yet, so they had to make stuff up as they went, the plotholes sure suck but when I put myself at the producers' place then I don't find them too bad
I agree that the plot holes weren't too bad, but
the cyborg shit has no excuses.
Wait you mean how they made him into a cyborg or something else?
He survived after Reole and then they made him into a cyborg.
Eh I didn't find it that bad lol
It's weird af, also there was no reason to let him survive.
carterman1552 said: I think this goes without saying for 03. The show managed to do almost everything perfectly (imo) EXCEPT stick the landing. Bad endings don’t ruin a show, but they certainly leave a bad taste in your mouth once finished
Honestly, I loved the ending and the bad taste in my mouth. Personally, my biggest issues with the show are the plot holes and
To be fair though the producers at bones had to make up their own story as the couldn't follow the Manga since it wasn't out completely yet, so they had to make stuff up as they went, the plotholes sure suck but when I put myself at the producers' place then I don't find them too bad
I agree that the plot holes weren't too bad, but
the cyborg shit has no excuses.
Wait you mean how they made him into a cyborg or something else?
He survived after Reole and then they made him into a cyborg.
Eh I didn't find it that bad lol
It's weird af, also there was no reason to let him survive.
Idk since it wasn't really a major plot point I don't really have an opinion on it, it was just, there idk
Well in my opinion 2003 had an overall better storyline with much more darker themes and more interesting villains. I feel dante just has more darkness to her than father. Though the brotherhood ending was more satisfying I have to say that plot and character development points go to 2003 fma
True, the Homunculi was amazing expanded on its own. Even if it's different, I highly appreciated most of the characters and their development during the story. Although, the characters were rather limited and some of them were disappointing such as the main villain, if I compare with Brotherhood.
