Normies: "The 03 series gave us a better version of the Tucker story."
Intellectuals: "Nina has her own ending in the 03 series."
These illustrations are some of the most beautiful things to come out of this version of the ending, right next to Ed's alternate expression:
Nina and Alexander having a special version of the ending dedicated to them isn't abnormal considering the thematic importance the 03 series' places in memorializing those who have passed on. The fourth ending certainly lends more credence to that theme by featuring multiple long gone characters, but this version of the first ending works to show how deeply the boys were affected by the incident, and it ironically comes right back around in the manga/09 series when Al talks about Nina in the finale.
To make a long story short, I feel like it's often overstated how the 03 series has a better handling of the Tucker incident, because that much is so obvious to any fan who has consumed each version of the story.
It's often understated how huge of an impact it left on the boys in every version though.
