i loved this episode and i didn't. they've been taking their sweet time through this arc, and I thought the action could have been a little more intense. I mean, remember the Wrath vs. Greed fights? or even some of the first fights with Scar?

Yoki made this episode for me.

it would seem to me that Al is really dependent on Ed. like NCC said, not only is Al's blood crest made with Ed's blood, but they had a theory a bunch of episodes back about Ed's sleep and nutrition partly going to maintain Al's body beyond the Gate (a theory I buy at full retail price)

I am really, really, really confused about what Hoenheim said regarding Izumi's wounds. If she can't get those organs back, then, by the same logic, Ed can't get his limbs back, and Al can't get his body back. Since Hoenheim is basically the biggest Philosopher's Stone ever made, and a top level alchemist, it makes me wonder what exactly in the blue blazes they'd need to atone for these "sins".

i was never a big fan of this near death scene, partly because it doesn't make any sense to me for Ed to be able to use part of his life force when he's so close to death. a guy who's almost dead shouldn't have that much life force...

i also just despise "hero is severely wounded by OBJECT. Will he survive?" a fucking steel girder is not going to take down a shounen protagonist. the tension is just not there for me in scenes like that. i will admit, however, that it is good to see how people act in that situation, since Ed himself doesn't know he's a main character. like Bill said, the fact that he saved the chimera is probably what saved his life, and that kind of "softness" is one of his biggest aids.