For the first time since Fullmetal Alchemist, Hiromu Arakawa has returned with a new manga Yomi No Tsugai (The Hinge of The Underworld) which began serialization in December 2021. Already its gained major attention and high expectations due to Arakawa’s previous smash hit.
Arakawa’s previous works first gained fame from their interesting settings, well-paced plots, and exceptional story and character writing. And Winry Rockbell from Fullmetal Alchemist is no exception. A strong female character in anime, she’s both clever and outspoken, unafraid to challenge both the Elric brothers; and more often than not, it’s thanks to her automail skills that Edward doesn’t end up more injured along the journey.
Winry Is Always Straightforward
“Don’t Be A Smartass! Tell Me Why You’re In My Room!”
Taking place shortly before the final arc, Ed and his allies have been traveling all-over Amestris executing crucial plans in an attempt to stop Father. Winry, who was previously in the middle of the fighting finally had a chance to head to her home in Resembool where she had planned to rest and relax.
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As Winry is settling in and is about to start changing, she suddenly notices an extremely shocked Edward sitting in her room randomly eating a sandwich scaring Winry immensely. In the ensuing chaos between her guards an Ed’s team, Winry interrogates Ed at wrench-point almost beating him with said wrench. The humorous scene was a nice change of pace and way to break the building tension giving everyone a breather.
Her Trust In The Elric’s
“Ed You Hang Onto These For Me!”
In attempting to escape from murderous alchemist Zolf J. Kimblee, Winry agrees to a plan where Scar will “kidnap” her to allow her to escape being a hostage used against Ed. However, before they execute the plan, Winry leaves her precious earrings with Ed to avoid getting frostbite.
While a simple gesture of Winry’s deep trust in Ed to keep her possessions safe, it’s also used as a bit of foreshadowing to Ed and Winry’s eventual reunion. Those same earrings later give Ed the strength to carry on with his tasks as well as allow Winry to convince herself that regardless of what happens, she will see Ed again.
Her Unwillingness To Show Vulnerability
“It’s Humiliating To Be Carried By A Boy Smaller Than I Am.”
While at the home of Dominic the automail engineer in Rush Valley, Winry is tasked with helping to deliver Satella’s baby as she is the only person with medical knowledge. After a grueling but successful delivery, Winry is so exhausted she can barely even stand on her own two feet and requests Ed’s assistance.
Winry from a young age has always been tasked to look after Ed. After Ed’s mother passed and he lost his arm and leg, Winry has constantly been a source of support for Ed, and in her own life she’s extremely determined to not need support or help of her own. Winry seems to be speaking with a sense of regret as she constantly worries about doing anything she can for the Elric brothers, yet on this occasion ends up receiving their help instead.
Her Compassion In The Face Of Evil
“Your Arm, If It Isn’t Bound, You’ll Bleed To Death.”
After a large and difficult battle, Scar is heavily injured by the Elric Brothers and Co. and is at their mercy as he bleeds heavily. However, the only way to hatch their escape plan to get Winry to safety is for her to give aid to their enemy.
As Scar is the man who murdered both of Winry’s parents in cold blood, Winry’s choice to give first aid to Scar is a defining pivotal moment to cement her as someone who helps others rather than hurts them. It’s a complete turn-around from the last time when Winry saw Scar and almost shot him and is a testament to how strong and exceptional of a person Winry is.
Her Inner Emotional Strength
“It’s All Right, I Won’t Cry, Didn’t I Promise That The Next Time I Cried Would Be Tears Of Joy?”
Occurring after the events in Rush Valley, Winry is once again reunited with the brothers. Yet again Winry is floored with the heartbreaking pain the boys face yet keeps it together not for herself, but for the sake of the brothers she promised she would stay strong for.
Winry herself has suffered significantly with the loss of her parents, and except for the situation in which she learned the identity of their killer, she rarely shows her own vulnerability. Yet when she empathizes with the brother’s pain, she sheds the tears they won’t. Winry’s resolve to not cry and add to the brothers grief shows a level of mental strength even most adults cannot claim.
How She Is The Elric Brothers’ Real Home
“Edward, Alphonse, Come Back Soon ‘Kay?”
After Ed went to Resembool to have Winry fix the arm destroyed by Scar, Winry spends a few days of non-stop fixing and calibrating his automail since she knowns the time crunch he is facing. As Edward, Alphonse, and Armstrong are leaving Winry sleepily calls to them and makes them promise to return soon.
As Ed and Alphonse destroyed their family home before they left as a sign of their resolve, the only connection they have their childhood town is Winry and her Grandma Pinako. Though a simple gesture, the brothers are reminded that while their home may be gone, they have somewhere to return to and Winry to support them.
Her Love Of Automail
“If You Think I’m A Gearhead, That’s Fine, But You Had Better Get Used To It! Because As Long As You’re Wearing My Automail, You’re Stuck With This Gearhead Whether You Like It Or Not!”
Taking place during Ed and Al’s stay in Resembool, Ed and Winry are having a small argument when he comments on her fascination with automail. It’s a common trope in the series and speaks to their good relationship that they can argue so often yet stay on relatively good terms.
While the phrase is said to Ed, the quote reveals a lot about Winry herself. Winry often feels as if the support she gives to the Brothers is inadequate and often asks the adults around her their opinions on the topic. She’s upset at the fact Ed pokes fun at her obsession with improving automail when that obsession stems from her feelings of wanting to do everything she can to help Ed, especially when she feels it’s all she can do for them.
Finally Confessing Her Feelings
“Why Am I In Love With This Idiot?”
After Ed’s battle and loss at the Fifth Laboratory, Winry travels to the hospital in Central where Ed is recovering feeling immensely guilty that the reason he lost so badly was her forgetting a key bolt. As she’s fighting with Ed concerning his treatment and recklessness, she says this phrase under her breath exasperated by Ed’s stubbornness.
This is the first instance in the series where Winry admits her true feeling for Ed which previously were speculation. While obvious to everyone except for Ed and Winry themselves, it explains Winry’s nagging and worrying of Ed as well as explaining her future actions where she increasingly fusses over Ed.
Her Love For Both Brothers
“You Two Won’t Cry; Someone Should Do It For You Don’t You Think?”
During a quiet moment between Winry and Ed after she delivers a baby, Winry reveals to Ed that she knows the contents of his pocket watch and questions him why he’s never said anything before. Knowing the pain of losing a parent herself, Winry can’t help but break down and cry at the anguish he keeps from everyone, including his brother.
This moment was pivotal for the pair, as it is the direct result of Winry’s previous conversation with Hues where he assured her that as long as she let the brothers know she would be there for them, they would know they had someone to turn to when needed. While Ed undoubtedly had always known he could rely on her, he was finally faced with the knowledge that keeping others out harmed more than just him.
When She And Ed Finally Admit Their Feelings
“You Want Half? I’ll Give You All Of It.”
Winry says this to Ed at the very ends of the series after he proposes to her before leaving on his next journey by asking for half of her life in exchange for half of his and Winry ups the anty by declaring she’d give all of herself for all of him.
Winry has always been a straightforward character and has never had a problem stating her mind, especially when concerning Ed. Her point of admonishing him yet also making an even greater declaration of love is characteristic of Winry and an excellent way to cap off the series while portraying a hopeful and beautifully romantic future for the two.
