Ep 2. The First Day

On episode 2 of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, titled "The First Day", we follow the Elric brothers as they continue their journey to find the Philosopher's Stone. The episode starts with the brothers arriving at the Eastern City of Rush Valley, a place famous for its automail mechanics. The Elrics are in need of new automail limbs, so they set out to find a good mechanic to help them.

The city is bustling with activity and there are many automail shops to choose from. After some searching, they come across a young girl named Winry Rockbell who is an incredibly skilled automail mechanic with her own workshop. After seeing the quality of her work, the brothers decide to have Winry fix their automail limbs.

While Winry is working on their automail, the brothers attend a local festival in the city. During the festival, they witness a dangerous serial thief who is wreaking havoc in the city. The thief manages to escape the authorities by jumping off a building but is quickly pursued by Edward who jumps after him. In a thrilling chase across the rooftops, Edward manages to catch the thief, only to discover that the thief is a young girl who was stealing to help her sick father. Edward is touched by her devotion to family and decides to help her father.

Meanwhile, Alphonse befriends a young girl named Paninya, who is herself an automail mechanic. Through her, Alphonse learns about the tragic circumstances that can lead to someone becoming an automail mechanic. He is deeply moved by her story and it makes him reflect on the importance of family.

The episode ends with the Elric brothers leaving Rush Valley. They depart with new automail limbs that look and feel better than ever before. However, they continue to feel the weight of their past mistakes and the danger that comes with their journey. Despite this, they remain determined to find the Philosopher's Stone and restore their bodies.

Overall, "The First Day" is an exciting and poignant episode that showcases the best of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. It is filled with action, emotion, and great character development. Winry, Paninya, and the young thief all provide unique perspectives on the themes of family, love, and sacrifice. The episode sets the stage for the Elric brothers' ongoing journey while also giving viewers a glimpse into the world they inhabit.