FMA or FMAB?

[Julio]

So, I recently had Full Metal Alchemist recommended to me. I'd heard that Brotherhood was better, so I watched the first episode of that, and then watched the first episode of the original. I found that I VASTLY preferred the original first episode. 

Which do you guys think is better? Which would you recommend to me, who's only seen the first episode of each? 

[Aleksiel]

FMA was made before the manga was completed, so from one point the it continue with no source material. FMAB is remake after the manga was finished. In my opinion:

[Merrickz he/him]

I'd do FMAB first because the story is far more logical and easy to follow, the original gets quite erratic and mad as it progresses and the ending is very hard to follow 

[Orlion Blight he/him]

FMAB, no contest. 

FMA was a great show until FMAB came out. FMAB has far better story and resolution. 

[Mistbornwithakitty she/her]

FMAB is definitely the best.  I've only watched the first episode of FMA, but it was enough to know that it wasn't going to be like the manga.

[Lost Owl Needs Tea]

I watched FMA first, and then Brotherhood when it was out. I don't think it matters if you watch FMA first, that's how the fans before brotherhood watched it, but if you are only going to watch one, then FMAB since that's the author's original. The manga was only at volume 7 or so when FMA started and the animation studio just went with their own. Watching FMAB first might make FMA less enjoyable, maybe? Or maybe not. Most people seem to prefer FMAB. I loved both.

[Julio]

Ok, thanks. I'll probably go with FMAB, then. It's just that after seeing the first episodes of both, FMA had MUCH better exposition. They actually explained things, and did so in a way that made sense narratively. FMAB had a guy talking to himself about elementary things that he already knew. Does that get better?

[Aleksiel]

I don't remember noticing that big a difference in the first episode, but I watched FMAB way after FMA. I consider FMAB better - you might feel the same way for the next few episodes, but you'll change your opinion soon after that. 

[Pestis the Spider she/her]

On 21/09/2017 at 7:20 PM, Julio said:

So, I recently had Full Metal Alchemist recommended to me. I'd heard that Brotherhood was better, so I watched the first episode of that, and then watched the first episode of the original. I found that I VASTLY preferred the original first episode. 

Which do you guys think is better? Which would you recommend to me, who's only seen the first episode of each? 

FMAB has anime original first episode. FMA has the whole second half anime original. Needless to say anime original content is the most problematic in both anime. I would personally skipping the first episode of FMAB (but since you watched it already, that's too late), and watch the rest of this anime. I wouldn't touch the first FMA with a two meter pole. I mean it's good, but the only good part are already in FMAB eithwe way, and the rest is simply a mess. 

[PlanetReelo she/her]

FMAB is definitely better them FMA. But I found that FMAB rushes through the early events of the manga, as if assuming that it's viewers had already seen FMA and therefore not as much screentime is required to re explore these scenes. So if you're starting with FMAB it may be hard to keep up. I would recommend watching FMA up until the point where the plots diverge, then switching back to FMAB.

[She Who Cannot Be Named she/her]

Go for FMAB  It's a bit confusing at first (heck, at that point I've read the whole manga and have watched FMA), but that was probably because of that aforementioned anime only episode at the beginning.