Beyond the action, Episode 37 delves deep into the series’ central theme: what does it mean to be human? Pride explains his origin without emotion. He was created from Father’s own Philosopher’s Stone, and his purpose is to protect Father’s grand plan—the nationwide transmutation circle that will turn all of Amestris into a Philosopher’s Stone. Unlike Greed, who desired worldly possessions, or Lust, who questioned her own existence, Pride has no doubts. He is pure loyalty.
– Selim Bradley is a terrifying critique of how society trusts children. Pride weaponizes that trust. It’s a reminder that in Arakawa’s world, evil often wears a smiling face.
This episode draws a stark parallel between Pride and the Elrics. Edward and Alphonse attempted Human Transmutation to revive their mother—an act born of love and grief. Father created the Homunculi as tools, devoid of love. Yet, in a cruel irony, the Homunculi exhibit more human flaws (pride, greed, envy, lust) than their creator. Pride, in particular, shows a twisted sense of familial duty toward his "father" (Father) and a possessive contempt for his "brothers" (the other Homunculi). When Gluttony appears to help Pride, Pride dismisses him as an idiot, but he doesn’t destroy him—suggesting even the first Homunculus has a shred of attachment.
The voice acting in both sub and dub is exceptional. Romi Park (Edward) conveys sheer panic mixed with stubborn resolve, while Yūko Sanpei as Pride delivers a performance that oscillates between childish innocence and ancient, chilling authority. In the English dub, Maxey Whitehead’s Selim/Pride is similarly haunting. Fullmetal Alchemist- Brotherhood Episode 37
– Father created Pride, believing he could control pure, loyal power. Yet Pride’s obsession with his own "perfection" becomes a weakness. The episode asks: can any creator truly control their creation?
: The title card for this episode features the Ouroboros array, a nod to the ancient nature of the First Homunculus.
In the North, the tension between the Elric brothers and the military reaches a breaking point. Reddit·r/animehttps://www.reddit.com Beyond the action, Episode 37 delves deep into
📍 : Look for the scene where Selim’s shadow stretches across the wall—it’s the definitive hint at his true power before the full manifestation.
In the grand tapestry of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood , few episodes act as a pivot point for the entire narrative quite like While the series is renowned for its high-octane alchemical battles and complex philosophical debates, this specific installment stands out as a masterpiece of exposition and character tragedy. It is the episode where the scales fall from the audience's eyes, revealing the true face of the enemy and the heartbreaking origins of the Elric brothers' suffering.
Studio Bones outdid themselves in this episode. Directed by Yasuhiro Irie, uses lighting and shadow not just as aesthetic choices but as narrative devices. Pride’s true form is revealed through a single, slow pan where the camera lingers on Edward’s terrified face reflected in a puddle—a puddle that suddenly turns black and ripples unnaturally. The color palette shifts from warm earth tones to cold blues and blacks when Pride attacks. The sound design is equally superb: the slicing of shadow blades is accompanied by a noise reminiscent of tearing silk, unnerving and sharp. Unlike Greed, who desired worldly possessions, or Lust,
Ed listens as this forgotten being speaks with haunting clarity. He remembers his birth from the flask, his naming—he chose the name “Hohenheim” long before Van Hohenheim took it. He remembers loving a woman, being betrayed, and having his entire identity stripped away. He is the original, the prototype, the first homunculus. And he has spent centuries in the dark, dreaming of the sky.
: Winry joins the Elric brothers on their journey to the North under the guise of maintaining Ed’s cold-weather automail.
This episode also explicitly confirms what sharp viewers had suspected: Führer King Bradley is fully aware of the Homunculi’s plans. His "adoption" of Selim was a cover to keep the Homunculi’s leader close to the seat of power. From this point forward, transitions from a mystery-solving adventure to an all-out rebellion against a shadow government.