I've always read it as at least a little bit a comment on the Iraq war, but what's it's deal? It's the only anime I can think of that climaxes with a military coup, and its cool that mustang wants to put people on trial for war crimes, but then he gets in power and doesn't do it.

It's also just got a whole plotline about racism, but it feels slightly off? Like minorities are okay if they save your life.

    • Cromalin [she/her]
      ·
      3 years ago

      Uncritical support imo. The only remotely dubious thing Scar does is try to kill Ed, and really that's just because killing child soldiers isn't great. Everything else he does is totally justified. He only kills people involved with the genocide, and then also Tucker who's the only character to canonically end up in hell.

      Nina was a mercy kill

        • Cromalin [she/her]
          ·
          3 years ago

          He's indiscriminate, but Ed and Tucker are the only ones we see him go after who weren't part of the genocide. And Marcoh would disagree with you about brutalizing him being bad.

            • Cromalin [she/her]
              ·
              3 years ago

              He doesn't do much to Marcoh. He threatens him some, but after Marcoh gives Scar the big flashback to Ishval and agrees to work with him Scar is mostly civil, iirc. Going after Ed is definitely fucked up, and you're completely right about his character arc, I was mostly just making the point that the only thing we see him do that's worse than a little morally dubious is go after Ed.