With an intriguing mythos, a cast of unforgettable characters, and a narrative as expansive as it was wholly engrossing, this second adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa’s critically-acclaimed manga is widely regarded to be one of if not the best anime of all time. That’s no small praise, but with a collection of standout moments like these, its not hard to see why some would think so.
Fair warning, there are MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
#10: The Death of Maes Hughes
Roy Mustang’s best buddy was an all around lovable character who always managed to brighten up an episode. As you can imagine, his gruesome murder not only shocked the audience but left the rest of the cast utterly devastated.
#9: Greed Takes Over Ling
Ling’s desire to return to Xing as an immortal prompts him to make a deal with the devil, allowing his body to be possessed by the Homunculus Greed.
#8: Envy’s Death
In spite of all the terrible things he has done, watching the Homunculus lament his existence while killing himself made for quite the upsetting experience.
#7: Fuhrer Bradley Enters The Battle
While originally thought to be out of commission, the Fuhrer returns with a vengeance. Not only does he rally the rest of Central’s troops, but he slices apart a tank by himself!
#6: Alphonse Uses The Philosopher’s Stone
Despite facing off against both Pride and Kimblee, Al is able to use the power of a Philosopher’s Stone to even the odds.
#5: Shou Tucker Uses Alchemy On His Daughter
In the series’ most heartbreaking moment, Ed and Al discover the Life-Sewing Alchemist has used his own daughter Nina to create a talking chimera.
#4: Hohenheim’s Death
After living with regret for so many decades, Hohenheim is able to die with a smile on his face in front of his wife’s grave, knowing that he has finally atoned for his sins.
#3: The Final Battle
After gaining the power of God , all of Central rallies together in order to defeat Father, with Ed and Al making one final sacrifice in order to land the finishing blow.
#2: Ed Sees Alphonse’s Body
While passing through the Gate of Truth, Ed sees the withered body of his brother waiting on the other side. Such a sight reaffirms his commitment to fix his mistake.
#1: The Death of Lust
Watching Roy Mustang come back from near death and manage to incinerate a Homunculus made for such a riveting fight that it took our breath away.