I got asked this question the other day. I think this blog in general should make it clear that I have an obsession with it and don’t have nearly so much love for Brotherhood but… here’s what I wrote in response:
Primarily, it would be its characterisation of Edward Elric. In Brotherhood, Ed is more frequently used for comic relief and seems to be an observer to many of the important plots rather than a participant. He gets challenged a little here and there and goes through some development but it’s nothing compared to his 03 counterpart.
Ed in 03 is almost always at the centre of the narrative and he’s always being challenged on his viewpoints and struggles to do the right thing. His entire worldview basically gets overturned and he frequently has to face the results of his wll-intentioned but short-sighted actions. He goes through moral dilemmas and the struggle between him and the various homunculi feels really personal. We see him at his best and at his darkest and we see more of him at a young age and growing up and becoming better. And Ed may be just one character but as a result of this exploration of him we get a deeper look at his relationship with his brother which is absolutely wonderful. And so many other characters can be compared to or challenge Ed. Like when he faces Tucker in this version, Tucker really challenges him on the idea that they’re not so different with how he’s also toyed with people’s lives in his attempt to bring his mother back and he’s left his brother in a twisted form – asking is it so different from what he’s done to Nina and whether part of it was not his own arrogance in believing he can do the impossible. The Tringham brothers are trying to obtain a philosopher’s stone through dubious methods and unintentionally causing terrible side effects, following in their father’s footsteps. Scar and Scar’s older brother echo them in how they elder one tried to perform human transmutation and gave up his right arm to save his younger brother and also seeked the philosopher’s stone. The homunculi seek the philosopher’s stone in order to become human – just like how they want the stone to restore Al to his body. Yeah, all in all 03 really keeps the focus on Ed and every enemy they meet makes every conflict feel very personal or challenges Ed in a different way. He slowly turns from someone who gets angry very easily – and is especially angry at the world itself- to someone who forgives his enemies and accepts the unfairness of the world and still feels a sense of responsibility for trying to be better and more selfless.
A lot of this is why I still get so much of out of 03 on every rewatch as there’s so much there! But even from the outset, the shows a lot of fun and I find its humour a lot less obnoxious, its villains in general more menacing, atmosphere and tone a lot more to my taste.
Brotherhood is a big story with a big plot and lots of characters but 03 is an emotional character-study of Edward Elric that really makes me feel.
Zetalial 