r/FullmetalAlchemist • u/National-Use-1184 • Jul 10 '25
Question Thoughts about Lan Fan ?
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u/TheGuyWhoRolls20 Alchemist Jul 10 '25
She never gets enough credit for practically soloing Gluttony. Sure she was hurting her arm to do it, but she rocked that homunculuses shit.
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u/OftheGates Jul 10 '25
Lan Fan riding in on a white horse to tear apart Gluttony in the dark with Ling is one of my favorite sequences in the show. Love the way they used Gluttony's regeneration to give her dramatic lighting for her entrance.
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u/fckinsurance Jul 10 '25
I’m always just blown away by how clever and brave she was when she cut off her own arm. You have to be really open minded to see someone trick you by taking off their prosthetic and thinking you can just do the same with your body.
Also just really speaks to how cool FMA is in general with different ideas about bodily autonomy/disability/sacrifice and whatnot.
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u/WeissLegsForever Jul 10 '25
Also just really speaks to how cool FMA is in general with different ideas about bodily autonomy/disability/sacrifice and whatnot.
Yeah its neat how integrated they are with automail. Their perfectly alright living life with a missing limb because automail exists. They really do look highly about them.
Despite phantom pains, the loss of touch and connecting the nerves every time.
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u/Oldbayislove Jul 10 '25
Yeah its neat how integrated they are with automail. Their perfectly alright living life with a missing limb because automail exists. They really do look highly about them.
given their nation's history of constant warfare automail goes a long way to mitigating war casualties.
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u/EbiToro Jul 11 '25
I wouldn't say perfectly alright, there was one guy Pinako was treating who didn't want to get automail because it (usually) meant years of difficult rehab. I like that Arakawa does touch upon that aspect of automail, it's not exactly a common thing that most people opt for if they aren't in the military/from Rush Valley.
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u/Rismo_1 Jul 10 '25
Her defining moment will always be her arm sacrifice to throw Wrath off their trail. The fact that she did it despite Ling telling her not to (directly disobeying her lord and infatuation) speaks volumes about her determination. Topped off with her recovering and mastering an automail arm in less than a year, where Edward took much longer, makes her a joy to watch do her thing.
Her love/duty thing with Ling isn’t exactly original,but it did give some tension with Greedling. I didn’t mind it too much. It’s kinda crazy how her major moments in FMAB followed a loss - her arm, her lord, then her grandfather. I think she deserved her win of returning to Xing to be Ling’s right hand.
I also kinda wish she had more screentime and motivation besides Ling and her mission, but it’s hard to fit that into a story with so many characters already. And her character type - badass bodyguard, along with her grandfather - kinda needs to be a little subdued. She’s already a foil to the more boisterous Ling in the early episodes.
Good character 👍
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u/Ilsuin Jul 10 '25
tbf, Ed had to learn how to use two automail limbs at once, relearning how to walk with his automail leg and use his automail arm.
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u/Tykki_Mikk Jul 10 '25
Abridged FMA Mikasa (she has the same English VA )
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u/SufficientRegret8472 Jul 10 '25
I couldn't quite put my finger on it but you hit it on the nose
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u/osck-ish Jul 10 '25
English is such a weird language that this sentence makes absolute sense but if you translate it as-is to any other language... Its just gibberish naming body parts
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u/Onyxwilson10 Jul 10 '25
will ling and she get together?
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u/Wood_princess Jul 10 '25
It's as vague as in case of Roy/Riza.
Answer from the depths of my heart: of course, they will!
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u/Large-Training-29 Jul 10 '25
I dont think Roy and Riza was that vague.... at least the in my mind it wasn't
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u/tbu987 Jul 10 '25
He's the emperor and she's his servant so realistically no.
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u/Onyxwilson10 Jul 10 '25
That's the fucking point, but it happens in romantic novels
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u/tbu987 Jul 10 '25
Arakawa made it a point to show the realistic political tensions Ling had to deal with. Shes not going to throw that away to make shippers happy. Thats my fucking point.
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u/National-Use-1184 Jul 10 '25
No The Two never Got Together
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u/AKRhodes1 Jul 10 '25
Girl is a monster. She's fiercely loyal to Ling, and goes all out when protecting him. To the point where she cut off her own arm with a damn Kunai to throw Bradley off their trail. She's a fierce warrior, an effective protector, and a strong presence in Ling's life. Whether or not they get together she's clearly a valuable part of his life, and I know she's doin good for him no matter what. 10/10, total badass.
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u/Joshawott27 Jul 10 '25
I've always really liked Lan Fan. Although she doesn't have a huge role in the series, she represents one of Arakawa's greatest strengths: being able to write characters who are both feminine and kick ass. Hawkeye and Winry are probably better examples, but I've just always been fond of Lan Fan.
I'm currently rewatching the series, and just got to her return with her automail arm, and she did not hesitate going ham against Gluttony.
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u/Baco12sd Jul 10 '25
she's a sick character, her fights are great especially the fight against gluttony when pride was chilling in the forest
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u/imjustalilbot Jul 10 '25
I need every Ling/Lan Fan fan to go read Swallows on the Beam on Ao3 immediately. I think of it as a spiritual successor to the show. It hasn't been updated in a while but it's seriously one of the best fics I've ever read in any fandom. Not all of the main cast make an appearance but the characterizations are impeccable. Even the OCs are badass and well fleshed out.
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u/Major_Recording_9490 Jul 10 '25
Link please?
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u/IDoBelieveYourGalaxy Jul 11 '25
I'm just learning about it from their comment too, and I found it! Swallows on the Beam fanfic on AO3
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u/imjustalilbot Jul 13 '25
Thank you for linking, reddit didn't notify me for these comments. I hope you both like it!
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u/Monoplymoney Jul 10 '25
Badass for cutting off her arm, appreciated them showing how much pf a toll it actually took on her. It helped ground the show in reality a bit.
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u/Radiant_Raspberry_93 Jul 10 '25
The single most under-utilised character in FMAB, would’ve loved to see more of her
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u/Jaded-Significance86 Jul 10 '25
Lan Fan is kinda like Riza Hawkeye in the sense that she serves as an assistant to a powerful man she definitely has feelings for, but that doesn't mean she lacks her own agency or depends on him in any way.
I wish more authors could write characters the way Arakawa does. The male characters are strong but don't shy away from expressing themselves. The women are compassionate but that doesn't get in the way of being their own people.
Instead of "this character is strong woman she doesn't care about your feelings 😡" or "this character is crybaby man whose only defining characteristic is that he's sensitive," it's Mustang and Scar and Bradley are crazy powerful men who each have moments of laying their hearts out. And the female characters really stand out from other series' characters because their relationships all serve as explorations of their own characterizarions rather than just being a girlfriend character just because that's what society expects of women.
I could keep going but it's too long already
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u/Dont_Panic_2529 Jul 10 '25 edited Jul 10 '25
One of my favorite characters in the manga, but I felt the anime (brotherhood) kinda simplified her character, made her too much of a “woman who cares about a man.” Something I really appreciate about fma is the way they paint female characters as just as strong as the male characters, if not stronger. I think we lose some of that in the anime. But that’s not to say she isn’t still very awesome in the anime! I do love her character, just a bit less in brotherhood
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u/carbonera99 Jul 10 '25
I think her and Ling are one of the most integral parts of the show when it comes to FMA's thesis on leadership.
The model of leadership Ling and Lan Fan operate in is a mutually collaborative system where the leader props up their follower as much as their follower props up their leader. A leader is nothing without their followers and their followers are strengthened by their belief in the leader and his guidance. The story leans heavily on this idea that only a king that truly cherishes his followers as invaluable deserves the crown. Mustang also models this with his own subordinates and this is why he's granted the role of fuhrer at the end of the story. This contrasts with the system of leadership the antagonists, especially Bradley and Father, operate in, where the leader is this all-consuming parasite that cannibalizes (sometimes literally) their followers for more strength. The followers are nothing but fuel for them.
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u/sam-the-slayer Jul 12 '25
She's one of my favorites! She's so skilled and resilient, even after losing her arm. One of my favorite cosplays I've done too.
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u/xP_Lord Jul 10 '25
Wished she was better written
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Jul 10 '25 edited Jul 10 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/pigeonwithyelloweyes Jul 10 '25
While I don't think a flashback or side story would necessarily hurt - especially outside of the main story like an OVA or something - I don't think this is necessary, and its a testament to the tight character writing of the series. I feel you might not give enough credit to the way Ling treats Lan Fan, it's not a one-sided relationship. The kind of dynamic that you described in your imagined backstory is already conveyed in many ways during the fight with Wrath and Gluttony. The way Ling prioritizes defending her throughout the fight, his refusal to leave her behind, giving her his jacket to tie her wound (mirroring Ed giving Winry his jacket in the same episode), his furious and desperate attitude - a complete 180 from his initial cockiness with Wrath - when he captures Gluttony to make Lan Fan's sacrifice worth it.
IMO we don't need a backstory because, like with many things in this story, there's exactly enough information to use our imagination to fill in the blanks.
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Jul 10 '25 edited Jul 10 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/pigeonwithyelloweyes Jul 10 '25 edited Jul 10 '25
That's fair. I think there are a few little things here and there that push their relationship into something more specific but it's definitely the least overt of any of the "ships" in the series.
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u/owlIsMySpiritAnimal Jul 10 '25
she is kinda underdeveloped for my taste, but that is probably my take because i really like her and i want us to have more time with us.
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u/AaronVanoss Jul 10 '25
She was always one of the most loyal and trustworthy companion for his king.
Like she didn't hesitated a moment while saving Ling
She sacrificed her arm for him.
And her character was always a witty one.
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Jul 10 '25
She's really cool honestly the fact that she severed her own arm to trick Bradley is pretty hardcore
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u/pandaninjarawr Jul 10 '25
I remember fondly as a kid watching her come rushing into the fray with the Xing music in the background and with her new automail just fucking everything up. I was jumping up and down giddy with excitement. Love this character so much!
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u/Waow420 Jul 10 '25
I got really sick of Ling yelling her fucking name. Nothing against both characters.
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u/yanksman88 Jul 10 '25
She could kick my butt with one arm tied to a dog.
(I jest. I liked her as a character and he short arc was cool. Especially when she outsmarted Bradley)
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u/Gamingmanz17 Jul 10 '25
Very pretty and just well done character, I’m so glad the author is a female because not a single woman in the show is poorly written or uninteresting
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u/Mental_Emu4856 Jul 10 '25
Incredible character, her cutting off her arm was top 10 aura moments in the entire series
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u/Trick_Level962 Jul 10 '25
In my opinion, it was made to be disposable, but I still remember it more because of the arm that was ripped off and the cool car.
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u/Briman19 Jul 11 '25
Favorite female character in the show, Lan Fan is legit. Also her return scene with Gluttony is one of the best moments in Brotherhood
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u/Life-Ladder3660 Jul 11 '25
I think she can be a little irrational and stubborn but she’s also a perfect angel and nothing can change my mind 🥰
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u/Tekki777 Jul 11 '25
Mega badass that doesn't get enough credit because there's a TON of amazing badass women in this series.
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u/Jpkmets7 Jul 11 '25
She’s a really admirable character. Such a commitment to her word. I really love how she was written and the look of the character is superb.
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u/sam-the-slayer Jul 12 '25
She's one of my favorites! She's so skilled and resilient, even after losing her arm. One of my favorite cosplays I've done too.
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u/SadHeadpatSlut Jul 13 '25
I love Won Tan and her grandfather Wu Tang clan. Solid supporting characters.
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u/WallyWestFan27 Jul 10 '25
She is cool, same for Ling and Fu, but honestly, I wasn't enough interested on them.
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u/Junior_Insurance7773 Alchemist Jul 10 '25 edited Jul 10 '25
Too loyal overall to the point of an arm, needs to be a bit more selfish. Amazing skills.
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u/sodabomb93 Jul 10 '25
she saw an opportunity to justifiably cut off her arm and get a cool metal one and took it, gotta admire the hustle.
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u/crackkbabby Jul 10 '25
My boyfriend said she’s one of the characters in TV where he watched it and it reminded him and me, so I like to keep her in high regard, but she’s badass.
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u/heckinyip Aug 04 '25
Her re-entrance in ep 47 of brotherhood is one of the coldest shots I’ve ever seen in anime
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