The 24th episode of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. A captured Gluttony turns into a devouring nightmare, swallowing Ed, Ling, and Envy whole, while Mustang walks into a trap that reveals the rot festers at the very heart of the military.
Summary
At the homunculi's lair, Envy taunts the fasting Tim Marcoh and coldly admits he murdered Maes Hughes by taking Gracia's shape. Nearby, the hidden Pride confers with Wrath about Scar's escape and Gluttony's capture, and Wrath deduces where the colonel's people have taken his fellow homunculus. At the safe house, Gluttony transforms, his stomach opening into a false version of the Gate, and Mustang's flame alchemy is simply swallowed. The colonel, the Elrics, and Ling lure the monster into the forest, but Mustang's old Lust wound flares up mid-fight. Hawkeye and a decoy let the injured Mustang slip away in Knox's car while the brothers and Ling stay to hold the line.
Key Events
Envy appears disguised as a dog to retrieve Gluttony, ordering him to spare the Elrics as vital sacrifices but to kill Ling. Ed walls off the fight so Ling can duel Envy while the brothers handle Gluttony. Ling severs Envy's arm with dirty tactics honed by a life of dodging assassins, but Envy turns the tide by taking the wounded Lan Fan's form, and when Ed lunges to protect Ling, all three are swallowed into Gluttony's stomach. Al screams for their return, but Gluttony cannot bring them back. Following Hughes' advice, Mustang walks into Central Command and floats a joke about the Fuhrer being a homunculus to Lt. General Raven, only to find the entire top brass and Bradley waiting. Realizing the corruption is the military itself, he understands he has stepped into hell, just as Ed wakes bloodied in a strange place full of debris.
Notes
The episode adapts the manga chapters A Monster Among Men and In the Belly of the Beast, and the title card shows Mustang's flame array beside a simple circle linked to Alphonse. It marks Pride's first 2009 appearance, moved later than in the manga, and shifts Bradley's discussion of Gluttony's location from Envy to Pride. Envy disguises as a dog rather than the manga's horse, and takes Lan Fan's unmasked, injured form. A dub error has Bradley already knowing Ling's group comes from Xing before Ling has said so.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Envy admit to Tim Marcoh in "Inside the Belly"?
Envy coldly admits to the fasting Tim Marcoh that he murdered Maes Hughes by taking the form of Hughes's wife, Gracia.
How does Gluttony's stomach function as a weapon in this episode?
Gluttony's stomach transforms and opens into a false version of the Gate, and it simply swallows Mustang's flame alchemy attacks whole.
Who ends up swallowed inside Gluttony at the end of the episode?
Edward Elric, Ling Yao, and Envy are all swallowed into Gluttony's stomach after Envy takes the wounded Lan Fan's form and Edward lunges to protect Ling.
What does Mustang realize after walking into Central Command?
Mustang finds the entire top military brass, including Fuhrer Bradley, waiting for him and realizes the corruption from the homunculi runs through the military itself.
What manga chapters does "Inside the Belly" adapt?
The episode adapts manga chapters 49 and 50, "A Monster Among Men" and "In the Belly of the Beast."
Sources & Information
Looking for more on Inside the Belly? The Fullmetal Alchemist Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.
View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime based on the Fullmetal Alchemist anime series, manga, and official materials. Fullmetal Alchemist was created by Hiromu Arakawa, published by Square Enix, and animated by Bones. All rights to Fullmetal Alchemist and its characters belong to their respective owners. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byHiromu Arakawa
- Published bySquare Enix
- Animated byBones
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