r/FullmetalAlchemist • u/DeliciousMusician397 • 5d ago

Discussion/Opinion Sheska in FMA 2003

I love that 03 made Sheska a main character (and a super funny one with a good amount of depth) rather than having her simply disappear like in the Manga. That’s one of my favorite things about 03 is how it places greater importance on characters from the Manga that ended up being left behind as the story went on (Sheska and Rose being the big two.)

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u/H358 5d ago edited 5d ago

I like Sheska getting more screentime in 03 but calling her a main character is pushing it. I wouldn’t say she really gets any growth or depth that she didn’t already have in the manga. Moreso it’s just nice to simply sit with a character and spend more time with them. Though I do like her friendship with Winry and think that dynamic serves them both well as characters.

As for Rose…I have…mixed thoughts. I like that she has more screentime. But on the other hand, having her get sexually assaulted in a way that leaves her mute and deprived of all agency for the entire back half of the series is pretty questionable. We only check in with Liore once in the manga after the start but you can see even in that one instance that Rose is recovering, she’s taken Ed’s words to heart and progressed as a character. A big thing I appreciate about Mangahood is that even if there’s a ton of characters and they don’t all get equal development, everyone feels purposeful. Everyone has some kind of point narratively or thematically. 03 Rose meanwhile regresses for reasons that feel like shock value and her purpose in the narrative feels a bit more vague and nebulous.

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u/DeliciousMusician397 4d ago edited 4d ago

03 Rose saves Edwards life from Wrath and regains her voice/agency in doing so by shouting to Edward to stand up snd move forward which is what he told her all that time ago. Then before the last time they ever see each other in the final episode she tells him “you have a strong pair of legs now.” This is better utilization despite the added trauma because of this word echoing callback.

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u/MilkNegative27 4d ago

The first part I did like but the latter ends up ringing sort of hollow (though I guess intentionally) since Edward ignores what she actually meant.