Beyond the Gate: A Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Podcast

It's the final episode of Beyond the Gate! Join us for a brief discussion on the original FMA and FMAB extras such as the light novels, bloopers, and OVAs! We also have an exciting announcement about our plans for the future. Tune in to hear all about it!

The end of a great story has finally come. In this episode, we discuss our character's journeys, the lessons they learned, and the mastery of the storytelling. Join us this week as we share part one of two of our final thoughts on FMAB

It's the end of the journey. With a final fist fight and a surprising sacrifice, Father is finished. There's no time to celebrate as Alphonse has been lost in the portal of Truth and Ed is determined to save him the right way. With another sweet moment of brotherly love, Ed defeats Truth and brings his brother home. Now that this journey has ended many goodbyes must be made, new journeys begun, and new promises made.

The true final battle has begun. Father against Edward, Alphonse, and all of the allies they have gathered on their journey. With everyone working together it seems like they can't lose, however, Father won't be beaten so easily. And in a moment of true brotherly love, Alphonse must make the ultimate sacrifice to save his brother.

Father has become the most powerful being and appears unstoppable. However, thanks to some unlikely allies, all hope is not lost.

The standoff with Father has begun. Ed and the other Sacrifices prove to be no match for him and Father enacts his plan to use the souls of the Amestrians to become one with god. In this episode we also break down our Spotify wrapped! Thanks to everyone for listening!

Mustang must make the ultimate choice: perform human transmutation or let his love die. In the same vein, Alphonse must choose between finally returning to his human body or continue fighting to save Amestris. In the ultimate episode for Royai fans, hard choices must be made and true human strength is put to the test.

The Sacrifices are being collected for the Promised Day leaving their comrades dismayed. Meanwhile, we say goodbye to some great side characters and see the epic wrath of GreedLing unleashed.

The fight between GreedLing and the Fuhrer continues. GreedLing is no match for the Fuhrer, and sacrifices by dear comrades are needed to take him down. Meanwhile, Ed, Scar, Mustang, and Hawkeye are attacked by their own forms of the Fuhrer while the gold-toothed doctor enacts his part of the plan, ending in the disappearance of Ed, Al, and Izumi.

Fuhrer King Bradley has returned and turns the tides of the battle in Central's forces. GreedLing finally makes his debut in the battle with an epic entrance. Meanwhile, Hohenheim reveals his mastery of his philosophers stone to take down Father.

The fighting in Central continues with Izumi and Sig joining the fray and absolutely crushing it. The Briggs forces have taken Central, but the celebration of victory is short-lived with one of the most epic returns of a villain. In this episode, we also discuss our recent anime convention adventure!

Mustang continues his quest for revenge, and we learn the nature of his and Hawkeye's relationship. Or do we? With the death of another homunculus and the appearance of our favorite housewife, this was the perfect episode for a guest, Ava, back again to actually discuss Fullmetal this time!

The tides are changing in Central as the people learn of the coup taking place in the city, thanks to the Fuhrer's wife's bravery. Mustang's plan to become Fuhrer seems to be going well, but now he finally has learned who's behind Hughes death and is determined to get his revenge.

The fighting is in full swing on the Promised Day. Al faces off with Pride and Kimblee in one of the most artfully choreographed fights in the show. Meanwhile, the Armstrongs hold their own while still managing to bicker as only siblings can. And finally, a pun reveals the reason for this whole story's existence. Join us! Along with our special guests as we break down this action-packed episode!

We've finally made it to the last into/outro pairing of the show! In this episode, we give our opinions on the music and imagery, say what our favorite intros and outros were, and go on small tangents about our music tastes in general.

Ed and company are up against the mindless immortal army. Meanwhile Al faces a tough decision when up against the escaped Pride and Kimblee. While a high stakes episode, your hosts have found some humor in both the Armstrong siblings reunion and the animation fails.

The Promised Day has officially begun. Mustang's force is up against Central forces and has taken on the unusual challenge of not killing anyone much to the disgust of Olivier and her Briggs soldiers who have also entered the fight in a more brutal manner. Things appear to be going well till Central leaders unleash their horrible pet project.

After consuming Gluttony, Pride has leveled up and seems impossible to beat until Alphonse devises a daring plan to keep everyone safe, and as the sun rises on the Promised Day, everyone gears up to face whatever may come. So epic!

In the heat of battle, Ed and his teammates have to rely on all their unique skills to win the fight against Pride and Gluttony. Meanwhile, Mustang begins to make moves in Central to take control. During this episode, we learn some valuable lessons about how to tell if someone can be trusted, and that we shouldn't eat our kin.

Ed finally reunites with Al, but the joy is short-lived as it's revealed Pride has taken over Al's body. With the help of GreedLing, the chimeras (specifically their animal instincts), and a new arrival, Ed takes the homonculi head on. 

The Promised Day is close at hand and everyone is preparing. Ed returns to Resembool, surprising Winry, to tune up his automail while Al travels to the East with the Northern Amestrian forces. Mustang and Grumman hit a snag in their plan which forces Grumman to make an explosive move against the enemy.

Everyone is on the move this episode as the news about the Promised Day is passed from one person to another to another and so on. Ed forms a new alliance with GreedLing, and Olivier earns her rightful place as the Armstrong heir. This episode also includes rants, relatable characters, and a little bit of jealousy from your hosts.

Our favorite automail-limbed boy is alive! With a very Edward Elric-esque entrance, Ed is back on the scene and on the run from the military with two unlikely comrades, Kimblee's chimeras, and is searching for Al. Meanwhile, Al is in Leore, reuniting with his father and learning the secrets of the homonculi that may be the key to defeating them.

It's a trap! Zampano has lured Envy into a surprise attack that creates an opportunity for major character growth and ends in an unexpected physical transformation. With a hilarious bluff, friendly razzing, and sibling bickering, this episode also pleasantly surprised us with how much we laughed while watching!

Not all hope is lost as May, Al, and the rest of Scar's crew uncover a new transmutation circle that may counteract the transmutation circle created by Sloth. On a similar front, Hohenheim makes his own discoveries about Father's plans and the origins of the homonculi, which leads to a lengthy and fascinating discussion from your hosts on the 7 deadly sins, the creation of the dwarf in the flask, and the author's inspiration.

In this gut-wrenching episode, Ed and Al are once again on separate paths. Al has joined Scar's group of misfits who are translating Alchemy notes from Scar's brother while Ed faces off against Kimblee and his men. From the animation, to the voice acting, to the story itself, this episode is definitely a highlight and sets FMAB apart from other stories.

Father's origin and Van Hohenheim's backstory is revealed and there is much to discuss. In the present, Mustang learns some startling news from Hawkeye in their coded language. We were so looking forward to this episode as young Hohenheim is voiced by one of our favorite voice actors!

In this episode, Meg and Megan talk about the fourth intro and outro for FMAB. Meg is still undecided about her favorite intro. (This outro is Megan's favorite, though!)

After last episodes terrifying end, we learn that things are not always as they seem as we see Major Miles, the Elrics, and Scar's crew hatch a plan to escape Kimblee. However, Miles receives some distressing news that throws a wrench in their plan, and Al learns he may be running out of time to return to his body.

The Elrics and Kimblee are on the hunt for Scar at an abandoned mining town in the North. Ed gets to try out his new automail while Al is reunited with his #1 fan. In this episode we discuss why everything is not always black and white and Mustang and Hawkeye's deep bond.

With Raven out of the way, Olivier begins to move with a rescue attempt and recruiting Mustang to help her defend the North. Meanwhile, Kimblee gives Edward orders from the Fuhrer that offers a chance for the Elrics to get their bodies back, but at a steep price. This episode includes a discussion on the bond between the Elrics and Winry as well as some of the cutest scenes between Ed and Winry!

Our love for Olivier continues to grow as she defends the North with shocking and hardcore tactics. In this episode, we also learn more about the Elric's father and another villain reveals itself in Sloth's tunnel. Meg's love for anime children is on full display and we have another special guest to help us break down the episode!

Major General Armstrong proves her prowess as the fierce defender of the North with her defeat of Sloth. In the tunnel, the Elrics and the Briggs soldiers make a startling discovery about Amestris and decide to join forces to take down the Homonculi. Kimblee and General Raven have also arrived at Fort Briggs, which spells trouble for both the Elrics and Olivier.

The Elrics have reach the Northwern Wall of Briggs where they learn what it takes to be a soldier in the North. Despite being far from Central, trouble still manages to find them with the attack of a previously unknown homonoculi: Sloth. In this episode, we also have a special guest to help us introduce the Ice Queen, aka Major General Olivier Armstrong, who shows her true strength as commander of the Northern Wall.

In this episode, we go off the beaten path of FMAB to discuss another beloved show with special guests Hannah and Marli from the Haikyuu Summit! Along with this special episode, we were also invited to their show. Give it a listen! (: Haikyuu Summit Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6UxA2qvWWSbqiyXs5565uu?si=cbb4d531518441d0 Find the Haikyuu Summit on Instagram @thehaikyuusummit

The Elrics have arrived in the North! They find themselves unprepared for harsh winter weather and the even harsher people of the North. Scar and his crew are also making their way North with Kimblee hot on their trail. In this episode, we also get our first glimpse of the formidable Major General Olivier Mira Armstrong.

Scar and his gang are heading north but Kimblee is hot on their trail. Ed meets an adorable fan who gives Ed and Al a glimpse into the Fuhrer's home life. Mustang makes a new ally who gives Ed and Al a clue to their next destination: the north.

Mustang's crew have been scattered across Amestris but they haven't been taken out of the game yet. While Ed and Al search for the little girl (May) who knows Alkahestry, Ed encourages (or bribes) Mustang in his mission to become Fuhrer.

Riza recounts the horrors of the Ishvalan war to Ed and shares Mustang's vision for the future while Marcoh explains to Scar the reason behind the extermination. In this very full episode, we discuss the Ishvalan war's similarities to our own world history and the idea of god as a created concept used to manipulate mankind.

After the confrontation with Father, Ed and Al are taken to Wrath who makes it clear that the homonculi mean business. While Mustang has been momentarily defeated, he is not giving up on his aspirations. In this episode, we experience the calm after battle and see the characters become more resolved in their goals.

Envy, Ling, and Edward have escaped from Gluttony's stomach but their troubles are not over yet when they finally meet the man behind it all, Father. Father proves to be a formidable foe as he strips Edward and Alphonse of their alchemy and decides to use Ling for his own nefarious purposes.

Meg and Megan talk about the third round of intros/outros for FMAB. This time, they discuss Megan's favorite intro and Meg's favorite outro!

In this recap episode, Hohenheim relaxes around a fire, reminding us of everything that has happened thus far. This was the perfect episode to discuss how far the characters have come since the beginning of the show. We also discover which characters we are most like!

All is not lost for Ed, Ling, and Envy as Ed devises a daring plan to escape Gluttony's stomach. Meanwhile, Al and Gluttony, followed by Scar and May, enter the lair of Father, the creator of the homonculi! This episode has one of the best scenes in the whole series and it was the moment we realized this show was going to be one of our favorites!

Edward and Ling are alive but trapped inside Gluttony's stomach with no hope of escape. Al and Gluttony are at a loss as to what do next while Mustang's discovery of the military's secrets has devastating consequences for his cabal. Finally, Envy's revelations, both of his true form and his actions in Ishval, may prove to be too much for Ed to handle. 

Gluttony's rampage has the Elrics and Ling once again fighting for their lives. Meanwhile, Mustang realizes he may have bitten off more than he can chew as he takes the next step in his plan to become Fuhrer. This episode also included some Al sass and amazing voice acting that had us both laughing and crying.

The fight continues with Scar and the homonculi. The Elrics and Ling are successful in the capture of a homonculi but were unprepared for the sacrifices that would need to be made. We were blown away by some of the character's actions in this episode, and were super excited to discuss!

The trap set for the homunculi has drawn them out, but their strength has taken Ling and Lan Fan by surprise and they are fighting for their lives. The Elrics confront Scar with his past, which forces Scar to reflect on the path he's chosen and face the consequences of his actions. We also get to witness one of the sweetest moments in the whole series that had our hearts melting!

In this episode, we learn of the aftermath of the battle with Lust, which has left Mustang's crew beaten down but not defeated. Meanwhile, Scar's back in town, ready to enact his revenge, and the Elrics hatch a plan to lure out the homonculi with the help of some friends. This episode is also one of the funniest and had us laughing nearly the whole time!

Happy Valentines Day! This week we're taking a break from Fullmetal and celebrating the holiday all about love with a discussion on fictional crushes from our childhoods! We even have a special guest. Another animator, Ava! A portion of this episode has also been animated and can be found on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/m9zigpgdJ4E Warning: spoilers for other shows, such as Fruits Basket and Avatar the Last Airbender in this episode. This episode was inspired by one of our favorite YouTubers, Emirichu! Check out her videos here! https://www.youtube.com/@Emirichu/videos

Reappearing after 10 years, the Elric brother's father prompts Ed to seek an unpleasant truth about their botched human transmutation. The truth he discovers brings the brothers closer together, and more determined than ever to complete their mission of returning Al to his body!