#5th laboratory

At this current point in time, I have just finished episode 22 of 03 and I am confused, but I also have a lot of opinions about everything that has happened over the past few episodes, more specifically everything with the 5th lab, and while I had been posting things as everything was happening I gave up as more and more ridiculous shit kept happening. This all being said I want to make it abundantly clear that as I make comparisons I am making them to the manga and not Brotherhood. If you have a problem with that this is not the blog for you, I am looking at this show as an adaptation of the original source, not its own story, which in my opinion is what it is. If it was supposed to be its own show it would be something different that was actually its own thing not whatever the fuck it is. With that being said what the fuck was this adaptation of the 5th lab arc??

First I want to address Greed, as of this point in time I do not see a reason for him to be included, and while I am open to that being further explored this is just a wonderful example of the writers of 03 essentially saying they don't give a fuck about the manga they are adapting. His inclusion in the arc makes no sense as I feel like as it has been depicted up to this point relies on viewers already knowing who he is to an extent, especially when he makes a brief appearance in episode 19/20 (I don't remember which it was off of the top of my head). Even as we see more of him and him finding the chimeras that doesn't make a lot of sense if you don't already know who he is, and if you do already know who he is you would know that he isn't supposed to be there. Also with Greed, if he causes so many problems for the other homunculi as is implied, why was the button that Barry had access to something that could cause damage in a way that would release him.

I genuinely dislike how they are taking this outside of very select things. I don't like what the homunculi try to force Ed to do, that along with many elements of this arc feel like they are making it edgy for the sake of being edgy (and as an angst author, this is something that I hate because when it's done like this you can tell and it doesn't feel as impactful or like it has a point). FMA is already a dark story and the dark elements are beautifully done without making it edgy for the sake of being edgy. I do not understand why Shou Tucker needed to be brought back, he should have stayed dead. I will say that I like the homunculi explicitly stating that they want to be human but there are ways to explore that without solely fucking over Ed.

Also, the way they handle so many things takes away from an incredibly badass moment that Maria Ross got. I'm sorry her hugging Ed when he's basically turning into a god (which what the fuck? I will get back to that) and that stopping it is not as cool as her shooting Barry and therefore helping Al. Part of the reason I love this series (specifically the manga and here by extension Brotherhood) is the powerful women and I just can't stand how many of the women are portrayed in 03.

Next Scar, because why was he there except to eventually save Ed, but still these changes feel like a fuck you to the original which is not something I particularly care for. His presence only sort of makes sense when it comes to what changes are made, otherwise (especially when he first shows up) it feels like he is just taking Maria Ross's place. He shouldn't have been needed, the original plot of this arc was perfectly good.

Now I'm gonna talk about alchemy in 03 because it feels like a glorified magic system when originally it was very clearly a science. There are many things that don't make sense but one thing that I specifically dislike is how less deliberate alchemy is in 03, the thing with Ed and the stone would have never happened if it was more science-based and more deliberate. Alchemy is most like some sort of reaction being triggered. Ed stepping on the stone and almost becoming god makes no sense. I do not care that he was on a circle. The stone is a tool, not a magical artifact, it amplifies what skill someone is using. There is no reason that it should be able to suddenly make someone discount god. If anything should have happened Ed should have been transmuted somehow, but even then there was no intent for alchemy to be performed so nothing should have happened. Alchemy is not a magic that can go off on its own, it is a science that needs to be studied and then can be used by people, it doesn't just happen. Going off of this what the fuck was the stuff that was holding Greed in place because clearly there was what was implied to be alchemy subduing him (see him immediately breaking through the shitty belts) and this is just more magic alchemy bullshit that doesn't make sense. Like how would that work without it being bullshit magic.

Now if you do have answers, kindly don't provide them. I am essentially reacting to the show as I watch it. I understand things will be answered, but that doesn't mean that I want them now I want to naturally come to those pieces of information as I want the context. So no spoilers in the replies please (there is a reason I always note where I am in my watch-through). Also just because there is an answer, doesn't mean I'm not going to have the same or a similar critique, explanations don't magically fix things.

1) Where is the circle for human transmutation? Most of this follows the manga pretty closely but the circle just isn't on the floor even though it was very clearly important and solidified the lab's connection to the stone so why leave it out

2) Greed's brief appearance in ep 19. Just why? That just means nothing to anyone who doesn't have prior knowledge of the series and if you do it's almost more confusing. It just feels unnecessary and if they don't do something with it soon it just wasn't a good story telling choice