Full Metal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 1 To Challenge the Sun

Two brothers named Edward and Alphonse Elric are skilled in the magical art of alchemy, but after performing a forbidden human transmutation to try and bring their deceased mother back to life, they pay a horrible price. Edward loses an arm and a leg, while Alphonse's entire body is destroyed with his soul affixed to a suit of armor. Now, the two brothers embark on a journey to find the Philosopher's Stone and use its power to restore their bodies to their full potential.

In the first episode, entitled "To Challenge the Sun," the boys travel to the city of Liore, where a false prophet named Cornello has convinced the desperate citizens that he can bring their deceased loved ones back to life with the power of the sun god Leto. Edward is highly skeptical of the man's claims and suspects that he may be using alchemy to create illusions to fool the townspeople.

Upon arriving in Liore, they meet a young girl named Rose who was too late to be part of the mass-revival process, and her brother has passed away. She wants to believe in Cornello's claims, but the brothers try to talk some sense into her. In order to investigate Cornello, Ed disguises himself as a priest and attends one of the man's sermons, while Alphonse stays behind to protect Rose.

During the sermon, Cornello uses his alchemy to illuminate the church with golden light, making it seem like a miracle is occurring. Ed recognizes this as the same technique he has seen before, which confirms Cornello is using alchemy to create the illusion of Leto. The episode comes to a head when a disbelieving Rose confronts Cornello when she learns that he cannot actually bring people back to life.

Using alchemy, Cornello transforms into a large, weak creature and desperately tries to convince Rose to return to his side. However, Edward arrives just in time to stop Cornello and reveals his true identity. Cornello, who has been using a Philosopher's Stone, a powerful artifact capable of amplifying alchemy, is destroyed with the Stone being consumed by Edward. The resulting energy causes the surrounding area to be destroyed with Edward being the only survivor unscathed.

The episode concludes with the brothers and Rose parting ways. Edward has come to realize the dangers of recklessly using alchemy, and the true cost that it can bear. He vows to help others and to search for the Philosopher's Stone in order to fix his and Alphonse's broken bodies.

Overall, "To Challenge the Sun" sets up the main themes of the show from the start, showcasing the consequences that come with using alchemy and the sacrifices that the Elric brothers must make along the way. The episode also introduces the concept of the Philosopher's Stone, the all-important artifact that will drive the plot forward. Finally, the episode expertly fast-forwards the story with a big reveal that sets up the main characters for their journey.