Episode 27: Interlude Party (2009 series)

Interlude Party
Series	Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Episode number	27
Japan airdate	October 11, 2009
U.S.A. airdate	October 15, 2009 (online stream) January 8, 2011
Run time	0:24:41
Language	Japanese/English
Subtitles	English
Navigation
Preceded by	Reunion
Followed by	Father

Visions of the past play out by a warming fire as Hohenheim reflects on the unavoidable follies of man: the pain that comes with a loving family; the hidden truths of alchemy; and the roots and results of war.

Full Synopsis

In a scene taking place a very long time ago, Hohenheim is watching a party when a younger Pinako Rockbell offers him a drink. While watching the party, Pinako mentions the need to relax every once in a while from the conflicts since their country is always at war like with Ishval. Flashing through several clips, it is shown the amount of potential conflicts that Amestris had to suffer through since King Bradley took over as Führer. When a girl offers to dance, Hohenheim respectfully declines and Pinako reminds him that the boys were that age when they attempted Human Transmutation and Hohenheim states that even if he said something, it stopped them or what they had to atone for, which flashes to the clips of the day when Ed and Al lost their bodies from Human Transmutation and they began their search for the Philosopher's Stone only to find the atrocity that had to commit to create one. While watching Pinako dance with the children, a man resembling Hohenheim admits how humans never learn and only fear the darkness. He suggests that they use them to their benefit as resources.

This flashes back to when Ed discovered the special transmutation circle for Human Sacrifice in Laboratory 5. After he fought the Slicer Brothers and despite being hallow, Ed refused to kill them, but were killed when Lust and Envy destroyed their Blood Runes before they exposed too much of the Homunculi's plan. Besides Ed and Al, the Homunculi were planning to use Izumi Curtis and Roy Mustang as sacrifices as well, and Tim Marcoh wanted to know what this meant. It was due uncovering the Homunculi' plans that Maes Hughes had was to be killed since they were planning to create the same kind of Transmutation Circle that destroyed Xerxes. Back in the present, Pinako confronts Hohenheim on the subject who admits nothing would have changed if he informed everyone and for a long time he had been observing humanity and saw them as weak. Watching two kids' bodies explode, several clips representing the powers and abilities the Homunculus have, but Pinako admits to Hohenheim that despite their disadvantages humans will never give up, and more clips are shown such as the moment when Mustang killed Lust despite having serious injuries, Ed figuring out how to defeat Greed despite he was bleeding, Scar's brother saving Scar and giving him his arm at the cost of his life and Lan Fan sacrificing her left arm to save both her and Ling's lives from Wrath.

However despite Father's instance that the fate of humans cannot be changed, and exposing the Pinako before him as Hohenheim, a younger Trisha state that humans can change and after clips showing various characters demonstrations of courage, Trisha confirms these fears can also make people stronger. After hearing Trisha's message to recall their days in Resembool and remembering his experiences with the people there, Hohenheim wakes up and realizes everything he just experienced was nothing but a dream.

Episode Cards

Title Card

Eyecatche #1

Eyecatche #2

Episode Notes

• This episode is a recap of the events of the first 26 episodes and also provides valuable insight into Hohenheim's character.
• None of the events regarding Hohenheim and his interactions with Father, Pinako, and Trisha in this episode are part of the main story, nor does it follow the series timeline, as this episode is actually part of Hohenheim's dream.
• The Transmutation Circle which appears in the background of this episode's title card is the Human Transmutation Circle used by the Elric brothers.
• This episode features the young Pinako Rockbell, and Trisha Elric both as a child and an adult.
• This episode also features many shots of the in-joke brand of booze "Stray Dog", named after a previous series of Arakawa's, which has also appeared several times in the manga.
• This episode is the first episode of the third season.
• While "Tsunai Da Te" replaces "Let It Out" as the ending from this episode on (at least until episode 39), the latter plays as an insert song near the end of the episode.