Recap / Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood E 2 The First Day

Tropes present in this episode include:

• Absurd Cutting Power: Fuhrer Bradley's sword cuts through Ed's transmuted staff.
• An Arm and a Leg: Ed loses his left leg to Truth as his toll. He trades his right arm to connect Al's soul to his armor.
• Body Horror: The... thing that the brothers transmute when they attempt to bring their mother back.
• Bloody Horror: Ed bleeds a lot after he lost his leg.
• Dark and Troubled Past: Ed and Al's mother died, and in their grief they try to bring her Back from the Dead with horrific results.
• Declaration of Protection: Hawkeye tells Winry that she joined the military to protect someone (Mustang).
• Disappeared Dad: Ed and Al's father makes no appearance in this episode.
• Empty Eyes: During Mustang's visit, Ed's eyes look empty and in some shots don't have a pupil.
• Eyecatch: The 10-year-old Alphonse, then the 11-year-old Edward.
• Gate of Truth: Ed and Al access the Gate of Truth by performing human transmutation and pay tolls for the knowledge they gained.
• Height Angst: "Who are you calling a runt, you midget hag!"
• Heroic BSoD: Ed seems to be in one when Mustang visits.
• How We Got Here: The whole episode is dedicated to showing the events that brought the Elric brothers to the present day.
• Red Filter of Doom: Shown right before the brothers perform human transmution.
• Say My Name: Al screaming for his brother. Ed calling for Al after Al's body was taken.
• So Proud of You: Ed and Al started learning more alchemy because Trisha was proud of their alchemic accomplishments.
• Spontaneous Weapon Creation: Ed transmutes a spear from the floor for his State Alchemist exam.
• The Legend of Chekhov: The story of the Philosopher's stone in the book that Ed reads.
• Thousand-Yard Stare: Ed has this the entire time Mustang visits. It goes away after Mustang makes his offer.
• Time to Unlock More True Potential: Alluded to briefly in the flashback when Ed mentions training under their alchemy teacher, Izumi.
• Title Drop: Bradley certifies Ed as State Alchemist and gives him his State Alchemist title: Fullmetal Alchemist.
• Two Scenes, One Dialogue: The conversation between Mustang and the Elric brothers and Hawkeye and Winry in the other room are like this at one point.
• Whole Episode Flashback: The whole episode is dedicated to showing the events that brought the Elric brothers to the present day.