Episode 51: Laws and Promises (2003 series)

Synopsis
The Elric brothers have been on a long and difficult journey, seeking to regain what they've lost. Enemies have been toppled, friends have been buried, and the state has been remade. But it's not over yet.

Transcript

 * View the transcript for the English dub of this episode here.

Episode Notes

 * The song used the moment Riza starts crying over Roy is entitled Wakare no Kyoku (別れの曲, music for parting), and is actually taken from Étude op. 10, No. 3 by Frédéric Chopin.
 * The part of Mustang drawing a transmutation circle on his hand with his own blood and using it to burn Pride (The Führer - King Bradley) to death is similar to how he killed Lust in the manga and the 2009 anime.
 * Notably the chapter this plotline originated from Chapter 39: Complications at Central was at the time the latest manga chapter released in Japan which was released not long before this episode's original airing.
 * In the United States, this episode aired with a disclaimer, warning viewers about the content of the episode.
 * This episode, more importantly, its ending, would be the foundation for the first Fullmetal Alchemist film, Conqueror of Shamballa, the sequel to the 2003 anime.
 * The title of this episode in Japanese is "Munich, 1921", which appears only in the middle of the episode and makes reference to the year and place Edward was sent to after he passed through the Gate. Although the title was completely changed in the american version, the text "Munich, 1921" still appears in the middle of the episode just like in the Japanese version.
 * The only moment Al uses alchemy without a transmutation circle in the 2003 series is in this episode, using it twice in it.
 * Even with the anime being followed by the movie Conqueror of Shamballa giving it a proper ending, many fans still consider this episode as the finale of the 2003 series and don't consider the movie as a whole, leaving the ending with Ed left to live his life at the other side of the Gate and Al without his memories.