I could go on and on all day about Fullmetal Alchemist because quite frankly, I love this show. In case you haven't checked it out yet, you should know that I'm not alone in that adoration. This has become one of the most prominent series on the market and ever since it was a manga by Hiromu Arakawa the concept has captivated audiences. This is one of the most well crafted and memorable anime of all time and it just gets better with each volume.

Sadly the final installment is upon us with the Conqueror of Shamballa right around the corner. If you're coming to this review to find out about the show and are wonder what it's all about be warned that you'll probably encounter some spoilers, though I will keep them as minimal as possible. It's hard to judge a show this late in its run to a new audience so typically it's better to assume the reader has seen what has transpired to date.

Some 49 episodes ago the show started with Edward and Alphonse Elric trying to bring their mother back from the dead using a taboo form of alchemy. Because the law of equivalent exchange is omnipresent in the world of alchemy the boys had to give up something in order to get something. Ed lost an arm and leg while Al lost his body all together, only to have his soul graphed to a suit of armor. The end result was a failed transmutation that did nothing more than create a horrid nightmare, let alone bring their mother back. The Elrics then set out on a mission to find a Philosopher's Stone which would give them the power to undo the mistakes of their past.

Over the course of the series though, things have changed. We learned that the Philosopher Stone could only be obtained by a vast amount of human sacrifice and even so it was unclear whether or not it would be able to accomplish what the brothers wished it to. While Edward joined the military and butted heads with Mustang, the Flame Alchemist, other characters came into the fold and darkness eventually seeped into the picture.

A man with a chip on his shoulder, Scar, was introduced and became a noble villain of sorts. Creatures known as Homunculi also found their way into the show. These critters were something entirely different; in fact they were not even human. Along the way we found out they were indeed the byproduct of a failed human transmutation. If that doesn't put two and two together for you, then surprise! The Elric's mother was introduced as Homunculi not too long ago and you can imagine the problems that led to for our heroes.

In the previous volume Ed and Al's father confronted Dante and her Homunculi only to be sent into the Gate. Al's body was used to transmute Tucker's daughter Nina back to life and shortly thereafter Lust and Sloth bit the dust. Roy Mustang also set in motion a revolt to distract the attention of Central's forces so that he could get closer to the Fuhrer, who is the Homunculi otherwise known as Pride. Three episodes remain until the final credits roll for Fullmetal Alchemist and things have really started to heat up going into the last volume.

So many things happen in these final three episodes that turn the show upside down and over sideways that you'll probably want to watch the volume again once you're done. Every plotline and every relationship that these characters have had find some form of close or another. I will not go into any detail to ruin anything for you, but I will say that the ending remains a cliff-hanger with obvious leads towards Conqueror of Shamballa. Edward, Alphonse, the Homunculi, and even members of the military that we have come to known over these 51 episodes all get some closure.

As far as what's safe to talk about from this volume? Well, how about the fact that the Gate is actually a link between the world of alchemy and our world circa 1921. Through the course of some events here Edward finds himself cast into the Gate only to wind up in the body of his alternate world counterpart on the other side. He arrives just in time for some Zeppelins to drop bombs and meets up with his father who also made it through the Gate.

It would seem whereas alchemy developed in Ed's world, technological superiority developed in ours. The two universes are linked together in a devious manner and it calls into question the laws of Equivalent Exchange. Unfortunately for Ed he can't use his alchemy in our world, though his father does inform him that he has the power to travel back through the Gate because only his mind and soul made it through. Heeding his father's advice he does indeed go back through the Gate. He arrives just in time to see Al being devoured by Gluttony and Dante working towards her ultimate goal of taking over Rose's body. Things go to hell from there and once the dust settles you can rest assured that the franchise will never be the same.

It was with open-jawed wonder that I watched Fullmetal Alchemist come to a close. Some of the concepts like the Gate linking our world and the alchemic one and, well, other things that I won't discuss due to their spoiling nature left me astonished. The world of the Elric brothers has been turned upside down and I can't wait to get my hands on Conqueror of Shamballa. This was one of the most climactic and admittedly frustrating endings for a show that I have ever seen. My only hope is that unanswered questions find resolution in the film, but only time will tell.

Fullmetal Alchemist is presented with a 1.33:1 full frame ratio and features an absolutely amazing transfer. The image is very clean but there is a little bit of grain in some parts that appear in darker more shadowed areas as well as a tad bit of aliasing at others points. A couple noticeable spots of compression artifacts were visible this time around as well. There's no short way around it; this is one great looking show. Hiromu Arakawa's art style is captured faithfully in every single frame.

There are three separate tracks to choose from, including Japanese and English 2.0 stereo and English 5.1. The 2.0 tracks are competent enough if you don't have a home theater set up and the 5.1 option features some nice directional sound and distribution. Unlike other anime, I can honestly say that when it comes to this show I prefer the English dubbing over the original Japanese. That's usually not the case for me but the caliber of actors here is unbelievable. Overall the audio treatment for Fullmetal Alchemist is top notch compared to other anime.

In tried and true fashion the last volume of Fullmetal Alchemist includes the final alchemic booklet. Another round of production art, character profiles, trailers, and clean animations is also around. Thankfully another commentary is included, though instead of voice actors this one includes the two directors for the show. It's lighthearted and insightful which are important when it comes to a commentary. The real treat here is the inclusion of a 31 minute look at the series by basically the entire English voice cast. It's a little bit of fluff material combined with some personal views of the actors, so you do have to take it with a grain of salt. It's not very informative to someone that has watched the entire series, but fans will probably get a kick out of watching it.

With tissue in hand it's mad sad duty to report that Fullmetal Alchemist the series has come to a close. I laughed, I cried, and I found myself on the edge of my seat on more than one occasion. This was an anime that seemed to have all of the elements going for it. From start to finish Fullmetal Alchemist never lost sight of what it was, which is something that not many shows can say. With bated breath I await Conqueror of Shamballa but until then I think I'll start watching this series over again.

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