The story of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a dynamic one, where yesterday's enemies are today's friends and vice versa. The Elric brothers learn this the hard way during their mission to restore their bodies and make amends for their past sins, and while Edward is a little bitter about all this, Alphonse is not.
Alphonse is the younger brother, and he is generally more patient and kind than Edward, though he's not quite as insightful and clever, and he doesn't have state alchemist status. In many ways, Alphonse underwent some changes in this series, and in other ways, he has stayed true to himself. He's an ever-changing character like all the rest.
10 CHANGED: His Feelings Toward Winry Rockbell
When Ed and Al were boys, they had fun hanging out with their neighbor Winry Rockbell, and the brothers would argue and compete to see who would grow up to marry the girl next door. For a time, the brothers were neck and neck, though Winry seemed to favor Al slightly.
However, Edward has since confessed his true feelings for Winry, and vice versa, meaning Al became the third wheel. Al didn't mind, though; he and Winry are now strictly friends, and no doubt, Al is very happy for his brother and neighbor.
9 SAME: His Kind Spirit
Alphonse was always a people person, and he is kind and caring to a fault. While Edward was confrontational and cunning, Al would act as a mediator between Ed and another party, which helped the Elric's progress on their journey.
Al was always a polite boy, and even in his armored body, he doesn't typically intimidate or browbeat other people, even though it would be easy for him. On occasion, he might do that, but overall, he fits the "gentle giant" mold well.
8 CHANGED: His Opinion On Human Transmutation
This is a personal change that Edward underwent alongside Alphonse, and for the same reasons. The brothers were deeply distraught when their mother Trisha, died, and Van Hohenheim, was not around to help. So, Al and his brother resorted to human transmutation, seeing it as a miracle of sorts.
Alphonse quickly changed his tune when he and Ed performed the ritual, only for Truth's eye to appear and rob Alphonse of his entire body. Now Al knows the truth, and he recognizes human transmutation for the forbidden secret that it is.
7 SAME: His Love Of Winry's Cooking
Winry is best known for her advanced mechanical skills with automail, and her love of repairing and designing automail parts. But she is also a fine cook, and she has been practicing and honing her recipes. Her apple pie, in particular, is a crowd pleaser.
Before becoming a suit of armor, Alphonse enjoyed the taste of Winry's cooking, and he's been daydreaming of the day when he can get his original body back and sit down to another fine Rockbell meal. It's the little things that count sometimes.
6 CHANGED: His Relationship To Hohenheim
Edward had a poor relationship with his father Hohenheim, furious that Hohenheim had been absent when Trisha died. Alphonse was a bit more neutral about this, and he tried not to think too much about his estranged father in the years following his attempt at human transmutation.
Later on, Alphonse would come face to face with his father, which went better than Ed and Hohenheim's reunion. Alphonse and Hohenheim carefully listened to one another and appreciated each other's position, and Al ended up having a rather sympathetic view of his father after all.
5 SAME: His Love Of Science
Edward and Alphonse had always been big fans of the scientific method, which is not about to change anytime soon. Even when the brothers were young, they passed the idle days in rural Resembool with endless scientific experiments, study and research.
Alphonse helped Ed decode Tim Marcoh's heavily encrypted research notes on the Philosopher's Stone during the main events of Fullmetal Alchemist. Only a scientific mind like his could have possibly worked that out with Ed.
4 CHANGED: His Need For Transmutation Circles
Alchemy requires transmutation circles so that the alchemic power can be channeled and directed correctly. Even powerhouses such as Colonel Roy Mustang and Major Alex Louis Armstrong need them, and at first, Alphonse did, too. He drew one when he used alchemy to try and escape Greed's clutches, for example.
However, Alphonse awakened his suppressed memories partway through the series, and he realized that he too knew how to perform this art without circles, since he'd seen the Truth. From that point on, Al could use alchemy sans transmutation circles.
3 SAME: His Fondness For Cats
Alphonse has always had a gentle personality, and those warm, fuzzy feelings extend to the people and animals around them. Unlike Edward, Alphonse has a great fondness for cats and stray animals, and he will never give up on a cat in need.
More than once, Al has halted in his tracks to pick up and adopt a stray cat, much to Ed's annoyance. Usually, Al has to give up the cats not long after, but his warm feelings toward these fuzzy felines are the same as ever.
2 CHANGED: His Access To State Resources
Put bluntly, living in the rural shepherd town of Resembool is boring for science-oriented kids like the Elric brothers. In fact, that town doesn't even have a library. However, when Edward became certified as a state alchemist at age 12, he gained access to security clearance, cash and access to books and laboratories.
Alphonse typically shares these state-granted privileges with his brother, and Alphonse has made good use of that fact ever since. He couldn't get his hands on rare research tomes back home at Resembool, but with Ed's help, he can check out any book or lab notebook he chooses.
1 SAME: His Respect For Izumi Curtis
Before they attempted human transmutation, Ed and Al were students of Izumi Curtis, a butcher/housewife/alchemist. She is one tough lady, and she is very wise in alchemy and the great cycles that dictate the flow of the world.
Alphonse always thought highly of Izumi, and feared her during sparring matches (or anytime she's angry). Al is no longer her student formally, but Al still looks up to her, and is in awe of her capabilities. He still thinks of her as "sensei," or teacher.