Full Metal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 6 The Alchemy Exam

Ed and Al head to Central City to take the State Alchemy Exam, a prerequisite to becoming a State Alchemist. Along the way, they bump into an alchemist by the name of Shou Tucker and his daughter Nina, a vibrant and playful girl who develops an immediate fondness for the Elric brothers.

Upon their arrival at the exam site, they encounter a stern and unyielding examiner, Major Armstrong, who manages to intimidate Ed with his sheer size and muscle power. The exam consists of written and practical portions, and the brothers quickly breeze through the written test.

However, when they're given the practical portion, things take a turn for the worse. They're tasked with transmuting a small, rudimentary object by using only the energy provided by a small stone at their disposal. Ed has no problem performing the transmutation, but he's surprised to see that Al's efforts are unsuccessful.

Ed asks Al what's wrong, and Al reveals that he's grown increasingly unsure of his own ability to perform alchemy. He feels like he's lost his touch with the very essence of alchemy and now doubts whether he has what it takes to become a State Alchemist.

Ed tries to encourage his younger brother, reminding him of the sheer determination and hard work they'd put into perfecting their craft. Meanwhile, Al's doubts are further compounded when the examiners inform him that he'll have to re-take the practical portion in front of a new set of examiners.

Before they leave Central City, Tucker invites the Elric brothers to stay with him and train with his daughter Nina. Ed and Al agree, and they spend the following days learning from Tucker. They're impressed with his speed and dexterity, and he becomes something of a mentor to them.

As the days go by, Tucker appears to be harbouring a secret. He seems increasingly preoccupied with his work, and his daughter Nina admits to Ed and Al that her father's behaviour has been unusual lately.

Ed and Al come across a laboratory within Tucker's house, which contains his research documents and experiments. It's then that they make a shocking discovery: Tucker has succeeded in transmuting a chimera, a hybrid creature that's a blend of several animals.

However, the Elric brothers are disturbed by how the chimera came into being. They realize that Tucker must have used his own wife as the basis for the chimera, transmuting both her and an animal to create the chimera.

Ed and Al are horrified by Tucker's actions and confront him about it. However, Tucker is unrepentant and argues that he's only pursuing his own goals, much like the Elric brothers.

Ed and Al are troubled by the implications of Tucker's experiments. They realize that tinkering with the very fabric of life can have terrible consequences, especially if it's driven purely by a desire for power and recognition.

When the day for Al's re-take of the exam arrives, Ed and Al give it their all. Al manages to perform his transmutation successfully and earns his certification as a State Alchemist.

However, they're left with a newfound sense of unease, as they realize that alchemy can be used for both good and evil. The episode ends with a sense of foreboding, as the darkness of some of the characters' motivations comes into sharp focus.